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I'm one so I did...
This thing is four hours long and some of it is pretty hard to take.
We see Dylan impersonator Joel Gilbert traipsing about the country apparently also attempting to impersonate a journalist. Unfortunately, it doesn't work.
The use of primitive and amateurish graphic effects during the interviews is unbelievably annoying. A yellow rubber ducky swims across the screen quacking to illuminate Reuben Carter's comment that he took to boxing "like a duck takes to water". When he mentions that boxing was a profession for which he was paid, hundred dollar bills flash before our eyes. As Gilbert asks Carter the deep question "what percentage of boxing is psychology?" the image of Sigmund Freud appears and disappears.
Enough already! And at this point we are only a few minutes into this four hour marathon.
Those true diehards who are able to keep on keeping on are eventually rewarded with some interesting perspectives. Claudia Levy describes theatrical aspects and the staging of the Rolling Thunder concerts. Scarlet Rivera shares in her own words the oft repeated story of Dylan discovering her as she was walking down a Manhattan street with nothing to distinguish her but her violin case and her exotic appearance. Rob Stoner talks about his role maintaining order in the recording studio and on tour...
But it is the interviews from the period of Dylan's conversion to Christianity and its aftermath that are most interesting. Vineyard Christian Fellowship pastor Bill Dwyer describes Dylan as a student in his Bible study class. San Francisco Chronicle writer Joel Selvin characterizes the betrayal felt by many fans blindsided by the Christian content of the 1979 tour. Legendary producer Jerry Wexler speaks to the musical excellence of Slow Train Coming. And back up singer Regina McCrary resonates as she gives glory to the presence of the Holy Spirit in the middle of it all.
Too bad that at the end we must put up with the blather of self proclaimed Dylanologist AJ Weberman. The inclusion of the opinions of Weberman, who made it his business to sift through Dylan's garbage in the Village in the early 70's, adds nothing of value and certainly underscores that this is, in fact, a "totally unauthorized documentary".
Click Here to see more reviews about: Bob Dylan - 1975-1981 Rolling Thunder and The Gospel Years (2006)
Director & Producer Joel Gilbert (Bob Dylan 1966 World Tour The Home Movies, 2003 and Bob Dylan World Tours 1966-1974Through the Camera of Barry Feinstein, 2005) weaves the story of this monumental period of Dylans life and music through revealing insider
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