Whether you're a massive Beatles fan, a George Harrison fan or even just a stark raving annoying, sing it from the rooftops of the Liver Building proud parochial scouser, three and a half hours is a long time to sit in front of a Cinema screen. This lovely, spiritual jaunt through the mind and work of everybody's second favourite Beatle, or 'the quiet/thoughtful/hindu one' delete as applicable, makes it pass almost unnoticed.
Directed by Martin Scorsese and co-produced by Georges wife Olivia, they somehow manage to avoid the usual beyond saturated Beatles footage by initially telling the familiar story of George and the bands early days. The use of Georges son Dhani reading letters and postcards sent home to Georges Mum lend a ghostly insight into what was going through the gentle but incisive mind of his father as their fame and fortune mushroomed almost reluctantly into that of some sort of living deity.
Some of the photographs and film footage which Scorsese gained access to from Georges family vault is a real visual treat. It goes on to tell the tale of his life after the band. The usual fare for Rock and Rollers is in there; drugs, women, insecurities, religion, salvation. The difference with this for me though when comparing it to other 'Rockumentaries' is that it feels absolutely expertly interwoven with some very funny, emotional, insightful talking head interviews from all the great and good that George seemed to seamlessly attract from all parts of the entertainment industry. Monty Pythons, F1 Drivers, fellow superstar musicians, even a manic Phil Spector makes an appearance. They're all in there. He meant an awful lot, to a lot of influential people.
The films flow from beginning to end mirrors that of Georges contrasting psyche, the quick witted scouse gadabout musician who liked the girls, the parties and all the trappings it brought and that of a mystic transcendental spiritual lad hailing from Wavertree who is effectively one of the last centuries and western worlds ''alternative'' forefathers, something incidentally which made his henna painted toes curl. He's basically just an extremely talented lad who managed to live his life exactly how he wanted. He was a Musician, film-maker, philanthropist, gardener and more. His quest eventually was for peace of mind and spirit and i reckon he got it with interest.
Make sure you catch this one then, you will not regret it, you will be rewarded witha wild eyed Phil Spector, Ringo making you like him again, Tom Petty's superb recounting from the Travelling Wilbury's to harrowing accounts of attempted murder from Olivia Harrison which due to Georges peaceful outlook on life leave you genuinely chilled. Finally, Its hard not to get a bit nostalgic and proud when watching such embellished footage of how four fella's from round the corner from where you were born yourself, pretty much changed they world for the better for a bit. But they did, he did and everyone should strive to be a bit more like George I reckon.
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