Before I start, I know that some people:
a) Think the "Love" remix is a travesty
and/or
b) Think that Cirque du Soleil is just a bunch of acrobats who cheapen the Beatles' music.
If you're in either of those groups, just skip this note and move on to whatever's next on your agenda for the day. I respect your opinion, and this review isn't for you.
For everyone else: WOO-HOO!!!
I am just back from seeing "All Together Now" at the American Film Institute/Discovery Channel "Silverdocs" documentary film festival, and it is a treat!
First of all, the setting -- the festival is screened at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland. It's a beautifully restored art deco cinema with state of the art projection and sound systems -- boy, does that add to the experience of seeing a film!
But then, the film. It's a kind of "making of" documentary about how "Love" was put together. It intercuts scenes of George and Giles Martin working on the soundtrack with interviews with all the principal players -- Paul, Ringo, Olivia, Yoko, George, Giles, Neil Aspinall, Guy La Liberte and the "Love" director, along with some of the Cirque cast. There are many laugh-out-loud lines among them. My favorite is the Quebecois director after hearing from Yoko at the first full dress rehearsal -- he mutters in French that Yoko hates the show.
I haven't been to Las Vegas to see the show yet, so a real treat for me was the film's archive of the show's evolution. It starts with the very earliest run-throughs at the Cirque rehearsal stage in Montreal, more than a year before the opening, with only the barest staging, costumes, and props. You get a real sense of how the show came together, in both an artistic and political process. Eventually the rehearsals move to Las Vegas, with more "flesh" added to the "bones", and with periodic visits from Paul, George M, Olivia, Yoko, et al. And then, finally, opening night, with the show in its full realization.
Intercut throughout are also a number of old film clips of the Fabs, individually and solo. If you've been collecting for awhile, you've seen pretty much all of them -- but they're here in very nicely restored form. Especially effective is a montage of the "Get Back" rooftop concert, with footage from "Let It Be", a modern-day re-visit to the rooftop, and Cirque's "Get Back" scene.
Paul, Ringo, Olivia, and Yoko all sound themes that will be familiar to people who have been paying attention -- but each of them also says a few fresh and unexpected things.
All in all, if you have the opportunity to see this in theatrical release, go! And I will be looking forward to the eventual DVD release.
Update (6/25/08)
A new feature on the film from Reuters. The article's discusses how Paul, Ringo, Olivia and Yoko overcame any past discord to make the project work.
Update (6/18/08)
All About Jazz reports on the American debut of "All Together Now." Note the article still has the incorrect June 24 release date. As we've reported first here exclusively, that date has been pushed back and is now TBA.
Dear Steve,
Of course the subject has been delayed. It's Apple Corps isn't it? The company is, by definition, incapable of doing anything in a timely manner, never mind that it only does one thing a year, if that, in the first place. Well, it can unleash a law suit at the proverbial drop of a hat in a timely manner. It does excel at that. That's the poorest excuse for a company EVER! We'll bloody never get any updated CDs. Never. We better get used to that and just forget about the whole mess.
Update (6/10/08)
In a story we first reported exclusively on Monday, we received official word at midday that "All Together Now" been definitely delayed until the fall, with no exact date set yet. A press representative for the DVD told us, "It’s being shown at Film Festivals right now (Toronto, Washington, and others) and has been getting a great reaction; it will now be scheduled for release later in 2008; we don’t have an exact date right now." No reason was given, though we're guessing it's to make it the year's Christmas project. When we get more information, we'll pass it on.
Update II (6/9/08)
We've gotten official word that "All Together Now" been delayed until the fall, with no exact date set yet. A press representative for the DVD told us, "It’s being shown at Film Festivals right now (Toronto, Washington, and others) and has been getting a great reaction; it will now be scheduled for release later in 2008; we don’t have an exact date right now."
Update (6/9/08)
Indications are that "All Together Now" may have been postponed. At least two people have contacted us and said Amazon.com has cancelled their orders. We're checking into this.
Here's the trailer for the "All Together Now" DVD. A couple of things to watch for: the Cirque du Soleil crew on the old Apple rooftop, and Dhani's reaction to seeing George's face on the big screen.
(4/13/2008) A press release issued last week:
APPLE CORPS LTD., CIRQUE DU SOLEIL AND EMI MUSIC ANNOUNCE THE GLOBAL
DVD RELEASE OF 'ALL TOGETHER NOW' ON JUNE 24
Feature-Length Documentary Chronicles The Making Of The Beatles' "LOVE"
by Cirque du Soleil
London, England - April 16, 2008 - On June 24, 2008 Apple Corps
Ltd./Cirque du Soleil will release the feature-length documentary 'All
Together Now' on DVD, which will be marketed and distributed worldwide
by EMI Music. The film details the story behind the unique partnership
between The Beatles and Cirque du Soleil that resulted in the creation
and launch of "LOVE," the stage production still wowing audiences at
The Mirage in Las Vegas, and the double Grammy-winning album of the
same name. The film is dedicated to the memory of Neil Aspinall, an
Executive Producer of the DVD.
The DVD's total running time is 122 minutes, including the 84-minute
documentary film and bonus features. The film and extras are presented
in DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and Dolby Digital Stereo.
'All Together Now' faithfully recounts how the "LOVE" project came into
being, borne from the personal friendship between George Harrison and
Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte. George saw how the twin talents
of Cirque's artistry and The Beatles' music could be fused into
something new and totally original.
The director, Adrian Wills, records early meetings between the Cirque &
Apple Corps Ltd. creative teams, as well as contributions from Sir Paul
McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison discussing
how The Beatles' music can be used in a different way. We hear about
the decision to utilize the combined talents of Sir George Martin and
his son Giles Martin to produce what became a 90-minute soundscape
created from The Beatles' multi-track recordings and how this new audio
adventure was being quietly worked on in the famous Abbey Road Studios
in London, England whilst the first creative ideas for the show were
being formulated in Montreal, Canada.
These early stages of the project were all filmed, as were the first
rehearsals at the Mirage Hotel theatre in Las Vegas, which was
completely rebuilt with a one-of-a-kind sound system and complex round
staging to house the "LOVE" show. George and Giles Martin, the show's
Musical Directors, were involved every step of the way with the
remarkable Cirque du Soleil creative team, performers and backroom
staff.
It wasn't all "plain-sailing" and there has been no attempt to disguise
some of the disagreements that took place along the way regarding how
some of the songs would be portrayed visually. These creative
differences, a necessary part of the overall process of bringing "LOVE"
to its most vibrant life, illustrate the participants' love and respect
for the music and vision of The Beatles.
In addition to their roles within the main feature, George and Giles
Martin, along with engineer Paul Hicks, also pop up in another piece
titled "Changing The Music" which reveals in fascinating depth how the
music was created and the challenges they faced. They explain how they
sourced some of the individual instruments and effects and how they
were encouraged to experiment.
The 'All Together Now' documentary and bonus features provide a
fascinating insight into the creative skills and passion that went into
making this project a groundbreaking critical and commercial success.
DVD contents
'All Together Now' documentary (84:00)
Bonus Features:
- "Changing The Music" (22:00): A behind-the scenes look at the
decision-making process for the "LOVE" concept and music production.
- "Music In The Theatre" (07:00): A look at the process of creating the
"LOVE" show's unique audio design.
- "Making 'LOVE'" (09:00): A backstage pass to explore the design of
"LOVE," including the art direction, costumes, props, screen imagery
and the use of The Beatles' voices in the "LOVE" stage production and
its soundtrack .
DVD technical details
1 x DVD-9
PAL and NTSC
All regions
www.thebeatles.com
www.cirquedusoleil.com
APPLE CORPS LTD., CIRQUE DU SOLEIL AND EMI MUSIC ANNOUNCE THE GLOBAL DVD RELEASE OF 'ALL TOGETHER NOW' ON JUNE 24 Feature-Length Documentary Chronicles The Making Of The Beatles' "LOVE" by Cirque du Soleil London, England - April 16, 2008 - On June 24, 2008 Apple Corps Ltd./Cirque du Soleil will release the feature-length documentary 'All Together Now' on DVD, which will be marketed and distributed worldwide by EMI Music. The film details the story behind the unique partnership between The Beatles and Cirque du Soleil that resulted in the creation and launch of "LOVE," the stage production still wowing audiences at The Mirage in Las Vegas, and the double Grammy-winning album of the same name. The film is dedicated to the memory of Neil Aspinall, an Executive Producer of the DVD. The DVD's total running time is 122 minutes, including the 84-minute documentary film and bonus features. The film and extras are presented in DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and Dolby Digital Stereo. 'All Together Now' faithfully recounts how the "LOVE" project came into being, borne from the personal friendship between George Harrison and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte. George saw how the twin talents of Cirque's artistry and The Beatles' music could be fused into something new and totally original. The director, Adrian Wills, records early meetings between the Cirque & Apple Corps Ltd. creative teams, as well as contributions from Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison discussing how The Beatles' music can be used in a different way. We hear about the decision to utilize the combined talents of Sir George Martin and his son Giles Martin to produce what became a 90-minute soundscape created from The Beatles' multi-track recordings and how this new audio adventure was being quietly worked on in the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, England whilst the first creative ideas for the show were being formulated in Montreal, Canada. These early stages of the project were all filmed, as were the first rehearsals at the Mirage Hotel theatre in Las Vegas, which was completely rebuilt with a one-of-a-kind sound system and complex round staging to house the "LOVE" show. George and Giles Martin, the show's Musical Directors, were involved every step of the way with the remarkable Cirque du Soleil creative team, performers and backroom staff. It wasn't all "plain-sailing" and there has been no attempt to disguise some of the disagreements that took place along the way regarding how some of the songs would be portrayed visually. These creative differences, a necessary part of the overall process of bringing "LOVE" to its most vibrant life, illustrate the participants' love and respect for the music and vision of The Beatles. In addition to their roles within the main feature, George and Giles Martin, along with engineer Paul Hicks, also pop up in another piece titled "Changing The Music" which reveals in fascinating depth how the music was created and the challenges they faced. They explain how they sourced some of the individual instruments and effects and how they were encouraged to experiment. The 'All Together Now' documentary and bonus features provide a fascinating insight into the creative skills and passion that went into making this project a groundbreaking critical and commercial success. DVD contents
