If you've seen the three-part Peter Jackson documentary series "Get Back" from 2021, then you've seen all there is to see in "Let It Be". Indeed, Jackson himself opens the remastered version conversing with director Michael Lindsay-Hogg, who gave us this first but largely unseen documentary from 1970 at a time when the Beatles were just about to break up. Much of the angst in the later series isn't very much in evidence here, except for a hint of the friction between Paul McCartney and George Harrison when the two quibble over the way something should be played. Yoko Ono is seen, though not as a disruptive influence, as is Linda Eastman with daughter Heather, who amusingly 'scares' Ringo when she surprises him with her presence. Billy Preston is aboard too, lending a hand on keyboard and visibly happy to be part of the mix. Overall though, my impression of this film is much like I had with the 'Get Back' series; unless you're a music historian or diehard Beatles fan, there's just not much substance to the effort. You've got four musicians at work coming up with lines of dialog and music to complete their next album, with Lindsay-Hogg admitting that he didn't know how the whole project was going to end. Paul's and John's voices aren't polished with the early run throughs of some songs, while Ringo looks bored most of the time. Fortunately, the Apple Studio rooftop concert that concludes the flick is a piece of music history you'll want to experience, although it's a condensed version of the complete presentation seen in "Get Back". Surprisingly, although much of the street crowd shows appreciation for the impromptu concert, no one seems astonished that the legendary Beatles are giving a free show. Which makes it seem incongruous when an elderly business type gentleman is heard to remark - "I think the Beatles are crackin'..."
Review of Let It Be
