I’m biased on this one, I guess, being a lover of music in general, Dylan specifically, and Scorsese (most of the time), but I think just about anyone would get a kick out of some part of this documentary’s 4 hour duration. I wonder if Martin Scorsese was fully aware of quite how archetypal a story he’d wind up telling about Dylan, who here becomes the definitive Artist, just doing his thing, getting inspired, “happening” to become popular, fighting those who accuse him of betraying his roots as a “Protest Singer”, even as he quite clearly sings in protest at those accusations (“Play it loud!”) It’s a stunning collection of footage, mesmerisingly edited, mind-bogglingly structured. A must for anyone with a serious interest in music, and recommended viewing for anyone else. My favourite part might be a brief shot of an old Billboard chart which includes, at the top, Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone”, The Beach Boys’ “California Girls”, The Beatles’ “Help”, and The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody”.* Those were the days.

*A quick Googling uncovered this page and this was the top 10, September 10th 1965:
#1: “Help!” – The Beatles (Peak: #1; Peak reached: 9/4/65; Peak held: 3 weeks.)
#2: “Like a Rolling Stone” – Bob Dylan (Peak: #2; Peak reached: 9/4/65; Peak held: 2 weeks.)
#3: “California Girls” – The Beach Boys (Peak: #3; Peak reached: 8/28/65; Peak held: 2 weeks.)
#4: “Unchained Melody” – The Righteous Brothers (Peak: #4; Peak reached: 8/28/65; Peak held: 2 weeks.)
#5: “It’s the Same Old Song” – The Four Tops (Peak: #5; Peak reached: 8/28/65; Peak held: 2 weeks.)
#6: “I Got You Babe” – Sonny & Cher (Peak: #1; Peak reached: 8/14/65; Peak held: 3 weeks.)
#7: “You Were on My Mind” – We Five (Peak: #3; Peak reached: 9/25/65; Peak held: 1 week.)
#8: “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag Part I” – James Brown & the Famous Flames (Peak: #8; Peak reached: 9/4/65; Peak held: 2 weeks.)
#9: “Eve of Destruction” – Barry McGuire (Peak: #1; Peak reached: 9/25/65; Peak held: 1 week.)

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