Dont Look Back (1967)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Good start, but then it gets ruined

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Filmed in 1965, this documentary follows Dylan and his entourage on his British tour. There are some concert scenes that give a feel for his performance persona. There are scenes of his manager and British agents making deals for him to appear at various venues. But most of the film concerns Dylan backstage.Shot in black and white, the film shows Dylan to be very mercurial. He is at times charming, communicative and seemingly open about his feelings. Other times--in fact most of the time--he is confrontational, condescending and self-contradictory. He is about 24 years old and these scenes remind me of discussions I had when I was that age with other college students. His arguments are circular, as if he enjoys arguing more than he enjoys communicating. He embraces the poet's privilege of not explaining the meaning of his lyrics (which is fine). One gets the feeling that he is tired of dealing with the media and others who want to pick his brain. Why did he give them audience, then? On the other hand, he is generous with fans who have no questions for him, merely seeking his presence or a glimpse of the man.While some of his songs do seem somewhat shallow, others are undeniably deep with meaning about issues that are very timely. Regardless, his songs often have a hypnotic effect, with their sing-song cadences. This film might raise more questions than it answers, but it is fun to watch. The presence of Joan Baez is a plus. Her voice was always special. We don't see much of her, but enough to see her react to teasing and to make silly faces in return.Dylan's songs feel mostly declarative. They are assertions and observations. They usually don't extract the emotional responses of, say, Joni Mitchell, who invites listeners to her inner world. Dylan asks his listeners to regard the outside world with him.

I'm a huge fan of both Bob Dylan and D.A. Pennebaker's documentaries, so to me, this was a no-brainer to watch, especially this vintage. I was fortunate to catch Dylan live, after his life-threatening bout of pericarditis, in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the Hill Auditorium with the Kenny Wayne Shepherd band as support, but how amazing it would have been to have caught him live on this British tour, from a generation earlier.I would have given it a perfect rating, but I docked a mark for him making fun of Donovan, for crying out loud. Yes, he is Bob Dylan and deserves to say what he wants to, but don't be such a jerk, man.

OMG what can I say about this documentary that hasn't been said already? This is an outstanding film for fans of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Donovan. Of course the main focus is Bob Dylan and his 1965 tour of England.There are quite a few funny moments that had me literally laughing out loud, some moments that are intense, other times it's very peaceful just to kick back an listen to the beautiful songs.I knew I would enjoy this film - but I can't believe just how much I thoroughly enjoyed it. So much behind the scenes footage that I felt I was right there with them. The concert footage had me feeling like I was sitting in the front row.This is well worth watching if you like Dylan, Baez and Leitch. Highly recommended.10/10

Bob Dylan is the ideal subject for a documentary. He knows how to play to the cameras, and although his arrogance is legendary, so is his talent as a songwriter. His catalogue is unbelievable, and Don't Look Back follows him on tour in England in 1965, at the early part of his career. Joan Baez and Donovan are seen performing off the cuff, in a hotel room with Dylan smoking a cigarette and typing lyrics on a manual typewriter. The ease with which he composes songs is a marvel to watch. A British reporter has the misfortune of interviewing Bob at a press conference, and he is skewered by the young ànd brash American. My favorite line is when Bobby utters the phrase, "give the anarchist a cigarette" a reference to media descriptions of him. The voice of a generation sings at Royal Albert Hall, and he is mesmerizing. The word genius is too often used to describe an artist, but it is appropriate in the case of Mr. Dylan.