The energy level is so high that it's impossible to wipe the smile from our faces as we follow each perfectly formed scene ant set piece. Lester's direction is quick and very clever, far ahead of his time (MTV and Spinal Tap both arrived 20 years later!). The documentary structure and astonishingly natural performances conceal Owen's brilliant comic script, which is jam packed with gags that are both farcical and hilarious. And it all wonderfully captures John, Paul, George and Ringo--their distinctive personalities and quirks--just as their fame was really starting to take off. They obviously still have no idea how huge they are going to be; they're just four young men trying to have fun while everyone around them goes utterly mad. This is also definitely worth seeing on the big screen if at all possible--video can't compare, especially with the digitally enhanced print, which brings out the black and white cinematography (by Gilbert Taylor) with pristine beauty. And the crisp new soundtrack brings out undiscovered subtleties and details in these early song. Essential cinema.

innuendo

9.Apr.01

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