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Reviews
Dylan documentary gives glimpse into productive 'middle years'Date published: 9/14/2006 YOUTH CORRESPONDENT In 1966, the already iconic folk singer Bob Dylan crashed his motorcycle in Woodstock, N.Y. To rock historians, the accident ushered in a period of both seclusion and extreme creativity. But for the average fan, Dylan's "middle years" may have seemed a mystery--until now. "Bob Dylan--1966-1978: After the Crash" does much more than portray Dylan during the years following his fateful wreck. The DVD documentary shows both the struggles and triumphs that Dylan went through as he reinvented himself again and again in the years following his accident. The DVD mainly focuses on the many albums Dylan released during this time period, including "Blonde on Blonde," "John Wesley Harding," "Self Portrait," "Planet Waves" and "Desire." Although some were rejected, others were said to be some of the greatest albums ever made. The commentators for the documentary have extensive knowledge about Dylan's life and works. Their well-informed thoughts and ideas give a fresh perspective on Dylan, who was often trashed by the public and harsh critics, especially after the crash. Throughout the film, bandmates and fellow musicians share insightful facts about Dylan that help the viewer understand his real genius. These insiders share stories of tours, spontaneous recordings and the many special things that Dylan said to them. Although the two-hour documentary presents what may seem like a lot of information to take in, it has a good balance of critiques, background knowledge, sound clips, pictures and video clips. All of these elements keep the viewer from hitting pause. One of the most interesting parts of the film is the story of Dylan's encounters with Alan Jules Weberman. This Dylan enthusiast used "Garbology" to learn more about Dylan--that is, he dug through Dylan's garbage to try to find out anything he could about him. He also tried to decode Dylan's lyrics to see if he was ever sending messages to his listeners. Although the documentary may be hard to follow at first if you don't know anything about Dylan, after investing two hours, it is impossible not to appreciate this musical legend's amazing recovery. CAITLIN DUFFY is a sophomore at James Monroe High School.
Date published: 9/14/2006
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