STEVEN ROSEBORO

I had just turned 13 in 1970, but the Beatles' artistry had already affected me profoundly, as it still does today. Abbey Road still remains one of my 5 favorite albums of all time, and this film magnificently captures the brilliance and human frailties of the Greatest Band Ever. I highly recommend Bob Spitz' 2012 Biography, The Beatles, as a companion reader (i re-read the last half of the book prior to watching the Documentary); for younger fans, it really fills in the back story of what was going on in the life of the Band; the developing relationships of Yoko and John, Paul and Linda; the deterioration of Paul and John's relationship; George's growth as an artist as he played with Dylan and others in America, writing tremendous songs that were being begrudgingly accepted by Lennon/McCartney; John and George's total disillusionment with being Beatles, and major turmoil with their finances that led to explosive divisions between McCartney and his 3 mates. Watching the film in real-time as Paul tries to keep it together while coming up with classics on the fly is simply riveting. Thank God for Billy Preston, who has his fingerprints all over these songs; he gave the music and the film an incredible shot of adrenaline. Thank you Peter Jackson.