{2jtab: Movie Review}
Academy Award-winning filmmaker (turned producer here) Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) teams up with past and present members of the Eagles and produces a pretty solid documentary charting the band’s history. Since this documentary is authorized by the group, the film – especially Part One – feels like a confessional. Appreciate the honesty as the near four hour film will take you through all the turmoil as the band’s history is recounted in chronological order.
Centered on the relationship between Don Henley and Glenn Fry once they meet up in California, The History of the Eagles rolls upon the footloose and freewheeling ethos of the 70s as original members Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon recall the good times. Interviews with Jackson Browne help cement the gaps in their memories. Still, it is obvious that this was/is/remains a band that excels when conflict is at its core.
The ups and downs of the Eagles’ trajectory is even weighed in by David Geffen and legendary manager Irving Azoff (who proudly waves his middle finger ever so often). Later members of the Eagles - Don Felder and Joe Walsh – arrive to discuss the work they did on the albums they were a part of. Still, most are happy to let the music do the talking and, with a lot of never before seen concert footage (which includes onstage fights between various members of the band), they do just that.
Unfortunately, the band’s past is more interesting than where it is now…endless touring during the summer months without a new album to support...and as such Alison Ellwood’s film is a bit top-heavy; “Part One” being the must-see if you’re a fan of music and the L.A. scene of the 1970s. The reunion depicted in “Part Two” feels rushed and a little underwhelming as it gallops toward the “Farewell” and eventual ending; it’s probably for fans of the band only. Though, it picks up at the beginning due to the uneasy feelings the guys were feeling about the band and any chance of a reunion in the 1980s. It’s certainly clear that there is still tension but, I guess, that’s what keeps these guys going…because I seriously doubt their book is closing anytime soon.
So…
…if you ever find yourself ‘On the Border’ and in need of a ‘Tequilla Sunrise’, check yourself in to ‘Hotel California’ and settle in “One of these Nights” with Ellwood’s History of the Eagles. (I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself.)
{2jtab: Film Details}
MPAA Rating: TV-MA.
Director: Alison Ellwood
Producer: Alex Gibney
Cast: Glen Frey; Don Henley; Joe Walsh; Timothy B. Schmit
Genre: Documentary
Tagline: History of the Eagles
Memorable Movie Quote: "All rock and roll bands are on the verge of breaking up at all times"
Distributor: Showtime Networks
Official Site:
Release Date: February 17, 2013
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: April 30, 2013
Synopsis: Alison Ellwood’s intimate, meticulously crafted patchwork of rare archival material, concert footage, and unseen home movies explores the evolution and enduring popularity of one of America’s truly defining bands.
Inspired by the vibrant Los Angeles music scene, Glenn Frey and Don Henley left Linda Ronstadt’s backup band to team with Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner and form the Eagles in 1971. While personal stories from band members (later including Don Felder, Joe Walsh, and Timothy Schmit), managers, and music-industry luminaries frame the narrative, it’s the unexpected moments—recording sessions, backstage interactions, and even a whimsical sequence from the Desperado cover shoot—that convey the inexplicable rapport linking artists, music, and the times (an era when country-tinged rock and pristine harmonies spoke to a nation still reeling from unrest).
But the band was not impervious to its own unrest, and its conflicts prompted several departures and ultimately led to its demise (or long vacation). This History of the Eagles Part One skips neither a beat nor a hit song, and we’re reminded why the band’s Their Greatest Hits collection remains one of the best-selling albums in U.S. history.
{2jtab: Blu-ray Review}
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Blu-ray Details:
Available on Blu-ray - April 30, 2013
Screen Formats: 1.78:1
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, German, Italian
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; English: LPCM 2.0
Discs: 50GB Blu-ray Disc; Three-disc set (3 BDs)
The History of the Eagles is presented on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a variety of aspect ratios due to the many different source elements used. That being said, most of the documentary is in 1.78:1 and 1:33. The interviews are all tastefully done, with a nicely sharp image, accurate color and pleasing fine object detail. It’s a mix of archival footage, recording sessions, and concert footage. Close-ups fare considerably better. Given the historical significance of so much of this footage (much of which has never been seen before), it's hard to find fault in it. The sound is presented in feature both a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track as well as an LPCM 2.0 track and, as a result, sounds fantastic.
Supplements:
Commentary:
- None
Special Features:
The documentary was recently broadcast on Showtime but the bonus disc was not. It is a heavily edited, 45 minute performance from the Washington, DC stop of 1977’s Hotel California tour. It’s a good show with adequate for the time production and remixed surround sound, but somewhat of a missed opportunity because so much of the gig is MIA.
The Eagles Live: March 1977 at Capital Centre (45 min)
{2jtab: Trailer}
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