Popular reviews

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  Review by 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗧 𝗥𝗢𝗪 ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎 ★★★

  A loving portrait of Robbie Robertson and The Band.

  You have to frame it as "Robbie Robertson and..." Because it's unquestionably viewed through his perspective of events. That will prove too controversial for some, and I have my own issues in some regards, but there's two key factors to consider in that Levon, Rick and Richard are sadly no longer here to tell their sides of the fallout, and secondly, Robbie always was the driving force (and most clear-headed) during those darker days and for that reason, his recollections will be the most candid.

  But Once Were Brothers is primarily a documentary full of love for the astonishing collective that came together and changed popular music nearly as much as…

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  Review by Vincent ★★ 3

  IFC Center - DCP

  Behind the Music+

  Recycled footage and interviews tell Robbie's story. I am a huge fan of The Band and have been for as long as I can remember. I read Levon's book when I was a teenager and read Robbie's recent Testimony almost as soon as it hit shelves but the lack of a Garth Hudson interview and the fact that Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Levon Helm are dead allows the filmmakers and Robbie to paint the entire picture how they see fit. Sure, Levon and Richard were reckless junkies but Robbie is going to pretend he and Scorsese didn't have a soft spot for the nose candy the entire 18months they were 'editing' The Last Waltz?

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  Review by Andy Summers 🤠 ★★★★½ 10

  The proof of a good documentary is how you feel afterwards. If the subject matter means as much to you as it did to me here, then the emotional pull of nostalgia and sadness can wash over you without you even noticing. The end of this documentary had me wiping tears from my cheeks, and as The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down from The Last Waltz played over text giving the dates of the deaths of Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, and Rick Danko, I couldn't help but feel an air of sadness at the memories I have of the untimely demise of three extremely talented musicians that have rightly earned their place in rock history.

  Once Were Brothers: Robbie…

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  Review by Chris Quinn ★★★½

  Thanks to this documentary I wouldn’t have known that Robbie Robertson invented music when he was 15 years old

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  Review by Jim Morrow ★★★ 3

  Oh brother! Where to begin? If you know very little, or nothing at all about the history and drama of the five-headed juggernaut known as The Band, this might not be the best place to start. If you want a very subjective and self-romanticized version, then here you are; Robertson's version, minus anyone, or anything to suggest otherwise. Yes, no question, Robbie Robertson was the guy who plotted much of the course, and wrote a lion's share of the material; all of that is true, but the truth is a lot deeper than what you'll get here. The rock that The Band's tale is written on are the first three albums, and especially the first two "Music From Big Pink"…

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  Review by Andy Summers 🤠 ★★★★½ 5

  It's been a bad week for film and music fans. It began with the death of legendary filmmaker William Friedkin on August 7th, and got even worse with the deaths of both Sixto Rodriguez on the 8th, and then Robbie Robertson on the 9th.

  Friedkin was a one-of-a-kind controversy magnet, a man who did things his own way, was a fabulous orator, and a wonderful director who left a legacy few could match.

  Sixto Rodriguez was someone I had no idea about until Malik Bendjelloul's stunning documentary, Searching for Sugar Man, one of my favourite ever documentaries, that introduced me to a mysterious and mercurial musician that was so humble, so unassuming, but an incredibly talented songwriter and performer.

  Which…

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  Review by Frances Meh ★★ 1

  As a teenager, I used to go to the bookstore just to re-shelve all the bibles into the fiction section. I like to think Levon Helm is doing the same with this Very-Robbie-Film™ at that great bookstore in the sky.

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  Review by Jason the Feature Creature ★★★★ 1

  Robbie Robertson tells his side of the story of the development, growth and eventual downfall of The Band. Of course, there are 4 other sides of the story missing from the documentary, but as long as you are along for the ride and want to hear what Robbie has to say, the doc delivers just that. The Band is probably my favorite band of all time, there are a number of better documentaries about them but I’m always happy to learn something new and hear some of my favorites once again.

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  Review by Bre ★★★★½ 2

  I love how this is framed as "Robbie Robertson tells HIS side of the story" when he has been telling his side of the story and pushing it as the 100% true narrative of The Band since 1976.

  Before I continue, let me first say this is an exceptionally well-made documentary. The filmmakers did an excellent job of capturing the history and magic of The Band and they should be commended for that. I absolutely loved watching it as a film. My gripes, continued below, are not with them.

  Robbie's approach to this feels like one long apology to Levon Helm in which he never once apologizes or actually admits any part in their falling out. Instead, it is Robbie…

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  Review by John Frankensteiner ★★½

  "Once Were Brothers:" Ooh, very nice. Love it.

  "Robbie Robertson and The Band:" Oh, fuck off, dude. Fucking dickhead.

  1990's VH1 ass documentary.

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  Review by gracie! ★★★★

  was there a single unattractive person in this movie. really . i just wanna know

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  Review by mrbalihai ★★★★ 5

  I have to confess to not being the world's biggest fan of The Band. I was certainly aware of their music back in the day, but my first direct exposure to them was taking some Hairy Hippie Ginger Art Chick from my Life Drawing class to see "The Last Waltz" at the Hollywood Cinerama Dome back in '78, and I was far more impressed with the powerhouse guest-star line up than I was with Robbie Robertson and company.

  That being said, I found this to be a fairly engaging documentary, although I think Robertson's view of The Band's place in pop-musical history is grossly overinflated, to say the least. Their sound was an interesting conglomeration of folk, blues, and country,…