Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
In this wildly entertaining vision of one of the twentieth century’s greatest artists, Bob Dylan is surrounded by teen fans, gets into heated philosophical jousts with journalists, and kicks back with fellow musicians Joan Baez, Donovan, and Alan Price.
D.A. Pennebaker's landmark cinéma vérité document of Dylan's 1965 UK tour is a genuinely singular piece of filmmaking — handheld, intimate, and unflinching in its access to a mercurial genius at his peak. The opening cue-card sequence alone is iconic. Cinematography earns a 4 for Pennebaker's raw, inventive approach that essentially codified the rock documentary form. Novelty is equally high: the film's voice and method were unprecedented and remain unmistakable. 'Acting' in the documentary sense reflects the naturalistic, unguarded performances of Dylan, Baez, and Donovan — genuinely compelling if occasionally performative on Dylan's part. The loose, episodic structure (Plot) works as a feature not a bug, though it can feel meandering. The ending is the film's weakest point — it simply stops rather than arriving anywhere, leaving the viewer without resolution or catharsis, a structural limitation even for cinéma vérité.