Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
Live Aid was held on 13 July 1985, simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, and the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, United States. It was one of the largest scale satellite link-ups and television broadcasts of all time: watched live by an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion, across 150 nations. "It's twelve noon in London, seven AM in Philadelphia, and around the world it's time for Live Aid...!"
Live Aid (1985) is a landmark concert documentary capturing one of the most historically significant musical events ever staged. The 'plot' is minimal by nature—it's a live concert record with little narrative arc, earning it a below-average score in that category. The performances, however, are genuinely exceptional: Queen's legendary set, Bowie, U2, Paul McCartney, and dozens more deliver some of the finest live music ever captured on film—acting/performance earns a 4. Cinematography is competent multi-camera live broadcast work, impressive for its scale but not artistically adventurous. Novelty is extremely high: no concert film before or since has captured this scale of global simultaneous broadcast, humanitarian purpose, and cultural moment—it is utterly singular. The ending, while emotionally resonant, fades naturally rather than building to a dramatic climax, landing solidly average.