Roger Waters: The Wall
I've now experienced Pink Floyd's The Wall in 4 different ways. First on album, then through the 1982 movie. Then in concert at Madison Square Garden, back in October 2010. And now in a docudrama concert film. This way was my favorite. It was the deepest connection I've yet made to the material, and I finally see it for the immense work of art it truly is. It's probably the greatest and most complete Rock opera ever recorded.
The movie opens with Roger Waters driving to a cemetery in France where his grandfather was buried during World War I. I knew Waters father was killed in World War II before he had a chance to meet Roger, who was in the womb, but I did not realize that the same fate happened to his grandfather and father 30 years earlier. What a horrible coincidence.
It's late fall or winter and the sky is more colorless than gray. With the white tombstones all around and the pale skin and silver hair of the 71 year old Waters, the whole scene is almost as white as the cover of the 1979 album. Standing before his grandfather's name, Waters removes a trumpet from a case he was carrying, takes a few deep breaths and blows the opening chords of "Outside the Wall". It's a haunting beginning to an amazing film.
We go back and forth between a concert that seems to be filmed in a soccer stadium in France and Waters trip through the cold European countryside as he tries to deal with the loss of his father and grandfather and his own twisted upbringing caused by it. Seeing him with one of his oldest friends and seperately with his grown children brings out his happy side, but we don't see it too much otherwise. He's haunted. The music plays it out and seems to be his best way of dealing with it. But seeing the background and watching the man drown his sorrows in a small French hotel bar, brings new depth to the music for me as a fan.
Reading the background of the album and of the band at the time, revealed to me how Waters felt disconnected from his audience during the tour for the Animals album. I had no idea they were playing football stadiums already by then and I guess the fans wanted to hear just the hits and Floyd and particularly Waters had other plans. So mentally he built a wall between himself and the audience and it took writing The Wall album to help bring it down. His performances now are much more happy than back in 1980. He loves his audience now.
The music on stage and the tremendous stage show that goes with it are even more breathtaking in the film, than when I saw them live. Maybe because I was sitting to the far left of the stage and couldn't appreciate it as much. Seeing it dead center, you sit with your mouth open as images come flying at you with regularity, but don't bombard you. The pacing is remarkable. Maybe my favorite moment of the show/film is when animated planes are seen dropping bombs of famous symbols. Keeping up with all of them becomes a fun game, look there's a cross, there's a Mercedes symbol, there's a hammer and sickle and there's the Golden arches.
The musicians are all exemplary and the singer who performs David Gilmour's parts is tremendous. When the film ends, just as you are about to leave, you realize there is a 15 or 20 minute Easter egg added on. It's Waters and Floyd drummer Nick Mason sitting at a kitchen table reading questions from Floyd fans and answering for each other. It is warm and very funny, watching these old friends laugh about the good and sometimes not so good times. One question to Waters: "Do you have any regrets about your time with the band?" Waters shakes his head and smiles saying "no." Mason looks up a bit shocked and says "really, none?" LOLOL
For a Floyd fan this is an absolute must. For a rock fan with a deep appreciation for Floyd, this is an even more important film, as it truly reveals why this band is so great. Even though Floyd is not in the film, other than Waters. It's their work represented down to every last note. In 100 years, people will be listening to the best rock and roll live, like they listen to Mozart now, with an appreciation for the artist Loooooonnng after they are gone.
This movie receives 5 Bananas out of 5 according to the NoMoreStinkyMonkeys.com website.
