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Beatles The, Yoko Ono, Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Billy Preston, George Martin ... see more see more... , Linda McCartney , Mal Evans , Heather McCartney , John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison , Ringo Starr , Beatles

The dissolution of the Fab Four is captured on camera in Michael Lindsay-Hogg's documentary, a filmed record of the sessions for what would become the Beatles' final release, Let It Be. (Abbey Road, c... read more read more...ut shortly after these sessions, was in fact the group's final recording, but it was released a year before these often-delayed songs.) Included is footage shot at the famous rooftop concert that was the Fabs' final live appearance. The Beatles are shown rehearsing, performing, arguing, and recording and allow the cameras to record their every word and note in the recording studio. The film opens with Paul showing Ringo a piano composition, while the group is surrounded in silence, seemingly light years removed from the screaming hordes of fans that necessitated their withdrawal from performing live. Billy Preston later drops by to jam on keyboards. For this film, the Beatles collectively won an Oscar for "Best Original Film Score," their only Academy Award. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

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83% liked it

5,862 ratings

Critics

82% liked it

11 critics

G, 1 hr. 20 min.

Directed by: Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Release Date: January 1, 2001

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Flixster Reviews (325)

  • fb729949618
    December 3, 2011
    fb729949618
    The Beatles doing that they do best, making music. Never a bad thing.
  • harrycaul
    May 11, 2008
    harrycaul
    I wouldn't be surprised if the reason why "Let It Be" is so difficult to obtain legally has something to do with Paul McCartney's awareness that he comes across as a bit of a twat in it. When he's not bullying George Harrison about his playing, he's bitching to John Lennon about ... read moreHarrison's reluctance to perform in front of a live audience. There's also something cringe-making about the way in which McCartney earnestly pitches his songs ("Let It Be" and "The Long and Winding Road") straight down the barrel of the camera, while the other band members generally try to ignore the film crew.

    In the short-term, giving up touring in 1966 immeasurably improved the quality of both The Beatles' song-writing and their record production, but it also gave them too much free time to devote themselves to dubious religious enlightenment and naïve business ventures; in the era of Peace and Love they were a soft touch for parasitic spongers. If the formation of Apple Corps was a significant nail in the coffin of The Beatles, so too was the fact that, by stopping touring, they had effectively cut themselves off from their raison d'être: their audience. The famous rooftop concert that ends "Let It Be" is the perfect metaphor for the demise of The Beatles themselves. There they are on the roof of the Apple Building, working-class heroes turned businessmen, playing their hearts out for the public one last time - to a crowd of curious but largely unappreciative white-collar conservatives. It's a spectacle as tragic as it is uplifting.
  • rubystevens
    May 9, 2008
    rubystevens
    i'm not sure i can objectively rate this but it was a joy to watch. it's alot of raw footage interspersed with amazing performances from the legends of my childhood. seeing them jam in the studio on shake rattle and roll and lawdy miss clawdy and witnessing the creation of the ... read moresongs that became their last album was an emotional experience for me. it all culminates in 20 mins of the famous rooftop concert, seriously disrupting business in the street below, as some complained! i thought the touching relationship between john and paul was still quite evident here despite attempts to demonize yoko ono. this film was not easy to come by but if u get the opportunity, check it out. it's an awesome piece of rock n roll history
  • ileo
    January 24, 2008
    ileo
    Fantastic!
  • kenscheck
    May 12, 2012
    kenscheck
    This documentary was made in order to complete the Beatles three film contract (Magical Mystery was made for TV and did not count, and because of their limited involvement, the Beatles were unable to use Yellow Submarine to finish out their contract). The film was initially mean... read moret to showcase how the Beatles produce an album, but because by this point in their career they were starting to wear on each other, the result is much more unpleasant, as many have said in the past it really showcased how the Beatles began to break up. It is hard to look at this film and not see what we all know happened after. They had no idea at the time, but it is completely obvious with hindsight. The film is interesting to see for die hard fans, probably not for anyone else. It is also very hard to find, as the Beatles haven't properly released it in years (never officially on DVD).
  • Salemslot9
    March 12, 2011
    Salemslot9
    watched on the big screen at a midnight show~
    have an old taped bootleg vhs copy~
    before dvd came out
  • anotherwhitemeat
    December 17, 2008
    anotherwhitemeat
    There are a number of fascinating moments witnessed here, but there are far too many subtleties of interest to count. If you love the Beatles I recommend this strongly. If you don't love them, listen to one of their records. My favorite moment here is when George is helping Ring... read moreo work out Octopus's Garden, and John comes into the studio, sees George with a guitar and Ringo on the piano, so naturally, he sits down on the drums and starts to play with them. I think there's something pretty strong there, even if it's each individual's relationship to music rather than each other. I love that moment.
  • spleenylutheran
    November 26, 2007
    spleenylutheran
    OK now, you Apple guys, WHEN WILL IT COME OUT ON DVD???? This is getting to be ridiculous. How many years must we wait?


    I did think that the most poignant moment it the film when John was waltzing with Yoko while the other Beatles were playing the music (if I remember it rig... read moreht after all these years).
  • phoenix92901
    November 1, 2007
    phoenix92901
    Sad chronicle about the end of a great band. It's almost uncomfortable to witness a tense scene between Paul and George but my favorite is when John and Yoko dance around the studio while George sings "I, Me, Mine." The rooftop concert is, of course, classic. Although The Beat... read moreles went on to produce Abbey Road, John's final line "I'd like say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we passed the audition" is a fitting farewell.
  • finalfanstasy
    June 27, 2007
    finalfanstasy
    Classic material here. Shows the progress of several classics in the making and foreshadows the eventual demise of the group

View All Let It Be Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
September 6, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

Let It Be is a relatively innocuous, unimaginative piece of film. Full Review

Dave Kehr
September 26, 2002
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Sanitized it may well be, but agonizing nonetheless -- it's a domestic squabble that somehow touches history. Full Review

September 6, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The scenes included in the film show the four simply trying to make music, and often as not having fun doing it. Full Review

June 24, 2006
Time Out

The sycophancy of the direction notwithstanding, this survives as a fascinating record of both the Beatles' collapse and their unending power over their audience (us). Full Review

Phil Hall
September 25, 2003
Phil Hall, Film Threat

In many ways, it is the best Beatles film. Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Like the album it shares a name with, the film is not all it should have been. Full Review

Ken Hanke
October 17, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Phoney documentary with great music. Notable for the bits of truth that get through

Shane Burridge
September 24, 2002
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews

The only glimpse we will have of the world's most successful and influential musical group at work

Lori Hoffman
January 25, 2006
Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly

No review available.

Philip Martin
October 30, 2002
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Let It Be Trivia

  • Which movie had the tagline "If my memory of her has an expiration date, let it be 10,000 years..."?  Answer »
  • For which film did the Beatles win an Oscar for Best Original Song Score?  Answer »
  • Name this movie from the line: "don't let your past dictate who you are but let it be part of who you will become"  Answer »
  • In which Beatles film did John Lennon say this?  Answer »
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