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“This film should be played loud!” instructs the title card of The Last Waltz (1978).
It is the film’s only commandment and a necessary one to lose oneself fully in quite possibly the best concert movies ever made. But how do you measure that, anyway?
Pedigree? Hard to do better than Martin Scorsese directing The Band’s 1976 farewell show, featuring guest appearances from Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, and a dozen other in-their-prime rock luminaries.
Lasting momentousness? True to his word, songwriter and guitarist Robbie Robertson never played another show with The Band. So the film’s precious finale premise has aged splendidly.
Irreplicable enthusiasm? You’ve never seen Neil Young smile so much, and Robertson is gleefully shredding like he knows he’ll get to sleep in his own bed for the next 50 years.
The Last Waltz plays March 12 at the Tomorrow Theater. Johnny Franco and his Real Brother Dom—Portland troubadours by way of Brazil—will be playing at the doors.
5th Ave: Born in Flames (1983), March 13–15.
Academy: Charlie’s Angels (2000), Network (1976), Mothra (1961), March 11 and 12. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), March 11. Death Becomes Her (1992), Song of the Sea (2014), Fitzcaraldo (1982), March 13–17.
Cinema 21: Mildred Pierce (1954), March 14.
Cinemagic: Little Shop of Horrors (1986), March 12. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), March 12. Van Helsing (2004), March 11. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986), March 11. Maniac Cop (1988), March 17.
Clinton Street: The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009), March 12. Certain Woman (2016), March 14. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), March 14. First Cow (2020), March 15.
Cult Classics: Leprechaun 3 (1995), March 15.
Hollywood: Slap Shot (1977), March 11. The Gleaners and I (2000), March 12. The Last Unicorn (1982), March 14. Macross Plus: Movie Edition (1994), March 15. Invention for Destruction (1958), March 16.
Tomorrow: Once Within a Time (2023), March 14.
