Film review: 'Message to Love'
The Isle of Wight Music Festival in 1970 made Woodstock seem like a intimate, elegant gathering. Some 600,000 people showed up at the remote island off England's south coast, accessible only by foot, to participate in the last concert event of its kind, at least until Woodstock '94. A financial disaster, it is of historical importance because it features the last stage performances by rock legends Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison, both of whom would die shortly thereafter. Other artists on display include the Who, Donovan, Ten Years After, Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, Emerson, Lake and Palmer and many others. Murray Lerner's film, compiled from 200 hours of film shot by nine crews at the fest, is receiving its U.S. theatrical premiere at New York's Film Forum.
Although it contains extensive performance footage, "Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival" is not so much a concert film as it is an all-inclusive documentary chronicling the misadventures and chaos that occurred. The proceedings are often hilarious, with the concert promoters desperately trying to forestall financial ruin by begging the crowd to pay the admission fee and not destroy the premises (only about 10% wound up paying). Among the interviewed subjects are a former naval intelligence officer who sees the festival as part of a Communist plot and a hippie who calmly discusses his decision to give drugs to his young child "so he won't feel left out." One of the concert promoters is interviewed while sitting on the toilet. At one point, an announcement is made that the police are offering an amnesty for any drugs turned in; not one person takes them up on it.
The musical performances range from brilliant to pathetic. The Who turn in one of their very best shows (recently released as a double CD on Legacy), as indicated here by their blazing renditions of "Young Man Blues" and "Naked Eye". Jimi Hendrix is at his charismatic best doing "Voodoo Chile" and "Foxey Lady", Free deliver their hard-rocking "All Right Now", Jethro Tull perform a rambunctious "My Sunday Feeling", and the Doors mesmerize with "The End". On the other hand, there's Tiny Tim warbling "There'll Always Be an England", Kris Kristofferson walking off the stage in a huff shortly into "Me and Bobby McGee", and Joni Mitchell tearfully imploring the audience not to misbehave.
Ultimately, though, the hysterical scenes backstage are what make "Message to Love" so hilariously riveting. Watching the promoters desperately trying to get a handle on the situation -- and slipping further into chaos -- it's as if the idealism of the '60s is evaporating right in front of your eyes.
MESSAGE TO LOVE: THE ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL
A Strand Releasing release
A Castle Music Pictures presentation
in association with Initial Film and Television
and the BBC
Director-producer:Murray Lerner
Executive producers:Geoff Kempin, Rocky Oldham, Malcolm Gerrie, Avril MacRory
Photography:Andy Carchrae, Jack Hazan, Nic Knowland, Norman Langley, Murray Lerner, Richard Stanley, Charles
Stewart, Mick Whittaker
Editors:Einar Westerlund, Stan Warnow, Greg Sheldon, Howard Alk
Color/stereo
Running time -- 128 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Although it contains extensive performance footage, "Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival" is not so much a concert film as it is an all-inclusive documentary chronicling the misadventures and chaos that occurred. The proceedings are often hilarious, with the concert promoters desperately trying to forestall financial ruin by begging the crowd to pay the admission fee and not destroy the premises (only about 10% wound up paying). Among the interviewed subjects are a former naval intelligence officer who sees the festival as part of a Communist plot and a hippie who calmly discusses his decision to give drugs to his young child "so he won't feel left out." One of the concert promoters is interviewed while sitting on the toilet. At one point, an announcement is made that the police are offering an amnesty for any drugs turned in; not one person takes them up on it.
The musical performances range from brilliant to pathetic. The Who turn in one of their very best shows (recently released as a double CD on Legacy), as indicated here by their blazing renditions of "Young Man Blues" and "Naked Eye". Jimi Hendrix is at his charismatic best doing "Voodoo Chile" and "Foxey Lady", Free deliver their hard-rocking "All Right Now", Jethro Tull perform a rambunctious "My Sunday Feeling", and the Doors mesmerize with "The End". On the other hand, there's Tiny Tim warbling "There'll Always Be an England", Kris Kristofferson walking off the stage in a huff shortly into "Me and Bobby McGee", and Joni Mitchell tearfully imploring the audience not to misbehave.
Ultimately, though, the hysterical scenes backstage are what make "Message to Love" so hilariously riveting. Watching the promoters desperately trying to get a handle on the situation -- and slipping further into chaos -- it's as if the idealism of the '60s is evaporating right in front of your eyes.
MESSAGE TO LOVE: THE ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL
A Strand Releasing release
A Castle Music Pictures presentation
in association with Initial Film and Television
and the BBC
Director-producer:Murray Lerner
Executive producers:Geoff Kempin, Rocky Oldham, Malcolm Gerrie, Avril MacRory
Photography:Andy Carchrae, Jack Hazan, Nic Knowland, Norman Langley, Murray Lerner, Richard Stanley, Charles
Stewart, Mick Whittaker
Editors:Einar Westerlund, Stan Warnow, Greg Sheldon, Howard Alk
Color/stereo
Running time -- 128 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 12/26/1996
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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