"All Together Now" is a very good documentary film presenting the collaboration between the Beatles and Cirque Du Soleil. It is not so much concentrated on the Beatles, but how the show "Love" was made. It contains interviews with Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, Olivia Harrison, Sir George Martin, Giles Martin, Guy Laliberte, Dominic Champagne, Neil Aspinall and different stage performers and producers. It is directed by Adrian Wills.
You can follow the process how the music was made. Well, not actually made, but how George and and his son Giles Martin re-worked the magic tracks. It is amazing how different instruments from various songs work together to make it into something "new". "It's like the Sistine Chapel," says Giles, "taking off layers and finding the brightness underneath." It is very interesting to see the new string session of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". It is a flow of emotions. Seeing Giles Martin sitting behind the machine recording the over-dubbing of George Harrison's track and Olivia staying behind him looking upset and amazed how George Martin would conduct the song. Very emotional, even for me!
The tracks are very strong themselves. Of course, the songs were not remixed only at random, but to follow the direction and conception of "Love". To keep the magic and the spirit of the Beatles alive on stage was a very good idea to use the master recordings instead of a live backing band. I am very curious about the sound design at The Mirage (where the show is being presented). The Beatles in Dolby Digital Surround sound and over 6 000 speakers around the audience to make the effect as if you were in the studio with the them! Very ambitious and perhaps you would be absorbed by the music, in the full meaning of word.
"Instead of telling the Beatles story, I tried to touch the main emotions that went through their experience building the show as a rock 'n' roll poem." explains the director Dominic Champagne. We also see him in different stages working with the actors and acrobats. Different aspects of the body language and how to stick with the rhythm of the music and all that stuff. There are moments in the film where we see Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison consulting with Dominic and discussing the songs about what they like and what needs to be changed in the show. Yoko Ono always shows her authority and that's terrible to show her opinion in that way. Olivia is very nice and shows more understanding than Yoko. They defend their husbands' songs.
We also see Paul McCartney coming for the first dress rehearsal of "Love" at the venue. He acts like a real gentleman. He is very amazed to see how the work is going on and the team thank him for his presence and attention. It is interesting how Paul congratulates the acrobats and they raise their hands and clap at the same time.
It is very interesting for me to see the making not only as a Beatle fan, but as a future film director. You can learn how a grand musical show can be made and see all those people who went through those difficulties and pressure to make it possible. They wanted to do it as better as possible. Real perfectionists!
On the red carpet we see The Beatle Family for the very first time together! Cyntia Lennon and Julian Lennon, Sean Lennon, Yoko Ono, Olivia Harrison, Dhani Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and his wife Barbara Bach (plus other people who were a part of the Beatles story like Klauss Voorman among many others). We observe many intimate moments in this movie, but i will leave this to You. It is great to see Paul & Ringo sitting next to each other at the premiere of "Love" singing the songs like teenagers and remembering old days. Dhani and Olivia cry and feel thrilled when they see George on screens during the show and it's like he comes from Heaven to say he loves them. I wish i had been there with them!
"The Beatles were like acrobats of the mind, and Cirque Du Soleil are acrobats of the body. So when they come together, it makes something that's whole." says Yoko Ono and that's the essence of the whole project to celebrate and commemorate the legacy of the greatest band on the earth. "Just one more applause! For John and George!" as Paul McCartney shouted at the audience after the end of the musical.
This film is a sequel to the Beatles Anthology, in its own way. Definitely, it is a part of the Beatles' time-line and this show is historical. I'd love to see this show, but i cannot afford it to go to Las Vegas.
You must hear the album "Love" by The Beatles, as well!!! ;-)
