I should begin by disclosing that I watched this documentary immediately after viewing Peter Jackson's superb effort, Get Back.
Get Back succeeds by inviting the viewer to be a "fly on the wall" during the Beatles' songwriting process. Everything that happens unfolds in the room right before the viewers eyes. There's no real attempt to explain to the viewer what's transpiring. There's no real narration. Jackson understands that his audience is smart enough to draw their own conclusions about what's transpiring on screen.
In "Eight Days a Week," Director Ron Howard relies on some of the same narrative devices one might see in a television show on the E! Channel. Just when the viewer is being captivated by the documentary footage and the wonderful music, the film gets interrupted by the likes of Eddie Izzard and Whoopi Goldberg elaborating on how they feel about the Beatles and offering their opinions on the band's impact on popular culture.
While I enjoyed "Eight Days," I much preferred Jackson's understated approach to storytelling.
Admittedly, I watched the films in the wrong order. In hindsight l, I should have watched Howard's film first and then moved on the Jackson's, if only to enjoy the chronology of the story.
Whether you're a hardcore Beatles fan, or not, I recommend watching "Eight Days" first, followed by a good binge watching session of Get Back.
And when watching Howard's film, try not to be distracted by the few "cameos" that seem superfluous and completely unnecessary l.
Get Back succeeds by inviting the viewer to be a "fly on the wall" during the Beatles' songwriting process. Everything that happens unfolds in the room right before the viewers eyes. There's no real attempt to explain to the viewer what's transpiring. There's no real narration. Jackson understands that his audience is smart enough to draw their own conclusions about what's transpiring on screen.
In "Eight Days a Week," Director Ron Howard relies on some of the same narrative devices one might see in a television show on the E! Channel. Just when the viewer is being captivated by the documentary footage and the wonderful music, the film gets interrupted by the likes of Eddie Izzard and Whoopi Goldberg elaborating on how they feel about the Beatles and offering their opinions on the band's impact on popular culture.
While I enjoyed "Eight Days," I much preferred Jackson's understated approach to storytelling.
Admittedly, I watched the films in the wrong order. In hindsight l, I should have watched Howard's film first and then moved on the Jackson's, if only to enjoy the chronology of the story.
Whether you're a hardcore Beatles fan, or not, I recommend watching "Eight Days" first, followed by a good binge watching session of Get Back.
And when watching Howard's film, try not to be distracted by the few "cameos" that seem superfluous and completely unnecessary l.