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Exceptionally moving but not the least bit sentimental, Concert for George is a splendid tribute to the late George Harrison, whose contributions to the Beatles were so often hidden in the long shadows of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. A year to the day after Harrison's November 29, 2001 death, Eric Clapton assembled some musicians--people who had played with Harrison and known him intimately, including McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Tom Petty--to perform his music at London's Royal Albert Hall. They take on not just the predictable ("My Sweet Lord" and "Something," beautifully sung by Billy Preston and Sir Paul, respectively), but also lesser-known fare like "Old Brown Shoe" and "Beware of Darkness," all to superbly empathetic effect. But the tune most likely to make you misty-eyed is "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," which brings together three of the five musicians who played on the original recording: Ringo on drums, Clapton replicating his own classic solo, and McCartney playing piano and harmonizing with Clapton's lead vocal. Concert for George enjoyed a brief theatrical release, but even those who caught it on the big screen will delight in this two-disc DVD edition. Disc 1 features the complete concert (sans interview and rehearsal footage, but with a few additional songs and in the original running order), while disc 2 contains the theatrical version and some additional backstage and photo material. All in all, a beautiful piece of work. Wish you were here, George--but man, what a way to be missed. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (214)

A Splendid Musical Memorial.
On Nov 29th 2002, the Royal Albert Hall played host to "The Concert For George", in which all the proceeds went to some of George Harrisons favorite charities. Organized by his widow Olivia, son Dhani and Eric Clapton, this all-star celebration of the life and music of George Harrison, proves to be both somber and happy, as friends and musicians play touching covers of some of Georges biggest hits. Just like the "Concert For Banglsdesh", the show starts of with an indian music session, which features a full orchestra of eastern and western musicians, playing songs composed by his friend and mentor, Ravi Shankar. The real treat is watching his daughter Anoushka, play the sitar. She was the centerpiece of the entire performance. She was simply phenominal, proving that she is indeed, like her father, a master of the sitar. The rock n roll side of the show opened up with Jeff Lynne singing "I Want To Tell You", which set the tone for the rest of the show, in which the all-star cast played one Harrison tune after another with genuine feeling from the heart. Dhani Harrison played rhythm acoustic and electric guitar during the entire show, and is the splitting image of his father. The guest list reads like a who's who of music. Besides Clapton, You will see Jools Holland,Tom Petty,Billy Preston,Ringo Starr,Paul McCartney,Gary Brooker,Jim Capaldi and great session people like, Jim Keltner,Ray Cooper,Jim Horn,Tom Scott,Albert Lee,Klaus Voormann,Chris Stainton,Henry Spinetti and Andy Fairweather Low. Some of the highlights include, Billy Prestons take on "My Sweet Lord" and "Isn't It A Pity", Tom Petty doing "Handle With Care", Paul McCartney and Clapton on "Something" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". Overall, I must say that you can tell, that a lot of effort went into this production, as evident by the wonderful sound and picture quality as well as the handsome packaging that the DVD is housed in. Hearing Joe Brown end the show with an emotional "I'll See You In My Dreams", instead of an obligatory all-star encore jam, is what George Harrison was all about. He was a simple man, who loved melodies, valued his privacy over his celebrity and always lent a helping hand to those less fortunate. I highly recommend this DVD to one and all.

COULDN'T BE MUCH BETTER!
This should be the model for all concert DVD's. Disc two contains the theatrical version while disc one has the complete show from beginning to end. As much as I love "Back In The U.S," I wish they had packaged it in this manner. The audio and video are simply superb, couldn't have been better. The packaging is great, with the tri-fold containing the discs and booklet inside a sleeve. I can think of only one drawback to the DVD. It would have been nice to have included a biography of all the onstage performers from the concert. There are so many that I'm not familiar with. The show was taped in the 133 year old Royal Albert Hall in London on the first anniversary of George's death, November 29, 2002. The concert opens with Olivia lighting candles and then Eric Clapton walks out, speaks briefly, then introduces Ravi Shankar, who says a few words. Anoushka Shankar(Ravi's daughter and the half-sister of Norah Jones) plays an 8 minute piece on the sitar. I enjoy Indian music and she is as beautiful as she is talented. Then she and others accompany Jeff Lynne on "The Inner Light." I particularly enjoy this number. This is followed by a long piece written by Ravi, called "Arpan." He wrote this in tribute to George and both the Indian and Western orchestras play on it. Eric Clapton joins in late on the acoustic guitar. There are moments that I enjoy but overall, I didn't care for this number. I don't care for the next segment at all.I've never cared for Monty Python and their contribution to the show was boring and vulgar, as usual. BTW, although it isn't mentioned to the audience, Tom Hanks is part of their act. Next, the Pop music portion opens with ''I Want to Tell You.'' The instrumentation and vocals are great on this tune. A few highlights from this segment would be....."Here Comes The Sun"-Joe Brown"Horse To The Water''-Sam Brown(Joe's daughter)"Taxman"-Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers"Honey Don't"-Ringo"For You Blue"-Paul McCartney"Something"-It's great when the Clapper and Macca do a brief duet on this one."My Sweet Lord"-Billy Preston This track is simply awesome. Billy sings better than ever. As a Christian, I can't agree with the Hindu aspects of this tune, but I must admit the melody is beautiful."Wah Wah"-Everybody plays on this, but the primary vocal is done by Jeff Lynne, who does a great job."I'll See You In My Dreams"-Joe Brown is incredible on this old standard. It's very poignant as the confetti falls and the camera switches to a giant photo in the arena of a young George holding a guitar. Eric Clapton is great as the emcee, but I only wish that Paul and Ringo had played a bigger part in the show. It would also have been great if George Martin and Pattie could have been there and maybe said a few words. It's really eerie seeing George's son, Dhani onstage playing the guitar. He has a strong resemblance to his father. I recommend this excellent DVD to any Beatles or George fan. I guarantee, you will watch it again and again and........

Unreal
No question, this is the best of the best. The recording is exceptional, and just when you think it's over, Wah-Wah takes over. You will clap your hands to the beat of about 6 drummers including Ringo - a classic for you and your kids. Don't miss it.

Most requested DVD in Mott's Pub
This DVD concert never comes across as a sad Memorial concert for the late great George Harrison, more of a celebration of the life ,love, music ,and most of all faith of a wonderful human being.During George Harrison's tragically short life he touched many people. Obviously he was one of the lovable Moptops from Liverpool ,who's music and attitude changed the world as we know it. He also started the charity music culture with his concert for Bangla Desh in 1971. ( Would there have been a Live Aid etc with out the Charity concert held for the starving people of Bangla Desh if he had not been for George Harrison's groundbreaking concert a decade before?0 He almost single handedly made the world AWARE of whole new cultures from the Asia. Not forgetting his own solo career, at first the most successful Beatle to go solo, his first releases back in 1970 went to Number One all over the world with his magnificent triple album " All Things Must Pass",and the single taken from it " My Sweet Lord''.
George also formed Handmade movies which saved the masterpiece " The Life Of Brian " by Monty Python ( George actually has a walk on part as the Mayor if you look closely.) the world would definitely be a sadder place without that little Python masterpiece.
This double DVD package has the first DVD devoted to the whole concert in it's correct running order, so that all of us that were not able to be there on that magical night at the Albert Hall in London on November 29 2002 can get an inkling of what was going on . The second DVD gives you snippets of the concert intererspersed with interviews from Georges friends,rehearsals and backstage footage ,interesting and sometimes hilarious stuff. There is over 2 hours and twenty minutes of material on DVD Two , whilst the concert on Disc One lasts for nearly 2 1/2 hours.
There are too many musical highlights to mention them all. But before I list the group of friends that turned up to celebrate Georges life ,and what songs they decided to play, I shall try to point out a few.
The concert starts out with a specially composed piece by Ravi Shankar written for George 'Aspan',where what I can only call a blend of Asian Folk/Orchestra meets western influences the results are quite stunning, with Ravi's daughter playing the sitar as beautifully as she looks , and she is very beautiful, matching Eric Clapton when he joins her on acoustic guitar. The Monty Python team, get on stage for two songs, the wonderful irreverence of the songs would have had George rolling around the aisles in laughter, notice also Tom Hanks the movie star having the time of his life as a Mountie in the chorus line.Eric Clapton does a wonderful job as musical director as well as contributing some stunning guitar work ,especially in recreating his solo from" My Guitar Gently Weeps '' from the Beatles 'White Album'. Poor Ringo barely keeping his emotions under control whilst singing 'Photograph'. It is also the first time that Paul McCartney , Billy Preston and Ringo Starr have all performed on the same stage together since a certain legendary roof top concert over thirty years ago.Although the concert would not of been the same without Paul McCartney, he for once does not dominate proceedings leaving plenty of room for others to shine ,and shine they do. George Harrison' son Dhani himself a fine musician is often allowed center stage.Whilst George Harrison's old mucker Joe Brown brings the concert to an emotional climax. The set from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in the middle of the second section is simply stunning. Tom Petty was in George Harrison's other group the Traveling Wilburys with Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne,and Roy Orbison.Look out for the guitar solo from Albert Lee during " Honey Don't" it raises the Albert Hall Roof a few inches higher.The singing of Sam Brown and Gary Brooker are as ever highlights of any concert.
This DVD delivers in every possible aspect,and would not disappoint anybody with even a passing interest in the life and times of George Harrison. There is also a double CD of this concert which is nice to have whilst driving the car , but you get so much more with the DVD.
By Mott the Dog. Edited by Ella Crew.

for George
Absolutely brilliant. Clapton, Lynne, Joe Brown, Petty, Ringo and all definately celebrated George's anniversary. Monty Python was rather cheeky but always is and we wouldn't want him any other way. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

excellent cinematography and acting
This movie was really underated when it was released...the concept, direction (David Leland) and cinematography are all excellent. Jeff Daniels does a great job as the main character, and Allan Havey is hysterical as his best buddy. Look for a cameo appearance by David Byrne, of Talking Heads. Definitely worth checking out.

Live your life to the Fullest
Jeff Daniels and Melanie Mayron are brillant in this very funny movie about dying...mortality....and finally living your life to the fullest.

Check It Out
This was a superb film, seemingly about death but truly about life, it's there to be enjoyed, much like this film (sorry that sounds so cheesy but thats a fact) ... Read more

Reviews (5)

ending ruins it. review includes spoilers.
This was a funny, high-spirited, literate film, but the ending was disgusting and ruined the film for me. Emily Lloyd's character Linda is self-centered, self-absorbed, desperate to be the center of attention at any cost. That's fine as a character study. But in the end she gets impregnated by a wretched, scum bag, dirty-old-man lech. And Linda has the baby, and now that she has total POWER over this baby since she's the poor thing's MOTHER, that's considered some sort of victorious happy ending!!! "I now have control of my fate, yippeee." No, she has control of that baby's fate, which is TRAGIC!! Linda is going to be the most wretched mother for that kid, being, as mentioned, self-centered and self-absorbed. Egomaniacs make terrible parents. And, as with Linda, it's often egomaniacs who want to be parents most, for the control it gives them over a human life. I've known kids with mothers like Linda, and they end up in rehab by age 14. And just on a genetic level, Linda's baby has a bad roll of the dice with the narcissistic mess that is Linda for a mother and that dirty sociopathic lech as its father.

The same ending would have been acceptable if its TONE had been one of TRAGEDY for the unfortunate baby. But to portray the outcome as a "victory" for Linda appalled me.

When I later learned that this film was based on the story of a notorious British madam named Cynthia Payne, who ran a house of ill repute for old-age pensioners and retired military men with kinky tastes, I was hardly surprised.

"Up yer bum!"
Film buffs should rejoice that this outstanding little British gem has finally seen the light of day on DVD. David Leland's 1987 comedy-drama about a headstrong 16-year-old girl's "coming of age" in post WW 2 England only played the arthouses upon on its initial run, so remains largely unknown to U.S. audiences. This movie recalls "golden age" British sex comedies like "Georgy Girl", "The Knack", "The Family Way" and "Alfie". Vivacious teenager Emily Lloyd makes an astounding, Oscar-worthy debut as pretty but potty-mouthed "Linda", whose hormone-fueled manic behavior (...) are causing her somewhat reserved widower father and younger sister to walk around in a perpetual state of public embarrassment. With a taut script and precise performances, the film breezes along on a deft roller coaster of deep belly-laugh hilarity and genuine, bittersweet emotion. Excellent support from the entire cast, especially from the great Thom Bell, who finds a sympathetic humanity in a somewhat vile character that a lesser actor could not likely pull off. The real tragedy here is that Emily Lloyd, who displayed such amazing potential in this debut, never really "broke big", appearing in only a few unremarkable projects and then basically dropping off the radar to join that sad "whatever happened to..." file. The DVD transfer is excellent, no extras to speak of, but this wonderful film speaks for itself!

A Breath of Fresh Air
This movie is about Lynda, a rather delinquent teenage girl growing up after the the Second World War in a bleak and dismal English seaside town. She spends most of the film getting sacked from one job after another and losing her innocence with considerable thoroughness and determination. Working briefly for the local bus company, she eagerly loses her virginity to a rather clumsy young bus conductor who is not slow afterwards to take his custom elsewhere. Somewhat heartbroken, she tries to cheer herself up by throwing herself at Eric, a much older man who has been making advances, with predictably sad results...

Leland has written and realized a masterly script that is sometimes extremely funny and sometimes desperately sad, shifting between these two with enormous sureness of touch. The best thing about it by miles is Emily Lloyd's performance as Lynda, feisty, immensely funny, sometimes appallingly foolish, sometimes downright obnoxious but somehow always completely adorable, which is nothing short of astonishing in its charm and total believability. Perhaps you agree with me that the coming of age movie can sometimes be a pretty tedious genre where one suspects too many writers turn memories of their not very interesting adolescences into not very interesting stories. If so you might be put off seeing this which would be a terrible shame as this utterly fresh and delightful movie is a glorious exception.

Great
This is a great movie nuff said. However I can't believe I bought the dvd version imported from the UK and now it won't work here because its on region 2. AAAAAAHHHGGGGGGGHJJJJJJJsdkfjadsf!!!!

"I was only showing them my new knickers."
The British film "Wish You Were Here" from director David Leyland is set in England in the 1950s. It's the story of Lynda (Emily Lloyd)--a rather unusual and rebellious young girl who never fits into her nice, quiet, respectable, hard-working family. Several incidents from Lynda's childhood demonstrate that she is going to be an outspoken, determined individual, but no-one in Lynda's family seems able to understand her, and she gradually drifts farther apart from the rest of her relatives. After the death of her mother, Lynda is brought up by her strait-laced father who runs a barber/tobacconist shop. He expects Lynda to eventually run the hairdressing half of the family business, but after a brief--and hilarious--attempt as a hairdressing apprentice, Lynda makes it clear that she won't allow anyone to predict or influence her destiny. Lynda's dad is mystified and disgusted, but Lynda's "boring" younger sister--who plans to join the army--fits in quite nicely into the family image. It is Lynda who remains an embarrassment and a complete enigma to her father.

It's clear to the local males in Lynda's small home-town, that she's a bit of a goer, and she's certainly not shy about seeking and getting male attention. Unfortunately, her first sexual experiences leave her feeling emptier than ever, and her attention-seeking rebellion eventually leads her straight to a cynical older man who degrades her even further. Everyone in Lynda's life underestimates her. Men use and discard her, and even her father fails to see beyond Lynda's rejection of established social behaviour--all he feels is shame. Even when Lynda is dragged off to a psychiatrist, he is completely at a loss when dealing with Lynda. The session begins with the psychiatrist in control, but he rapidly finds himself completely outmaneuvered by Lynda when he tries to get her to tell him all the swear words she knows (and she claims her first word was 'bum').

Emily Lloyd was a mere 16 years old when she starred in this film. Her acting is nothing less than superb. Lynda is an intriguing, steely character--bordering on the antisocial--and yet desperate to belong. She is irrepressible--and yet she is completely oppressed by her family. Emily Lloyd manages to portray all the contrasting qualities of this complex role with astonishing maturity and vivacious charm; she is truly delightful. I found myself cheering at Lynda's exploits during many of the scenes as she refuses to bow down to convention and admit defeat regardless of the social consequences.

"Wish You Were Here" is based on the early life of Cynthia Payne--an infamous British madam. No mention of Payne pops up in the film, but the film does serve as a companion piece to the film "Personal Services"--the story of Payne's brothel--which catered to the kinky rich. This is truly a beautiful, thought-provoking, positive film--at times funny, and at other times sad, but always triumphant. Note the director's use of light and windows throughout the film--displacedhuman. ... Read more