Living in the Material World

documentary   d/ Martin Scorsese

Long but oddly superficial traipse through the life of George Harrison. He is portrayed as a nice man who spent much effort trying to figure out what it's all about. He doesn't find out of course but I give him credit for recognizing that the materialist culture we inhabit doesn't do it.

But because he appears to have been entirely uneducated he gets demerits for pushing the idea that bozos like the maharishi did have the answers and foisting that whole idea on the world. It's also noteworthy that in spite of his insight he spent the last decades of his life in baronial splendor...playing with his castle and producing forgettable music. Kudos for his support of films though.

The real story was missed...that is the phenomenon of the Beatles as a cultural event...how it came about and what it signified about humanity then and now. Just showing clips of hysterical young girls isn't enough fifty years on.

After the break-up his star quickly faded...he and Ringo will always be seen as lesser lights, forced into the background by the transcendent competition between Lennon and McCartney.

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