CHUCK BERRY: HAIL! HAIL! ROCK 'N' ROLL
D: Taylor Hackford (1987) ¢ ¢ ¢ ¢
Chuck Berry's in his 80s now, and for all I know, he's still out there somewhere, doing the splits, duck-walking across the stage, and playing those famous, ringing guitar licks to "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Johnny B. Goode". This documentary captures Berry at the relatively young age of 60, doing all those things in a concert produced by Keith Richards, and discussing his life and work. It's an illuminating portrait of a true musical pioneer, with Berry proving to be alternately (or simultaneously) charming and charismatic, shrewd and mischievous, cranky and obstinate, a man who unapologetically is who he is, take it or leave it, just don't ask him about his periodic run-ins with the law. Besides Richards (who has rarely looked more alive), the backup band includes Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Etta James, Julian Lennon and Linda Ronstadt. All of Berry's rock classics get performed, but the highlights, surprisingly, are two ballads - "I'm Through With Love" and "A Cottage For Sale", which closes the film. Witnesses include Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, Bruce Springsteen, Bo Diddley and Little Richard, all more than willing to pay their respects. Rock & roll might've happened without Chuck Berry. It's just hard to imagine, that's all.
