From the very start of "Part Two" -a long look at George Harrison's first solo album (or third, but let's not mention the electronic stuff), the double plus freebie jam session third from 1970 All Things Must Pass, Martin is on solid ground. Harrison's successful attempt to make an environment consciously at peace and in keeping with his spiritual (not to mention thantalogical) fasiniation is a tremendous success.
The album is considered, despite its peripheral position, central to Harrison's solo legacy. And Scorceses does it justice, despite ignorning "My Sweet Lord" being sued for plagiarizing "He's So Fine" and losing.
The bio continues in consistant strong form, from the Concert For Bangladesh (the firsr superstar charity gig and a huge success), thru his friendship with the Hari Krishna movement, his relationship with his close friend, the Sitar master, the dissolution of his marriage to Patti Boyd (Clapton claims Harrison essentially handed her over to him) , his marriage to wife Olivia and subsequent infidelities (Olivia: "The secret to a long marriage? Don't get divorced"), his movie production compame "Handmade" thru to the attack at his house and his death from Cancer at the age of 56.
It is a thrilling ride and though, again, I feel Scorcese short changed the most important part of the story, the music, still it is a satisfying and insightful look at the truly remarkable man.
At the end of the movie, Harrison is asked how he would feel if he knew he would be dying in an hour. His reply, except for leaving his son Dhani too early, he would be ready to go.
Since I am a sincere agnostic, I don't find Harrison's spirituality very interesting. Not right or wrong but absolutely not interested. When Olivia claims at the end that the room lit up at the moment of Harrison leaving his body, I wonder. George Harrison mistook his thanatological obsession with spiritual ecstacy
Also, I wouldn'thave minded some insight into Harrison's recording of his last album Brainwashed, and a lot more on the Dark Horse story.
But in a sense that's nitpicking. It is the story it is and in the end, it is moving and facinatingly insightful of one of the great things that passed.
Movie: A-
Music: B+