The Beatles rehearsing at Twickenham Studios, 1969

director: Peter Jackson
filmed: 1969
released: 2021
length: 8 hrs
watched: December 15, 2024 (1st time)

Disney+ has finally made the Get Back documentary available in the Philippines. It’s only 3 years later than the rest of the world, but better late than never, right?

I was sick all weekend, and I used my time in bed to watch the entire series. I’ve invested hours of my time into this documentary, so of course, I’m going to share my thoughts.

Get Back is a 3-part series that covers The Beatles creating their next album within a 2-week time constraint, leading up to their first live show in 2 years. The film was shot in 1969, during the period when the band’s relationship was slowly disintegrating. The documentary draws from unused footage and audio material from the original 1970 documentary Let It Be by Michael Lindsay-Hogg.

The reception was generally positive, with some negativity here and there. Good or bad, they’re still as relevant as ever. It’s wild that even after half a century, the world is still interested in their story.

The film was beautiful and well-made. I love the direction Peter Jackson took with it because it captures so many nuances and intimate moments. It’s unlike many documentaries out there, which tend to highlight only the drama.

The content was bittersweet. I loved seeing them work together, but I hated seeing them fight.

I have a lot to say, so please humor me while I offer my insights. I’ll talk about the key elements that were highlighted in the documentary, as well as my observations.

The Creative Process

One the main concepts of the film was to capture The Beatles’ creative process by observing them from a "fly on the wall" perspective.

The documentary runs for 8 hours. I’ve read a lot of complaints about it being too long, but if it were only 2 hours, it wouldn’t tell the same story. The film does an excellent job clarifying not only The Beatles but also how creativity works. I agree that hearing them rehearse “Let it bE” a million times can drive anyone crazy, but that’s exactly the point. The creative process is monotonous and repetitive as much as it is spontaneous and magical.

Watching the series can be validating for anyone involved in any creative endeavor. The Beatles had to go through a ton of creative bumps, bad ideas, and passionate disagreements before they could hit some sort of breakthrough. They didn’t just wake up like this. They clocked in the time like working-class dogs in a 9-to-5 job. They were talented, but they also had an insane work ethic.

the Band Dynamics

The documentary offers a more nuanced perspective on why The Beatles broke up.

One of the most popular narratives is that Yoko Ono was a major factor of their split. After watching the documentary, I learned that the media overstates her influence.

While Yoko did become the center of John’s world and altered his focus, she wasn’t as big a force as people claim. She had a presence, but there were no signs of her being domineering in the film. She never meddled with band affairs, and barely spoke in the documentary. As far how other band members were toward her, nobody seemed to care. I think people are giving her too much credit.

Another popular take is that Paul was the one who broke up The Beatles due to selfish interests. The film didn’t shy away from members expressing grievances against Paul, but it also shed light on other perspectives, such as the passing of their first manager, Brian Epstein. Paul felt he needed to step up because no one else would, but even then, it was never the same. He was also conflicted between being the boss and being a regular band member. It wasn’t hard to empathize with him on this.

During the first two hours, you can feel the tension among the four of them. John was checked out, Ringo was going through the motions, Paul was getting impatient, and George was so done that he temporarily left the band.

Though their relationship was strained, I was surprised by how good they were to each other. They were civil and gentlemanly, even when they were fighting. It was pretty savage for the filmmakers to record the private conversation between John and Paul, but it was such a good call. It offered valuable insights into the relationship within the band. It’s also refreshing to hear how vulnerable they could get without saying hurtful words to each other.

There was also a lot of laughter and goofing around, even with the built-up tension. They were always breaking into song, whether it’s a cover or their own ones. That’s another thing about an 8-hour documentary—it gives room for the sweet little moments that wouldn’t have made the cut if the film had a standard length.

This period may have been their most miserable as a band, but nothing can take away their humor, playfulness, and artistry. Once lightning struck for The Beatles, there was no stopping the music that was pouring out of them. It was a pleasure watching their work come together in the third hour of the documentary. They really went from "everything is falling apart" to "wow, we have something special here."

The Final Performance

The rooftop concert was not only The Beatles’ first concert after two years; it was also their last. I’ve watched clips of this concert many times throughout my life, but it paints a different picture now that I’ve seen the film.

There was so much going on leading up to the event. Everyone wanted The Beatles to have a huge comeback as live performers… except The Beatles. The band kept expressing reluctance throughout the film, even down to the last minute when the stage was already set up for them.

In the end, they did it anyway.

The last part of the documentary was my favorite. I love how the film crew had the foresight to know exactly where to set up the cameras for the concert and even planted secret ones in the right places.

The Beatles started their performance during lunchtime and managed to disrupt the entire city. I enjoyed the public reactions, especially the hostile ones. My favorite comment was, “It woke me up from my sleep, and I don't like it!” It was also funny to see the cops getting annoyed and telling the receptionist that they were “destroying the peace.” It was even funnier when she played dumb and gave all kinds of excuses to stall them.

Performance-wise, they all rocked, But I believe Paul McCartney stole the show. his vocals in I’ve Got a Feeling and energy in Get Back were unmatched.

I think it’s fair to say that they all had a great time performing, despite their earlier apprehensions. The last bit, where they all bowed, made me emotional, Knowing that it was their last one as a band.

Other Worthy Mentions

Billy Preston

Once Preston came in and started playing, the vibes in the studio took off. It was like watching magicians perform alchemy. The band could have survived without him, but their songs wouldn’t have had the same umph.

It was spellbinding watching Billy rocking out with The Beatles. I wish there were more shots of him playing during the live performance.

Age and Appearance

In the documentary, John was 28, Paul was 26, George was 25, and Ringo was 28.

How wild is that? Everyone in The Beatles was under 30 during the Get Back sessions. They lived so much life through their work, and it shows in their appearance. They look about 10 years older than they actually are.

I guess that’s what happens when you take no days off.

The Beatles at their main quarters in Apple corps, 1969

George Leaving the Band

Diary note of George Harrison, January 10, 1969

7 days into the Get Back sessions

George In the middle of rehearsals: I think I’ll be leaving the band now.
John: When?
George: Now.

Watch the clip here.

Small Moments

Seeing Ringo half-play "Octopus’s Garden" to George on the piano was so precious.
I didn’t know John could play lead guitar like that. I never saw Ringo and George play the piano until this film; Paul was especially good at it. I also enjoyed it when they would switch instruments. They’re all more talented than I had realized.
John and Paul’s songwriting process is speaking gibberish until the words made sense. Even then, they have a lot of songs that don’t make sense at all (e.g., “Dig a Pony,” “The One After 909,” “Glass Onion,” etc.).
Seeing Paul conceive “Get Back” in real-time was insane. It was like he was trying to pick up signal from another dimension.
It was painful to see George compare himself to Eric Clapton and sulk in his insecurities. I hope he sees from his grave that The Beatles’ most played song on Spotify is a George Harrison song, not a Lennon-McCartney one.
That bit where John and Paul sang “two of us” with their teeth clenched was so confusing, but also sweet how they can be goofy like that with each other.
Ringo was the least talked about, but he was the true professional in the band. He had no ego, didn’t fester in drama, and was never late. When it came to the sessions, he was the one who glued everything together.
They drank a lot of tea and ate way too much toast.

Conclusion

Watching this documentary was one of the most intimate experiences I’ve ever had with The Beatles. It demystified 'the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band of all time.' The reality is that they were just four regular guys trying to make good music.

Contrary to most material out there, Get Back offers new insights that were never shared before. You get to see their day-to-day: the creative process, band dynamics, administrative work, humor, and playfulness. I thought I knew them well before, but now it’s taken to another level.

On a personal note, I felt inspired and motivated to continue with my creative projects. Creativity can sometimes feel like a blue-collar job, and it was reaffirming to see The Beatles have the same experience.

On a fan note, I’m completely sucked into Beatles music and lore again. Only time will tell when I’m going to chill out about it.

If you’re a fan of the Fab Four yourself, watching this documentary is a must.

I’ll end this essay with my favorite rooftop concert number:

The Beatles - Ive got a feeling (Take 1) live Apple Corps rooftop, London 1969

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the beatles: get back documentary (2021)