
Ain't in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm
3.8
Documentary
Music
2010
83 min
NR
Starting with the image of a tour bus warming its engine in the stillness of an empty lot, this haunting, personal portrait of music legend Levon Helm evokes the mood of a lifetime spent on the road. Jacob Hatley's extraordinarily intimate documentary finds Helm, a founding member of The Band, at home in Woodstock in the midst of creating his first studio album in 25 years. The ultimate survivor, he's overcome drugs, bankruptcy, the bitter breakup of The Band and a bout of throat cancer -but then, as the rueful title indicates, he wasn't in it for his health
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"Levon was his happiest playing music, telling stories, and hanging out with family and friends. Obviously he had no interest or time for those who suck the energy out of a room. He wanted to do his thing and be around those who weren't pretending to be something they weren't. He clearly loved when he had an audience. He seemed to draw inward and was demure when cameras were rolling but few others were around. The lack of any structured interview was a result of him refusing to be drawn into one during the film. He was clearly still hurting from the way things had deteriorated with The Band and mainly between him and Robbie Robertson. Fans should read his autobiography and the director's comments prior to watching it."