Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune2010
Starring
- Joan Baez - Herself
- Bob Dylan - Himself
- Sean Penn - Himself
- Elvis Presley - Himself
- John Wayne - Himself
Directed By
Executive Produced By
Produced By
Cinematography
Poster & Images
Member Reviews (3)
Darn it! There is a synchronization problem halfway through which makes for a very confusing film BUT what makes this so tragic is that this is a marvelous piece of musical history.
If you are not familiar with Phil Ochs, you really, really owe it to yourself to watch this. His life ended tragically when he was 36, but in those 36years he created some of the most amazing songs. Most were in the "protest" vein, and yet they are so beautiful. He really was a better writer than Dylan through most of the 60's, but because Dylan drew the limelight, Phil's work was more for the purist. Each album was so different from the previous one, and yet each are loaded with gems. This film does an excellent job of showing how Phil broke in 1968 when America came crumbling down. Indeed, it was an amazing year that he captured in song. Unlike Dylan, Ochs has a wonderful voice. Really wonderful, and his singing was almost effortless--at least for a while. Like so many Manic Depressives, Phil self-medicated with alcohol and his end was not pretty. But don't focus on the demise, celebrate the amazing music.
An excellent documentary of a true American revolutionary, this film carries an important and relevant message for us in 2017.
A better story than documentary.