Ain't in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm

Released Apr 19, 2013

1h 23m

Documentary

List

93%

14 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Having overcome drugs, bankruptcy, a bout with throat cancer and other hard knocks, Levon Helm, founding member of the Band, works on his first studio album in 25 years at his home studio in Woodstock, N.Y.

Read More

Read Less

kevin c

Documentary chronicles the late stages of Levon Helm as he spends time recording a new album while suffering from throat problems stemming from his battles with cancer, as well as his past money problems, his bitter breakup with The Band and many other stumbling blocks. Very interesting slice of life documentary. Lots of insight with Helm and his family and some great music.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the many greats. In the music fabric.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

one of the few true southern giants. beautiful

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Levon Helm is my favorite drummer, so I thought I would take a look at this film. As a fan of The Band and The Last Waltz, I found this film to be quite interesting. I knew there was bitterness but I never knew what happened. This film gives you some insight into that but more about what he became and his comeback. Its a great little movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Very interesting documentary about an amazing musician. It mostly focuses on the time after the Dirt Farmer album is released. Unfortunately, it only scratches the surface of the personality and life of Helm.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a top notch music doc. It not only spans the career of Levon Helm, but it also hangs with him during the end of his life during a period as he made his first studio album in 25 years, which also took home a grammy (Dirt Farmer). Such a tribute to one of our greatest american musicians. Although it's bittersweet to watch him age with both a little grace and a little distain. Keeping this review to a minimum for lack of trying to oversell the simple, tenderness of the film. If your a lover of Levon, or The Band or just Americana music in general, this is a great watch. A redemption song...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

89%

59%

OC87: The Obsessive Compulsive, Major Depression, Bipolar, Asperger's Movie

77%

75%

Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields

83%

100%

See What I'm Saying: The Deaf Entertainers Documentary

98%

90%

Anvil! The Story of Anvil

83%

88%

Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Critics Consensus: Oblivion Looks Great, But Its Story Meanders

View more photos

Peter Keough

Boston Globe

[A] bittersweet, frustratingly impressionistic documentary ...

Rated: 3/4

Sep 5, 2013

Full Review

Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

Loose and ragtag, stirring and poignant, the documentary "Ain't in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm" proves a fitting tribute to its late star ...

Rated: 4/5

Jun 12, 2013

Full Review

Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

The portrait of the ailing artist is bittersweet, but when Helms sings or plays, the look on his face is pure joy.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 7, 2013

Full Review

Mae Abdulbaki

Punch Drunk Critics

A missed opportunity to delve deeper and get a more intimate portrait of the man behind the drums.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 14, 2018

Full Review

Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

And of all the figures - Bob Dylan, Gram Parsons, et al. - who smuggled those sepia-toned seeds into rock 'n' roll, Helm, was arguably the most authentic.

Rated: 88/100

Aug 17, 2013

Full Review

Daniel Eagan

Film Journal International

Heartfelt tribute to musician Levon Helm receives a theatrical release on the anniversary of his death in 2012.

Apr 19, 2013

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Having overcome drugs, bankruptcy, a bout with throat cancer and other hard knocks, Levon Helm, founding member of the Band, works on his first studio album in 25 years at his home studio in Woodstock, N.Y.

Director: Jacob Hatley
Producer: Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa, Kevin Welk
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 19, 2013, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $94.8K
Runtime: 1h 23m

Most Popular at Home Now