Runnin' Down a Dream: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

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Audience Member This movie shows not only what great musicians Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are, but what great people they are. It's long but I've watched it several times. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Epic length documentary fully immerses you in the life and career of American rock and roll icons Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Directed by the talented Peter Bogdanovich, better known for classic films like "The Last Picture Show," "Saint Jack" and "They All Laughed," the documentary follows the band from high school all the way to the present. The film took over two years to complete and is a comprehensive look into the band, their music, and their artistry. The film is comprised of interviews, concert footage, home videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and music videos. Watching the film, I was amazed at how many great songs Petty and company have produced. It's staggering! And after spending four hours listening wall-to-wall music, hearing from just about everyone involved speak and perform, you really gain an appreciation for their work and the influence they've had on the music scene. Learning about the band dynamics was also fascinating. Unlike a band like The Rolling Stones or U2, where all band members are seemingly equal, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers definitely have a leader in Petty. As shown in the documentary, even when Petty branched out for solo work, Heartbreakers more often than not ended up following Petty to collaborate on those projects. Or when Petty changed his style, most of the band followed his lead. "Runnin' Down a Dream" is a journey of a film and a fascinating portrait of one of the great rock bands of all time. Interestingly, Bogdanovich was completely unfamiliar with Petty prior to making this movie. Bogdanovich said he was asked by a mutual friend of his and Petty if he was interested in directing the movie, and he always say yes, but after saying yes he said he then called his ex-wife and asked, "Remind me who Tom Petty is. Is he a folk singer?" Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Excellent documentary about one of the greats US rock bands. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member An amazing story of passion and living out a dream.......a great watch.....amazing what things happen to people and all the twists and turns that occur during decades of amazing music Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member A great overview of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on the occasion of the 30th anniversary! Even though it is almost 4 hours in length, it never drags. It is a fascinating look at an American artist who did things his way and reaped the rewards! Inspiring! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member There are very few musical artists I would stay up half the night for to watch an over 4 hour documentary about, but Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers is clearly on the list. Peter Bogdonavitch has created a rock doc of biblical proportions. He captures all of the rags to riches details, fights with the record labels, creative highs and lows and just the wonder of an artist who manages to follow his muse and keeps creating music for decades. The early performance footage and glimpses of T.P. and band working with the likes of Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, George Harrison and Johnny Cash in the studio are priceless. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Runnin' Down a Dream: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

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