Doc Ordered: Vol I- Peter Bogdanovich Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin’ down a dream

One of my favourite documentaries on a rock band, mainly because while watching it, time simply flies, and its’ four hours long! Thus this makes up the first entry in my reviews of documentaries. Another reason is the fact that all of the members of the band give their testimonies in a way that is extremely engaging, thus giving the viewer, a perspective into the story of a band that lasts over 30 years, with very little line-up changes. 

The fact that Peter Bogdanovich choo-

se to give emphasis to the Heartbreakers as whole, also allows not only to witness the career of the band from the beginning as the Epics, and later Mudcrutch, but also to deviate occasionally into Tom Pettys’ solo career, but never straying too far from the story about a group of friends that became co-workers and remain so, over all ups and downs, until the untimely death of Tom Petty in 2017 (his friendship with Mike Campbell is the glue that connects both his work with The Heartbreakers and his solo work).

Tom Petty is, regardless, at the centre of the documentary, with a great portrait of his relationship with other musicians, some of which are fans, some of which come from an older generation, but all share a tremendous respect for this curious artist that doesn’t let go of his very idiosyncratic vision of how to conduct his career, as both a musician and producer for other artists.

In other words it is a very intimate look into the life and career of Tom Petty, but also a faithful portrait of the difficulties and rewards that come from chasing your dreams, no matter what. Curiously enough, his last recording was with his first band Mudcrutch, released in 2016, a band which had split up in 1975 and reunited in 2007, long after the success of Pettys’ career had made him a household name in the American music industry.

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Webstore: https://eurostore.warnermusic.com/eu/artists/tom-petty.html

Documentary: https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Tom-Petty-and-the-Heartbreakers-Runnin-Down-a-Dream/70082634