You Say You Want A (Musical) Revolution Weekend..."Billy Joel: A Matter of Trust-TheBridge To Russia"

Billy Joel: A Matter of Trust- The Bridge to Russia (2014)

Starring Billy Joel, Russia :)

Directed by Jim Brown

The Story:

In the summer of 1987, Billy Joel was the first western act to bring Rock & Roll to Russia  to tour behind the Iron Curtain.

Within 2 years, the Berlin Wall was knocked down.

Coincidence?

I think not.

Joel's six concerts in Moscow and Leningrad were filmed, and some footage was shown on HBO back in 87.

Now, a new special with additional footage and new interviews reflecting on that tour are shown, currently playing on Showtime.




It's a great time capsule of a time in transition, captured perfectly by Joel's energetic performance.

The songs are wonderful, and the atmosphere of the entire production is infectious.

This is what Americans felt when the Beatles came on Ed Sullivan.

That's pretty cool to witness in retrospect.

Final Grade: Solid B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I wouldn't have any problem watching it again, always been a huge Billy Joel fan.

Wholesome Entertainment? Not With "George Carlin Again!"

It's not TV... it's HBO!

The Story:

George Carlin was arguably one of the finest comedic minds to ever take the stage.  Funny and philosophical, often at the same time, his was a wit that can transcend generations.

His routines rarely seem dated, and they are often just as funny the 802nd time you hear them, as the first time.

The downside?

The guy's got a real potty mouth...

: )

Want to see a time capsule of a performance?  Start with this one.  From 1978, it opens with an old HBO opening... see how far that network has come in 35 years.

Carlin comes out, still brown haired from youth with just patches of the grey that would fill the head and face of one of the best comic minds in the ensuing decades.

To dissect the performance is pointless, you either know what you're getting from Carlin, or you're about to be pleasantly surprised.

He does riff on "Time", follows with his hilarious take on the  news, and he closes out the special with the infamous update on the "7 Words You Can't Say on Television"

Now streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: His routines are always entertaining.  I won't be purchasing it, but I will be periodically checking out his other performances also currently streaming.