Concert For George review

David Leland's film of the tribute concert for George Harrison, held in the Royal Albert Hall a year after the Beatle's untimely death, is a masterpiece of the genre. The question that everyone ponders throughout the film is 'What would George have made of it all?' Well, being no stranger to large concerts himself (and his Concert for Bangladesh in 1971 paved the way for all charity concerts ever since), as well as having a strong film connection (he ran Handmade Films for much of the 80s), there's probably little doubt that this quietest, and most modest, of the Fab Four would have grimaced at all the fuss. Nonetheless, for his friends and his millions of adoring fans across the world, the film serves as a supremely fitting testimony to a great life.

From the moment Olivia Harrison, George's wife, walks onto an empty stage to light a candle, it is clear that something special is about to happen. This is no ordinary charity event with performers desperate to boost struggling careers on the bill. All of the people who appear over the next ninety minutes had very strong connections to George, and it is evident that this was a man who felt very strongly about his friends.

At the centre of the event is Eric Clapton, whose up and down friendship with Harrison over the years is well documented. Joined by an ever-present Dhani Harrison (George's lookalike son) on guitar, they slide through impeccable versions of many of Harrison's great songs. Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne reunite The Travelling Wilburys and make you think about checking out their back catalogue.

Ravi Shankar, George's guru, composes a special theme for the night, amazingly conducted by his daughter Anoushka. McCartney plays a loving version of Something on the ukulele, while Joe Brown (who The Beatles supported at the beginning of their career) gives a couple of loving renditions of old r and b numbers. Ringo belts out Photograph (and his voice is still exactly the same), while it's Billy Preston who arguably steals the show with a rousing version of while My Guitar Gently Weeps.

The event is beautifully shot by Leland (who wrote Mona Lisa while George was at Handmade) and his crew, with top marks going to the sound recordists. The live feel of the music, which can often fall flat on the screen, literally bounces around the cinema. There's also plenty of backstage footage of rehearsals, and even a chance to catch Tom Hanks trying to outwit the assembled Monty Pythons.

Thanks to its simplicity, it's an often incredibly moving film, with some dazzling shots of the Royal Albert Hall looking better than ever. The spirit of Harrison dominates proceedings: various pictures of his different images flash onto a giant screen, and even though he was just another rock star to some, to many he was at the centre of their life. Those involved in mounting this event and bringing it so lavishly and beautifully to the big screen deserve congratulations. Even George might be tempted to say thanks.

Paul Hurley