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

2010

Biography / Documentary / Music

Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 93% · 14 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 76% · 500 ratings
IMDb Rating 7.1/10 10 560 560

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Plot summary

Starting with the image of a tour bus warming its engine in the stillness of an empty lot, this haunting, personal portrait of music legend Levon Helm evokes the mood of a lifetime spent on the road. Jacob Hatley's extraordinarily intimate documentary finds Helm, a founding member of The Band, at home in Woodstock in the midst of creating his first studio album in 25 years. The ultimate survivor, he's overcome drugs, bankruptcy, the bitter breakup of The Band and a bout of throat cancer -but then, as the rueful title indicates, he wasn't in it for his health

Director

Top cast

Levon Helm as Self
Amy Helm as Self
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU
754.61 MB
1280*722
English 2.0
NR
23.976 fps
1 hr 22 min
Seeds ...
1.52 GB
1908*1076
English 5.1
NR
23.976 fps
1 hr 22 min
Seeds 2

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by Michael_Elliott

A Must See for Fans of The Band or Helm

Ain't in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm (2010) *** 1/2 (out of 4)Very good documentary taking a brief look at the life and career of Levon Helm, the man best remembered for his days with The Band. The documentary starts off in 2008 just as Helm learns that The Band is getting a lifetime achievement award and we see and hear from the music legend about his days in the group as well as a variety of other subjects. AIN'T IN IT FOR MY HEALTH is without question a highly entertaining film but if you're coming to it expecting some trash slinging then you're going to be disappointed. With the break-up of The Band is discussed briefly, those expecting to hear Helm slam Robbie Robertson are going to be disappointed. Actually I'm somewhat glad that the film didn't turn into a mud slinging contest because as it is the thing is pretty darn special. I obviously can't speak for the director but the point of the film just seemed to be that Helm, a legend, was pretty much your average Joe as he likes to watch Westerns, tell funny stories, smoke, drink and then there's the playing music. I really loved the Southern feel to the entire film because it really does seem as if you're getting a true and honest look at Helm who seems to be enjoying life even through some of the darker moments in the film. Some of these moments include him losing his voice at the start of a concert as well as discussion about his throat cancer. I think fans of The Band or Helm are really going to enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at his, which includes plenty of concert footage, Helm just kicking around at his house and also some sessions of Larry Campbell as they work on a song for a Hank Williams tribute.
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Reviewed by TwittingOnTrender 6 / 10

Not quite the tribute Lee deserves.

A slightly disappointing documentary about...well, what? It's not really the LIFE of Levon, it just follows him around for a few days and allows him to hold forth about the music business and certain former associates. I know he was a cantankerous cuss, that's fine - I don't want saints, I want geniuses whose music can move me, and that's what Lee's always did, along with his Band-mates, including He Who Shall Not be Named. There's some painful (in every sense), poignant footage of Lee having a camera put up his nose (and down his throat) which obviously causes him a lot of pain, but he bravely allows the footage to be shown. We also see him smoking a cigar, and laughingly bragging about his weed use - this from a man whose wonderful vocal chords were ravaged by cancer, and who was to lose his life to the disease. Everyone around him laughs at his every wisecrack, and his wife REALLY wants to go to the Grammys (Lee obstinately and foul-mouthedly refuses), but there are some fabulous moments too. All too brief clips of the Band playing, of Lee and his latter day band playing (full performances in the DVD extras would have been nice), the aforementioned medical procedures which show us Lee as a vulnerable, frightened old man - still with the time to sign an autograph (and write a message) for the son of a staff member at the medical centre, himself a drummer and fan of Lee's. There are some nice shots (perhaps a little contrived) of Lee working the land, sharing out the turkey and ham sandwiches. I'd love to see a substantial, warts and all biopic of Levon Helm, but this isn't it. A good, well-intentioned attempt though.

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