RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / No Direction Home: Bob Dylan
No Direction Home: Bob Dylan

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
93 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:14

Fresh:13

Rotten:1

Average Rating:8/10

Runtime: 3 hrs 27 mins

Genre: Musical & Performing Arts

Synopsis: Spawning both politically charged folk ballads that came to embody the very spirit of the turbulent 1960s ("The Times They are a-Changin") and sprawling, stream-of-consciousness litanies that... Spawning both politically charged folk ballads that came to embody the very spirit of the turbulent 1960s ("The Times They are a-Changin") and sprawling, stream-of-consciousness litanies that irrevocably changed the face of rock music ("Like a Rolling Stone"), the years between 1961-1966 were inarguably the most artistically fertile for legendary singer/songwriter Bob Dylan. Director Martin Scorsese--who had previously worked with Dylan on the Band's farewell concert film THE LAST WALTZ (1978)--crafts an unprecedented exploration of the musician's creative process during this crucial five-year period with the historical PBS documentary event NO DIRECTION HOME. Part of PBS's AMERICAN MASTERS series, the film is the first ever film biography of the enigmatic, near-reclusive Dylan, who grants Scorsese his first full-length interview in 20 years for a startlingly intimate and endlessly revealing portrait of a true American icon. Bookended by his early days in the legendary Greenwich Village folk scene and the 1966 motorcycle accident that nearly claimed his life, Dylan's exclusive interview is supplemented with a wealth of archival footage that includes personal home movies from his childhood in Minnesota; unreleased interviews with colleagues Allen Ginsberg, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, and Maria Muldaur; and rare live performances of classics like "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Mr. Tambourine Man." In addition, the Bob Dylan Archives opens its extensive film, tape, and stills collection for never-before-seen concert and television appearances (including the infamous "electric" set at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival) and outtakes from D.A. Pennebaker's acclaimed 1967 documentary DON'T LOOK BACK. The result is a richly visual counterpart to Dylan's bestselling memoir CHRONICLES: VOLUME 1 that stands as a cinematic testament to the life and work of one of the greatest and most influential artists of the 20th century. [More]

Starring: Joan Baez, Allen Ginsberg, Maria Muldaur, Pete Seeger

Starring: Joan Baez, Allen Ginsberg, Maria Muldaur, Pete Seeger, Mavis Staples

Director: Martin Scorsese

Director: Martin Scorsese

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Sep 20, 2005

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for No Direction Home: Bob Dylan

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 14 (sorted by rotten rating)
Text View
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

A competent but fawning, focusless and utterly overlong tribute to a terribly mediocre entertainer who 'sings' like a bumblebee barfing. Bloated Boomers, feel free to be interred with a copy. Soon.

Full Review Source: ÜberCiné | comment 11 Comments
08/29/06
Gregory Weinkauf
Gregory Weinkauf
ÜberCiné

No Direction Home ...becomes a portal back in time, a chance to relive some of...the most exciting years in the history of politics, personality and music.

Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | comment Comment
09/20/05
Bill Gibron
Bill Gibron
DVDTalk.com

To narrate selected details from this journey from the Iron Range to Greenwich Village to Rock Star Babylon, we get generous, attention-span respecting clips of Dylan performances and reminiscences from carefully selected talking heads.

Full Review Source: Slate | comment Comment
09/23/05
David Yaffe
David Yaffe
Slate

Makes some cracks in Dylan's mystique without trying to do any more than letting his story come out as is.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
09/27/05
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Robert Zimmerman achieved his dream of becoming a singer, but in doing so he surrendered the ability to define himself on his own terms.

Full Review Source: NYC Film Critic | comment Comment
11/02/05
Ethan Alter
Ethan Alter
NYC Film Critic

As good as it gets in music documentaries.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
09/27/05
Glenn Abel
Glenn Abel
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Scorsese assembles an impressive amount of footage and interviews -- many more candid that anyone could feasibly expect.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
10/20/05
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Anyone with more than a superficial interest in rock music and its possibilities should either see this film or own it.

Full Review Source: MTV | comment Comment
02/07/06
Kurt Loder
Kurt Loder
MTV

One of the best music documentaries ever of one of the most unusual musicians ever...

Full Review Source: International Press Academy | comment Comment
10/15/05
Michael Szymanski
Michael Szymanski
International Press Academy

Fans will be positively enthralled at the well-preserved nuggets, and neophytes will understand the fuss over the musician and the man.

Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment Comment
09/18/05
Peter Canavese
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews

A document that will satiate Dylan fans over repeated viewings and should bring naysayers into the Dylan fold.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
09/12/05
Phil Gallo
Phil Gallo
Variety

Creates a portrait that is deep, sympathetic, perceptive and yet finally leaves Dylan shrouded in mystery, which is where he properly lives.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
09/21/05
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Framed by tons of rare footage, No Direction Home penetrates the soul of one of modern music's greatest icons - at least as much as Dylan will let us.

Full Review Source: Movie Views | comment Comment
10/08/06
Ryan Cracknell
Ryan Cracknell
Movie Views

Scorsese's superbly researched biography brings it all back home, confirming Dylan as the troubadour genius of sixties rock 'n' roll.

Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly | comment Comment
10/21/05
Thomas Delapa
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly
 
 
1 - 14 (sorted by rotten rating)
Text View
all

Latest News for No Direction Home: Bob Dylan

October 05, 2006: Critical Consensus: "Departed" Is Best Reviewed Wide Release of 2006
This week at the movies, we've got cops and robbers in Boston ("The Departed," starring Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Matt Damon), chainsaw massacres in Texas... More...

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
77% 77% The Hangover
88% 88% Inglourious Basterds
66% 66% Public Enemies
24% 24% G-Force
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
90% 90% District 9
86% 86% 500 Days of Summer
63% 63% Extract
06% 06% All About Steve
78% 78% It Might Get Loud

More New Releases…

See All

RT On Current TV

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

Learn how you can be part of the show

More...

What’s Hot On RT

Best of the Decade

Best of the Decade

Find out what movies made our list!

Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2

Watch the brand new trailer now!

Clash of the Titans

Clash of the Titans

Prepare to Clash with Titans in this trailer!

Total Recall

Total Recall

RT looks back on Jude Law's best movies!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: Peter Jackson's Secret Sci-Fi Project
69
  • New Toy Story 3 Clip, Photos Posted Source: Slashfilm
24
  • Danny Trejo Talks Machete, Possible Sequels Source: Collider.com
14
  • It's Official: Jackass 3-D Coming in 2010 Source: Collider.com
16
  • Bryan Singer Returning to X-Men for First Class Source: Superhero Hype
102
  • Mark Strong Talks Kick-Ass, John Carter, and Robin Hood Source: Collider.com
1
  • How Avatar Happened: The Path to Innovation Source: CinemaBlend.com
19
  • Rob Marshall Says Pirates 4 Is Still a Maybe Source: ComingSoon.net
32
  • ET Teases Iron Man 2 Teaser Source: Collider.com
28
  • Tobey Maguire Refutes Hobbit Rumors Source: Hollywood Reporter
9
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar Soars to #1 Spot
261
  • RT's Best of the Decade!
153
  • Brittany Murphy: 1977-2009
115
  • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
69
  • Total Recall: Jude Law's Best Movies
56
  • Critics Consensus: Sherlock Holmes Is Worth Investigating
33
  • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: District 9 and (500) Days of Summer
32
  • Weekly Ketchup: Peter Jackson's Secret Sci-Fi Project
23
  • Friday Harvest: Sherlock Holmes, Toy Story 3, and more!
10
  • What We're Watching on Blu-ray from Disney!
9
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
69
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
24
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
16
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
24
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • No Direction Home: Bob Dylan at Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh Links

Featured
Best Dozen of the Decade
Best Dozen of the Decade External Link

Last week, MSN gave us their top 09 films. Now see what their favorites of the decade are!

Top 50 of 2009
Top 50 of 2009 External Link

Here's a list of the 50 best movies of 2009, according to the good people over at Moviefone.

Santa's Naughty List
Santa's Naughty List External Link

Hollywood.com takes a stab at determining who in movies will be on Santa's naughty list in 2009.

Top 10 Movies of 2009
Top 10 Movies of 2009 External Link

TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

Top 20 of the Decade
Top 20 of the Decade External Link

Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!

Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Follow RT on Twitter External Link

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo
About Us | Advertise | Contact Us | Press | Careers
IGN | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | Direct2Drive | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Game Sites | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | GIGA.DE | What They Play | Battlefield Heroes
By continuing past this page, and by your continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. | Support | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! RSS Feeds
IGN’s enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA.
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.