Martin Scorsese’s 1978 capsule history of the Band is mixed with footage of the group’s allegedly last performance (certainly their last performance as a quintet) in this particularly stylish concert film. Scorsese shoots the players and their sundry guests with the same flair and enthusiasm one can see in the later The Color of Money or Goodfellas. He also proves a good interviewer with Band members, particularly Robbie Robertson, whose sleepy-sexy good looks make a star-caliber impression in close-up.

But the film’s real hook is the stage show, which features a rotation of rock legends (Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Paul Butterfield, Bob Dylan, and so on) playing with the Band before a wildly appreciative audience.

It started as a concert. It became a celebration. Join an unparalleled lineup of rock superstars as they celebrate The Band’s historic 1976 farewell performance. Directed by Martin Scorsese (Raging Bull, Goodfellas), The Last Waltz is not only “the most beautiful rock film ever made” (New York Times) it’s “one of the most important cultural events of the last two decades” (Rolling Stone). (Amazon)

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Whether you subscribe to notion that The Last Waltz really was the last waltz - a matches - flaming final encore for the American rock of the ‘60s - or a farewell concert overfreighted by some fans with cultural import, there’s no escaping its sheer brilliance as a film.

Restored and sonically enhanced for its 25th anniversary and DVD debut, The Last Waltz is a searing musical party with soaring ambitions that rarely disappoints. At the time, director Martin Scorsese was in the middle of filming New York, New York, the much-anticipated follow-up to his one-two punch of Taxi Driver and Mean Streets.

This groundbreaking concert film-cum-documentary afforded Scorsese - who had served as an editor on Michael Wadleigh’s Woodstock - another chance to apply his craft to nonfiction; and together with Band frontman Robbie Robertson he crafted a film of mythic proportions.

The premise was simple: The Band - roots rockers long before roots rock became a Grammy-graced movement (see O Brother, Where Art Thou? and its concert spin off, Down from the Mountain) - paid homage to significant influences and invited like-minded friends to join in.

One by one, the group is joined by Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Dr. John, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, and Neil Young. A satisfying, earthy vibe simmers throughout the evening, and the re-recorded sound makes everything percolate - it’s like comparing Mr. Coffee to Starbucks. (Barnes & Noble)