George Harrison: Living in the Material World
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 5, 2011
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13

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User Reviews

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  1. chappydboz
    Oct 10, 2011
    9
    This documentary takes its time, slowly revealing the character of this legendary man.. the footage is raw and personal.. much of it previously unreleased.. i consider myself a pretty knowledgeable Beatles fan, but after watching this, I have a fresh perspective on the band and especially GH songs.. The second half got really emotional for me.. i felt so in-tune with the man via theThis documentary takes its time, slowly revealing the character of this legendary man.. the footage is raw and personal.. much of it previously unreleased.. i consider myself a pretty knowledgeable Beatles fan, but after watching this, I have a fresh perspective on the band and especially GH songs.. The second half got really emotional for me.. i felt so in-tune with the man via the poignant interviews and footage.. he lived a big, inspiring life..… Expand
  2. ekolite82
    Jul 11, 2012
    10
    This is probably the most entertaining documentary I have ever watched, personally. I think anyone from the hard-core Beatles fans to the casual Beatles fans will appreciate the quality footage and interviews.
  3. Mauro_Lanari
    Dec 26, 2021
    5
    (Mauro Lanari)
    The failed priest from New York chooses the Beatles to continue his interminable sermon. Only a frustrated seminarian could have dared to manipulate the Fab Four's career to hypertrophically focus attention on George Harrison's spiritual attitude. On April 8, 1966, "Time" news magazine publishes "Is God Dead?" as cover article, and Scorsese comes up with the idea of    (Mauro Lanari)
    The failed priest from New York chooses the Beatles to continue his interminable sermon. Only a frustrated seminarian could have dared to manipulate the Fab Four's career to hypertrophically focus attention on George Harrison's spiritual attitude. On April 8, 1966, "Time" news magazine publishes "Is God Dead?" as cover article, and Scorsese comes up with the idea of replying to demonstrate the persistence of "homo sacer" in today's secularized society by telling the story of the most mystical member of the Liverpool band. For almost 3 and a half hours he tells us the events of this musician interested in sitar more than in guitar, in transcendence more than materialistic immanence, in theistic meditation rather than rock, so much so that he opposes the group in order to cultivate in his own solo career the achieved bliss. The facts flow away quickly, from Beatlemania to Lennon's death and any gesture of love, since we would be (like?) "angels captured in carnality". The score contains very few songs not composed by him and even missed his first famous track, "Taxman": too earthly. A hagiographic homily monstrously long and not at all convincing about an unconventional, ecumenical and distrustful saint towards orthodox traditionalism. One in which the narcissus Martin happily mirrors himself.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Best TV Season of 2011
82
#82 Most Shared TV Season of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Nick Schager
    Oct 17, 2011
    50
    That Living in the Material World shines scant illuminating light on Harrison's story is all the more frustrating for its immense length.
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  2. Uncle Barky
    Reviewed by: Ed Bark
    Oct 7, 2011
    83
    Living in the Material World falls short of Scorsese's terrific two-part PBS film, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan.
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  3. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    Oct 5, 2011
    70
    Martin Scorsese's affectionate, exhaustive two-part HBO documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World. Harrison's easily mocked mysticism has rarely seemed as sincere and hard-won as it does in Scorsese's respectful, 3 1/2-hour profile.
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