The first half of this documentary, documenting the beginning of the band up to their breakup after the recording of The Long Run, is great: one of the best, most engaging and unflinching rock documentaries on an iconic band. But it unfortunately continues for another hour and a half into their victory lap years.
The band has every right to celebrate their enduring success, but the ultra professional, corporate, and cynical way they ran the band in these years begins to wear on the viewer. At one point Glen Frey compares the band to a football team: we all need each other, but not everyone gets to touch the ball (this is how he justifies kicking out Don Felder after he refused to agree to a revised contract). Bands have every right to play their songs as long as people want to hear them, but there is something a little mortifying about seeing the same people play the same songs in the exact same way for decades. This is music as pure product. It's sad to see the Eagles go from young, hungry, vibrant stars to musical businessmen.
