Blu-ray Review: David Crosby: Remember My Name

STUDIO: Sony | DIRECTOR: A.J. Eaton
RELEASE DATE: Oct. 22, 2019 | PRICE: DVD $16.59, Blu-ray $22.99
BONUSES: In Conversation segment, extended and alternative scenes, extended interviews
SPECS: R | 93 min. | Documentary | 1.85:1 widescreen | DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

RATINGS (out of 5 dishes): Movie  | Audio | Video | Overall

Rock and roll pioneer David Crosby’s accomplishments and near-disastrous life moves are chronicled in intimate detail in David Crosby: Remember My Name, an absorbing, soul-searching documentary.

As one of the founders of the seminal folk-rock group The Byrds and a principal part of Crosby, Still & Nash (and, sometimes, Young), Crosby’s musical output is impressive indeed. Yet, as first-time director A,J, Eaton tellingly shows us in no-holds-barred fashion here, Crosby’s  escapades– which includes episodes with drugs, alcohol and firearms; jail time; serious health issues; and throwing close friends under the bus—have made the 77-year-old introspective, and not afraid to bare his emotions in front of the camera.

So, how much hurt has Crosby impacted on his associates, who often came to his rescue in times of need? The fact that fellow Byrds founders Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman and long-time associate Jackson Browne are the only music collaborators captured in new interviews for this film speaks volumes. In the meantime, the filmmaker fills in the historical blanks with archival footage of Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, as well as newer material with photographer Henry Diltz and wife Jan Crosby.

With an assist from producer and former Rolling Stone writer Cameron Crowe, Crosby–a long-haired, mustachioed, Captain Kangaroo-like figure–takes a limo ride through parts of Southern California, reminiscing about the good, old drug-fueled days, driving down Sunset Boulevard, stopping in Laurel Canyon, the one-time folk-rock enclave, and joining loving wife Jan at home. Of special note is Crosby pointing out that Dennis Hopper based his look in Easy Rider on Crosby’s own hippie persona and Crosby musing on jazz great John Coltrane’s influence on him. There’s much nostalgia and remorse in the singer-guitarist-songwriter’s recollections. But Crosby’s also helplessly hoping for a bright future as he appears to have finally settled down, writing and playing new music with his son and taking to the road for concerts on a regular basis.

The DVD and Blu-ray of David Crosby: Remember My Name is loaded with extras, including several deleted scenes, a Q&A session with Crosby and Crowe from the Asbury Park Film Festival and extended interviews with Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman, another former member of The Byrds.