Watch Roger Waters: US THEM

Roger Waters: US + THEM is a 2019 concert film directed by Waters himself and Sean Evans. The film features footage from the 2017-2018 Us + Them tour of Waters, which was his third tour after his 'The Wall Live', which wrapped up in 2013. The film captures the British rocker's performance at Amsterdam''s Ziggo Dome, where he showcased some of Pink Floyd's greatest hits along with his solo material.

The movie opens with a brief commentary by Waters, where he talks about the political implications of the concert and his personal journey in being an activist artist. He then takes the stage with the opening track 'Speak to Me,' which leads into 'Breathe.' The first visuals to grace the screen are the triangular prisms, which are synonymous with Roger Waters shows. The cinematic shots of the stage are breathtaking, and it is evident that the filmmakers want the audience to feel as though they are not watching a regular concert film but a movie.

The concert is a two-part setlist that spans Waters' extensive career, beginning with Pink Floyd's second album 'Meddle' right up to his 2017 solo album 'Is This the Life We Really Want?' The first half of the gig has a stripped-down feel to it – the visuals are minimal, the stage is not saturated with lights, and Waters' sound is raw. The best part of the first thirty minutes of the film is how perfectly the audio engineers have mixed the sound, and the audience gets a clear sense of the intricacies of each song.

After the opening tracks, Waters graciously welcomes the audience to the gig and announces that they will be playing some cuts from 'The Dark Side of the Moon.' At this point, the concert comes alive, and the psychedelic visuals kick in. The film cuts back and forth between shots of the stage and a dark screen where the primary focal point is the pyrotechnic light show. The next few songs are staples of any Pink Floyd album, 'Time,' 'Breathe Reprise,' and 'The Great Gig in the Sky' being the standouts.

The setlist then moves on to 'Atom Heart Mother' and 'Dogs.' The visuals at this point are almost exclusively political – war footage, authoritarian leaders, Trump, and the list goes on. Waters has been a staunch critic of war and other political upheavals around the world, and his message is clear throughout the gig. The visuals are not a distraction but add an extra layer of understanding to Waters' lyrics that were once open to interpretation.

The second half of the gig is where the concert comes full circle. As Waters takes his audience through his solo career, he also touches on turning sixty-five and how it was a significant milestone in his life. The ballads, coupled with an introspective theme, give the concert an almost therapeutic feel. The standouts in the second half are 'Wait for Her,' 'A Bird in a Gale,' and 'Smell the Roses.'

The documentary bits of the film are sparse, but they help audiences understand the political understones. Waters takes the camera through his journey in turning sixty-five, how he came to the understanding that his art had to be political, and the reason he is still performing today. Fans who love to understand the mindset of their favorite singer or songwriter will appreciate these segments.

The film's technical aspects are superb – the sound is top-notch, the visuals are breathtaking, and the documentary segments are informative. The film is not just a concert movie but a tale of one artist's never-ending quest to make the world a better place. The film's political views may not sit well with some audiences, but the message is so subtle that one may not realize they are being influenced.

The movie ends with the iconic tune 'Comfortably Numb,' which is a fitting end to a two-hour movie that is a testament to the art of live performance. Roger Waters: US + THEM is a great film for fans of Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, and classic rock in general. It is not only an entertaining watch but an impactful statement on the chaotic world we live in.

Roger Waters: US THEM is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 2 hours and 28 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.2.