Product Details

• Actors: Tom Petty
• Directors: Peter Bogdanovich
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Warner Bros.
• DVD Release Date: October 28, 2008
• Run Time: 240 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001FWRZ0U
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,807 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Runnin' Down a Dream (2 DVD)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

'Runnin Down a Dream,' the feature length documentary about Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, directed by Oscar-winning filmaker Peter Bogdanovich is now available in a two DVD package. Gritty and exuberant, 'Runnin Down a Dream' tells the Heartbreakers story as never before, revealing the combination of unwavering talent, artistic vision and sheer persistence that has made them one of the great American rock bands.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars be prepared to stay up late, December 29, 2008

By	Bartleby1945 (New Britain, CT USA) - See all my reviews

I guess I'm what you'd call a "casual" Tom Petty fan--certainly not an expert on the band's roots and history. So I casually recorded this from the Sundance channel--figured I'd watch a little at a time. My first "installment" began one night at 10:30. At 2:30 I went to bed. The movie draws you in and holds you, and you won't mind at all--nor will you keep track of time. It's a great ride.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic bio of a great rock and roll life., December 4, 2008

By	J. Blackburn - See all my reviews

I'd been waiting for this 2 set DVD to come out for months and it finally showed up. It's 4 hours of rock and roll history that focuses on one of the best, tightest, most talented and unpretentious bands ever. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Just saying it makes a fan smile but this documentary goes deep into the back story of the band and has extended interviews with all of the band members and many people associated with the Heartbreakers through the years.

It covers the whole period from the first days in Gainesville, FL through the latest album, "Highway Companion". There's plenty of excellent music but Mr. Petty is fully engaged from beginning to end and he is completely up front in relating the many highs and inevitable lows of the group he started 30 years ago with a dream of making a life as a full on rocker. He did it. And the Heartbreakers did it. Full on.

His songs are the soundtrack to a generation. If you want to know where those songs came from and how they came into being, watch "Runnin' Down a Dream". It's all here and my compliments to Mr. Bogdanovich as he made a great, complete documentary that flows smoothly. But I was still wishing for a third 2 hour disc when I finished watching all there was. It's a great story.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tom Petty's Musical Life On Film - The Runnin' Down a Dream Documentary, December 26, 2008

By	Mark "Technology, Music and Movies" (East Coast) - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)

Runnin' Down a Dream documents the history of Tom Petty, including his band Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers, Mudcrutch, The Travelling Wilburys, and his extensive solo career and collaborations with other artists. There is so much to cover, in fact, that this documentary stretches for 4 hours, and that's before you've even touched special features. The format is somewhat of a common one for musical documentaries. There is a montage of interview footage that is sliced and diced to tell the story somewhat chronologically from a variety of perspectives. Even after 4 hours of interview footage, music video clips, concert footage and photo stills, this documentary is a pleasure from start to finish. That is probably the best testament to how well made and fun to watch this really is.

The format of this documentary should please die-hard fans and casual listeners alike. I would consider myself a pretty big Tom Petty fan, but I watched this with somebody who was not. Well after seeing the documentary, they are a fan now. The last half, in particular, is so chock full of amazing music that most people *know* but not everybody realizes is Tom Petty. So this is a good movie to watch with somebody you want to convert over to being a Tom Petty fan.

The blend of formats is really good as a *bio-pick* but it's also nice for music history junkies. Sprinkled into all the interviews are tons of factoids and tidbits about how certain songs came to be, who wrote them, who worked on them, and on and on. Serious fans will really enjoy all those details.

But everybody can relate to some of the stories of hardship and challenges that are also sprinkled throughout. We get to hear about Tom's first battle to get out of his record contract when Shelter Records was bought by MCA Universal. And we get to see the various versions of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers take shape for various reasons, from Stan slowly falling on his sword to Howie's drug problems. In fact, it's very surprising just how multi-faceted the telling of these stories is. Rather than give us the sanitized corporate version of how so-and-so was kicked out of the group, this documentary allows clips of all parties to be included so that you can hear it from the horse's mouth and make up your own mind. I really appreciate that fact since I love to know as much of the story as possible and I am instinctively distrustful of one-sided portrayals.

As with any music documentary, the music is a large part of this film. And the depth and bredth of Tom's career is shown, not just in his songs, but in his collaborations with Stevie Nicks, Roger Maguin, George Harrison, Jeff Lynn, and many others. And of course if you include the supergroup The Travelling Wilburys, you have to add to George Harrison and Jeff Lynn the venerable names of Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan. This is really an amazing bit of music with some of the best popular artists of the last 50 years represented here.

I highly recommend this documentary. There is also a 4-Disc Set which includes some rare audio tracks and more special features. So die-hard fans will probably enjoy that set. I was able to pick it up on sale, but either way this is a great film and you should seek it out.

Highly recommended.

Enjoy!