SPILL FILM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – MAN ON THE RUN

PAUL McCARTNEY – MAN ON THE RUN

AMAZON PRIME VIDEO

FEBRUARY 27, 2026

Famed film director Morgan Neville (Won’t You Be My Neighbor? , Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain ) has teamed up with Paul McCartney for this riveting and brilliant documentary about Paul and Linda McCartney during the 1970s. Unlike the previous documentary, Wingspan, this is not a film about Wings, but rather a very personal and honest exploration of Paul McCartney following the end of The Beatles. Paul McCartney – Man On The Run goes much further into his life than his recent book Wings: The Story of A Band On The Run.

However, as with the book, McCartney is not the only voice one will hear during the documentary. Using archive interviews, viewers are able to hear from the late Denny Laine, Henry McCullough and of course Linda McCartney. These voices add a great deal to the story and fill in a lot of gaps throughout the documentary. McCartney, himself, is heard throughout the film but never seen, other than in the original footage. This was a very wise decision, as the visuals take the viewer back into a distinct time, and the audio narration from various sources puts that time into a context. This style works on so many levels. Others involved with McCartney during the decade are also interviewed and/or archival footage is used.

Beginning the film with scenes from the Get Back sessions sets the stage and does give one a solid understanding of McCartney’s thought process and rationale at the time. He is also unflinchingly honest. He does not shy away from talking about his drinking and the impact it had on him and his family. Nor does he hide the rather cruel and unjust reviews he received during his entire solo career up to Band On The Run.

Watching this documentary, one can only be impressed by how the McCartneys survived the turmoil and negativity. It is easy to forget just how cruel the press and ‘fans’ were about Linda. Not to mention former Beatles who had little good to say about McCartney’s music. However, for those of us who witnessed the abuse they took, it is a stark reminder of those days. But underneath it all are two things, a remarkable and inspiring love story and some of the finest music created, not just in the 1970s, but ever.

MAN ON THE RUN – MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE ALBUM REVIEW

The 1970s were not very kind to the individual Beatles. They had to, not only, compete with the incredible music they created, but with the knowledge that they were part of the biggest and most influential band of all time. That is impossible to live up to but all four succeeded in their own way. McCarney succeeds by, as he says in the film, “going back to square one to eventually get to square 100”.  There are many comparisons made of the early days of Wings and The Beatles’ time at  The Cavern. Watching this film, one can see how such a comparison rings true.

At its heart, Paul McCartney – Man On The Run is a story. And while watching the film, one finds themselves cheering for the hero couple. And when they finally achieve success, with Band On The Run and subsequently Wings Over America, one can’t help but feel like cheering. But as with all good stories, it doesn’t end there. Director Neville does a fantastic job in pacing and explaining the climb to the top but also what occurs after you reach the summit. Obviously McCartney’s career did not come to an end when Wings folded in 1981 but the story of getting to the point of the end of Wings is very telling and dramatic.

I will say that although the last version of Wings was not the most popular, I do think they produced an incredible album with Back To The Egg, an album that is criminally overlooked by not only critics and music historians, but by McCartney himself. In fact, McCartney can be his own worst critic. The final Wings tour is noted, and it was nice to see Robbie The Robot. Although McCartney himself has little to say about that tour, many have fond memories of the shows.

With this documentary, the recent book (and Wings compilation), and a newly announced Wings exhibit at The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, perhaps it is a good time to reassess McCartney in the 1970s. This film goes a long way to doing that and many may walk away somewhat surprised at just how much he accomplished in a very short time (the same can be said about The Beatles). The soundtrack to the film, released the same day as the film debuts on Amazon gives a tip of the iceberg into the music he created in the 1970s.

Paul McCartney – Man On The Run is an incredible accomplishment. It could have easily been much longer (a director’s cut in the future, I hope) and is enjoyable on many levels. The music is absolutely brilliant from beginning to end, and the fact that there is a great deal of footage that not only have fans not seen, may not know exists. It makes me wonder just what is in that archive/vault. But everything looks and sounds amazing and Paul McCartney – Man On The Run proves to be one of the most powerful and enjoyable documentaries I have seen in a long while.

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