‘Man on the Run’ Review: A Doc on Paul McCartney’s Wings Years Giddily Catalogs the Star’s Fruitful 1970s Run but Doesn’t Truly Let Us In

Sep 3, 2025 5:42pm PT Man on the Run Review: A Doc on Paul McCartneys Wings Years Giddily Catalogs the Stars Fruitful 1970s Run but Doesnt Truly Let Us In The film by '20 Feet From Stardom' director Morgan Neville, which premiered in Telluride, offers an energetic run-through of the ex-Beatles hits but few revelations. By Chris Willman Plus Icon Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic ChrisWillman Latest Man on the Run Review: A Doc on Paul McCartneys Wings Years Giddily Catalogs the Stars Fruitful 1970s Run but Doesnt Truly Let Us In Brandi Carlile Announces First Solo Album in Four Years, Returning to Myself, and Releases Video for Title Track Belinda Carlisle on Covering 60s and 70s AM Radio Hits She Grew Up on for New Album, Once Upon a Time in California, and This Years Go-Gos Reunion See All Courtesy Amazon MGM Studios Is the cause of Wings something that really needs to be evangelized? Apparently so. When Man on the Run, a documentary about Paul McCartneys 1970s Wings period, had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival over the weekend, you could hear patrons talking about what a revelation it was that he generated so much good music in the wake of the Beatles breakup, as if he hadnt remained one of the biggest artists in the world throughout the subsequent decade. So maybe theres some desire for further vindication that has driven McCartney to write a book about those years (coming out in the fall) as well as executive produce this Morgan Neville-directed doc (hitting select theaters and then Prime Video next year). Related Stories Noah Baumbach Remembers Mike Nichols' Best Advice as Telluride Honors 'Jay Kelly' Filmmaker Adam Sandler on Playing Against Type in Noah Baumbach's Dramedy 'Jay Kelly': 'Holy S---, I Can't Believe I'm Getting This Gift' Maybe everyone who sold McCartneys post-Beatles period short previously has their reasons for putting blinders on, even in the face of that inescapable a juggernaut. I was a John guy, said one enthusiastic, 70-plus festivalgoer, as if that were a completely reasonable explanation for a 50-year immunity to the charms of Jet and Let Me Roll It. Or perhaps it just takes the creep of old age to agree with the wisdom of the sages, that it isnt silly love isnt silly love isnt silly at all. Popular on Variety Man on the Run is a heck of a lot of fun to watch, if you arent still so married to your worn copy of Plastic Ono Band that you cant acknowledge the obvious: If there had been no 1960s (imagine no Beatles, its easy if you try), McCartney would still have to be acknowledged as one of the premier craftsmen of 20th-century pop, even if itd just been Maybe Im Amazed as his foot on the starting block. *Reporting by Variety.*