Billy Joel's documentary digs deep into past but he's 'not finished yet'

NEW YORK – Billy Joel describes "And So It Goes" as his most definitive song.

Fitting, then, that the sparse, pensive piano ballad that was never a huge hit but embodies Joel's world-weary vibe would title his new documentary, "Billy Joel: And So It Goes."

The first 2 ½-hours of the two-part film premiered at opening night of the 24th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival on June 4. The Beacon Theatre crowd included not only festival co-founder Robert De Niro and producer Tom Hanks, but actresses Whoopi Goldberg and Mariska Hargitay and Joel's peak recording era band members Liberty DeVitto (drums), Richie Cannata (saxophone) and Russell Javors (guitar).

The documentary is slated to hit HBO in July. Its second half, covering Joel's "An Innocent Man" period in 1983 through his record-breaking Madison Square Garden residency that ended last year, is about the same length as the front half shown at the festival.

There is no shirking thoroughness here.