Friday, April 9, 2010
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Friday, April 9, 2010
MOVIE REVIEW
When You're Strange
Faces Come Out Of The Rain,
But His Face Was Iconic
Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore and Jim Morrison, aka The Doors.
The Doors
By
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
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Friday, April 9, 2010
"When You're Strange" is a hypnotic, humorous and harrowing ride through the
life of Jim Morrison and the iconic sixties American rock band The Doors.
The documentary, written and directed by Tom DiCillio ("Delirious") is comprised
of never-before-seen footage of the band, and Mr. Morrison's very own 1970 film
"Hwy", which is interspersed throughout Mr. DiCillo's film, which opened today
in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Boston, among other U.S.
cities.
Johnny Depp's narration is perfect for this documentary, which traces Mr.
Morrison, a philosopher-poet trapped in a rock-star's body. A primal
energy and vitality raced through Jim Morrison on stage and "When You're
Strange" captures it well. Part spiritualist, part provocateur and always
no-holds-barred, Mr. Morrison loved the limelight, and it loved him back.
Alternately narcissistic yet un-self-conscious, Mr. Morrison's greatest
strengths were his poetry and remarkably casual and trusting approach when
around his fans. There's footage from the five-year run of The Doors
during 1960s American turmoil, where Mr. Morrison is both innocent
compassionate flower child and ribald rebel. Robby Krieger (whose classic
"Light My Fire" seemed to define The Doors and the mania surrounding them), John Densmore and co-founder Ray Manzarek are portrayed as the straight men to Mr.
Morrison's onstage antics.
"When You're
Strange" provides a context to the artistic creativity of this quartet, fueled
not only by what Mr. Depp describes as a "highly intelligent and dangerous" man
in Mr. Mojo Risin himself, but also by a national climate countering the message
of this heavily blues-influenced rock band.
I'm a huge Doors fan, and have admired them for years. Naturally, Doors fans will love
"When You're Strange", which is full of music, fun, anecdotes, philosophy and
serious times. Any fans of documentaries will appreciate Mr. DiCillo's
film, which goes a long way towards bringing new Doors fans on board.
"When You're Strange" is rated R by the Motion Picture Association Of
America for some sexual content including references, nudity, drug material and
language. The film also features brief full frontal male and female
nudity. The film's running time is one hour and 28 minutes.
Extra:
Chicago's Ray Manzarek comes to San Francisco, lights a
fire under Oliver Stone's "Doors"
Unscripted review of "When You're Strange":
COPYRIGHT 2010. POPCORNREEL.COM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Read more movie reviews and stories from Omar
here.
Read Omar's "Far-Flung Correspondent" reports for America's pre-eminent Film
Critic Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times -
here
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