New York Doll
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Movie Reviews of New York Doll
Movie Review: There Isn't Enough Praise
Summary: 5 Stars
There is a reason that this movie is getting high praise. It's not the camera work, which is amateurish at best. It's not the careful planning, because if there ever was a case of a filmmaker stumbling on a perfect story, this is it. What makes this film so good is absolute honesty framing a near perfect story.
When I first started this dvd I was leery. It started with this guy, Arthur Kane, a stuttering former musician with a mostly failed life. He had achieved a level of acceptance as a convert to the Mormon Church which led to a simple life. As an employee of the Church at the Family History Center, he was leading a quiet life, a friendly life with people around him who accepted him for being Arthur and had no idea that he'd been the bass guitarist for the New York Dolls, the original glam-rock band. In his music days he was a hard-drinking wild dressing rock star with a penchant for excitement and a taste for the illicit.
As I said, I was leery. As a former Mormon, I was immediately suspect as the filmmaker included interviews with church authorities and Arthur's home teachers (as it turns out, the filmmaker himself was one of Arthur's home teachers, which explains his "right place at the right time" success in making a powerful documentary). Arthur stuttered through his explanations of his previous life and his conversion. He seemed unsure about everything in his life, an unlikely hero in any story much less his own.
But that changed with the revelation that Arthur was to go to a reunion concert in London being organized by Morrisey (formerly of the Smiths, now solo). Then we see Arthur revealing his history and discussing his anxiousness at being reunited with former bandmate and estranged friend David Johansen. Interviews proceed throughout by friends from the seventies, musicians who admired the Dolls and Arthur, and even his ex-wife whom he had beaten with cat furniture in a drunken rage before attempting suicide.
I admit that I got wrapped up in the movie and forgot all my trepidations, left behind with my own anxiety for Arthur "Killer" Kane. He hadn't played guitar in years and even had to borrow money to get his instruments out of perpetual hock at a local pawn shop. Would he be able to get into form, would he still "have it," would the tensions of reuniting be the major story, and would they actually get onto stage in London? All these questions became foremost in my mind, with Arthur's faith and the film making itself forgotten, just part of the scenery as it should be.
I can't really tell you any more, because it'll give away too much of a powerful story. I will say that he led his band-mates in prayer and I actually wanted to say Amen. And, I will say that I had tears in my eyes at the end. I will also say that if it'd been fiction, I'd have been screaming at the screen that it never happens that way in real life.
I'll also say, watch this movie.
- CV Rick
Movie Review: A Story of a Man at Peace
Summary: 5 Stars
Having missed "New York Doll" at the Sundance Film Festival (it was sold-out) and the local theaters (couldn't get the wife to go to a documentary about another "rock 'n' roll casualty"), I was destined to await the release of the DVD. I'm sorry now that I didn't see it sooner.
The story of Arthur "Killer" Kane is typical and atypical. Typical in the sense of the prototypical 1970s rocker, who found fame and near-fortune, only to throw it all away in the name of excess and a larger-than-life ego, leaving him destitute, lonely and in ill-health...even suicidal.
But in a way, Kane's story is atypical. Instead of Kane turning into the next Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin or Pete Ham, he stumbles upon the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) religion - Arthur would say it was divinely guided - that gives him internal peace and a change of heart. You seem to witness a man now at peace. At peace with his rock 'n' roll past and bitter relationships with his past bandmates. At peace with the denial of fame and fortune. At peace with his current simple lifestyle working at the local LDS Family History Center. At peace with normal people (whose presence he would have distained years earlier). In a way, it seems it took him a lifetime of hell to find heaven. How fitting that he died so poor in a temporal sense, yet so rich in spirit.
The three most poignant moments for me was went former Dolls lead singer, David Johansen makes his 'rock god' entrance into the New York rehearsal studio and to watch Arthur's uncertain face to see how his old friend and rival would react to his presence. When they embrace, you can see the years of distrust and bitterness disappear. The second moment was the discussion between Arthur and David moments before their reunion concert about Mormonism's Word of Wisdom (health code forbidding smoking, drinking and drugs) and adherence to the Ten Commandments. It is humorous, but also enlightening that even David admits (through his own trials) that he has made similar decisions to quit such behavior (all except his addiction to smoking and "one commandment.") The final touching moment was Arthur leading the reunited New York Dolls in a prayer before their concert. I don't think I've ever heard a Christian prayer asking for the Lord's blessing upon a rock concert before, but I honestly believe that God was on the stage that night with Arthur and the rest of the New York Dolls.
What a great movie for all ages, backgrounds and faiths. When Christ spoke of, "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" he was referring to Arthur. May God bless Arthur "Killer" Kane.
Movie Review: You CAN Put Your Arms Around A Memory
Summary: 5 Stars
As the opening scenes of "New York Doll" unfold, we hear the Johnny Thunders-penned classic "You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory," in which the lyric cautions: "You can't put your arms around a memory, so don't try." Well, I for one am sure glad the filmmakers didn't give in to that particular notion, because this brisk and uplifting film lovingly puts its arms around the remnants of a once-great band and firmly pulls them into the present, where they are rendered just as glorious as ever (if not moreso).
The film picks up the story of the washed up ex-legend Arthur "Killer" Kane, nearly 30 years removed from his rock n roll glory days. He's seen and survived all kinds of abuse (self-inflicted and otherwise) but now has achieved a modicum of peace as a Mormon Church librarian. But when he receives word that his old band will be reforming for a huge show at London's Royal Albert Hall at rock star Morrissey's bequest, we are able to follow him as he embarks upon a once-in-a-lifetime journey of closure and compassion, living a dream long unfulfilled.
This movie works both as a "rockumentary" for New York Dolls fans (with great archival footage, as grainy as the beer-soaked memories themselves) and as a beautiful (and often funny) human drama of reconciliation and redemption.
For extras, the DVD features a 6-minute interview with the film's likeable director Greg Whiteley (also a Mormon, who met Kane at church), in which he reveals, "What we didn't want to do was make a VH1 Behind the Music...a rockumentary...because we just felt like something else happened here." Mission accomplished, I would say.
Also bonus-featured is an interesting, expanded 18-minute interview with Morrissey, who's always good for a quote or three. He talks about being neighbors with Arthur long before the film was even conceived and having heart to hearts with the man about his sad and embittered life experiences and the "unlucky, blighted and cursed" legacy of the New York Dolls. In addition, he recounts how he was able to convince and cajole both David Johansen (a long-reluctant holdout) and Arthur himself to reunite the New York Dolls for Morrissey's Meltdown festival.
Finally, we get a nice, little two-minute hymn where Johansen (accompanied by Brian Koonin on acoustic guitar) sings "Come, Come Ye Saints" and sounds like a latter day Tom Waits.
All in all, a wonderful DVD. Highly recommended.
Movie Review: Attention Garage Rockers, Moz Lovers, and Mormons!
Summary: 5 Stars
How do you go wrong with a documentary about the New York Dolls, Morrissey, and Mormonism? Yes, the film NEW YORK DOLL offers this all, but more importantly, it offers the truly bittersweet story of one man who's ultimate wish is fulfilled just when he needs it most.
You'll learn the story of Arthur Kane, who tasted rock glory as the bassist for the New York Dolls, only to lose it all as the group imploded in a storm of addiction, egos, and too much too soon. Arthur was left with a terrible drinking problem, and the memory of once being on top of the world, one that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Luckily, Arthur has two guardian angels, Morrissey and Mormonism. After losing everything he had and turning into a complete drunk, Arthur manages to get sober and find stable, although slightly less glamorous employment, based on his dedication to the Church of Mormon. With the help of his faith, he lives a quiet peaceful life but constantly dreams of reuiniting with his old bandmates to reclaim their glory that was cut short way too soon.
Now enter Arthur's second guardian angel, one many might argue is much holier than the Church of Mormon and happens to be the NY Dolls biggest fan- Morrissey. When he's given the chance to organize a music festival, Morrissey invites the Dolls to play, which means Arthur's wish will be answered- his band will reunite and he'll experience rock stardom once again.
I don't want to give too much away, but NEW YORK DOLL is a film full of impossible turns, some glorious and some tragic. Besides the astonishing plot, another great element of this film is the dynamics of the personalities involved. Arthur's lifestyle when he reuinites with his bandmates in 2004 is a lot different from the one he led in the 1970s, but with the help of his sweet demeanor he's accepted for the church loving library that he's become. Another bonus to the film are terrific interviews with Morrissey describing the impact music can have on someone's life and explaining why it meant so much to him to bring the Dolls back together.
This film is a must for Moz fans, Dolls fans, or anyone at all! Don't miss NEW YORK DOLL.
Movie Review: Touching...
Summary: 5 Stars
I am just so fascinated and in love with this story.
I have caught it twice on Showtime...I know the New York Dolls, I was too young to have discovered them in the '70's. Well, ok, truth be told I was an 8-year old busy trying to be Major Tom of "Space Oddity"...so I overlooked the Dolls.
But in the 1980's discovered them and loved them. I got a chance to see David Johanson live pre-Buster Poindexter and also saw Johnny Thunders. So those were the only two Dolls I knew of.
I have re-discovered them AGAIN, having seen them just this past February (2008) in Chicago. Wow. They are just as good as ever...Syl Sylvain, and the new guitarist Steve Conte...of course Syl is a legend also and the new guitarist is fantastic. Even looks a bit like Johnny did back in the day.
I knew *of* Arthur "Killer" Kane, but that was all until I saw this documentary. I am enthralled.
There is a great deal of old Dolls footage, and I love the interviews of Chrissie Hynde, Sir Bob Geldof, and Morrissey. These are the artists I really grew up idolizing in the '80's.
I dont'want to give away too much about the film. Everyone else has covered the details. The guitars in the pawn shop, Arthur's conversion to Mormon, the reunion concert in London...everything.
Everyone knows Arthur has passed away. But the way it happened....incredible.Just amazing.
Everything in this man's life was *so* meant to be. There are no ifs, ands or buts. That makes it so touching. He was such a sweet and gentle man. And a *Killer* bass player. I wish I would have had the chance to have seen him in person, as well.
Arthur, you were one in a million. Count me among your fans...and I hope we will meet someday...