New York Doll
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Movie Reviews of New York Doll
Movie Review: God Bless Arthur Kane
Summary: 5 Stars
I am so in awe after seeing this DVD tonight. I know what I write can't do justice to this beautiful documentary. As it was ending, I was thinking of all the people I could give it to for Christmas... then my husband said, "It makes me want to buy a bunch and give them to everybody". This is a story that would be uplifting to any person regardless of religion. It is amazing to see Arthur's very real transition from a hectic lifestyle, alcohol abuse, and an attempted suicide, to someone at peace with God and others in his life... someone who comes to value having a job to do and making a good contribution to his church and society. Seeing the love and support of many different kinds of friends is very touching. It makes you really want to see every person as having great worth, and certainly gives me a new appreciation for musicians. Seeing Arthur's personal struggles and inspired desire to mend fences and come to a peace in his relationships, is very moving. That Arthur was able to have a desire that his band reunite, and that this prayerful desire was granted makes me feel very happy. What a great thing to happen before he died... I'm so glad we have his story. This DVD has generated so many great reviews by people who are much more gifted than I at expressing themselves. I would not hesitate to say that this is one of the best DVD's ever made. I'm assuming that at least some of the group who made the documentary may be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormon church). They set a very high standard which more film-makers should follow. I hope their continuing efforts bring them a lot of success. Beautiful work like this needs greater recognition. I too would give this 10 stars if I could.Movie Review: Poignant Snapshot of Rock and Redemption
Summary: 5 Stars
The title of the New York Dolls second album was "Too Much Too Soon". It was a case of life imitating art with bassist Arthur Kane struggling with the pressures of rock 'n' roll mostly through alcohol. After many years of wandering in relative obscurity Kane found inner peace through his membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Kane found as much personal satisfaction schlepping on a L.A. bus to his job at the Mormon library than he did pounding the stage with a high profile glam-rock band. Kane never lost the desire to reunite with his former bandmates and entertain the masses. Throughout the history of rock there have many examples of performers attempting to reconcile the profound with the seemingly profane, Elvis and Bob Dylan coming to mind. I can't recall it captured more poignantly or succinctly as in "New York Doll". The events captured in the film would seemingly be the result of divine intervention. Is it mere coincidence that Morrissey happened to be in L.A., where Kane lived in relative obscurity, at the same time both were trying to facilitate a Dolls reunion? I was also touched by the reserved Kane making peace with the extroverted lead singer David Johansen whom he had previously had an uneasy relationship. The tribute to Kane by Johansen and guitarist Sylvain Sylvain over the closing credits was also moving. The Dolls were something of a cult band in this country but I don't think that would be a hindrance to those unfamiliar with the principal players to not appreciate what a fine film "New York Doll" is.Movie Review: Personality crisis
Summary: 5 Stars
Director Seth Gordon The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters turns his fine focus on former New York Doll's bass guitarist Arthur "Killer" Kane in this touching documentary. I remember listening to the Todd Rundgren produced protopunk NY Dolls and could recognize lead singer David Johansen on sight but then, hey, I moved on! Apparently Kane, who has a sweet Nigel Tufnel This Is Spinal Tap - Criterion Collection quality about him never did after the band crashed and burned in a classic rock star sort-of-way in the early 80s. Kane took their break up very, very hard and then his life went down a long, sad road.
It was being recruited door-to-door by the Church of Latter Day Saint's missionaries that rescued him and finally gave him a family of sorts and a job. However, Kane's dream in life is for a reunion of the Dolls even if his guitar is in hock! Although it in no way proselytizes, this movie reflects very positively on the LDS members who love him and believe in him as finally does another much more prominent musician of that era.
The great sound track makes you want to get out that eye make-up, glitter and hairspray and go glam once more. And stash a Kleenex or two for the touching conclusion because, to quote my favorite protopunk band The Police, you will be "driven to tears."
Movie Review: Excellent story. Great execution considering....
Summary: 5 Stars
It is more common to get a movie with good technical execution but with no story. In New York Doll, we get a great and wonderful story about nastalgia intermixed with personal change.
Arthur, interestingly clings to his early years when he was a member of the New York Dolls. Even though he is over 50 years old he still longs to get back to those days when he was playing music in the band.
Having watched the movie, I realize that we all long for something nastalgic. We want to live in simpler or happier times. We tend to remember the "best of" our early lives.
At one point in the film, Authur mentions that he is just there to make other people happy. It never really was about him. He is portrayed in this film as a happy gentle man who get what he was wishing for.
The editing is at times choppy and perhaps a little disconnected, but the story holds it all together. To be fair, it's really hard to judge the editing because we don't really know what footage was available to the director. For example, he mentioned that one of the first calls he got was that Arthur (the subject of the story,) was going to the pawn shop to get his guitar. The director (and apparently cameraman) said, "Do you mind if I come along and shoot this." Given that context, it's hard to find fault because you wouldn't have a separate angle to edit in, no formal audio equipment. Given those constraints, the editing is probably really good.
Movie Review: A Truly Amazing Film
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw "New York Dolls" at the LA film festival in the directors guild of america theater. The movie revolves around a punk rock bassist from the 70s, Arthur "Killer" Kane to be exact and his band, the "The New York Dolls." If you haven't heard of the Dolls before, then this is a great way to find out just how they helped shape American pop/rock culture.
Even though "Killer" had a good run in the spotlight it would never last as long as he hoped it would. The dreams faded and his mind went on vacation, he was slowly falling down that spiral of stairs he worked so hard to climb. In 1989 he had hit rock bottom by attempting to commit suicide through jumping out a window. He survives and while recovering is introduced to the Mormon religion through advertisement and when he fully recovers, seeks refuge in a LDS church.
I don't want to go over the whole movie but know this; it shows the realities from being on top of the world to holding on to your last knot on the rope. I'm at a loss of words for the rest of the movie, because the film-maker was able to capture just how real and brutal the world can be to someone down for the count. Overall New York Doll continues to be one of the best movies I've seen and will continue to be when it's released to the world on DVD. I simply cannot wait and I believe all Rock fans will derive something from this amazing movie.