PAUL WILLIAMS: STILL ALIVE
Remember Paul Williams — the diminutive actor, songwriter and all-around raconteur? He was everywhere in the 70s and then slowly evaporated and — poof! — he completely disappeared. Williams was the guy who wrote number one songs (The Capenter’s “We’ve Only Just Begun,” Barbara Streisand’s “Evergreen” among others), was a popular (and crazy funny) guest on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson at least 50 times, starred in numerous TV shows as well as several feature films (including Brian DePalma’s misguided bomb PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE). Remember the dark comedy THE LOVED ONE? He was the kid rocket scientist that Jonathan Winters’ funeral director hired to blast cremated remains into orbit to make space for more burials. (Winters’ memorable line: “I gotta get these stiffs off my property.”)
Filmmaker Stephen Kessler’s quirky fanboy documentary searches for and finds Williams still alive. But Kessler doesn’t stop there; no, he ingratiates himself into Williams’ life and proceeds to dissect and examine it – on film. The focus of the lively documentary finally centers on how Williams managed to recover from a serious — near deadly — addiction to fame (among other things).
When Kessler was a pudgy, lonely kid growing up in Queens, Williams was a super star and Kessler was obsessed with him. The interaction between Kessler and Williams was at first annoying, but then it only served to reveal Williams’ wit, intelligence and dignity as he spoke honestly about his remarkable life to a questioning, constantly filming, fan.
I recall a story (not in the film) Williams told about being at the lowest depth of his depression and calling his friend and co-star Jonathan Williams for advice. Winters had famous bouts of madness and depression and Williams assumed he’d be a sympathetic, helpful ear. Williams told Winters he was considering suicide. Without missing a beat, Winters seriously urged Williams to “wait till Friday night when Sunset Blvd’s crowded, rent a chicken suit and jump off the roof of the Hyatt. That way, they’ll talk about you again and you’ll make the front pages of the paper.” Winter’s crazed advice made Williams laugh and helped change his brain chemistry for the better. I choose to believe this story is true
Decades ago, I met Williams once on the corner of Ventura and Van Nuys in Sherman Oaks near where I lived. He was heading back to his car — an Excalibur, that monstrously pretentious, chrome exhausted, replica of a 1920s Mercedes-Benz convertible — parked illegally at the curb. I said “Wow! Some ride!” He said, “Yes it is and I know I look like a self-aggrandizing asshole cruising down the street, but I like it and don’t give a damn.”
I love this quirky film because it shows that the end of fame for Williams was not the end of life, but in many ways, a better beginning. For a time, Williams was larger than life, but the demons were even bigger. Miraculously, faced them, fought them and survived. There’s new meaning hearing again his lyrics of loneliness, longing and desire in his best songs.
New for the home theater:
MARLEY
Robert Nesta Marley’s music is a spiritual link with the human family all over the world — it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or what road you’re walking. His timeless music is a prophetic voice that is singular and unparalleled.
MARLEY is the definitive life story (on film) of the amazingly charismatic man with the dreads and beguiling smile whose songs of love, hope and revolution continue to speak to a restless world. Even if you dislike Reggae, this absorbing biography — made with the full support of the Marley family – will hold your attention and engage your emotions in unexpected ways. Kevin Macdonald’s exquisitely composed and edited film is packed with rare footage, incredible performances and revealing interviews, Marley the human being emerges. The lavish use of fabulous concert foot only adds to power of this life story that’s worth telling. Marley was the real deal and so is this great film.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA
There are a lot of things to like in this Cannes’ Grand Prize winner that was also a big hit at our last Palm Springs International Film Festival. The set up is simple: In the dead of night, a group of men — a police commissioner, a prosecutor, a doctor and a murder suspect drive through Turkey’s Anatolian countryside. Moving along the dark winding roads in the rolling hills — the headlights of the search party’s cars are daggers in the night – the men are searching for the victim of a brutal murder, but the sullen, nearly mute suspect can’t recall where he buried the body. As day dawns and the landscape is illuminated, few details about the murder come to light – not so regarding the hidden secrets of the investigative team. In the Turkish foothills, things are not what they seemed in the dark. And when a body is found, yet another reality must be faced. Director-writer Nuri Ceylan’s long, noirish tale is beautifully photographed, tightly crafted and eminently satisfying.
Listen for my weekly movie updates on Michael Knight’s KNWZ 94.3 Friday am show. Comments? RobinESimmons@aol.com
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