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When You're Strange: A Film About The Doors (2009)

Director: Tom DiCillo

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From Time Out London

Whether you consider Doors singer Jim Morrison a valued addition to the rock pantheon or a vain, attention-seeking, pretentious ponce who wrote hippy-drippy poetry in his spare time, you can’t deny the enigmatic anti-authoritarian Lizard King cut a charismatic swagger. He had a great voice too. Unlike so many other rockumentaries about dead stars, Tom DiCillo’s biography doesn’t lumber itself with voxpops from band members and friends. Instead, the story is told via a montage of fascinating and rarely seen archive footage. Meanwhile Johnny Depp offers one of the most authoritative narratives in years, proving that, when he’s past acting, he should consider a twilight career in audiobooks.

By the summer of ’67, The Doors had become one of America’s most beloved and subversive acts. Yet, as this well-crafted film illustrates, the attention always focused on Morrison, his binges and his notorious on-stage outbursts involving drugged-out lunacy, vitriol and indecent exposure. Boy, they don’t make ’em like that any more.

Author: Derek Adams

Time Out London Issue 2080: July 1 – 7, 2010

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Andy Bullemor said...

Posted on Mar 07 2011 20:43 A very well made documentary with some amazing archive footage and a chance to see the real Jim Morrison not Val Kilmer dancing with a Native American!! Only gripe is Depp's narration at times is a little pantomime!! But a great watch regardless!!

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