Review of Paul Williams Still Alive (2011) by Thomas B — 11 Jun 2014
"Paul Williams: Still Alive" is a moderately involving documentary whose lesson is not to not meet one's heroes but rather to not get personally involved with one's fans. That's because Paul Williams fan Stephen Kessler who was at first surprised that he was still alive tracks his hero down to Winnipeg where he is performing in concert, signing autographs and body parts and consuming insane amounts of squid.
Later, Kessler films him on tour, apparently only to badger him over two continents as to why he appeared in such 70's television series as 'The Gong Show.' Three reasons are readily apparent: One for the money, two, because Williams was such a ham and three, how many people can say they were shot by Angie Dickinson? In fact, I was thinking over the first twenty minutes of this documentary that this was the first time Kessler picked up a camera.
And then it is revealed that Kessler has actually directed a couple of features, along with commercials. I guess directing a documentary is harder than it looks.
This review of Paul Williams Still Alive (2011) was written by Thomas B on 11 June 2014.
Paul Williams Still Alive has generally received positive reviews.
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