The music documentary genre is a curious beast, often of limited appeal, but in the Doors director Tom DiCillo has a particularly giving subject. Going some way toward rectifying Oliver Stone’s early 90s portrayal of iconic lead singer, Jim Morrison, DiCillo weaves together unseen footage with a narration by Johnny Depp to chart the band’s chaotic rise to stardom and Morrison’s subsequent fall.
Opening with extracts from Morrison’s own 1969 art film, HWY, DiCillo uses scenes of the by-now bearded singer driving through the desert and overlays them with radio reports of his death in Paris. It has the ethereal effect of making us feel as if Morrison is watching the story unfold with us, ready to hold our hand through its retelling.
Unlike most music documentaries, When You’re Strange forgoes the usual present-day talking heads so everything is seen through the eyes of 1960s America. Footage from Vietnam, the moon landing and Kennedy’s assassination all help give a flavour of the highly charged and politicised times the Doors were a product of – but it is the treasure trove of archive footage of the band that is the real attraction.
Shot by Paul Ferrara, an old UCLA college friend of Morrison’s, the filmmaker’s personal relationship with the band allows him to capture an unguarded intimacy that is fascinating. While fans will revel in the sheer volume of concert footage, it is clips such as those of Morrison riding his bike and Ray Manzarek having breakfast with his girlfriend that are most beguiling.
DiCillo‘s editing style soon wears thin, though, with what was initially an exhilarating trip through the Doors’ back catalogue turning into a visual bombardment of scenes you’re sure you saw earlier. Matters are made worse by the surprisingly flat narration by Depp, who falls on the wrong side of the line between laconic and lecturing.
Clearly drawn in by Morrison’s charisma, DiCillo’s script may seem a touch devotional to those who question the singer’s shamanic pretensions – but the magnetism is there for all to see. Manzarek, Krieger and Densmore for the first time become more than bit-parts to Morrison’s star turn, and seeing the mixture of sadness, frustration and anger on their faces at his descent into alcoholism makes the story even more tragic.
Doors’ fans will learn little they didn’t already know from When You’re Strange, while newcomers may find it a less accessible introduction to the band than Stone’s flawed biopic. But as the albums continue to sell in their millions, the Doors’ place in rock history is assured regardless.
Stars Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Robby Krieger and narrated by Johnny Depp
Directed by Tom DiCillo
Certification UK 15 | US R. Read review on Screenjabber.com
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