MovieChat Forums > Paul Williams: Still Alive (2012) Discussion > Love/Loathe

Love/Loathe

posted 9 years ago by trista-902-431742
2 replies | jump to latest

I just finished watching this and I have to say it is the best and worst documentary film I've seen lately. As a long-time fan of Paul Williams, it was great to see all the archival footage and have all these "Oh yeah!" moments. Plus seeing him in the present looking so healthy and happy, still performing...I actually squealed like a little girl when they were rehearsing the song from Bugsy Malone. He is one of my favorite singer/songwriters ever. I could gush all day about Paul Williams. I love him.

Stephen Kessler is another story. It didn't take long to start loathing the so-called "director" of this movie. So many times he would speak in voiceover or in an interaction with Williams and I would cringe. This man is completely clueless. How someone who could profess to be fan of Paul Williams and then proceed to trump so many moments that could have been cinematic gold is mind-boggling. Kessler just comes across as a total prick. It is a testament to how talented and charismatic Williams is for any viewer to suffer through Stephen Kessler's idiotic remarks and self-interested commentary.

How stupid is this guy? He spoke OVER a clip of Quentin Tarantino talking about Paul Williams. 

I give this movie a 10 just for Williams' presence and all the nostalgic footage from TV/films, and the moments Kessler wasn't being an ass. I give Stephen Kessler a big fat goose egg for all his dumb comments and taking the focus away from a subject that was way more interesting than the guy who directed Vegas Vacation.

[–] LTUM (1033) 8 days ago

that is exactly how i feel.

the footage is gold, but the director is cringe

[–] jacotodd47 (1832) 8 days ago

Neither. I did see this, around 2014. First thought was one was shocked he was "still alive". I mean this guy, he faded into complete oblivion. IF you go back to the 70s (one was a little boy at this time) - Paul Williams was all over the place.

Faded away in the 80s, figured he was a goner.

ANyway as far as the program, yeah, it was good. And good for him, first of all thankfully that he survived, and secondly, good for him for cleaning his act up.