MovieChat Forums > Paul Williams: Still Alive (2012) Discussion > Stephen Kessler's projection of loserdom

Stephen Kessler's projection of loserdom

posted 10 years ago by metatron1970
10 replies | jump to latest

I was so repulsed by Stephen Kessler's doc to such an extent I distrusted my own judgement and watched it a second time to confirm my revulsion. I was expecting something along the lines of "Who Is Harry Nilsson?", in which Williams himself participates as one of the talking heads reminiscing about Nilsson. That doc was informative and entertaining, with a good overview of Nilsson's career, works, and personal life, and I actually wept a bit as it ended. But Kessler is not content to make what he dismisses as "PBS documentaries" and opted to turn this into "The Paulie and Steve Show" upon Paul Williams' suggestion. The results are disastrous, with Kessler determined to make a film about a has-been clutching at his past with no interest in the direction Williams' life has taken since he hit bottom in the 80's then went into a sober new direction. This is also not the doc to see if you are unfamiliar with Williams' 70's output as it confines its attention to a few signature hits but ignores some of Williams' more interesting and enduring works. "Phantom of the Paradise", one of Williams' best screen roles and music scores, receives only a throwaway mention. Kessler seems fascinated by the paradoxes of Williams' public persona: how he could win an Oscar for Evergreen one day and the very next rush off to skydive in Circus of the Stars (footage of the latter is used unflatteringly as the final shot of the film). The "climax" of the film is its most obscene moment but oddly the most fascinating, with Kessler showing the latter-day Williams a coked-out version of himself guest hosting The Merv Griffin Show around 1980. What is the point of showing him this embarrassing moment from his past? Any alcoholic or drug addict who hits bottom no doubt has similar embarrassing moments, though most don't do it in the public limelight like Williams. This man has thankfully moved on, has a great family he loves, and has stayed working though without his 70's ubiquity. Kessler treats him like a loser, jokes about the smaller venues Williams plays to now, frames him unflatteringly, and makes the already-diminutive Williams appear even smaller than he is. But Williams is an uncooperative subject and ends up proving the only loser on display is Kessler. I wanted a nice old-fashioned "PBS documentary" about a highly visible 70's icon. What I got was a postmodernist meditation on the ephemeral nature of fame in which the filmmaker displays total disrespect for his subject while masquerading as a fan.

[–] metatron1970 10 years ago

it is typical of Kessler's lack of artistry that "The Rainbow Connection" is used a total of three times throughout the film, which, for a documentary only 80 minutes long, is unforgivable. To his credit, Kessler did have the good sense to include the memorable "You Give a Little Love" from Bugsy Malone.

[–] marc-hyde 10 years ago

I have nothing to add because you said it perfectly. Good job.

[–] metatron1970 10 years ago

Thanks for the kind words! It's been a few months since I've seen "Paul Williams: Still Alive" but have it permanently etched in my memory due to the strong irritation it provoked in me. It still boggles my mind the sub-moronic and unfunny touches Kessler brought to the project. I still replay scenes in my head and analyze what went wrong. (You can often learn more from a bad film than a good one.) One scene comes quickly to mind. Some kind of fan club is having a double bill of Bugsy Malone and Phantom of the Paradise. We are shown a brief clip of the event with Quentin Tarrantino on stage with Paul Williams. Kessler's droning voiceover narration tells us "This is the night Quentin Tarrantino got up and said how much he loved the music in Ishtar." This may be the first time I ever actually wanted to hear what arrogant blowhard Tarrantino had to say, but Kessler wrecks it with his obtrusive narration. Thus it goes throughout the film. I came to this film to get to know Paul Williams a little better. I did NOT want to get to know the director of Vegas Vacation and an Oscar-nominated short.

[–] sheetsadam1 9 years ago

I enjoyed the movie despite the director or maybe I just enjoyed the fact that there was a movie about Paul. I agree with all of your criticism, but two moments in particular were really jarring. First, the line about "His wife was ruining the trip." That one doesn't even need any explanation. It was so callous! Secondly was when they were leaving the convention in Texas and, out of the blue, the director asks something along the lines of "Isn't it funny how all these conservatives like you?" I'd seen no proof anywhere in the film that a) Mr. Williams is not a conservative or that b) all Texans are conservatives. But, for the sake of argument, if both a and b are true why would conservatives not like Paul Williams? We aren't talking about Phil Ochs or Pete Seeger here. Is there a reason why conservatives would dislike Williams? If so the film never addressed it and the question really seems like nothing more than a very half-assed attempt by the director to insert his own politics into the movie.

[–] Countess_Loripalooza 9 years ago

I agree so much with what you said. I also watched the documentary twice to test my own perception. Kessler, despite his many declarations of being a true fan with genuine love for Paul Williams, was not the right director for this project. It could have and should have been so much more.

NOT posted from my iPhone.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Thanks. I agree

[–] satmfs2 9 years ago

I wanted a nice old-fashioned "PBS documentary" about a highly visible 70's icon.

Agree 100%

I just saw it on Netflix. It was an uncomfortable watch. I've never liked documentaries in which the filmmakers inserts themselves into it, especially when they're a fan.

In almost all docs like this, the subject ends up getting irritated with the filmmaker, which makes it less enjoyable. Williams' wife kind of summed it up when during the meal at the casino in Las Vegas, they were talking about easing up the filming for an upcoming show in Hilton Head because it was also a vacation, she said something to the effect of Kessler's family would enjoy being with him on Labor Day.

It was an interesting movie, but one I doubt I'll watch again.

[–] [deleted] 8 years ago

Thanks. I appreciate the nice words

[–] LTUM (1034) 14 days ago

""I've never liked documentaries in which the filmmakers inserts themselves into it""

bingo. exactly how i feel about it

[–] LTUM (1034) 14 days ago

late reply here but.....

i echo your sentiments on this 'filmmaker' and his dubious 'judgement'

it has been a while since i saw this, probably around 2012. watched it one time, and all i can recall is how rude the filmmaker was to Paul, and how Paul was slightly irritated with the guy but handled it well in spite of the buffoon's idiotic prodding.

i remember feeling bad for Paul that the guy seemed to be trying to belittle or smear Paul.

i love Paul Davis very much. he is a very important artist in my life. it angered me to see him treated this way.

aside from this aspect, i do enjoy seeing some of the old footage, and walking down memory lane with Paul.

i think i will rewatch this tonight just because i've been in a nostalgic mood recently, and when that happens i tend to fixate on 70s culture very heavily.

Paul Davis was far and away one of the best singer-songwriters of all time. his work is amazing, albeit less well known among the masses and the younger crowd.

citing Paul Davis as one of my major influences makes me feel proud to be an old guy shaking his fist at the radio, yelling "LONG LIVE THE 1970s!!!"