When You're Strange: A Film About The Doors

2009
Directed By Tom DiCillo


SYNOPSIS

A documentary that looks into the short and turbulent career of The Doors in the late 1960's and early 70's.

MY THOUGHTS

Oliver Stone's 1991 film The Doors painted front-man Jim Morrison as a drug-fueled monster.
The film angered the surviving band-members who actually participated in the film and felt screwed over by Stone. This probably kept them from telling the definitive Doors story for nearly 20 years.

When You're Strange is that definitive story and differs from your average rocumentary. All the footage featured is vintage film of the band, much of it rare and previously unseen. There's no modern day talking heads like music journalists telling us how great the band was, or band members looking back with rose-colored glasses on the 'good old days.' All the interviews used are from back in the day when the events happened.
Johnny Depp narrates the film's poetic prose, keeping in nature with Morrison's lyrics. But his monotone delivery makes him sound thoroughly bored, detracting from the documentary.

The Doors music is used in generous portions, from the biggest hits to deep album tracks, and uses rare live tracks and the familiar studio ones.

The tensions inside the band and their troubles (like Morrison's Miami incident) are not glossed over and are portrayed matter-of-factly and given equal time with the band's high points. (no pun intended) Jim Morrison appears more as an actual person with problems, unlike the beast in Oliver Stone's tale.
When You're Strange offers very little new info to die-hard fans of the group apart from the footage.


I would have liked if they carried the film beyond the death of Jim Morrison. The band actually continued on and made two albums as a trio before calling it a day. The style of the documentary probably would prevent this however, with the media being less-interested in the band following Morrison's death, resulting in fewer interviews and footage of this era.

For fans of The Doors, When You're Strange offers a definitive history of the band and unseen footage, but little else. For newcomers to the band, the film is a great introduction.