Tacticalin An absolute waste of money

SparkMore n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Lidia Draper Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

jokermtb This is a terrific movie. Somewhat similar to the other great roc-umentary "the story of Anvil", this movie has everything a good story requires - a compelling background, interesting characters, and a "satisfying" ending. I discovered this flick via the New York Dolls page on Facebook, where I downloaded the movie for a couple of Washingtons. I don't usually do so, but for some reason I was really drawn to the story. I've been a Dolls fan since I was a teenager, and discovered the Dolls, not too long after Johnny Thunders died, so I kinda missed the whole thing, but that didn't stop me from discovering, and enjoying this band. Like many, the Dolls were a huge influence on my developing musical tastes, and also why I play guitar. The documentary is very well done, and opens a door in the life of someone who basically got left behind, but thru just sheer cosmic luck, somehow manages to craft a dream come true ending for himself, before fate strikes once again. I honestly believe ANYone will like this movie, even if they never heard of the Dolls. R.I.P. Arthur!

rugb This film brought me to tears. I did not expect the story I encountered. I found it by accident on the Documentary Channel. Based on a few minor familiarities, I should have been more aware of this story. Yet I knew little of the New York Dolls, their music and the intricate vein of Arthur "Killer" Kane's life that resulted in this film.I'm a fan of The Smiths and was always aware of Morrissey's connection to the Dolls as their UK fan club president. A few of my favorite late-70s/early-80s bands often credited the Dolls as a major influence. Yet I never took the time to seek out their music, despite music-collecting being one of my favorite hobbies. I also recall Buster Poindexter and David Johansen's role in the movie "Scrooged." I don't emotionally invest in pop culture or worship celebrity so that was all the knowledge I had of these characters. However, I'm a useless-facts junkie, usually observant of the obscure and gravitate a little toward the counter-culture. So I should have known something about this.To add to the circle of tangential connections, I'm also Mormon. Yet I never knew of Kane's conversion nor was I aware of this story until now. I'm embarrassed I know so little about something I'm connected with both through my favorite music and my religion. Nevertheless, I'm extremely grateful to have stumbled upon this film and for the efforts made by the filmmaker to make it happen. I think Morrissey was a conduit in the hands of God, whether he believes it or not, to help fulfill a 30-year wish of a tortured man.Obviously, Morrissey was one of their biggest fans, but fame causes many to lose sight of reality. Even when successful people give back, it sometimes seems feigned via contrived charities and photo ops. That's how I always perceived Bob Geldof and his so-called charities. So it was no surprise to me that he gave one the most jaded, back-handed commentaries on Kane throughout the film. Given the bad experiences some people have in religion and the misguided perception a lot of people have of Mormons, I'd say it was rather magnanimous of Morrissey and others to go through with everything and continually praise Kane as a musician, as a person in general and for his choice in personal beliefs.It was the final scenes and Kane's overall persona that really struck a chord (pun intended) and inspired me. I was a little turned off by Johansen's mockery of the Mormon faith. It didn't help to watch the many perpetual myths and misinformation of Mormons go unchallenged in that same scene, as always. (e.g. myth - Mormons have never been asked to abstain from caffeine. It's not the crux of abstention from coffee.) However, Johansen redeemed himself in the end with his kind comments about Kane. It was also nice to hear Johansen's homage to Mormons via the song at the end, "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief." (An absolutely moving song if you ever get a chance to hear it sung a cappella.) Through it all, Kane remained humble, stalwart, confident and composed. If you ever wanted to truly understand the tenets or mindsets of Mormons, and not the misguided crap you get everywhere else, Kane's post-conversion life is great example. His personality is the epitome of Mormon beliefs and a Christ-like person. He never shirked responsibility to his church nor his fellow man. He never blamed, spoke ill or got too down on himself despite a lack of wealth, defeated life and old grudges. Kane had little, yet gave everything he had to bring about a lifelong dream of a reunion and to mend broken relationships. He simultaneously lived in both worlds (his past glory and present faith), as if everything culminated with purpose. All the wheels and cogs aligned perfectly to make it happen, even if only for a brief moment in time. Yet, consider how little was required to potentially ignore or destroy such a beautiful story. It only needed one person in the mix to say, "No. I can't be bothered." Not only did the reunion happen, but it was uncharacteristically triumphant and successful. I don't think it was a coincidence. It seemed to happen just long enough to simply allow it to happen; to merely edify the prayer of a faithful man who sacrificed pride for a love of God and was rewarded quite simply and directly for his effort.Meanwhile, Kane never regressed into his old lifestyle or felt regretful about it. He could have easily caved, especially considering his health. However, he was steadfast to the end, doing his duty, seeking a kind of content happiness that can't be explained or found in a worldly vice. Ironically, a former alcoholic, rock-n-roll legend and mid-life convert to the Mormon faith is a better example than I – a lifelong Mormon. However, you'll find the most diligent and faithful ones are the late converts, not the ones born into it, because those who find it later don't take it for granted. Arthur "Killer" Kane has inspired me to try harder, to have bit more faith – especially in others, and to be a better person.

bob the moo In the seventies, Arthur "Killer" Kane was the base player for influential punk band "The New York Dolls". Nearly thirty years later he is living in LA and working as a librarian in a family history centre, riding the bus everywhere and living on a tiny income . Director Greg Whiteley starts the film focusing on Kane and his life today but, during the film, an opportunity comes up to reunite the Dolls for a gig in London. Arthur accepts and the camera follows him as he reunites with people he hasn't seen for decades.I know very little about the New York Dolls, only being vaguely familiar with their music and could only have told you David Johansen's name out of the whole group. However this didn't seem to matter here because the film starts out to be more about the very low-key existence of a fallen rock star as represented by Arthur Kane. This aspect of it is very interesting and provides plenty of moments that are touching, comic and telling. Director Whiteley is affectionate to his subject but is not sentimental and the mix is almost spot on because it feels a balanced view of this man who now rides a bus to a low-wage job, is balding and just looks like a man who lived with his mother for fifty years and is now trying to get by without her.He is a wonderfully unassuming character and it is a joy to spend this time with him because he has all this tragedy, sadness, hope and survival. I knew so little about the Dolls that I did not even know that he had died and the end of the film is almost unbearably bittersweet and it hurt to learn of his death while I had just spent an hour getting to know it. Alongside the film focusing on Arthur the London gig gives a way into the Dolls themselves which does expand on who Arthur is but also allows for a potted history of the Dolls. Lots of contributions and wonderfully candid footage combine to build this whole up and it makes for a great film.I'm pretty sure that fans of the Dolls will enjoy this but for me I can only speak as a casual viewer with no knowledge. As such I loved it. I thought it was a tremendously touching, tragic and comic character study that folds into a rockumentary of the Dolls and the fact that I knew nothing about the subject only meant that the news of Arthur's sudden death just felt like a kick in the gut. A great film – fan or not.

cellochice A friend of mine and I were looking for a movie to watch on a Friday night, and we came across this at the store. She had been wanting to see it. We were expecting something completely different, considering the fact that Kane was in a major punk or rock and roll band. You really get sucked into his rather quiet character. Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, it was really cool to see how he was able to ably talk about the Church with his former band-mates, and it was sweet to see how he was able to get back together with the band, which had been his dream. We loved it. Loved it!