I watched this movie a week ago and I can honestly say I have found myself thinking about it every day since viewed this "Gem". Arthur "Killer" Kane is as memorable a figure as I have ever seen or or more appropriately "experienced". He is quirky, he is lost, he is sweet and he is naive it just so happens at one time he was the bassist for The New York Dolls a pre-punk band that had mild commercial success in the mid 70's. Who are th New York Dolls you say? They turn out to be the inspiration for artists like Morrissey, Chryssie Hynde, Mick Jones and The Clash as well as Bob Geldof amongst others. The New York Dolls were credited in the movie for creating what became the punk rock wave that hit England in the late 70's. What intrigued me was that they are credited for the movement a few times in the movie and according to Mick Jones of the Clash, this all came from a SINGLE television appearance the Dolls made while in England. Watching this movie was like seeing a biography of Dr. Jekyll. Kane (Jekyll) is older, wiser and filled with faith and regret of "what could have been" beating himself up for the destruction he has caused to himself, his former wife and questioning himself about what he could have done to stop the tidal wave of failure that followed in the wake of the break up of the Dolls . Kane clings onto the hope of reuniting with his 2 surviving former band mates, like Linus does his blanket. I was moved to see a man who once was a "rock god", now humbled as he is filmed riding the bus to his job as a glorified "gopher" at the Latter Day Saints family history library in Los Angeles. Kane the once proud and defiant bass player is shown to be so broke now that his LDS church loans him the money to get his bass out of a pawn shop. Kane is shown to be deeply religious but even that does not help in dealing with his anger and jealousy over the career that David Johansen aka "Buster Poindexter" has carved out over the years while Kane faded into alcoholism, poverty and obscurity. Arthur Kane reflects the pain and confusion that everyone has experienced at one time in their life, wondering how something wonderful and so precious was lost, praying that the opportunity avails itself one last time and to embrace and clutch onto the moment. I will not spoil the ending to this beautifully crafted movie, a film that is at times funny ,emotionally devastating and inspirational. I will say that it was the first time I shed tears during the credits of movie in more than 20 years. Do yourself a favor see this movie even if you are not a fan of the New York Dolls, I am sure after you see the movie you will be...
Review of New York Doll
