The New York Dolls were briefly the darlings of the pre-punk music scene in the US and UK before they descended into drug-fuelled oblivion and squabbles. This film takes up the story of one of the band, Arthur 'Killer' Kane and follows him around the time the 2004 Meltdown reunion.
As the film progresses there is a great sense of a life largely lost in the wilderness, of missed opportunities, bitterness and regret. Kane's Mormonn faith gives him a reason to view everything through new eyes - particularly his relationship with Dolls' frontman David Johansen, who he seems to have viewed as an enemy for far too long. How sad.
Given the circumstances of the film's completion - Kane unexpectedly died shortly after the concert in the UK - it is very moving to watch and never short of enthralling. The music of the reunited Dolls is presented alongside footage of their Old Grey Whistle Test appearance - showing the years have not been kind but that the sound is still there.
A surprising success, this film is everything a true music documentary should be, and with such a gentle and likable subject it is never a bore or contrived.
And that last song from Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain is perfect to wrap up a strange and lonely tale of a lost rock 'n roll soul.
As the film progresses there is a great sense of a life largely lost in the wilderness, of missed opportunities, bitterness and regret. Kane's Mormonn faith gives him a reason to view everything through new eyes - particularly his relationship with Dolls' frontman David Johansen, who he seems to have viewed as an enemy for far too long. How sad.
Given the circumstances of the film's completion - Kane unexpectedly died shortly after the concert in the UK - it is very moving to watch and never short of enthralling. The music of the reunited Dolls is presented alongside footage of their Old Grey Whistle Test appearance - showing the years have not been kind but that the sound is still there.
A surprising success, this film is everything a true music documentary should be, and with such a gentle and likable subject it is never a bore or contrived.
And that last song from Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain is perfect to wrap up a strange and lonely tale of a lost rock 'n roll soul.