Review of Paul Williams: Still Alive

My fondest memories of Paul Williams are from his guest appearances on the "Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." I don't remember him so much as my parents enjoying him as a performer and a personality. Director Stephen Kessler brilliantly answers a question that has crossed most everyone's mind at least once in the last two decades of pop culture… "Whatever happened to that guy, you know the one on all those talk shows, who wrote all those famous songs?" Kessler sets up the answer you've been looking for with a beautiful montage of clips in the beginning which he explores in genius detail throughout the documentary. It's a story of great success served with a giant cup of self defeat thanks to the songwriter's dive into substance abuse oblivion. It's the kind of trip Hollywood hates to love, only because of the self reflection! But the schadenfreude is defeated by Williams journey into sobriety as he graciously exits stage left. Kessler captures the kind of moments rarely seen with such honesty, like watching Williams walking through a hotel kitchen waiting to take center stage in front of a crowd of die-hard fans. A far cry from the colorful curtains of the Tonight Show. This is a must-see documentary not just because of what Paul Williams has contributed as a songwriter, but because filmmaker and subject reveal an honesty about the process that is rarely seen in bio-pics about musicians. This documentary scores huge points for running down the "Where Are They Now VH-1" rabbit hole. Instead it makes a soulful connection between filmmaker, celebrity and fan... Oscar should be so worthy.