Hayden Kane There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Tayyab Torres Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Juana what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Culli I'm sorry, kids....having written "The Rainbow Connection" and taking some time off for Recovery does not, in any way, give anyone the complete picture or even the scope of Paul Williams' music. I was SOOOO disappointed in this film. I felt sorry for Williams and his wife...this guy just started following them around and filming everything - no discretion, no important questions...and a focus on a small handful of songs from Paul Williams' incredibly prolific career. He asked NO intelligent or even non-cloying questions - like where were you born, what did you like in school, what was it like working with Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand, who's your favorite Muppet?, has your process changed? What are you working on now, any new music? Etc...etc....this was done by a guy who made a documentary expecting Williams to come up with the whole script....he did no research, never listed Williams' credits or mentioned how many movies he wrote for...just loved his 'rainbow connection' sung by folks from all over the world. He spent a fortune and did nothing but dull Williams' reputation...I should have realized from the start the 'maker' was a jerk...why would you even THINK he was dead....the internet is readily available to use for RESEARCH as well as for publishing your own flat ideas.

David Ferguson Greetings again from the darkness. This documentary was recommended to me by Adam, a fellow movie and music lover. Without his urging, I probably would have never taken the time to watch this ultimately fascinating and intriguing look at Paul Williams. I say that after an extremely clunky first few minutes where director Stephen Kessler, a self-proclaimed childhood fan of Williams, displays his insecurities and lack of focus as a filmmaker.The best stories have an abundance of conflict, and it turns out that the polar opposite goals of Williams and Kessler make for some spellbinding viewing. See, Kessler wants to figure out what happened to the 1970's icon and Williams simply wants to show how he has adjusted to a somewhat normal life. Kessler wants to look back, while Williams is living (happily) in the present.If you don't recognize the name Paul Williams, then you probably didn't watch TV or listen to the radio in the 1970's. The guy was everywhere! Known mostly for his prolific songwriting, he also performed, appeared in movies, TV shows, game shows and talk shows. In fact, he was a favorite of Johnny Carson and appeared on The Tonight Show fifty times. And then ... just like that ... he was gone. Drugs and alcohol destroyed his career. Now twenty years sober, he still performs - just in much smaller venues. This is man who has spent much time soul-searching. His insight into being different (difficult) or special (addicting) makes for a chilling moment.Kessler follows Williams around until he is forced to join him in front of the camera. Their strained relationship is painful to watch until things begin to turn during a long bus ride in the Phillipines. With so much of the focus on Kessler's attempt to connect with Williams, this is as much a personality analysis as it is a look at the history and current status of Williams.The final act of the film seems a bit staged as Kessler finally gets the "sleepover" at Williams' house that he had been after for 2 plus years. Reviewing old TV clips does not get the desired reaction ... Kessler never seemed to grasp what he had with this film. It's obvious that the two men now have a connection, but if you are expecting a tribute film to the glory years of Paul Williams, you will be disappointed. If instead you embrace this unusual film, you will come away impressed with the man that Paul Williams has become. It's no "Rainbow Connection" but maybe it's even more.

andrea-996-412592 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.

Troy Taroy I only just re-discovered Paul Williams a year ago, although he was a clear memory from my childhood. Williams was a ubiquitous TV personality in the 1970s. And although the film will definitely appeal to nostalgia addicts of a certain age, it has more than enough good humor and emotional resonance to draw in anyone who's never heard of him (everyone's heard his songs). Kessler approaches his subject with great love, respect, and a sometimes intrusive curiosity. Williams responds at first with suspicion, then eventually trust. The growing affinity between subject and filmmaker almost becomes a second plot line - the primary one being Williams' manic career. It's edited with wit and, dare I say, pathos. I sat fairly close to the screen, and there were a few moments where shaky camera-work bothered me, but that's an inevitability whenever a filmmaker obsessively attempts to capture the essence of a childhood hero. The film also functions as a meditation on the true meaning of success and happiness. It's a lesson sorely needed in an aggressively competitive world, but the film doesn't preach. You walk away with some of the most beautiful songs ringing in your head. A beautiful film.