Review of A Fuller Life (2013) by Arnold K — 30 Aug 2014

I had the privilege of watching A FULLER LIFE with the director and with Christa Fuller (as well as Jonathan Demme, Jim Jarmusch, James Toback, John Turturro, and a number of other luminaries) at the film's New York premiere, at the Museum of Modern Art.

Happily the film more than lived up to expectations, not only delivering Sam Fuller's words with passion and personality, but doing so with a level of filmmaking craft and artistry well beyond what you might expect from a first-time director.

The score (also contributed by part of the extended Fuller clan) was terrific, too. Great rare footage from Fuller's personal archives, including footage from all his movies and from his time serving in the Big Red One in WWII, paired perfectly with footage of the readers -- Buck Henry, Mark Hamill, Wim Wenders, James Franco, Jennifer Beals, et al -- diving into the text with gusto in Sam Fuller's old workplace, "the Shack.

" (Reminiscent of "the Swamp" from M*A*S*H!) It was a very special evening, and would have been one even if the film itself hadn't shone; but it did shine, and I encourage anyone with an interest in Fuller to seek it out.