Review of The Doors (1991) by Timothy S — 09 Feb 2011

This film is about 2/3 true, but is largely full of fiction, courtesy of Oliver Stone. It's a shame, too, because The Doors' story is an intriguing one. I don't understand why Stone insisted on injecting things that are totally fictitious or at least exaggerated or of contested accuracy into the movie (e.g. Jim screaming "HIGHER" into the camera on Ed Sullivan before playing with himself on camera, Jim Morrison and John Densmore openly hating one another, "Light My Fire" being sold to a commercial, Jim setting a closet on fire with Pamela in it, etc). I know a lot of films "based on a true story" do this, but it seems pointless, given the fact that there's plenty of drama in the true story of The Doors. Also, in other films, the things that get changed typically do not do damage to the story or the characters.

The biggest sin this film commits is forgetting to show the other side of Jim Morrison, the side that was NOT a fall-down abusive drunk. According to all of his friends, yes he drank too much and had a temper at times, but he also could be a funny, sweet, brilliant man. Also, with a title like "The Doors", it really should have been more about the band, not just Jim Morrison.

I thought this film was the greatest when I was in junior high. It IS good, but overcooked in a lot of ways. Stone's focus on style and tone sacrificed character and story in some ways. I like it less each time I watch it, actually.

The performances from Kilmer, MacLachlan, Whaley, and Dillon as the members of the band are incredible, particularly onstage. I've always liked Kilmer's singing, ever since Top Secret! Meg Ryan seems a little out of place in kind of a one-dimensional cartoon-version-of-a-girlfriend role. Kathleen Quinlan is great as Patricia Kennealy, but her character was mishandled by Stone, who made one of the most important women in Jim Morrison's life into an amalgam of several women.

It maintains interest, is well put together to be sure, and has enough about it that I like that I still watch it from time to time. However, it should be looked at cautiously if the viewer wants to know the true story of The Doors.