Review of When You're Strange (2010) by Ola G — 16 Aug 2010

Tom Dicillo´s "When You're Strange" is a chronological look at The Doors, focusing on lead singer, Jim Morrison (1943-1971), from the formation of the band in 1965, it's first gigs, and first album, to Morrison's death, after years of alcohol and drug abuse. Along the journey, we see archival footage of rehearsals, performances, and private moments including a Miami concert resulting in Morrison's arrest and trial for indecency. His love of the spotlight, his desire to be a poet, and his alcohol-fueled mood swings lead to a back and forth between public and private desires, successes, and failures.

I enjoyed this documentary and closer look on Jim Morrison and the person behind the myth. When I red "No One Here Gets Out Alive" by Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman 20 years ago I found out a lot about Jim Morrison, but this is a good add on in a visual manner. Some parts I hadn´t seen before, and I enjoyed Morrison´s own movie from 1969, "HWY: An American Pastoral". Seeing this footage almost made him come alive yet again. The Doors was/is a fascinating and great band, that will live on forever and find new fans continuously.