StunnaKrypto Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

SnoopyStyle Writer/director Stephen Kessler is a working filmmaker in Hollywood. He's a fan of songwriter celebrity Paul Williams. Assuming Paul is dead, he is surprised to find out that Paul is still alive and still working. It turns out that he is sober just recently. Paul Williams was a big songwriter of the '70s. After a good performance on The Tonight Show, he became somewhat of a celebrity. He became hooked on various substances and fame. However his fame fades.Kessler is somewhat of a stalker. It gets awkward at times. Paul chaffs at Stephen's insinuation that something is pathetic about his later career. Sometimes he's treated like a family member. Other times, there is this weird tension. But Stephen always seems to be a fan, and that adds a sweet charming feel to the movie.

iamyuno2 Funny - 2012 must have been the year for depressing documentaries about aging great singer-songwriters. Like the Neil Young Journeys fiasco, this film disappoints. It's not boring like Young's film, but it is sad, sad, sad!!!And why did Stephen Kessler hound Williams until the end, with old video clips that only humiliated him and made him want to throw Kessler out of his house?I was a writer for Downbeat magazine years ago and I profiled famous jazz musicians, some of whom had personal rough spots and most of whom had seen their careers die down with age. But I knew enough not to make them uncomfortable or embarrass them with insulting questions...and, in the telling, I didn't emphasize the darker side of things. Yes, tell the tale, but with giants like Paul Williams (those of you who weren't around might not know he was on the top of the world once, having written scores of great hit songs sung by many - including himself - and he rose to celebrityhood also on his wit and charm) need to be treated with a little more respect.And PS Kessler, I - the grandson of a great songwriter and bandleader - can tell you that the music industry eats you up and spits you out. It's a rare person whose fame or popularity lasts a lifetime and it's no fault of the artist.The Monkees' Davy Jones, may he rest in peace, had a career in later life much like Williams. This is what happens in the fickle music industry. Even Boston's lead singer, Brad Delp, who sadly took his own life not long ago, experienced disappointment after having been on top of the world in one of the best rock bands ever.So...there's a bigger story here and it's not told.

plex It would seem despite Paul's erstwhile troubles with substance abuse, the undeniable being which is him, comes shining thru, but not with a spotlight but with a muted and profound glow. Just like Paul ( at least I feel this way) it took me a while to warm up to both Kessler's and his directorial approach to this documentary. At times, Kessler's approach seemed to mimic Michael Moore's stylized approach to documentary making which is to let the director's presence and his intentions/difficulties known. I agree with him that Paul Williams story is one needed to be told. Kessler lets it be known of his own neurosis and fears, and at times its a little unnerving and inappropriate as you also see this being reflected by Paul. But Paul seemingly stays cool, truncating Kessler's sometime obtrusive manner. One of the things I really liked seeing about Paul was his benevolence towards others who share the same affliction ( if thats the right word) and his very humble lifestyle; he does his own driving, books some of his own gigs, totes his own luggage, lives in a very modest home etc. He doesn't do those things out of financial necessity, yet he also does not play the martyr. He's a just a simple man who appears to acknowledge the gift of life and wants to be part of it, hands-on. On the darker side, maybe he behaves this way to distance himself from the life-style that accommodated the self-destructive behavior in the first place. Who knows? The thing that impressed me most about Paul is his ability to live in the now, and look forward, as he shuns his past and nostalgia; not an easy thing to do when you consider his height of celebrity was his past. But this also explains Paul's reservation of doing the documentary in the first place as it can only come together as a story BY delving into the past. I never got the sense Paul was trying to hide anything, it just seemed sort of pointless to him. He doesn't seem to be outwardly concerned of danger, he sky dived, he travels all over the world, and just seems genuinely happy to be a part of something. I wish there had been some insight to Paul's creative process, the film makes it seem he just sort of fell into it, perhaps stemming from, in part, to his stature. Like Paul's music, the overall tone of the documentary is the good side of sadness, and Paul teaches us, perhaps tacitly so, there IS such a thing and its not such a bad thing after all.

rgblakey These days there are documentaries on pretty much every subject imaginable. All of them have something of their own to offer, but all usually end up with a bit of the same feel. There are always a few that stand out for whatever reason, but none more than dealing with celebrities or various characters that have disappeared form the limelight. The latest talking this subject Still Alive looking into the life of singer, songwriter, and actor Paul Williams.Still Alive follows legendary 70's icon Paul Williams to see what he has been up to since vanishing from the spotlight so many years ago. If you don't know who Williams is then you are either too young or lived under a rock cause you couldn't watch anything without seeing him show up back in the day. While on the surface this film seems like it's just going to be another one of those slow follow around a celebrity stories with little information other than to tell about what used to be, but you quickly find out this is so much more. Where the filmmaker set out to see what Williams had been up to, clearly turned into something he didn't expect. Much credit to him for including some of the scenes that are things a lot of people would have taken out. While Williams agreed to let him follow him around, he constantly he seemed annoyed and put out by the whole thing which added an intriguing element to the overall film. It ends up showcasing not only what he has been up to, but a bit of what lead to his stepping out of the limelight as well as the unlikely relationship the filmmaker and Williams form as they the film progresses.Most people always look at a celebrities fall from grace when they go from being a superstar to suddenly gone, but Still Alive showcases a man who had it all and gave it up for something more life and happiness. If you are a fan of Williams, just recognize or never heard of him this is a must see documentary about a legend in the industry. You might be surprised what you learn about some of your favorite music and his involvement.