New York Doll (2005)

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Watching New York Doll, we see a man who was once a real rock n roller, a member of one of the pioneering punk rock bands, that quickly fizzled after a few years of cult success, and how he turned to drugs soon afterward and instead of simple rehab and reunion with the band went to religion. Mormonism can't be completely explained in one film, especially one as short as 75 minutes, but what the filmmakers faithfully (no pun intended) capture is the transformation of Kane into someone who was happy to be himself, and not strung out on addiction and a lack of a solid career in music. It may even be touching for the die-hard NY Dolls fans who are glad to see "Killer" Kane in anything- he was kicked out of the band originally- and to see other rockers like Morrissey, Bob Geldoff and critics talking very fondly of the Dolls.But it's just as affecting for those who don't know Kane much at all, as it's a tale of self-redemption (albeit by a usually kooky sect like those with Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), and a rehabilitation that's not to be taken lightly for Kane. Without this he would've been dead much sooner, and yet he remained the second-to-last surviving member of the Dolls before his death in 2004; seeing the quasi-reformed Dolls perform with their original footage spliced in is really amazing. The only drawback I would say is that the filmmakers aren't the greatest at projecting an effective style all the time (though there are remarkable moments, like Kane playing a harmonica, and the voice-overs saying how he started to "have a cold" and went to the ER).

Mormons allow certain people; ones that are famous (Steve Young), have power (Mitt Romney, Harry Reid), come from the "right" pioneer family, etc. to pretty much do whatever they want. They are not expected to follow the Mormon social norms or the strict callings, teachings, and "check lists" of the Mormon gospel. Part of the sick Mormon culture is celebrity worship. ("Did you know Larry King's wife is a Mormon, oh that's so special to have one of us married to him, blah, blah, blah.")The former Mormon prophet, Spencer W. Kimball, commanded that every worthy, young man must serve a mission -- but Mormon NFL player Steve Young chose to be a football player, with the blessing of the church, instead of going on a Mormon mission -- and now he gives Mormon-sanctioned talks to Mormon young men about how a mission is the most important thing they can do. Mormon males are so pressured to go on missions that Utah has the highest youth male suicide rate. (Utah also has the highest antidepressant usage and other alarming social, health and financial statistics.)Simply, if Arthur hadn't ALREADY had success before he joined the Mormon church they would have FROWNED upon him trying to follow his rock 'n' roll dream -- and either would've shunned him or reprimanded him. Period.I suggest to anyone that is naive enough to disagree to JOIN THE MORMON (LDS) CHURCH and try to pursue a rock 'n' roll dream. ... Or any other dream that's doesn't provide a high return rate of tithing to the Mormon church. (This is why the Mormon-owned Brigham Young University excels and focuses on business education instead of humanitarian studies.)Let me repeat, Arthur (being a Mormon since 1989) was oppressed by the Mormon culture. Any natural "aggressiveness" and AMBITION that Arthur could've used to fulfill his dream sooner was stifled.The movie isn't about Arthur. It's made by a Mormon to show that a rock 'n' roll star is "one of us." It's made by a Mormon for Mormon public relations. The Mormon PR undertones were obnoxious and insulting to the viewers and to the subject. This is his directorial debut -- about a subject he knew nothing about and had no passion for. All to jump on that goofy, amateurish, short-lived "Mormon movie" bandwagon. He did now know the extent of Arthur's fame UNTIL Arthur told him (he was Arthur's "home teacher") about the upcoming reunion. There was no film planned before then. Nothing. ("Reunion? Fame? Hmm...")Cheap.(IMDB lists this as the one and only film of Mr. Whitely's. Hmm.)What the movie DID SHOW was that being a Mormon is conforming, disheartening, and a waste of life.The disgusting and inhumane comment from the elderly Mormon man at the end made my jaw drop. He said that it's good he died so he didn't have to suffer, etc. and HAVE MEDICAL BILLS. I hope god "blesses" me with an early death before I also get large amounts of medical bills too. If we're all lucky we can all die without large medical bills! A very common Mormon attitude. ("Opps, another kid died out mountain climbing on the Wasatch Front. That's okay, we have 5 more! He's in the Celestial Kingdom now and it was Heavenly Father's plan.")Watching the movie was difficult. The sleazy car salesmen-like Mormon Bishops and "home teacher" were obnoxiously sick, phony and pretentious. The movie left me sad and depressed, and it seems that's how Arthur lived the last part of his by being a Mormon -- like an uncountable amount of Mormons.There's way too much to write on this subject. Please visit exmormon.org to see what harm the Mormon church does to people, their families, and their emotional and financial health if you think the church is as open-minded as this "director" tries to portray.R.I.P. Arthur.

First, I confess that I never "got" The New York Dolls.Second, this is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen.The film is a bittersweet, understated but fascinating portrayal of Arthur Kane, the one-time degenerate New York Doll bass player turned Mormon, as he prepares for a reunion concert with his former band mates, and, as it turns out, a far more important gig. The filmmaker treats all of the subjects(including Morrissey, David Johanssen, numerous LDS members, the LDS Church itself, and most of all, Kane) with dignity and respect, and without judgment. The film's unstated message of tolerance and understanding makes this worth watching by all.

I watched "New York Doll" with intense fascination and moment by moment trepidation, wondering at what point the staunch beliefs of the Mormon church would clash with the life of former rock star Arthur "Killer" Kane. To my utter surprise, as reflected by the "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" performance by David Johansen (which is one of the most brilliant juxtapositions ever in music), the empathetic sensitivities of Kane's rocker friends to his conversion to the church and the church's non-judgmental support of his life and dream of reuniting with "his friends" revealed a natural symbiosis I never thought I would see. It has literally renewed my faith in people!