John Lennon was a fan and friend of Harry Nilsson. Harry’s voice and the songs he wrote are familiar but his name is not one that comes to mind as easily as the Beatles, or other famous groups or musicians over the years. The Beatles said, “Harry Nilsson was their favorite group.” An American musician and singer-songwriter Harry won two Grammys and had seventeen gold records during his life. The documentary film “Who Is Harry Nilsson?” looks at the work and life of an extremely talented musician, singer-songwriter, who’s work not everyone readily connects with his name.
This 2010 documentary profile, written and directed by John Scheinfeld, is not a video version of Harry Nilsson’s greatest hits or 116 minutes of interviews. It sincerely attempts to capture the essence of the man through his work and through the voices of his family, friends and voice over interviews with Harry himself. In this age of digital reproduction, “Who Is Harry Nilsson?” is the LP, analog original point-of-view version, that captures the essence of a dream that Harry Nilsson found himself living.
The documentary begins with Dustin Hoffman on stage acknowledging the death of Harry on January 15th 1994. From there it’s back to where Harry got started in June of 1941 when he was born. This well directed and produced film includes a great deal of archival footage, photographs and clips of Harry singing his own songs as well as those of other songwriters. Early on you are reminded that Harry Nilsson sung “Everybody’s Talkin” written by Fred Neil, and used as the theme to Midnight Cowboy. “Who Is Harry Nilsson?” explores the actuality of Nilsson’s life and work in a quest to answer the question the title of the documentary asks.
Interviews with Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, John Lennon, Micky Dolenz, Randy Newman, Yoko Ono, Van Dyke Parks, The Smothers Brothers, Ringo Starr, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Webb, Paul Williams, Robin Williams, Brian Wilson and other people who knew and/or worked with Harry Nilsson are used throughout the story. The editing skillfully blends the interviews with scenes from Harry’s life, archival film of him performing and creating music.
The substance of “Who Is Harry Nilsson?” is a penetrating look at a talented man and his career. Harry had his own personal demons. At times he apparently lived a life style that was intense, self indulgent, and part of the pop music culture of the day. In many ways Harry may have been overwhelmed by is own talent and living up to an image he thought he should project. Harry Nilsson created fantastic music and sang with what many said was the best voice around at the time. Despite all the craziness that was part of his life it’s clear that he had an amazing singing voice with a wide range. Harry sang like he knew what he was singing about and felt every word with out trying. It was just there.
“Who Is Harry Nilsson?” is a dramatic, sometimes humorous, and tragic nonfiction story that takes you through the ups and downs of Harry Nilsson’s life in his words and through the eyes of his friends and associates. Parallel themes in the film reflect glimpses of the recording industry over the years, its top performers, producers and others who survived it; including two of Harry’s wife’s and his six children. “Who Is Harry Nilsson?” is an insightful, intimate portrait that entertains and informs on multiple levels.
J R Martin
TRAILER
Tags: Documentary Film Review, Music, Nilsson, pop music, songwriter-singers, Who Is Harry Nilsson?
