Strange Days

Tom DiCillo's Doors documentary unearths rare footage of the Lizard King.

by Molly Eichel

[ CITY PAPER GRADE: B ]

There's an early scene in Tom DiCillo's documentary When You're Strange in which each member of The Doors is asked who they are and what they do. While the other members dutifully state their full names, their lead singer simply responds, "Jim." When asked for his job, he smiles slyly at the camera. Why, he's only the Lizard King.

It's these rarely seen pieces of footage that elevate When You're Strange above its by-the-numbers rock-doc trappings. Jim (last name Morrison) and keyboardist Ray Manzarek were film majors at UCLA, leading them to capture performances and private moments — including the scene where a bearded Morrison is driving to Joshua Tree National Park, listening to the radio as his death is announced — that DiCillo uses to illustrate the rise and fall of The Doors, focusing most on their enigmatic lead singer.

But DiCillo's gold mine of footage is also where he falters, letting it tell the story without giving anyone else a chance. Johnny Depp narrates, but never lets anyone speak for themselves. We hear what Manzarek and drummer John Densmore thought from Depp, never from their own mouths. Other than the unseen film, DiCillo drops few bombshells and preaches only to The Doors' choir. At the end of When You're Strange, Morrison will either remain a Christ-like poet who tragically died too young, or another douchebag who confused celebrity with genius.

(molly.eichel@citypaper.net)