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Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him)?

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I have seen the final version of this film, having been to a screening at the Chicago Fest for Beatles Fans.

I am simply blown away by this documentary. I'd been waiting to see it for four years, and I was convinced that because I had such high expectations, that it would disappoint. I am thrilled to say that the film not only met my expectations, but actually exceeded them.

This film is a brutally honest look at the man, Harry Nilsson. It shows how beautifully talented he was, and how everyone around him truly loved him, but it did not shy away from the wild antics that were ultimately Harry's downfall. One interviewee made the statement, "Harry was like a big bunny rabbit with really sharp teeth." I think that the film shows just how appropriate that statement is.

There were times that I laughed out loud and times that I came close to openly sobbing. I have a feeling that if I had not been at a public viewing, I would have been openly sobbing.

The director mentioned that this final version has a different ending than what he originally screened several years ago. I have not seen that first ending, but I can say that if Harry was able to comment on the version I saw, that he would approve. It was funny, sad, and poignant, all rolled into one. I don't think Harry would have wanted it any other way.

This is a vivid portrait of a very complex man. There was the raw talent and potential, the self-destructive behavior, the loving father and husband, the alcoholic, the activist. All of these were Harry Nilsson. Even someone who didn't know of Harry before this film would be moved.

NOTE ADDED ON 10/17/10: I want to try to write quality reviews that are helpful to people. If you find my review to be unhelpful, please leave a comment and let me know how I could improve! Or, even better, if you did find my review helpful, I'd love to hear from you! Thanks.

NOTE ADDED ON 11/17/10:

It was suggested that I add a note about the special features, so here you go:

There is a great extended scene concerning Without You, and another extra that features Remember. There are many more extras that are incredible, and they're pretty much all extended scenes. I'll list their titles for you:

Trailer
Loneliness - This is a music video that Harry did with Yoko Ono. I believe this is Yoko's song.
Washington Hotel
Singer
Soungwriter
Nilsson Schmilsson
Without You
A Little Touch
Try
Adventures
Human Fly
Monty Python
Fools
Generosity
Family
Annie
Harry
Remember (which is the original ending. The final cut is far superior, I believe, to this original ending).

I saw this superb documentary that brings Harry Nilsson to vivid life in a theatre in Santa Monica several years ago and am delighted that it is finally coming to DVD. You really get a sense of the manic, wild ride that was the life of Nilsson in this film told by the people who loved him. I can't wait to see it again and it sounds like there is some great bonus material as well. The story of his close friendship with Ringo is quite touching. Even the stories of his funeral, taking place during the roaring aftershocks of the Northridge earthquake, are heartfelt and hilarious.

I can't say enough good things about this movie. It's reverent without being obsequious; moving without being melodramatic; insightful, thorough, funny- they really did such a wonderful job.

As for the subject himself- what a truly compelling character! Even if you are only nominally familiar with Nilsson and his music, this movie is pretty much guaranteed to make you a fan.

Harry Nilsson is the fascinating star of this documentary, which chronicles his rise and fall in a "Behind the Music" fashion. The music is excellent, and includes over 70 Nilsson songs throughout. With fun cameos from friends who shared "lost weekends" as well as tight production, this is a great film for Nilsson fans and those who are just now discovering him and his work.

This is the kind of documentary I always look for. It's such a great journey. The influence he had over the music world, both personally and artistically, is just staggering. More than that, it delves into the man himself. He had such heart, spirit, and talent that I was totally blown away. It's an incredible examination of a very wonderful and creative time in music history and one of it's biggest, yet unknown, players. I couldn't help but revisit my modest Nilsson collection, and pursue some more...I'm very glad I did. What a cool movie.

Long delayed due to licensing issues with the songs "Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody talkin' About Him)" is a terrific documentary on the singer/songwriter/activist. Harry's career took off quickly once The Beatles named him their favorite "band" (thanks to Derek Taylor introducing them to Harry's music). He also wrote a number of songs that were recorded by other artists (including The Monkees)but Harry's career became white hot when he recorded Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talking at Me" and it was featured in "Midnight Cowboy". He went from strength to strength with his kids album/TV cartoon "The Point!" to "Nilsson Schmilsson" which featured his cover of Badfinger's "Without You" turning the powerhouse ballad into a huge hit.

Pretty darn good for someone who almost never did concert appearences or toured (he did do some one off appearences at Beatlefest, etc.)

Harry had a turbulent life. His father left his family when Harry was small creating a major gap in his life and the self destructive behavior had been mirrored by both his parents previously.

This terrific documentary covers the lost years as well--the period of time when drugs and drink took their toll on Harry's long lost weekend with John Lennon. It also addresses the damage to Nilsson's voice, in discussing his childhood how his feeling of abandonment impacted him as both a person and artist and features rare home movie footage, footage from his TV appearences and interviews with those who knew him best.

The DVD features deleted footage and interviews giving even more insight into Harry as an artist and musician. I was glad to see Stephen King highlight this powerful and sometimes heartbreaking documentary in his Entertainment Weekly column from a couple of weeks ago. Maybe with this DVD and King's promotional efforts for the film Harry will get just "a touch" of the recognition that he had when he was alive and in his prime. Recommended.

I saw this documentary multiple times in Cinema Village in New York City and enjoyed it more and more each time. Great music and great storytelling all the way through...I'm looking forward to the DVD extras!

I was lucky enough to catch this movie in New York when it played at Cinema Village. The whole audience was caught up in the poignant and eye-opening story. I think this movie is a gem for Nilsson fans, but does a great job telling the story to the uninitiated as well.

I was fortunate enough to view a screening of Who is Harry Nilsson? at the Seattle International Film Festival a couple of years ago. I can't tell you how excited I am that this will finally be distributed. It's full of rare footage, excellent interviews, and doesn't gloss over any of the details about Harry. You do not have to be a Harry Nilsson fan to enjoy the film; it offers viewers a fascinating look into the sixties and seventies music scene. Not-so-fun-music-fact: Did you know that Mama Cass and Keith Moon each died at Harry's place in London? The answer to the question "Who is Harry Nilsson?" is simple: Everybody who was anybody knew Harry!

The documentary WHO IS HARRY NILSSON (AND WHY IS EVERYBODY TALKIN' ABOUT HIM)? says it all in its title. Although it sounds like a query of purpose, I think that question - "Who is Harry Nilsson and why is everybody talking about him?" - is the film's conclusion. The most esteemed talents in the arts are Harry Nilsson fans, but does anyone understand the man?

Director John Scheinfeld does not give himself a head start, making WHO IS HARRY NILSSON? over a decade after the singer-songwriter's untimely 1994 death. The best Scheinfeld can do is present original discussions with the artist's family, friends, and admirers while relying on film archive and audio recordings of Nilsson for the rest of the story.

I own half a dozen Nilsson albums, having picked up on him from both his music on the radio and being a Beatles fan noting Nilsson's contributions to Ringo Starr's and John Lennon's records and theirs to his. WHO IS HARRY NILSSON? leaves me thinking Nilsson's association with the Beatles may have been both a blessing and a curse to his career. John Lennon's and Paul McCartney's late 1960s public admiration of Nilsson help his songs get on the radio. But being the pal of the biggest band in history, Nilsson lets music fans forget what he's all about. Had the Beatles kept their appreciation private, Nilsson's talent probably would have led to commercial success on it own terms anyway, maybe even greater than it was with a little help from those friends. We'll never know.

Nor may we ever find out what happens when Harry Nilsson visits the Beatles in England, as according to his record producer Rick Jarrard, he returns home to America a changed man. WHO IS HARRY NILSSON? does not explore the topic beyond that but perhaps another of its interview subjects, musician and Nilsson cousin Doug Hoefer, lets us add one plus one by recalling Nilsson was tight-lipped about his feelings.

Harry Nilsson does not help establish his public persona by never touring, WHO IS HARRY NILSSON? reminds us. With desertion by his father when Nilsson was age 3, two broken marriages, and alcoholism, we can guess why Nilsson seeks to communicate through his music while retreating as a person. But it would only be a guess, lest armchair psychologists have something to say.

What a damned shame we lost Harry Nilsson so young. This documentary explains his shot voice would never allow him to have a hit record again, but who knows what great songs Nilsson had yet to compose.

Did I miss it, or does WHO IS HARRY NILSSON? neglect to mention as well-known a Nilsson contribution as any, his theme song for television's THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIE'S FATHER?

Regarding Harry Nilsson's album of standards A LITTLE TOUCH OF SCHMILSSON IN THE NIGHT, one or two in WHO IS HARRY NILSSON? make it sound as though Nilsson was the first in the rock 'n roll era to make such a record. However, Ringo Starr, of all people, did the same several years before Nilsson with his album SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY.

I feel bad for Harry Nilsson's first two wives, at least in the context of this documentary. When Nilsson dies, we see only his third wife Una getting public support, as if the first two do not exist.

If nothing else, here's hoping WHO IS HARRY NILSSON? earns Nilsson some new fans and inspires older music lovers to place those records back on their turntables. This documentary may not help you fathom Harry Nilsson, but you have to respect a recording artist who chooses a blurry photo of himself wearing a bathrobe as the album cover of what would be his signature release - and makes fun of his own name by titling it NILSSON SCHMILSSON.

See WHO IS HARRY NILSSON (AND WHY IS EVERYBODY TALKIN' ABOUT HIM)?.