New York Doll Documentary Review

New York Doll is a bitter-sweet documentary about finding our true identities in life, capitalizing on our talents, and fulfilling our dreams at whatever cost.

The film tells the story of Arthur "Killer" Kane, bass guitarist for the revolutionary 1970's rock band "The New York Dolls." After a quick recap of the rise and fall of the New York Dolls, the film focuses on Kane's transformation from cross-dressing, alcoholic rock star to stellar Latter Day Saint. During an alcohol induced spat with his ex-wife in the early 1980's, Kane managed to fall from the window of his second story apartment, ending up in a temporary coma. Upon awakening, several days later, he found an advertisement for a free Book of Mormon in Reader's digest and decided to take up the offer. He quickly read the book and became baptized by the missionaries that delivered his complimentary copy. After many years of faithful servitude as a family history librarian in the Los Angeles LDS Temple, Kane is given the chance to re-unite with the remaining members of the original "Dolls" and play one last show at a concert in London. New York Doll was a truly powerful and touching documentary; offering an intriguing story, an up-lifting quasi spiritual message, and technically sound aesthetics that enhance the sympathetic tale of conquering our inner demons. The driving force of the film is truly Arthur Kane's colorful character and anecdotal Rock and Roll nostalgia, despite converting to Mormonism. The filmmaker did an outstanding job with the film, reinvigorating and reinventing the traditional "Rock Doc" by adding a touch of humanity to the generally dismal tales of ascent and decent to fame and fortune.