The Doors (1991)

I like The Doors (the group) and have always been curious about how they would be portrayed on film. Unfortunately, Oliver Stone’s “impressionistic” biopic of Jim Morrison (which shouldn’t really be called The Doors at all) is a bit of a disaster. 

Val Kilmer emulates Morrison’s bodily movements fairly well, and radiates a certain “rock star” charisma. I like Meg Ryan as his girlfriend, too, and she may be the best thing in the film. But in terms of a script, neither of these actors have anything to get their teeth into. There’s very little dialogue in general, and there’s way too much Doors music crammed into every scene. Even the courtroom moment, which was potentially an interesting change of pace and tone, is drowned out by more Doors on the soundtrack. The result is a complete lack of dramatic tension. 

I don’t mind it being deeply pretentious – what’s wrong with being pretentious? (as Brian Eno asked) – but I do mind it being lazy, clichéd filmmaking. The Doors offers an almost childish version of “the 1960s”. A scene featuring Andy Warhol and Nico is cartoonishly shoddy. Plus, there’s little sense of the group’s career arc. 

Ultimately, Oliver Stone seems to be too in love with Jim Morrison and his myth to even attempt to present a rounded portrait of him.