Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction (2012) *** 1/2 (out of 4)This documentary takes a look at character actor Harry Dean Stanton but if you're expecting something normal then you're certainly not going to get that. Stanton admits that he's a loner and a man of few words so allowing a documentary crew in might seem strange but it makes for a rewarding film.Stanton doesn't say too much in the film and there are times where he says he doesn't want to discuss certain things like his parents. Later, some stories come out about his parents as he is discussing his working style and we learn small bits of information about him. Throughout the documentary he briefly touches upon a few of his films as well as his relationship with the likes of Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando who he worked with on THE MISSOURI BREAKS.The film also offers up some great moments where Stanton sits down with the likes of David Lynch and Kris Kristofferson. These small conversations are a lot of fun and it really helps you see a bit more into the actor. The likes of Wim Wenders, Debbie Harry and Sam Shepard are also interviewed here and share their thoughts on why Stanton is so special.Again, if you're expecting some sort of documentary that covers every aspect of Stanton's life and career then that's not what this is. In fact, very few of his movies are discussed yet we do get to hear him say that he regrets not doing more stuff musically in his career. We also get few different songs performed by the actor and they were actually very good. HARRY DEAD STANTON: PARTLY FICTION is a fascinating movie and one that his fans should enjoy.

I saw this twice in the theaters - a rarity for me. The film is part musical (Harry sings quite a few songs), part verite (days in the life of an unsung hero in showbiz), and part retrospective of the man's career. I found this to be a wonderful change of pace from the run-of-the-mill documentary we see every day. Great black and white photography and very interesting conversations with Kris Kristofferson, David Lynch and others. Harry does not 'spell' anything out for you, so don't come looking for answers! Some of the best moments come when we see Harry drinking at his local bar and mingling with the patrons. Make sure you watch the credits for his wonderful rendition of Danny Boy.' Overall, this film is something refreshing and different for those seeking new and unusual ways to piece a documentary together.

PLOT HARRY DEAN STANTON: PARTLY FICTION is a portrait of the iconic actor comprised of intimate moments, film clips from some of his 250 films and his own heart-breaking renditions of American folk songs. The film explores the actor's enigmatic outlook on his life, his unexploited talents as a musician, and includes candid scenes with David Lynch, Wim Wenders, Sam Shepard, Kris Kristofferson and Debbie Harry. The fragile soul of an actor emerges from the poignant collage.All this movie prove is that HDS is a nutcase. He no longer knows where he is and smokes like a fiend.It's actually rather sad because he REALLY donest know where he is.David Lynch arrives and tries to prop him up but doesn't succeed.It's really sad watching a movie where the main guy clearly just want to go to sleep.

Harry Dean Stanton is one of those faces you're sure to recognize—though you might not recognize his name. Stanton is an 87 year-old character actor with over 200 credits and has appeared in tons of --television shows and movies since 1954—including Repo Man, Alien, The Green Mile, Pat Garrett & Bill the Kid and Kelly's Heroes. Filmmaker Sophie Huber somehow got Stanton to agree to a long series of interviews as well as meetings with Stanton's friends. For folks who are huge film nuts, it's well worth seeing. For everyone else, it's a bit iffy to suggest it, as this biography is nothing like any I'd ever seen before, as it's very meandering and its mood a bit odd to say the least!Much of the film consists of Stanton just talking to the camera. However, at the beginning he makes it clear that there are some topics he didn't want to discuss—mostly about his childhood and parents. It's a shame, as this is EXACTLY the sort of stuff I was dying to hear about but only heard Stanton allude to his mother and home town briefly. He also talked very little about himself or his career during the early years. Aside from that, his comments were like a stream of consciousness—with Stanton meandering about with little apparent direction as well as discussing his philosophy of life. For the most part, this bachelor actor believes that you are born and you die and there really isn't any more to it than that. In some ways, this sounds very lonely and depressing—at least when I think about this today, on my 28th anniversary. But the actor seems to have a lot of friends and many were featured here, such as directors Wim Wenders and David Lynch as well as Kris Kristofferson, Debbie Harry and writer/actor Sam Shepard. Much of the time, these folks simply sat down and chatted with Stanton— discussing old times, experiences they had together on the sets or chats they had over drinks.The overall effect of watching this is like sitting in the corner and listening to an old crank talk. This is not meant as an insult, as Stanton seems to like cultivating a certain odd persona—a guy who seems to love going his own way and avoiding the usual Hollywood stereotypes. But here's the unusual part—he also, repeatedly, breaks into song! At first, his folksy style sounded only barely interesting—but over time, I realized that despite his grizzled style, he had an interesting knack for telling stories in song. So is this film for you? Perhaps. It is available through Netflix—and was just released about a week ago. But you need to have an appreciation for this sort of picture and like the idea of getting to know this enigmatic guy. To be honest, it certainly will be a hard sell to the teens and those who are not cinemaniacs (like me), but the film is, despite its seemingly directionless style, actually is well-crafted and highly original in style. Well worth seeing but odd to say the least!