At the beginning you see several rock band members talking about the good times when The New York Dolls were one of the "it" bands of the time. An influential band. The focus is on one particular member named Arthur "Killer" Kane, who seems like a nice, quiet man overall. The story takes a turn for the worse when we hear of the downfalls of the band, and their disappearance from stardom. The dream they had seemed to start fading. The ride, that especially for Arthur Kane, came to an end. His life takes a turn for the worse. He searches for truth. For anything.A slightly different tone enters in on the documentary suddenly. Arthur comes across The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He prays over the Book of Mormon, and in words he describes as receiving an answer from God that it was true. To try and capture the essence, he states it was like a drug experience, but without the drugs. In other words, Arthur Kane found something. He found truth.As he follows his faith, years after the glory days, he stumbles across probably the last thing he expected. An invitation to play at a concert, with the old band again. Arthur Kane's life is a tremendous example of life's ofttimes stern cycle of trial and discovery. It shows us what we are made of when we bounce back from hard times and exercise our faith. Kane's faith strengthened him, so God could deliver him and bless him. From the dark abyss into the shining light.

The New York Dolls were briefly the darlings of the pre-punk music scene in the US and UK before they descended into drug-fuelled oblivion and squabbles. This film takes up the story of one of the band, Arthur 'Killer' Kane and follows him around the time the 2004 Meltdown reunion.As the film progresses there is a great sense of a life largely lost in the wilderness, of missed opportunities, bitterness and regret. Kane's Mormonn faith gives him a reason to view everything through new eyes - particularly his relationship with Dolls' frontman David Johansen, who he seems to have viewed as an enemy for far too long. How sad.Given the circumstances of the film's completion - Kane unexpectedly died shortly after the concert in the UK - it is very moving to watch and never short of enthralling. The music of the reunited Dolls is presented alongside footage of their Old Grey Whistle Test appearance - showing the years have not been kind but that the sound is still there.A surprising success, this film is everything a true music documentary should be, and with such a gentle and likable subject it is never a bore or contrived.And that last song from Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain is perfect to wrap up a strange and lonely tale of a lost rock 'n roll soul.

Mormons allow certain people; ones that are famous (Steve Young), have power (Mitt Romney, Harry Reid), come from the "right" pioneer family, etc. to pretty much do whatever they want. They are not expected to follow the Mormon social norms or the strict callings, teachings, and "check lists" of the Mormon gospel. Part of the sick Mormon culture is celebrity worship. ("Did you know Larry King's wife is a Mormon, oh that's so special to have one of us married to him, blah, blah, blah.")The former Mormon prophet, Spencer W. Kimball, commanded that every worthy, young man must serve a mission -- but Mormon NFL player Steve Young chose to be a football player, with the blessing of the church, instead of going on a Mormon mission -- and now he gives Mormon-sanctioned talks to Mormon young men about how a mission is the most important thing they can do. Mormon males are so pressured to go on missions that Utah has the highest youth male suicide rate. (Utah also has the highest antidepressant usage and other alarming social, health and financial statistics.)Simply, if Arthur hadn't ALREADY had success before he joined the Mormon church they would have FROWNED upon him trying to follow his rock 'n' roll dream -- and either would've shunned him or reprimanded him. Period.I suggest to anyone that is naive enough to disagree to JOIN THE MORMON (LDS) CHURCH and try to pursue a rock 'n' roll dream. ... Or any other dream that's doesn't provide a high return rate of tithing to the Mormon church. (This is why the Mormon-owned Brigham Young University excels and focuses on business education instead of humanitarian studies.)Let me repeat, Arthur (being a Mormon since 1989) was oppressed by the Mormon culture. Any natural "aggressiveness" and AMBITION that Arthur could've used to fulfill his dream sooner was stifled.The movie isn't about Arthur. It's made by a Mormon to show that a rock 'n' roll star is "one of us." It's made by a Mormon for Mormon public relations. The Mormon PR undertones were obnoxious and insulting to the viewers and to the subject. This is his directorial debut -- about a subject he knew nothing about and had no passion for. All to jump on that goofy, amateurish, short-lived "Mormon movie" bandwagon. He did now know the extent of Arthur's fame UNTIL Arthur told him (he was Arthur's "home teacher") about the upcoming reunion. There was no film planned before then. Nothing. ("Reunion? Fame? Hmm...")Cheap.(IMDB lists this as the one and only film of Mr. Whitely's. Hmm.)What the movie DID SHOW was that being a Mormon is conforming, disheartening, and a waste of life.The disgusting and inhumane comment from the elderly Mormon man at the end made my jaw drop. He said that it's good he died so he didn't have to suffer, etc. and HAVE MEDICAL BILLS. I hope god "blesses" me with an early death before I also get large amounts of medical bills too. If we're all lucky we can all die without large medical bills! A very common Mormon attitude. ("Opps, another kid died out mountain climbing on the Wasatch Front. That's okay, we have 5 more! He's in the Celestial Kingdom now and it was Heavenly Father's plan.")Watching the movie was difficult. The sleazy car salesmen-like Mormon Bishops and "home teacher" were obnoxiously sick, phony and pretentious. The movie left me sad and depressed, and it seems that's how Arthur lived the last part of his by being a Mormon -- like an uncountable amount of Mormons.There's way too much to write on this subject. Please visit exmormon.org to see what harm the Mormon church does to people, their families, and their emotional and financial health if you think the church is as open-minded as this "director" tries to portray.R.I.P. Arthur.

Very interesting film for anyone keen on the history of American punk, glam rock etc.Arthur comes across as a very likable character who really enjoyed his last chance at stardom, after many years down on his luck. I particularly enjoyed Morrissey's comments on the New York Dolls, being a big fan of his, and was impressed at his role in bringing the New York Dolls back together again after so many acrimonious years apart.Loved to see the reaction of his library co-workers in America to Arthur's other rock-and-roll side, which came as such a contrast to his meek, gentle man about the library self.Great music, great characters make a happy, but sad, film, which cannot fail to bring a tear to your eye. 9/10. Strongly recommended.