The Feeling, the Feeling...

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The Doors (1991)

Written by Tom Fortner

Oliver Stone and Creative Liberties

Oliver Stone is no stranger to twisting the facts to serve a story and this film is no different. Like his other film known for historical inaccuracy, JFK, The Doors is the frequent subject of online fact checkers and has its fair share of well deserved controversy. There are entire scenes that either never happened or were gathered from questionable or un-corroborative sources. Stone, instead of going for accuracy, seems to have gone for something more of a fan fiction. Also, he seems to be more interested in more of an exploration of the culture of the 60s and fame that really analyzing the Doors as a band. I mean, the other members besides Morrison don’t get much screen time (but who can forget Kyle Maclachlan’s hair).

It’s important then, when watching the film, to not take everything as actual fact. Many of the people who were portrayed in the film and their families are unhappy with the final film, and I get that. We definitely need to respect the truth in situations like these. Personally, however, I still find the film extremely affecting, and the fact of the less than accurate facts actually has done little to dampen my feelings toward the film. I’m not supporting Stone’s actions, but I can’t deny how the film made me feel.

The Feeling, the Feeling…

What is immediately striking about The Doors is that the mindset of frontman Jim Morrison, who the movie is basically about, is fully conveyed in the filmmaking. We feel what Morrison feels, which means this is a hopeless, depressing film. Morrison is, after all, a part of the 27 Club, an informal list of celebrities who died at the age of 27, including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse.

The knowledge of Morrison’s tragic death, for unknown causes, adds another layer of dread to the film. We watch this man in so much pain and turmoil hurtle towards his premature demise. It’s truly heartbreaking.

This is all aided by what I believe to be Val Kilmer’s best performance as Morrison. Not only did he look the part, he put the work into the character as well. Along with researching Morrison, Kilmer actually performed the Doors’ songs as Jim Morrison. He sounds amazing.

Turn Up The Music!

This brings me to one of the most important parts of the film: the music. Much of the emotion that Morrison feels throughout the film shows up during the concert scenes and therefore we feel that emotion through the music as well. Concerts like their stint at the Whiskey a Go Go nightclub and The Ed Sullivan Show were painstakingly recreated for as much realism as possible.

The perfect example of how important the music is in the clip for today, when The Doors performed their song The End at Whiskey a Go Go. We watch as Morrison, and by extension Val Kilmer, absolutely dominates the stage and becomes entranced by the music. The song itself is also so incredibly disturbing and numb, and yet so full of emotion. It's a small wonder it features prominently in Apocalypse Now.

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