In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon

The outstanding songs of Simon included in this film are beyond entertaining... they express soulful themes. Director Alex Gibney made a wise choice in structuring this film. Thankfully, there are no talking heads which so many music docs depend on. The conversations mostly flow from Paul Simon, during studio sessions and various concerts.

The scene about Simon's brief marriage to Carrie Fisher focused more on photographs of them. I felt that all three of his wives got the short shrift. While it's clear that Simon adores his wife Edie, and they've shared a long, successful partnership, she could have been highlighted more.

The film makes several references to the struggles between Simon and Garfunkel, and why Paul decided to forge his own path. He makes a few biting comments which could be misconstrued, but maybe at this point Simon is not too concerned about what fans and critics might say.

As good as this film is, there was a missed opportunity in Part 2 regarding the brilliant musicians, vocalists, and dancers from South Africa, Jamaica, and Brazil. These gifted people were essential contributors in expanding Simon's repertoire. They are shown on old footage, but most are not acknowledged by name. The film could have remedied this by using screen text, to give them their due credit. Also wonderful are the vocalists from VOCES8, who recently worked with Simon.

The historical overview of Simon and Garfunkel and their breakup is excellent. Less excellent is Paul Simon in his homemade Texas studio putting together his latest solo album.

So lets's talk about the Simon and Garfunkel history, then, where we learn some very insightful things. Paul Simon is an excellent songwriter and his songwriting during the 1960's was beautiful, mesmerizing and groundbreaking. It spoke to the generation that grew up in the NYC metropolitan area and were impacted by the major events of the 1960's including assassinations and an extremely unpopular war. For the most part this generation was Liberal, open minded socially, politically, musically. Anti-war, anti-racism, pro-women's rights, pro-culture in general. These were Simon and Garfunkel's people and they are the one's who showed up for the Simon and Garfunkel reunion in Central Park in 1981 in an extremely emotional outpouring of love. A love of a by gone time of open mindedness and culture that Simon and Garfunkel represent.

Simon's songwriting spoke to this cultured generation but he had vital help - the beautiful, angelic voice of Art Garfunkel which transformed Simon's songs from very good to the stratosphere of angelic beauty. And why these albums are all classics.

Simon needed Garfunkel and they never should have split up. What they created together was not just good songs but something far more - great art!

Why the split? It wasn't either musician it was a comic turned movie maker, Mike Nichols, who pushed Garfunkel into acting. A horribly bad, selfish move by Nichols who knew full well it would break up the pair. An unconscionable act of sabotage that destroyed great art. I can't watch any of Nichols movies because of this.

A 2023 comprehensive & some might say exhaustive documentary (running 3 & 1/2 hours) on the musical career of one Paul Simon. Tracing his roots from Queens & his hit or miss early days in the industry, things started to click when he hooked up w/an old school chum, Art Garfunkel (heard via audio interviewers), who provided the perfect vocal accompaniment to his songwriting (something he remarks over & over again, he wrote all the songs). Soon enough, especially after the Graduate came out, the pair became the duo par excellence for the age but as the 70's encroached & Simon soon ventured into acting (appearing in Annie Hall) w/many appearances on Saturday Night Live (he became close friends w/producer Lorne Michaels so much so Michaels was his best man when he married Carrie Fisher) but after his 1st marriage dissolved & his one foray into starring (& co-writing) in a film named One Trick Pony failed to find an audience, he was in the doldrums which finally broke when he released his world music tinged Graceland in the 80's which proved to be immensely popular along w/his vaulted reunion w/Garfunkel for a free concert in Central Park, he managed to conquer the world again. W/his song lyrics & on camera musings sprinkled in w/his visual history, filmmaker Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side/Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) follows Simon around his Texan studios which is occasionally frequented by his wife & fellow singer Edie Brickell as he talks out his process & we get an insight into this consummate songwriter & performer.

Great history of the first years of his and Garfunkel's lives and careers. Those albums and performances are in the pantheon of 60's musical creations. Way too much footage, though, of him noodling his new album. And isn't the guitar lick he channeled in a dream the same one from Anji 60 years ago?

But the episode ends with a completely unnecessary and cruel remark about his ex partner: After saying his five year friendship with him was his first great friendship with someone who got him, he then says Garfunkel is now someone he never wants to see again. At this point in their lives, was it really necessary to make such a cruel public rejection? I'm sure he had the clout to remove that even if it wasn't his choice to include it.

Tells the story of Simon's rise from boy in Queens New York, making music as a duo with his friend to rise as perhaps the greatest songwriter of our time.

The direction and editing are very well done, the visuals add so much.

I remember his early years with Garfunkel. The public story line was how much of a collaboration it was. In reality it was more like 99% Paul. Garfunkel's voice added an ethereal beauty to the vocals. But as I got deeper into the story I was reminded of the amazing directions Simon's music took. Not content with doing the same old thing he forged a kinship with musicians from South Africa and Brazil. He really is a musical genius.

This tells the story of his latest album, a miracle in itself considering he is now completely deaf in one ear. This entire album was born from a dream.