William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet

Why would I ever choose to watch this documentary? Well, it is because I bought a copy of the Ben Folds/William Shatner "Has Been". While it's definitely true that Shatner's earlier musical foray (the godawful "Transformed Man") were so terrible that it was only valuable as camp, "Has Been" has such amazingly good lyrics that the album took me by surprise. When I first heard it, I laughed--after all, it IS Shatner basically talking through the songs...until I realized how brilliant and insightful the songs were. The one that struck me the most was the song about the death of one of Shatner's wives (who drown in their pool a few years ago). The album is very self-revelatory and fascinating and very well-produced.

Apparently, a famous choreographer (Margo Sappington) approached Shatner and Folds about setting this album to modern dance! And, this is the purpose of this film--to show this dance and discuss how it came to be. You hear from Sappington, Folds and Henry Rollins, but most of the film consists of listening to Shatner muse and discuss his thoughts about the songs and their origins--all as you watch the dancers dance. While this might sound dull, it NEVER is. Very insightful and fascinating. However, before you go out and watch this film, get the album and listen to it a few times. Believe it or not, it's one of the best albums I've heard.