You Can Call Me Bill

William Shatner - he likes to be called Bill - has had an accomplished career. One where he has reinvented himself several times over transforming from Kirk to Hooker to Crane. From author to spokesman to astronaut to ...singer (and no, you do not need to imbibe on Romulan ale to enjoy his rocking "Common People" single from 2004). If anyone deserves a curtain call, Bill Shatner gets my vote. The documentary You Can Call Me Bill is a partial answer to such a victory lap. For over 90 minutes, Bill reminisces, waxes poetic, and frets on the future. Sometimes simultaneously. Often in a stream of consciousness. However, if You Can Call Me Bill is designed as a celebration, why does it come across as aimless as your grandfather commiserating about current events over Thanksgiving dinner?

Albeit a grandfather who happens to be Captain Kirk.

You Can Call Me Bill becomes a preemptive eulogy of sorts. For Shatner fans of all sizes, the movie is accessible and entertaining. Yet all of that humor, all of that love of life are only shown in the clips that the world has already enjoyed and celebrated. You Can Call Me Bill instead focuses on the solitary life of a solo man. Sitting in the dark. Waiting for the final curtain to close.

I love the original series of Star Trek. It is without question my favorite TV show. I have been to Star Trek conventions and watched the episodes countless times. And yes, not all the episodes are great or even good, but many are truly amazing in both their time and ours. Many very talented people worked on the show, but I think two contributors really set the tone: Gene Roddenberry for his vision, and William Shatner for his commanding presence -- he WAS the Captain of the Enterprise.

All this being said, this movie has little to do with Star Trek, and everything to do with an amazing actor who is just entering his 93rd year. Happy birthday Bill! Yes, there are clips from Star Trek and many of his other roles, and yes it's true that this documentary is not presented in a conventional, linear fashion. But what really springs to life is the thinking and the spirituality of a man who cares deeply for his planet and all the life on it. And what could be truer to Star Trek than that?

Just watched and found the film very moving, a living memorial to someone who has been around all my adult life. And it's wonderful that the guy who this is about is still very active and participating in his own unique way in the modern world

It's done in the style you would expect from a Shatner type production; which is , like the man himself, slightly off kilter, ruminating about life and death, but with humour and self depreciation. And you do get some great clips but not in the traditional 'the first time I met Leonard.....'type way

So to the reviewer who insults him with his 'rambling old man' review, what did you expect exactly? He is old , but sharper and more human than most. Perhaps Marvel World is better for your viewing pleasure. Cos there's more explosions and stuff!

Personally I got the kind of documentary I thought I'd get and thoroughly enjoyed it, with a tear in my eye.

If you're looking for a documentary about the great life of William Shatner this isn't it. I was hoping for a real documentary that would cover his early life, his acting breaks, early TV roles, Star Trek, his marriages etc. But nothing of that is covered. Instead we get a LOT of boring ecological statements that will be forgotten a second after you hear them. I wanted to hear about his relationship with Leonard Nimoy, Gene Roddenberry and the other ST castmates. Again none of that is covered. The one thing in its favor is that they have a lot of wonderful clips from his long career. If you can stream this without paying for it (unlike me), take a look and see if you agree with me.

...I give it a solid 9 stars. There were only a few surprises for a die-hard Shatner fan like me, but the joy in watching this film was in the hour and a half, very personal monologue from Shatner. Introspective most times and at other times, filled with humor and anecdotal tales of his past, present and limited future. I would have given this ten stars were it not for Bill coming back to global warming time and again. I have no issues with a person having an opinion, but I'm of the position that once you espouse it, let your audience decide for themselves. No need to harp on it - we get it. Other than that, I enjoyed every moment of the red carpet premiere in Playa Vista.