MovieChat Forums > Salinger (2013) Discussion > Excellent documentary.

Excellent documentary.

posted 11 years ago by willard86
7 replies | jump to latest

I'm a docu-holic and a Salinger fan. This film was quality. The sequence of interviews, the unfolding story of who Salinger was, the use of music ... all superbly done.

Despite the author's serious flaws: living out relationship fantasy over and over, never really seeing his wives and girlfriends as more than young muses; losing interest (and even turning vicious) when they reached full adulthood -- Salinger was an intriguing man.

There is a lot to discover and think about through this documentary. I'm surprised at the low rating and very low Rotten Tomatoes score. Maybe, though, that's typical of the mainstream opinion that Salinger himself strove to subvert. Ultimately he is a rather dark figure, but one who influenced the public immensely during his published years.

[–] grigory-never-was-here 10 years ago

I completely agree. I was blown away after reading so many poor reviews. I couldn't unglue myself from the TV. There was so much information that I had only scratched the surface of while reading about Salinger on the internet.

I think the people who are trashing the documentary are the Catcher fans thait never read all his other material, and wanted some sort of soecret message revealed to them about the one and only book they've ever read by him. If you truly are a fan of all things Salinger, this documentary is for you.

oh yeah, it's the internet

[–] stw789987 10 years ago

"I think the people who are trashing the documentary are the Catcher fans thait never read all his other material, and wanted some sort of soecret message revealed to them about the one and only book they've ever read by him. If you truly are a fan of all things Salinger, this documentary is for you."

Alternatively, you could just read the reviews. Then you wouldn't have to guess why they thought it was a poor film.

[–] tetrahex 10 years ago

Yea I got that feeling too, they expected some secret insight into their favorite author, nothing was going to satisfy that.

[–] AccidntlTourist 10 years ago

I read Catcher in the Rye about 40 years ago and still refer to it; relate to it as defining, in important ways, what my life has been/is.

I've tried - thanks to the internet - to explore the mysterious Salinger; in search of some further insight.
But, I always came up short.

This documentary has answered my questions.

I just watched it on PBS; stayed up past my bedtime - couldn't turn away.

The documentary was followed by a brief interview by Charlie Rose of director Shane Salerno. Mr. Salerno explained he spent 10 yrs and 2 million dollars out of his own pocket to put this wonderful work together.

I had a psychology professor who once told us that "Who you are is based on where you were when". If you want to understand someone - you've got to understand this principle.

There is no question that Salinger was profoundly shaped by the war and the time and places he lived in. And this goes a long way to helping me understand this extraordinary and complicated person.

Thank you to Shane Salerno for this important documentary.

[–] jedlelandjunior 10 years ago

Just wanted to chime in and concur what an excellent documentary this is. The piece really caught fire once it discussed Salinger going off to WWII.

[–] jrhpax 10 years ago

I wanted to agree with those who say it's an excellent documentary.

[–] sborges 10 years ago

Despite Salinger's fascinating life and very enigmatic figure, I found this documentary wanting - the narration was annoying to an extreme; after about an hour, I gave up - seemed like a Nat-Geo "family" piece - and the constant use of this incredibly irritating symphonic crap, which didn't shut off, really did get on my nerves. To round this piece of junk in a word: "phony".