Watch The Doors

The Doors is a 1991 movie directed by Oliver Stone which chronicles the rise and fall of the legendary American rock band of the same name. The movie was released almost 20 years after the death of lead singer Jim Morrison, who is portrayed by Val Kilmer. The film also features Kyle MacLachlan as the band's keyboardist, Ray Manzarek, and Meg Ryan as Morrison's girlfriend, Pamela Courson. The movie begins with Jim Morrison as a young boy in Florida, witnessing a car accident that traumatizes him for life. The film then jumps ahead to the 1960s, where Morrison is a college student in California. He is shown writing poetry and performing spoken word pieces in a beatnik club, while also experimenting with drugs and alcohol. It is at this time that Morrison meets Ray Manzarek, who is impressed by his talent and suggests forming a band. The two recruit guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore to form The Doors, and quickly become a sensation in the Los Angeles music scene. The movie focuses on the band's musical and personal evolution, as they gain notoriety for their psychedelic sound and Morrison's provocative stage antics. Kilmer gives a truly immersive performance, capturing both the charisma and the darkness that made Morrison such an enigmatic figure. His portrayal of the singer's on-stage persona is particularly captivating, as he channels Morrison's wild energy and poetic lyricism with great intensity. The film is also notable for its use of actual footage of the band's performances, which gives an added authenticity to the scenes where they are shown playing live. The music of The Doors, which is woven throughout the movie, is a powerful force in its own right, conveying both the ecstasy and the despair that defined the band's sound. The Doors are depicted as a group of artists struggling to reconcile their creative aspirations with their inner demons. Morrison's relationship with Courson is a major plot point, and Ryan brings a certain sensitivity and vulnerability to the role. The film does not shy away from portraying the darker aspects of Morrison's life, including his substance abuse and his clashes with authority figures. As the band becomes more successful, tension between the members begins to rise. Manzarek and Krieger are shown as more stable and grounded, while Morrison and Densmore are increasingly at odds with each other. The band's performances become more erratic and unpredictable, with Morrison often showing up drunk or high on stage. The movie builds up to the infamous Miami concert in 1969, where Morrison is arrested on charges of indecent exposure and inciting a riot. The scene is recreated with remarkable accuracy, with Kilmer giving a blistering performance despite dealing with the heat and chaos of the actual event. As the band falls apart, Morrison becomes more despondent and self-destructive, culminating in his death in Paris in 1971. The film ends with a montage of footage from their performances, as well as archival footage of Morrison's funeral. Overall, The Doors is a gripping and engaging movie that captures the spirit and legacy of the iconic band. The performances are outstanding, particularly Kilmer's portrayal of Jim Morrison, and the music is a powerful force throughout. Stone's direction is often stylized and dreamlike, using imagery and symbolism to evoke the psychedelic era in which The Doors thrived.