Who is Harry Nilsson (and Why is Everybody Talkin' About Him)?

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who_is_harry_nilsson

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Santa Barbara International Film Festival
2010
  
  

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Directed by: John Scheinfeld

year: 2010 116 minutes

WHO IS HARRY NILSSON…?, a wildly entertaining, star studded documentary tells the story of one of the most talented and versatile singer songwriters in pop music history and the man the Beatles dubbed their favorite American musician. The Grammy® Award winners “Everybody’s Talkin” and “Without You," the quirky “Coconut” (”Put de lime in de coconut…”), the whimsical “Me And My Arrow,” and the poignant “One” (”…is the loneliest number”), these recordings are all the work of Harry Nilsson. The documentary reveals his spirited relationship with John Lennon and close bond with Ringo Starr, as well as Harry the legendary “bad boy” party animal who was at the same time a devoted husband and father. Director John Scheinfeld brings added emotion and intimacy to the story with over fifty Nilsson recordings, rare or never before seen film clips, home movies and personal photos. To this are added compelling interviews with top music and movie personalities who knew Harry well. They include Micky Dolenz, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Al Kooper, Randy Newman, Yoko Ono, Van Dyke Parks, the Smothers Brothers, Jimmy Webb, Paul Williams, Robin Williams, Brian Wilson and many others. As film critic Leonard Maltin noted, “WHO IS HARRY NILSSON? is a vivid portrait of a gifted man… what a great reminder of his talent.”

Kino Lorber

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Reviews

Holomos Burns

lime and coconut guy


augustawesome
augustawesome

fascinating, engaging tale of an artist I knew very little about


Marlowe Rafelle

jolly good show


Mike Miledi

If you have been a casual fan of Nilsson, watching this movie will send you running to your old cds or albums to know Harry. If you haven't really heard of him or his music, this movie will send you to Spotify or itunes. Spend 112 minutes and get to know Harry. Fantastic.


Addison Richards

Are you kidding me, fantastic


James Kaminski

Brilliant documentary about a brilliant man. Thank God he left us his music!


Patrick Jones

very well done


Jeffrey Godown

very harry,,he came from the right place n the write time,,and a very large talent,,better off with him than without him,,,


Joe Ansolabehere

Lovely. Fantastic. Heart breaking.


WalkerI

I was introduced to Harry's music and exquisite voice on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show when it was still in New York. If you don't know jack about Harry, this film is exciting, informative, uplifting, and disturbing, all at the same time and you owe it to yourself to enjoy this film.
Because he never performed live for an audience, he escaped much of the public notice and fame that comes from first-person familiarity with a performer.
This is our chance to get acquainted all over again.


Ken Keegan

Of course... there's great music. Then there's great musicians. Harry Nilsson's story is told coherently, humorously and with precise and clear vision. An American Hero with all the great attributes and human flaws of a larger than life legend and a very kind and ethical person. Wonderful.


Joseph Gossey

Very good..a glimpse of the man who sand "Without You" and "Everybodys Talkin"


Melvina Pugh

Excellent film. One of the best I have seen in a long time. What a great tribute to Harry Nilsson. It touched my heart. You must see this .


Ricardo Colon

This is nuts but I never knew who this guy was but I sang his songs all of my life when I am in a good mood. "My best friend, Lime in the co co nut, One, I can't live, Everybody's talking at me" Blew me away.


Thomas Semper

A great tribute to a fantastic talent


dan
dan

If you know of Harry Nillson, you should definitely see this, it fills in the holes. If you don't know him you should REALLY see this to learn about the best singer of a generation.


Tim O'Neill

This movie showed the genius of Harry Nilsson from the perspectives of his closest family and friends. It also features Harry himself, as background narrator.

Very well done and sentimental. I'll watch it again.