by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Can you remember the first time you read the words of Kurt Vonnegut? I am sure not everyone reading this has before… but you seriously should! I remember getting the opportunity to read Cat’s Cradle in my English class in high school, and I had never read anything like it. I am well-known around my fellow writers as the one who somehow sees every film. Long before I had this distinction amongst my peers, I had the same love and dedication towards reading books. Due to personal reasons back in college, my reading fell to the wayside. But I have read thousands of books in my life, and I can say without hesitation that Vonnegut has written some of my favorites. What a voice! There are few writers who will ever spin such funny and tragically dark tales that are endlessly readable.
But can a documentary ever do justice to such a character? To be honest, I knew little about the man himself before I watched Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time. But he turned out to be just as I expected. He was serious about his beliefs and concerns… but darkly funny about them around every turn. But this is not your basic documentary, either (which is perfectly fitting for a film about Vonnegut). Director Robert B. Weide has been working on this film for 25 years. Over time, it has transformed into a meta commentary on a man documenting the life of not only a writer, but also a friend. I cannot say the sections focusing purely on Weide are as compelling as those that focus on Vonnegut, but there is some added heart and emotion that do the documentary well. This meta approach to the storytelling fits nicely as it reinforces some of the same approaches that Vonnegut used. This film certainly does not have Vonnegut’s voice, though.
But what about the actual story, about the actual man? This film balances between focusing on the budding friendship between Vonnegut and Weide, the legacy of Vonnegut’s work, and his story. There is some genuine friendship depicted in the film which allows Vonnegut to feel like a real person, instead of this towering monolith of literary legacy. Speaking of his legacy, the film does a great job of painting a portrait of a unique and influential presence, which is impossible to argue against when it comes to Vonnegut. Hearing Sam Waterston read some of his words was extra special. Even more, the consistent cutaways to Vonnegut’s presentations and humor were wonderful surprises whenever they popped up. Then there is the life the Vonnegut led. The film does not shy away from his faults as a husband and father, but it also doesn’t focus on them either. The biographical elements are standard affair, but it is a mountainous task to do justice for such a creative force.
In the end, should you check out Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time? For those bibliophiles out there (and cinephiles, for that matter), this film makes for an intriguing watch. There is an emotional connection that helps in bolstering the experience and who can say no to one of the greatest writers of the 20th century? If you are looking for a quality documentary with a little extra flair, you won’t go wrong with this one.
Grade: A-
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