Variety Reviews "You Can Call Me Bill," the New Documentary About William Shatner
William Shatner. Image: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for SXSW
MARCH 20, 2023 - Director, Alexandre O. Philippe’s latest documentary “You Can Call Me Bill” is built around an interview with the legendary 91-year-old actor, in a one-man interview, sitting under studio lights, the camera close to his face, talking about life, death, acting, fame, love, desolation, and trees. It is promised to be something other than a conventional portrait of William Shatner.
Despite the documentary’s name, no one calls him Bill, nor does he invite anyone to call him Bill, according to a recent review of the film by Variety.
No one else is interviewed. At no point is Shatner called “Bill,” and at no point does he say, “You can call me Bill.” No mention is made of his hairpieces, which practically deserve a documentary of their own. But “You Can Call Me Bill” cuts engagingly between the wit and wisdom of William Shatner and a wealth of footage from his decades-long career covering his television shows, movies, and commercials.
In the documentary, Shatner shares his two acting idols: Laurence Olivier and Marlon Brando. He explains how he modeled Kirk, who was also sexy and gregarious, with a philosophical bent, and explains how he drew that quality out of himself.
He shares how he did not always have it made. While Star Trek started off as a hit, it survived a cancelation after season two and finally, it was canceled in 1969, after three seasons and 79 episodes. Sharing an anecdote that takes place shortly after he lost Star Trek, he related that he was broke, divorced, and just about living out of his car.
The documentary also shares him speaking with fervor about the environmental crisis of the Earth. How his trip to space two years ago and the effect it had on him that we’re ruining the Earth and need to pay attention to it.
Shatner, at 92 years of age, knows that he does not have much time left. He’s raw in his talking about it.
And of course, trees! He talks about wanting to come back as a tree, in which he’s thinking about pushing it into action by having his ashes planted under the roots of a giant sequoia. We’ll see images of those extraordinary trees.
Any fan of The Shat will want to tune in for sure. Also, please head over to our friends at Variety.com for even more details of what to expect.
Thaddeus Tuffentsamer is an internationally selling author. His books have been sold in the US, the UK, Sweden, Germany, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Italy, and France. He has a series of young reader novels, a satirical self-help book, (which, according to reviews, actually has some pretty solid counsel), and has joined the list of professional Sherlock Holmes authors.
He promises that his works will never contain profanity, gratuitous violence, or anything else that would prevent the entire family from enjoying them together.
He spends his days working in healthcare administration and in his evenings, in between plans for becoming “Lord Emperor of everything,” he types away at his keyboard letting his imagination out for the world to read.
He is fortunate to have a wonderful wife and two beautiful daughters. He currently lives in Goodyear Arizona with his wife.
