It has been awhile since I last wrote a review; almost 8 months, to be precise. Within that time, I have lost my job, rigorously searched for a new one, got close, almost gave up, and as of this writing, have still been searching. At the same time, I’ve watched people with situations way worse than my own, so at least I’m grateful for the little stability I have. Why is this relevant? Well, though I may have lost the will to write, I thankfully haven’t lost my love of movies. And Dick Johnson is Dead is an affirmation of that love. So, what better time to come back to writing than with a movie that is itself, at least in part, a tribute to the power of movies?
Blurs the Line Between Fantasy and Documentary
As you may have guessed from either the title or description, Dick Johnson is Dead is not your typical documentary. It’s written and directed by Kirsten Johnson, a documentarian and cinematographer who made headlines more recently for 2016’s Cameraperson, a film that contains footage shot over the years by Johnson as the cinematographer for various documentaries. Cameraperson doesn’t have a narrative structure, but it instead shows clips of various cultures, societies, and Johnson‘s own experiences, interwoven in such a way that it displays the full gamut of human life, from the atrocities we have committed in various countries where there have been genocides, to the signs of life and hope amongst the darkness, such as a lovely peasant family that Johnson visits over the years in Bosnia. It’s a fascinating work, immediately absorbing, deep, and with a clear passion for the power of images.
Dick Johnson is Dead, while also unusual, is a more personal work for Johnson, in this case about her aging father Dick Johnson, a former psychiatrist who also happens to be slowly losing track of his memories in his twilight years. Johnson, whose own mother died from Alzheimer’s in 2007, holds her relationship with her father dear, and accompanies him through all the painful steps to the admittance of getting old, such as clearing out his former office, selling his car, and moving into her NYC apartment. Interspersed with these moments are some fantasy-infused elements, with Dick Johnson either suddenly, comically being killed by something, such as a falling air conditioner on the street, or finding himself within a wildly elaborate display, such as at one point appearing in “heaven” along with his former wife, Bruce Lee, Buster Keaton, and other deceased celebrities.
What also distinguishes Johnson‘s film is the fact that she frequently shows you the behind-the-scenes of each of these, such as the stuntmen that perform the death sequences and the actual filming of the heaven fantasy scenes. Sometimes they show the lead-up to the scene itself, while at others, it shows the scene first, followed by a glimpse behind its setup.
Unconventional But Effective
One might assume that Dick Johnson is Dead is somehow insensitive to Kirsten‘s father’s slowly building dementia, but it is thankfully anything but. Not only is Dick aware of everything that is transpiring, he also seems to gain some joy from it, such as seeing them setup the death scenes and occasionally even really getting into character, such as during one scene where he’s dressed as the headless horseman and glimpses a nursing home behind a hidden door, a painful reminder that one day he may have to live in one of those places. So then, another question arises: what is Kirsten Johnson‘s real purpose to not only making this documentary, but making it in the way that she does instead of simply displaying a plainly-told documentary about her father?
The reason it works is because, the movie is well, fun? A movie about death being fun, you say? Well, for one, as alluded to perhaps by the display of silent comedian Buster Keaton during one of the fantasy sequences, the film is full of impeccably timed physical comedy. Not only do the deaths come out of nowhere, but they are also very over-the-top, such as during one where Dick is stabbed by a long pole with nails sticking out of it and then bleeds all over the sidewalk. Rather than be disturbing, it comes across as wacky and humorous. When the film starts to get deep into emotional territory, suddenly a scene like this or one of the colorfully displayed fantasies will occur (glitter and all), both making you laugh and perhaps making you ironically forget about death at all. A plainly told tale of Dick Johnson‘s life, however heartfelt, just wouldn’t have had the same impact.
The Love Shines Through
Through it all, though, it is the love that is most prominent throughout Dick Johnson is Dead. The love, first and foremost, of Johnson‘s father, who brought her up to be the person she is today. Johnson may have had an unusual upbringing, having been brought up as part of the Seventh Day Adventists, a religion that does not even believe in film as entertainment, yet her father also occasionally pulled her away from that, including bringing her to the movies as a kid and being supportive of her ultimate career choice. Through it all, it’s clear that he was a loving and caring parent, and that Johnson made this movie as a testament to his character and what he means to her.
Dick Johnson is also quite a charming man. Though he occasionally stumbles over his words or is confused, you can see just how much he treasures and loves his life, especially being included as a part of Kirsten and her two childrens’ lives. But Dick Johnson is Dead, as you can clearly see from the title and throughout the film, also brings up a painful reminder: this man may not actually be dead yet, but he will be someday. As will all of our parents, grandparents, elders, and yes, ourselves. Watching this movie, I thought about my own parents, who as of now are in their mid-60’s but are thankfully in perfectly good health. But one day, I’ll have to more directly face this reality. And while I’m not sure I can face it yet, I can look at a movie like Dick Johnson is Dead, and perhaps it can help me through it, even if just a little bit. We don’t have to fear death because it is inevitable, as one older friend of Dick’s says in the movie, and while it’s an unfortunate reality that we’re mortal, it also means we should treasure each moment of our lives and the people we love all the more.
Conclusion
Perhaps the best way to sum up Dick Johnson is Dead is through the tone set through Kirsten Johnson‘s voiceover throughout the film, which is at times funny, at others poignant, and overall self-aware. The self-aware elements come through during both the “death” sequences and the glances behind the curtain, but they also poke fun at the absurdity of it all: what is the point of life, anyways, and why do we pretend that death isn’t potentially lurking around any corner? Maybe we just proceed because there’s nothing else for us to do but keep moving, and to treasure the few joyful moments we receive along the way. Because while death may be waiting around the next corner, something wonderful and exciting, like Dick Johnson is Dead, for example, could be waiting there as well.
What are your thoughts on Dick Johnson is Dead? Are you a fan of unconventional documentaries such as this one? Let us know In the comments below!
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