Still Bill (2009) Reviews

• Bill Is Still Bill (still is Bill, still...or is he?)

  druid333-22010-03-21

  For anybody who grew up listening to & loving soul music in the 1970's, this film is well worth seeking out. It concerns Bill Withers,who had a long string of chart hits,from his signature "Ain't No Sunshine" (which opens the film),"Grandma's Hands","Lean On Me",and others. In 1985, Bill decided to end his career in the music industry (but he never stopped writing or playing music---just for his own pleasure). We get first hand accounts from Mr. Withers,himself on life,love & just why he stepped down from the limelight. We are treated to various clips of Bill (mostly from television appearances)playing snippets from his hits,in conversation with Tavis Smiley & Cornell West,and kudos from the likes of Angelique Kidjo,Sting & others. Damani Baker & Alex Vlack co direct this ever so fine portrait of a man who preferred family over success. I guess my only issue with this film is that it's somewhat short (it clocks in at a scant 78 minutes). I know I had the same issue with the recently released 'Soul Power' (which for me could have been a good three hours,as there was boat loads of talent playing at that festival). Short running time aside, this film is still worth checking out,if you love soul music. Not rated by the MPAA,this film contains a naughty word or two,but has nothing else to offend.

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• A subtle documentary about an unique and brilliant musician

  edwardhblake2010-02-13

  If you're a fan of Bill Withers, you'll truly appreciate this in depth and personal documentary. It focuses primarily on his life and achievements at the age of 70, but it also revisits his past and how events and people shaped him and who he is today. Withers is amazingly funny and wise - full of life lessons that shouldn't be missed. If I had a complaint about the documentary (or why I wouldn't give it a 10/10) I would say that some of the material ventures into overly sentimental themes but that's not easy to avoid. After seeing it, I immediately began rooting through my music collection to find my Bill Withers material.

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• Bill Withers taught me to be true to myself

  lostabos2017-06-20

  My first introduction to the music of Bill Withers was the song "Lean On Me". I would not exactly say that it was my all time favorite song but the song in itself struck a chord with me. I had no idea who the mastermind behind the song until certain years later. I only first came to know of the name Bill Withers as a result of having become a hardcore soul fan since 2002. It was only through my soul music journey that I decided to buy his 1981 Greatest Hits CD over 10 years ago.I am proud to say that I still have the CD to this very day. It was then that I could perhaps say that I was formally introduced to the singer that sang and wrote songs such as "Ain't No Sunshine", "Lovely Day" and so forth. Although the documentary may have come out eight years ago, I did not think much about it until recently. I am not certain as to what drove me to watch the documentary yesterday evening but it allowed me to gain a glimpse of who this man really was and how did not give into the system. I would not wish to say that Bill Withers is a pop star in the true sense of the word but he did not put fame above his principles. That is why I believe God has blessed this man with so many years. May God continue to bless him as his nearing 80. There are not many of his caliber that can actually stand up for what they believe in. I wish that the current crop of musicians can learn from this wonderful man. If there is perhaps one thing that "Still Bill" has taught me is to be true to myself. I do not have to owe anyone any apology to the principles for which I stand. Of course, this is not to say that Mr. Withers was a perfect man in any sense of the term. He also did make mistakes along the way but this should not detract from the fact that the morale behind this 78-minute film is we need to know who we are, where we come from and what we stand for. Mr. Withers exemplified these virtues mentioned here. I specifically recommend it to anyone who may have not heard the name Bill Withers before. It gives you a perspective of the man behind the songs that we often sing in our showers, kitchens, cars, churches or even when we walk alone in the street. It is never a documentary you would simply want to watch once and forget about it. I am actually going to watch it again after this review. There is a lot we can learn from the one of the last living soul legends of the 20th century.

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• Wonderful, up-beat documentary about a man who was and is true to himself

  runamokprods2011-09-11

  Delightful, short, but insightful documentary about the great 70s and 80s R+B icon Bill Withers, who wrote and sang such great hits as 'Ain't No Sunshine' and 'Lean on Me'. It's a portrait of a wonderfully strong yet gentle and likable man, who refused to bend to record company creative demands, even though it might have cost him fame and money, and who simply walked away from the music business when it was no longer something he wanted to deal with. Now at age 70, he dispenses wonderfully wise and witty aphorisms, and still works on music, but for himself, not the world. He's also open enough to question whether his lack of ambition is a good or bad thing – although on evidence he seems about as happy and well adjusted a man as you could find, loving his family, helping stuttering kids (he suffered with the same problem through much of his early life), and enjoying the creative process itself as an end, not a means. Quiet, simply filmed, this documentary made me feel good about life, and immediately want to go order a CD of Wither's greatest hits.

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• Touching Documentary on Withers

  Michael_Elliott2012-02-22

  Still Bill (2009) *** (out of 4) Candid documentary about soul singer Bill Weather's who is best known today for the classics "Lean on Me" and "Ain't No Sunshine" but just as his career was taking off he decided to leave the business and take care of his family. This is a pretty fascinating documentary on many levels but the biggest is probably just the fact that everyone knows a song like "Lean on Me" yet they might not realize who sings it or whatever happened to him. This documentary runs 78-minutes and it really tries to explain what Withers has been up to in the twenty-three years since his last album. Withers discusses why he walked away from the business, the issues he had being popular and we also learn some darker things including his work with stuttering children, which he was one of when he was younger. In the film's most touching moment Withers is being honored for his work with stuttering kids and he finally breakdowns, which is extremely heartfelt and especially his message for the kids. We also deal with his music as he explains what he has been up to all these years and we also hear from his daughter who herself was trying to get into music. The cameras are also there as Withers plans on getting back in the studio for a Spanish song. Fans of Withers are certainly going to enjoy seeing this look at his life because you really do get a great idea of who the man is and it's clear that he has a certain integrity that would be hard to find in the business. The way he just walked away from the money and spotlight because he didn't have anything to say can be greatly admired as is the work he does for those who suffered as he did as a child. We get clips from live performances, TV shows as well as a tribute concert. STILL BILL still leaves a few questions unanswered and at times it goes slightly off the rails but this is still an impressive film worth watching.

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