Paul Simon Movies
Rhymin' Paul Simon was writing songs with his future partner, Art Garfunkel, as far back as 1955, when both were high schoolers in Queens, NY. Achieving brief fame as the singing team of Tom and Jerry in 1957, Simon and Garfunkel broke up and re-teamed several times before "officially" emerging as Simon & Garfunkel in 1964. During this period, Simon attended Queens College as an English major, wrote songs for other recording artists, and worked as a rock show promoter. Largely a college campus attraction at first, Simon & Garfunkel attained mainstream popularity when they contributed the songs heard on the soundtrack of the 1967 film hit The Graduate. The two performers went their separate ways after the 1972 album Bridge Over Troubled Water. Like Garfunkel before him, Simon tentatively launched a film acting career, appearing as Diane Keaton's L.A.-based boyfriend in the Oscar-winning Annie Hall (1977). Thus far, Simon's only starring film has been 1980's One Trick Pony, in which he played an over-the-hill rock star planning a comeback. Paul Simon was once married to film actress Carrie Fisher, who nowadays has nothing but nice things to say about her former husband (which is more than can be said for her many ex-boyfriends). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Woody Allen's romantic comedy of the Me Decade follows the up and down relationship of two mismatched New York neurotics. Jewish comedy writer Alvy Singer (Allen) ponders the modern quest for love and his past romance with tightly-wound WASP singer Annie Hall (Diane Keaton, née Diane Hall). The twice-divorced Alvy knows that it's not easy to find a mate when the options include pretentious New York intellectuals and lifestyle-obsessed Rolling Stone writers, but la-di-dah-ing Annie seems different. Along the rocky road of their coupling, Allen/Alvy weigh in on such topics as endless therapy, movies vs. TV, the absurdity of dating rituals, anti-Semitism, drugs, and, in one of the best set pieces, repressed Midwestern WASP insanity vs. crazy Brooklyn Jewish boisterousness. Annie wants to move to Los Angeles to find that fame that finally does in the relationship -- but not before Alvy gets in a few digs at vacuous, mantra-fixated California. Originally entitled Anhedonia (the inability to enjoy oneself), Annie Hall blended the slapstick and fantasy from such earlier Allen films as Sleeper (1973) and Bananas (1971) with the more autobiographical musings of his stand-up and written comedy, using an array of such movie techniques as talking heads, splitscreens, and subtitles. Within these gleeful formal experiments and sight gags, Allen and co-writer Marshall Brickman skewered 1970s solipsism, reversing the happy marriage of opposites found in classic screwball comedies. Hailed as Allen's most mature and personal film, Annie Hall beat out Star Wars for Best Picture and also won Oscars for Allen as director and writer and for Keaton as Best Actress; audiences enthusiastically responded to Allen's take on contemporary love and turned Keaton's rumpled menswear into a fashion trend. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, (more)
- 1991
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Enjoy these music videos of Paul Simon's album with titles such as "Graceland," "You Can Call Me Al" and "Boy in a Bubble." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1984
In this meandering, indecisive documentary on life in the turbulent Philippines a few years before dictator Ferdinand Marcos was finally thrown out of the country, director and writer Werner Schroeter covers extensive ethnic and sociological territory without presenting a coherent viewpoint or perspective that would sort it out. Interviews with experts on the religious, political, and economic situation in the country provide some background for the average viewer, but scenes of unusual religious rites tend to sensationalize rather than fairly illustrate beliefs. In the same type of exaggeration that does not seem to connect with reality, American propaganda films from World War II on the liberation of the Philippines are contrasted with film clips on Marcos' dictatorship. The viewing public may have been better served by a less theatrical and more substantial approach to this culturally complex nation. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Ordinary music soars to extraordinary heights as gifted keyboardist Herbie Hancock joins forces with a variety of well-known music superstars to offer a completely original listening experience. As Hancock collaborates with such artists as Paul Simon, Annie Lennox, Sting, and John Mayer, the cameras are permitted into the studios and behind-the-scenes to show just what happens when some of the greatest music minds of a generation converge. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Herbie Hancock, Christina Aguilera, (more)
- 1987
- PG13
Considered one of the great box-office turkeys of its decade, Ishtar was an attempt by writer/director Elaine May and stars Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty to do a modern-day road picture in the style of the much-loved Bob Hope and Bing Crosby comedy classics. Beatty is Lyle Rogers, a dimwitted songwriter who befriends and partners with Chuck Clarke (Hoffman), who is only slightly more intelligent but every bit as untalented. Together the duo dreams of becoming a big-time lounge act, but their songs, with titles like "That a Lawnmower Can Do All That," are unintentionally hilarious. Chuck becomes suicidal, but just when it seems they'll never strike it rich, the boys are offered a shady gig at a North African hotel, entertaining U.S. troops stationed in the tiny nation of Ishtar. On their way to accept the job, Lyle, Chuck, and their blind camel are sidetracked by a mysterious woman (Isabelle Adjani) and a scheming CIA agent (Charles Grodin), who are involved in a rebellion against the country's emir. The memorable songs crafted by Chuck and Lyle were written by actor and composer Paul Williams. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman, (more)
- 1999
The premise of MTV's Unplugged series is to strip away the layering of high-end quality production of a popular song, pare it down to its essential elements, and present an acoustical version of that song. On this video the theme of romanticism defines each video of some of the best love ballads of a generation, including "I'm Ready" by Bryan Adams, "Still Crazy After All These Years" by Paul Simon, "Let Her Cry" by Hootie & the Blowfish, Duran Duran's "Ordinary World," "Please Don't Go" by Boyz II Men, Tony Bennett's "It Had to Be You," "Strong Enough" performed by Sheryl Crow, crooner Chris Isaak's "Somebody's Crying," and "Old Love" by the venerable Eric Clapton. ~ Forrest Spencer, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Some of the most legendary rock & roll artists perform some of their hit songs acoustically before a small, intimate studio audience in this collection of clips from MTV's popular Unplugged series. Some of the performers and songs featured on this tape include "Late in the Evening" by Paul Simon; "Pulling Mussels From a Shell" performed by Squeeze; the venerable Tony Bennett singing "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"; "We Can Work It Out" by Paul McCartney; "Hold My Hand" by Hootie and the Blowfish; Hall and Oates singing "She's Gone"; "Back to You" by Bryan Adams; and the remarkable Eric Clapton performing "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out." ~ Forrest Spencer, All Movie Guide
The first concert film of the rock & roll era, Monterey Pop is an invaluable record of some of the major musical figures of the late 1960s. The organizers of the Monterey International Pop Festival, held June 16-18, 1967, wisely chose to record the proceedings on film for commercial distribution. Even if some of the festival's big acts -- The Byrds, The Grateful Dead, and Buffalo Springfield -- didn't make the final cut for various reasons, the roster of performers who did reads like a who's who of the era: Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother and the Holding Company (featuring Janis Joplin), Simon & Garfunkel, and The Mamas and the Papas (that group's leader, John Phillips, was one of the festival's principal organizers). The festival's "international" tag is well-earned by one performer in the film: Ravi Shankar, whose final-day performance was one of the festival's highlights and closes the movie on an exuberant note. Though the festival seemed to be anticipating nearby San Francisco's Summer of Love, the film chooses to concentrate on the musical performers, with only brief intimations of the burgeoning counterculture. ~ Tom Wiener, All Movie Guide
- 1990
An all-star cast is included on this children's adventure that follows a search for Mother Goose by her son (Dan Gilroy) and Little Bo Peep (Shelley Duvall). ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Kermit and Fozzie find treasure in the lost episodes that include cooking lessons with a Swedish Chef and episodes from "Pigs in Space" and "Veterinarian's Hospital." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1980
- R
The struggle of a has-been singer to work his way back up the charts is the focus of this drama by Robert M. Young with screenplay and music by Paul Simon. Simon plays Jonah, a once-popular singer who now opens for punk rock bands. In the ten years since he had a hit song, Jonah's wife has divorced him, but he still sees his young son as often as he can. With his record company on his back to come up with something that sells, Jonah begins to compromise his own talent when he listens to the advice of a trendy producer. Whether or not he can straighten out his personal life and steer his own ship may depend on his ability to trust his own judgment and adjust to the changing times. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Simon, Blair Brown, (more)
- 1981
Legendary vocalist Paul Simon, formerly of Simon and Garfunkel, performs to a live audience in this musical video. His stunningly beautiful voice is featured in song favorites "Sound of Silence," "One Trick Pony," and more. Live concert footage makes up the entire video, starring Simon with supporting musicians. ~ Sarah Sloboda, All Movie Guide
- 1991
This concert film features Paul Simon playing before a large and enthusiastic crowd at New York's famous Central Park. Touring in support of his album The Rhythm of the Saints, Simon's set list includes songs from every phase of his lengthy career, including "The Sounds of Silence," "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," "Kodachrome," "Still Crazy After All These Years," "You Can Call Me Al," and "The Obvious Child." He is backed by session players and some of the world musicians he had been recording with during the years previous to this show. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 1993
This documentary on celebrated singer and songwriter Paul Simon takes a look at his long and illustrious career (dating back to his partnership with Art Garfunkel, who is interviewed both alone and with Simon) as he records his 1990 album The Rhythm of the Saints and mounts a world tour to promote it. Simon performs 21 songs on-stage and in the studio, including "Born at the Right Time," "You Can Call Me Al," "Late in the Evening," "Still Crazy After All These Years," "The Boxer," and "Bridge Over Troubled Water." ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Central Park was host to Paul Simon's free concert in 1991 performing in front of 750,000 people with hits from his entire career. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1987
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In 1986, Paul Simon released his album Graceland, a ground-breaking collaboration with some of South Africa's finest musicians that brought the sensuous and expressive sounds of "Township Jive" to an international mass audience for the first time. Simon then mounted an international concert tour with several of the musicians that appeared on the album, and this home video release captures the final date of the tour in 1987, in which Simon, singer Miriam Makeba, trumpeter Hugh Masekela, and vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo brought the music back to Africa for a massive outdoor concert in Zimbabwe. Selections include "The Boy in the Bubble," "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes," "You Can Call Me Al," "Homeless," "I Know What I Know," "Graceland," "Gumboots," and 11 more. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Rock to the sounds of the Muppets and their special musical guests as they perform titles such as "Rock Around the Clock," "Call Me," "Rainbow Connection" and "Disco Frog." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1986
This 1986 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Catherine Oxenberg and Paul Simon and features musical guest Ladysmith Black Mambazo. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Catherine Oxenberg, Paul Simon, (more)
- 1977
This 1977 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Charles Grodin and features musical guest Paul Simon. One of the highlights of the show is Grodin's stunning impression of Art Garfunkel, as he attempts to sing a duet with Simon. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Grodin, Paul Simon, (more)
- 2000
This 2000 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Charlize Theron and features musical guest Paul Simon. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlize Theron, Paul Simon, (more)
- 1990
This 1990 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Dennis Hopper and features musical guest Paul Simon. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Hopper, Paul Simon, (more)
- 2006
This 2006 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and features musical guest Paul Simon. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Paul Simon, (more)
- 1993
This 1993 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Kevin Kline and features musical guests Willie Nelson and Paul Simon. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Kline, Willie Nelson, (more)
- 1975
The second episode of NBC's Saturday Night is dominated by music. Host Paul Simon is joined by musical guests Randy Newman, Phoebe Snow, and Art Garfunkel, who, together and separately, perform a total of 11 songs. Notable non-musical content includes a short film by Albert Brooks and a humorous segment featuring Simon playing basketball against Connie Hawkins. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Simon
