Tell Them Who You Are |  | Director: Mark Wexler
Actors: Michael Douglas, Milos Forman, Troy Garity, Ronnie Gilbert, Johnny Grant
Category: DVD
This item is no longer available
Rating:  14 reviews
Format: NTSC
Rating: R (Restricted)
ASIN: B00005JO67
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Amazon.com
Haskell Wexler was one of the most important cinematographers of the '60s and '70s who continued to work into the new century (in his eighties, no less). Besides earning two Oscars, he directed Medium Cool, a landmark, uneasy mix of fiction and documentary, and was a visible liberal activist. He also looks to be a pain in the butt. That aspect is brought into focus with his son's Mark's curious, self-therapeutic documentary. Both a biography of the genius with the camera, and a warts-and-all portrait of his father, the film, narrated by Mark, is a cinematic way to deal with a challenging upbringing. The senior Wexler has not lost any of his vitality or gruffness--he openly challenges his son about setting up a scene or the importance of catching a sunset. Talk about reality TV! There are several famous faces interviewed about the craft of filmmaking, but the most interesting comments come from those who know very well about dealing with famous fathers (including Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas). Equal time is given for Wexler's greatest achievements (including Bound for Glory, and American Graffiti) as well as his failures (he was fired from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest). It's not the easiest film to watch, but filled with honest, raw emotion including how this grand cinematographer deals with his colorblindness. Genius may love company, but sympathy may be hard to find for a cameraman who states there's "never been a movie I thought I could direct it better" and a son who finds such a public way of dealing with his own demons. --Doug Thomas
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 14
 Figure Father January 8, 2010
Richard Hine
Early in the documentary TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE, the movie's star (legendary cinematographer-director Haskell Wexler) tells his son Mark (the director of the movie) that he's not interested in a film that's all about his life in the movie business. Haskell Wexler is more interested in the revealing what's in his head and his heart. Or perhaps he realizes that by placing himself on the other side of the camera he will eventually reveal what he later calls "those subtle human things that we seldom understand."
In an hour and a half, the movie does indeed get inside the octogenarian Haskell's head and heart while also celebrating his career, wartime heroism, crusty personality and liberal activism. Even more important, it provides a window into the strained, competitive, antagonistic, unbreakable relationship between father and son. Ultimately, the movie becomes a memorable and moving family drama, summed up by a quote from Jane Fonda: "I don't think there's anything more important than making peace before it's too late," she says, before adding, "and it almost always relies on the child to move toward the parent."
TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE is a movie that will intrigue anyone who's interested in Hollywood or family histories.
Tell Tehm Who You Are June 13, 2008
Victoria J. Faria (Paradise, CA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Thank you, I received it very quickly and enjoyed receiving it. I collect Julia Robert Movies.
 Son seeks father's blessing May 4, 2007
Markus Youssef (Vancouver, BC)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A son finds a way to form a relationship with his Dad - appeal to his vanity by making a movie about him and visit Julia Roberts together. Through the kindnesses of those interviewed we get to humanize our fathers from an Image to an ordinary man living in a time with less consciousness. More optimistic than My Architect and has left me feeling lighter about my own father.
Fathers and Sons June 2, 2006
Christopher B. Murray (Portland, OR)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
"Tell Them Who You Are" is an amazing film. I rented the DVD thinking that I might like it because I am a fan of "Cuckoo's Nest", "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", "Days of Heaven", and other movies photographed by Haskell Wexler. I ended up loving the movie because of the courageous journey Wexler's son (this film's director) embarks on--he uses the documentary as a means to break through his father's macho, gruff, prickly emotional armor. The director flatters his father's considerable ego by making him the subject of this documentary, but Haskel has no idea what he's agreed to. He parades his cocky, opinionated, arrogant self in front of his son's lens and is revealed as the insecure man he truly is. However, the director does not gratuitously exploit this fact. Rather, he continues to observe his father--the son is both cruel and kind. As he "exposes" his father, he also frees him from the emotional cage he has erected about himself (his legendary status in the film industry, for instance). The film is, finally, both a work of art and an act of love. I was moved by "Tell Them Who You Are." (Let me also recommend that you watch the special feature that shows Haskel Wexler's reaction once he has seen the film--it's an incredible thing to watch.)
MOVING February 16, 2006
Cj D. Vries (CapeTown, RSA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I had no idea who Haskell Wexler was before I started watching this highly entertaining and well made documentary. One is quickly informed about the movies he was DOP for, and what numerous actors, directors and producers think of him. Not all favourable by the way. The gist of the movie is the relationship between son Mark (who made the movie) and father Haskell. They are entirely different people with Mark being more conservative to the outspoken and liberal Haskell. But herein lies the universality of the movie - even though we would sometimes deny it, we all strive for the approval and acknowledgement of our parents. You havent finished the experience of "Tell Them Who You Are" until you have watched Haskell's reaction to the movie in the EXTRAS of the DVD. Very moving!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 14
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