HOW TO COME ALIVE WITH NORMAN MAILER

(director/writer: Jeff Zimbalist; screenwriter: Victoria Marquette; cinematographer: Guy Livneh; editor: Alannah Byrnes; music: Jacques Brautbar; cast: John Buffalo Mailer, Michael Mailer, Maggie Mailer, David Denby, J. Michael Lennon, Peter Alson, Dotson Rader, Dick Cavett, Rudy Langlais, John Waters, Maggie McKinley, Oliver Stone, Danielle Mailer, Neal Elizabeth Mailer, James Wolcott, Susan Mailer, Mark Anthony, Gay Talese, Daphne Merkin, Jonathan Lethem, Stephen Mailer, Doug Brinkley, Carol Stevens; Runtime: 102; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Victoria Marquette, Jeff Zimbalist; All Rise Films, Zeitgeist Films; 2024)

“An illuminating doc on the controversial and brilliant writer Norman Mailer.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Peabody-winning documentarian Jeff Zimbalist (“Give Us This Day”/”Favela Rising”) helms an illuminating doc on the controversial and brilliant writer Norman Mailer (1923-2007). He was born to a Jewish family in Long Branch, New Jersey. The author and journalist won 2 Pulitzer Prizes, was co-founder of the Village Voice, a filmmaker and actor (the rambling “Maidstone” 1970), playwright, politician, activist, fiery talk show guest, bar room drinker, celebrity, provocateur, and was married to 6 wives and fathered nine children. His book The Naked and Dead is the one he’s best known for.

The biopic covers Mailer’s childhood, his books, his failed marriages (including stabbing his second wife, Adele Morales–who did not press charges), his forays into politics, his narcissism, his bluster, his ongoing feud with Gore Vidal, his arrogance and his intelligence.

There are insightful interviews with ex-wives, children, supporters like John Waters and Gloria Steinem, and many incidents of his bad behavior through the years.

The film is divided into 7 chapters, with enough material to make a few films on him come alive.

 REVIEWED ON 7/19/2024  GRADE: B
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