Genre:Nonfiction - Documentary Media:Video On Demand Running Time:97 Minutes
Theatrical Release Date:June 4, 2008 Release Date:November 12, 2009 Availability:Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Synopsis:
Crackling with infectious energy, DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH pays homage to the dark prince of American letters, Harlan Ellison. Master of his craft, Ellison has heroically produced over 75 books and more than 1,700 classics of fiction and non-fiction on one of his Olympia manual typewriters, including the single most popular Star Trek episode ("City on the Edge of Forever") and brilliant, award-winning short stories, some written in bookstore windows, on very public display. Wildly imaginative writer, flame-tongued provocateur, unholy fusion of Lenny Bruce and Mark Twain, Ellison's remarkable personal journey is lovingly rendered by director Erik Nelson. The film draws on over 25 years of exclusive video footage that captures Ellison at his most inspiring and irritating, curmudgeonly and lovable. See Ellison rant about the idiocies of geekdom, confess to mailing a dead gopher to an executive at a publishing house, recall his rebellious childhood, and speak about the joy (and craft) of writing. The film features candid interviews with famous and surprising friends, including actor Robin Williams, author Neil Gaiman and Ron Moore (Battlestar Galactica), who flesh out Ellison's prodigious contributions to the worlds of literature and popular culture, as well as their very personal encounters with this unique Force Of Nature. Whether a die-hard Ellison fan or someone tragically uninitiated, DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH will amuse, inspire, infuriate, and edify.
Very interestingAugust 11, 2010 Michael D. Corpier(East Texas) Although I bought this for my wife's birthday present, when I watched it with her, I couldn't get over how blunt and at the same time interesting Mr. Ellison is. It has installed in me the want to read some of his works and find out more about his writing style.
Straight, undiluted HarlanMay 12, 2010 Drummer(Fort Myers, FL USA) It's about time someone did a documentary about Harlan Ellison. No, it's not a "biography," although it does include material about his Ohio childhood, his parents, his days at Ohio State, etc. It's an unapologetic portrait of a brilliant, contentious man who was never been afraid to speak his mind. He definitely speaks his mind here. Be ready.
Included are lots of TV appearances, lectures, book-signings, and best of all, in-depth personal interviews. Harlan also reads several passages from his most famous stories.
What can I say? If you're a fan, this is what you've been waiting for. Even if you're not familiar with him, you'll be highly entertained by this film--and you'll immediately run out and find some of his books.
Recommended if You're Interested in Writers, Sci-Fi, or BiographiesApril 21, 2010 Moses Siregar III(Prescott, AZ) As someone who loves biographies, speculative fiction, AND anything that has to do with writers, this was easily a 5-star flick for me. I reviewed the movie on my blog, please see the link below:
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Ellison Isn't BoringApril 12, 2010 stoic(Mobile AL) Dreams with Sharp Teeth is a documentary about science fiction author Harlan Ellison.
Ellison is a lightning rod - by turns he is brilliant, pompous, vulnerable, aggressive, eloquent, crass, etc. He is a prolific and influential writer and has won many awards. Ellison can also be engaging. Dreams shows Ellison lecturing at universities; he has complete mastery of the audience. On the other hand, Ellison has an abrasive personality that helps account for his five marriages and his involvement in many lawsuits. The end result is a larger-than-life persona.
At times, Ellison lets the mask slip. When Ellison discusses his deceased parents and his upbringing in Ohio, the viewer senses that it is the "real" Harlan, not the alter ego. Harlan says that he was the one kid from his hometown who "made it"; in the next breath, he admits that it has not made him happy.
Ellison describes himself by quoting Hunter S. Thompson. (He knew "...the dead-end loneliness of a man who makes his own rules"). There are a lot of parallels between Ellison and Thompson. Each writer succeeded, in part, by creating a confrontational, larger-than-life persona. But each was later confined by that persona, unable to grow.
There are a few dead spots in Dreams. Ellison's scenes with Robin Williams show two celebrities admiring each other while saying nothing of consequence.
I saw Dreams several days ago and I'm still mulling over the film. Viewers emerge from Dreams with ambivalent feelings about Ellison, but the film is provocative. Don't miss Dreams with Sharp Teeth.
Harlan Ellison documentary - great, great, greatFebruary 3, 2010 Suzanne M. Horn Can't say enough about this wonderful documentary, which provides interviews with the great man himself over a period of about 30 years plus interviews with friends and associates like comedian Robin Williams. It is smart, funny, and very stimulating. It's a great product.
