William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill

PG-13

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1 hr. 36 min.

Documentary

Biography

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86%

22 Reviews

Tomatometer

94%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

From make-believe starship captain to a real-life rocketman, William Shatner has led one of the most unique and best-lived lives on the planet. And while the actor William Shatner may be recognizable around the globe, the man behind the masks is even more interesting than the iconic roles he's played. Join Legion M and the acclaimed documentary team at Exhibit A Pictures (Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist, Memory: The Origins of Alien, 78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene) in producing this fascinating look at one of the most illustrious actors of our time.

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Carol S

A great overview of this amazing man's life. I've had the pleasure of meeting him twice. I told him I'd love to share a cup of coffee and some more conversation with him.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/25/24

Full Review

tom z

One of the best ways I have seen to capture all Of "Bill's" life. Can't wait to add it to my home collection.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/14/24

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Dana V

If you are a fan of "Bill" you will enjoy this movie. He is enlightening, sincere, and his life is so interesting!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/05/24

Full Review

Jared

I liked that the film was more than just a collection of historical data points, but also a thoughtful introspective into the mind and heart of an interesting human being. Definitely worth the time to explore and enjoy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

Full Review

Galen J

Those of us who follow Bill are familiar with his comparison of outer space to death, honestly ad nauseum. I know he is 93 and that death understandably occupies him, both for himself and for the planet. But the movie just feels like it has a pall over it. If this is to be a movie about Bill's environmentalism, then focus on that. If it's a movie about Bill's career, then focus on that. Not only is there no clear running narrative, but the director admitted as much in the post-film q&a when he said that the "chapters" of the film stand alone. In the q&a, Bill repeated some of the things that are in the movie. I love Bill I think he's a treasure. I've never had a problem with him at a convention and have found him nothing but respectful to fans. I've watched so many performances and know I am not even close to what he has made. But he does have a reputation, as entertaining as his stories are, for saying what he wants to say regardless of what the question is, and the film might work better if those stories were more tightly edited around a linear telling of Bill's career. Personally, I would rather see a focus on Bill's career, for there isn't another quite like it. The film does have a remarkable amount of short clips, and the credits just for those roll for a while at the end of the movie. It's also curious that I can't remember even one costar mentioned by name, whether Nimoy, Spader, you name it. More interesting to me would have been chapters on early life, early years of career, Star Trek, 70s, renaissance with TJ Hooker and Rescue 911 in 80s, then Boston Legal and Priceline, then universally recognized legend, including the space trip.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

Full Review

Diana K

Bill is such an inspiration. He has been through so many stages in his life and career and his outlook on things is so honest and straightforward. It was wonderful to see how healthy and strong he is and how he encourages us all to be active and present in our own lives in order to really live! I loved it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

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Alexandre O. Philippe

Director

William Shatner

Self

Alexandre O. Philippe

Writer

Jeff Annison

Producer

Kerry Deignan Roy

Producer

Bryan Talebi

Producer

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William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill: Trailer 1

1:31

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Brian Lowry

CNN.com

For an actor known for having led his crew as it boldly explored humankind’s final frontier, You Can Call Me Bill, somewhat disappointingly, takes its extensive access to Shatner and doesn’t go much of anywhere.

Mar 22, 2024

Full Review

Clint Worthington

RogerEbert.com

The results are magnetic, if a little fluffy, as his musings grow more and more introspective and lyrical.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 22, 2024

Full Review

Kyle Smith

Wall Street Journal

Who doesn’t love Bill Shatner? The theatrical documentary “William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill” reminds us why,

Mar 21, 2024

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Alison Gillmor

Winnipeg Free Press

Even as we sense some of Shatner’s offstage loneliness, we also see his abiding sense of wonder and curiosity.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 22, 2024

Full Review

Anne Brodie

What She Said

The doc is Shatner alone, no one else is interviewed, talking for almost two hours. Who else could do that?

Rated: 3/4

Mar 22, 2024

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

In You Can Call Me Bill William Shatner emerges as a thoughtful, yet maximalist guy, brimming with a big, theatrical personality and even bigger ideas.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 21, 2024

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Synopsis

From make-believe starship captain to a real-life rocketman, William Shatner has led one of the most unique and best-lived lives on the planet. And while the actor William Shatner may be recognizable around the globe, the man behind the masks is even more interesting than the iconic roles he's played. Join Legion M and the acclaimed documentary team at Exhibit A Pictures (Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist, Memory: The Origins of Alien, 78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene) in producing this fascinating look at one of the most illustrious actors of our time.

Director: Alexandre O. Philippe
Executive Producer: David Baxter, Terri Lubaroff, Paul Scanlan
Screenwriter: Alexandre O. Philippe
Distributor: Legion M
Production Co: Exhibit A Pictures, CCG Guardian Entertainment, Legion M
Rating: PG-13 (A Suggestive Reference|Some Language|Brief Drug Use)
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 22, 2024, Limited

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