Review of ‘William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill’: the ‘Star Trek’ star talks about life and death in a documentary that is too limited

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William Shatner and his most famous role have always been ripe for parody, and the “Star Trek” star, now 93, has endearingly reached the point where he can laugh at himself a little. However, a new documentary, “William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill,” tests Shatner’s level of fandom, allowing him to indulge in a roughly 90-minute monologue about life, death and legacies.

What might more accurately have been called “The World According to Bill” dispenses with third-party voices or, for that matter, Shatner making serious reminiscences about other people he’s met.

Instead, writer-director Alexandre O. Philippe engages the actor in a highly philosophical conversation about life and the prospect of death, while presenting footage from his one-man shows and career, from darker, earlier roles in film and television until his almost 60-year association with Captain James T. Kirk.

Along the way, Shatner speaks eloquently about the miracle of the universe, the “mystical” bond forged between rider and horse, his story of “caring for my inner child,” and his determination to “live in the now.”

While that approach is certainly intimate, including Shatner talking about his emotional reaction to traveling to space aboard the Jeff Bezos. Blue Origin Flight in 2021: The film lacks context about the actor or anything that could hint at controversies in his life. As “for example”, it is not mentioned the criticism you have received of her “Trek” co-stars, and not much about her Interactions with the “Trekkie” culture. or the cathartic moment in a “Saturday Night Live” sketch in which he shouted at convention attendees, “Get a life.”

Charitably, “You Can Call Me Bill” serves as an opportunity for anyone who has admired Shatner’s film work from afar, including post-“Star Trek” roles like “Boston Legal,” to get to know him a little better, while also which gives the actor an opportunity to share some of his professional inspirations (Laurence Olivier and Marlon Brando among them) and the personal knowledge he has accumulated throughout his long life.

Still, for an actor known for leading his team as it boldly explored humanity’s final frontier, “You Can Call Me Bill,” somewhat disappointing, takes its broad access to Shatner and goes nowhere.

“William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill” opens in select theaters on March 22.