Joey Magidson
Michael Parks should have been a name people mentioned in the same breath as Dennis Hopper, or any other intense yet absurdly talented actor of that generation. The fact that he himself made his lack of stardom a joke is amusing, sure, but also frustrating. Parks himself joked about it once while being interviewed by Kevin Smith, stating the following: “You know the five stages of an actor? The first stage is Who’s Michael Parks? Second stage is Get me Michael Parks. Third stage is Get me a Michael Parks type. Fourth stage is Get me a young Michael Parks. And the fifth stage is Who’s… who’s Michael…” The documentary Long Lonesome Highway: The Story of Michael Parks takes that as a jumping off point, allowing us to finally get to know someone who had his true glory held from him throughout his career. It’s lovely work that should appeal to cinephiles of all stripes, given how much of a Hollywood story this is, while also being so routed in the world of independent film.
Long Lonesome Highway: The Story of Michael Parks is a passion project from filmmaker Josh Roush, one that isn’t just a public service, but also a bit of personal mourning. The love and affection for Parks from Roush permeates every frame, and not just from him, either. Every talking head her is ready to go on about the man. It helps make the documentary stand out from a lot of biographical ones where the subject is barely known by those talking about him. That’s decidedly not the case here.
The doc looks at the life and career of actor Michael Parks with a mix of love and honesty. Once upon a time, he was dubbed “the greatest living actor” by no less than Quentin Tarantino, his career repeatedly swung between highs and lows. At times, he’d be on the verge of becoming a star, while at others, he’d barely be employable. The film showcases how his initial run in movies turned into television work, which turned into a music career, performing with Johnny Cash, of all people. However, his prickly personality, forged with repeated tragedies in his life, always made it that the other shoe was about to drop.
Parks’ late stage comeback came because of Tarantino, as well as the likes of Mark Frost, Robert Rodriguez, and Kevin Smith. In a way, Smith’s desire to showcase him with bigger roles than ever before in Red State and Tusk helped to introduce the man to a whole new audience. That’s also where the doc gets some of its extra emotional resonance, as it’s on the set of Tusk where Roush himself befriended Parks. What started as being a personal assistant grew to a touching relationship, one that now allows Roush to put this film out into the world and honor Parks’ legacy.
Filmmaker Josh Roush made his debut with Wrong Reasons (reviewed here) and seamlessly moves to documentary here. Michael Parks, in his own words, is very much the star, though the talking heads do a very fine job rhapsodizing about the man. They include Ralph Garman, Justin Long, Haley Joel Osment, James Parks, Robert Rodriguez, Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Kevin Smith, and more. Roush himself is also there, and while that could have come off oddly, in this particular situation it really works. There’s also not a rush to get to his third act, where most of the audience will be most familiar with Parks. Roush allows the work to breath, making sure you get everything surrounding every moment of Parks’ life, keeping you thoroughly invested.
Long Lonesome Highway: The Story of Michael Parks entertained and moved me in equal measure. Whereas these types of docs can feel like a book report, this one feels like a living memory of a would-be icon. If you can see this one while Roush is touring it, do not mess it. You’ll be glad that you did, not just to leave with a better understanding of Parks, but to have had a fulfilling cinematic experience as well.
SCORE: ★★★
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