New York Doll review

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Punk pioneers the New York Dolls splintered in 1977 in a haze of drugs, booze and enmity. But proof that no fence need go unmended comes in this affectionate documentary, which charts bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane's reunion with his former band-mates Sylvain Sylvain and David Johansen at 2004's Morrissey-curated Meltdown festival.

Having traded his platform heels for a quieter life as a Mormon librarian, Kane is understandably nervous about reliving past glories. But the chance to bury the hatchet proves too tempting, giving Greg Whiteley's film a personal dimension you don't have to be a fan to appreciate. Bob Geldof, Iggy Pop and others supply valuable context, while Kane's acid-casualty demeanour gives rise to much Spinal Tap-style comedy. A shame, then, that Whiteley botches the climax, as poor sound and visuals render the comeback a noisy bore.

NO VERDICT

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