Through most of his stellar musical career, David Crosby was not a nice person, and he’s largely OK with that. Such is the running theme of this documentary on the singer-songwriter, most famous as a member of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (and sometimes Young).
The 95-minute film, directed by A.J. Eaton and produced by Cameron Crowe (the chief interviewer), doesn’t even pretend to cover Crosby’s entire life, instead highlighting pivotal moments (forming CSN, dating Joni Mitchell, doing jail time for drugs) while almost entirely ignoring some major milestones (his at least three biological children, his decadeslong success as a duo with Graham Nash).
The interviews with Crosby are frank and revealing and no doubt guided the filmmakers’ wise choices, and the coverage of a recent solo tour is steeped in late-life desperation. When Crosby says early on that he’s the only member of CSNY who never penned a hit song, it’s both surprising and revealing — he’s still bitter, still nursing self-doubt.
Equally honest on camera are Stephen Stills and Nash, the latter perhaps the last person — save for Crosby’s devoted wife, Jan (also interviewed) — to give up on him. Crosby makes no excuses for treating people terribly and ruining his and others’ lives with his incessant drug use, but he does acknowledge the damage in his wake.
David Crosby: Remember My Name (the title comes from an early solo album) isn’t a CNN-style primer on its subject as much as a case study in talent given early means to excess and abuse. As such, it’s a remarkable achievement.
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