Chameleon Street (1989)

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1. 

   Rohit

   Hilarious! 12 years 6 months ago
2. 

   nymets138

   Currently streaming on the Criterion Channel 1 year 8 months ago
3. 

   Siskoid

   Unrecognized talent Wendell B. Harris Jr.'s Chameleon Street tells an amazing story, made more amazing by being true, or as true as the man who lived it - master impostor William Douglas Street - could make it, seeing as he's a pathological liar. Harris spent three years interviewing the man and used ONLY his words to craft this off-beat biopic, the nature of which flips it into a braggart dark comedy. Street obviously had a way with words, and the narration comes off as beat poetry at times, matching Harris' lyrical editing. If the movie is rough around the edges in terms of production and acting (from the day players anyway), it is justified by the theme. It's a story told by an impostor, and so the film of his life may well look like it was made by a novice film maker stumbling into the work the same way the real Street apparently managed at least 36 successful surgical procedures when merely posing as a doctor. Yes, it's Harris' only directorial effort, but it's that of a maverick, breaking rules and giving a cool performance in the lead as well. I wish he hadn't felt let down by the Hollywood machine and made many more. 1 year 9 months ago

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