Jerry Lee Lewis: I Am What I Am

It would be easy to make a documentary about the life and career of Jerry Lee Lewis that painted him as either a much put-upon victim or the epitome of the sinful rock music star. Jerry Lee Lewis: I Am What I Am notably does both, but even though it skirts some issues (for instance, scant mention is made of Lewis' involvement in the mysterious deaths of two of his six wives), the film hits all the highpoints of the JLL story. Fairly extensive clips of the young Killer performing his signature songs on ‘50s television clearly show why the proto-rocker took the pop music world by storm (early on, fellow performer Carl Perkins suggested that Lewis might get more audience reaction with a livelier delivery, and casually inquired as to whether Jerry Lee could play the piano standing up; of course he could, and many broken piano benches later Lewis was as much noted for his wild stage antics as his music). Hair falling in his leering face, attired in a leopard-skin-trimmed sport coat, Lewis mesmerized audiences back in the day with a stage presence equaled by very few keyboard players with the notable exception of Little Richard. Lively throughout, with interview clips featuring Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, and Lewis' soul-savin' cousin Jimmy Lee Swaggart, as well as live performances of hits such as "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Great Balls of Fire," this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (M. Tribby)