“I Am Paul Walker” Review

To most of the world, Paul Walker was a handsome and talented actor, best known for his role as Brian O’Conner in “The Fast & Furious” mega-franchise. You might also know him from other films such as “Hours” (2013), “Running Scared” (2006), “Into the Blue” (2005), “She’s All That” (1999), “Varsity Blues” (1999), “Pleasantville” (1998), and a handful of other films. Fans of the late actor might also remember Walker as a humanitarian and a lover of fast cars and the ocean. To his friends and family, though, there was so much more to him. The Paul Walker they knew and loved wasn’t just an actor. He was a son, a brother, a father, a friend, a giver, an adrenaline junkie, a genuinely good human being who knew when he needed a break from the fame.

Sadly, Paul was killed in a tragic single-vehicle accident on November 30, 2013 alongside professional driver, and friend, Roger Rodas. Walker was only 40 years old. Before leaving a charity event, Walker wanted to take a ride with Rodas in a Porsche Carrera GT. According to The Guardian, Rodas somehow lost control of the car and “crashed at a speed of more than 100mph” before bursting into flames. Cody Walker, Paul’s brother, states in “I Am Paul Walker” that, according to investigation, Paul was knocked out by the impact of the crash, therefore couldn’t get out of the vehicle when it caught fire. Others tried to get to him, but the flames were just too much.

On August 11, 2018, almost five years after Paul’s death, Paramount Network aired a feature length documentary that dives into Walker’s life titled “I Am Paul Walker.” Family, friends and colleagues alike share memories and details of their missed loved one. Personal home videos, photos and audio give the documentary an intimate glimpse into the actor’s life, but it’s the interviews from those who loved him that provides an emotional, and deeply personal, touch for the fans. They detail Paul’s progression into the limelight, his generosity to all those who knew him, his love for his family, his struggle to find balance between his public career and his private life. At the end, the interviews get extremely emotional as his family recalls the day he died. Their raw emotions will bring tears to your eyes.

Synopsis

“I Am Paul Walker is a feature-length documentary film exploring the life and legacy of actor Paul Walker, the Southern California native who cut his teeth as a child actor before breaking out in the blockbuster Fast and Furious movie franchise. Featuring interviews with those who knew Paul best both professionally and personally and using an extensive archive of rarely seen candid video and still photographs provided by family and friends of the late actor, I Am Paul Walker explores Paul’s private side alongside a wildly successful film career.  His devotion to his family, his fascination for surfing and auto racing, his passion for marine biology and sharks, his dedication to humanitarian work through his NGO, Reach Out Worldwide, and his love for his daughter define the character of the man behind one of the most wildly successful film franchises of all time.” – iampaulwalker.com

Thoughts

Two things enticed me to watch this documentary: 1. I’ve always been a fan of Paul Walker, and 2. I watched “I Am Heath Ledger” last year and loved it. “I Am Paul Walker” was no different for me. This documentary is a great way for fans to get a more intimate glimpse into the life of someone they admired. Fans may have known a lot about Paul before watching this documentary – like the fact that he was generous, humble, charitable, and loved his family and the ocean. However, it also revealed facts that fans may not have known. At least, I know I didn’t know some of them. Like the fact that he was up for the role of Superman but didn’t like the idea of running around in spandex for four years, so he turned down the offer. Or the fact that he liked to escape to the ocean to disappear from the limelight… and everyone. I especially didn’t know that he struggled so hard with wanting to have his career – because it helped him support his family and he felt he had an obligation to so many people – and wanting to just spend time with his daughter.

I love these documentaries because they show that these actors (or any famous person) are normal human beings just with very public careers. It’ll make you smile and laugh, but also make you cry. The documentary isn’t just about Paul Walker the actor. It’s about Paul Walker, the son, the brother, the friend, the father. Paul Walker the adrenaline junkie, the lover of marine biology, nature, and fast cars. Paul Walker the humanitarian who dropped everything to help Haiti out of his own pocket and has his own non-governmental organization, Reach Out World Wide. The documentary is about Paul’s authenticity, kindness, the lives he touched, and the inspiration he spread.

Head on over to iampaulwalker.com to watch the trailer and help his legacy live on through ROWW.