Watch The Gospel According to Philip K. Dick

The Gospel According to Philip K. Dick is a 2001 documentary film that explores the life and ideas of the famous science fiction writer, Philip K. Dick. The film is directed by Mark Steensland and features interviews with several prominent figures, including Paul Williams, Robert Anton Wilson, and Scott Apel. The film is structured around a series of interviews with Dick's friends, family members, and colleagues, who reflect on his life, his work, and his unique perspective on the world. The interviews are intercut with archival footage of Dick himself, as well as clips from films based on his work, such as Blade Runner and Total Recall.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is the way it explores Dick's fascination with the nature of reality. Throughout his life, Dick was preoccupied with the idea that our perception of the world around us might be an illusion, and that there might be deeper, hidden truths lying just beyond our awareness. This idea is explored in several of his most famous works, including Ubik and The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch.

The film also delves into Dick's personal life, exploring his struggles with depression, drug addiction, and spiritual awakening. It is revealed that Dick had a number of profound religious experiences that fundamentally altered his worldview, and that his writing was deeply influenced by his search for spiritual meaning.

The interviews with Paul Williams, Robert Anton Wilson, and Scott Apel are particularly illuminating, as all three men were friends and collaborators with Dick. Williams, a well-known singer and songwriter, reflects on his friendship with Dick and the way his music was inspired by the author's writing. Wilson, a popular countercultural figure and author in his own right, discusses the influence of Dick's ideas on his own work. And Apel, a close friend of Dick's, provides a personal glimpse into the author's inner life.

The Gospel According to Philip K. Dick is not a traditional documentary, in that it does not strive for historical accuracy or comprehensive coverage of its subject matter. Instead, the film is more like a collage, piecing together fragments of Dick's life and work to create a multi-layered portrait of the man and his ideas. As such, it is probably best appreciated by viewers who are already familiar with Dick's oeuvre.

Overall, The Gospel According to Philip K. Dick is a fascinating and thought-provoking film that offers a deep dive into the mind of one of the most influential science fiction writers of the 20th century. Through interviews with his friends and collaborators, the film illuminates the many different facets of his life and work, from his struggles with addiction and depression to his profound spiritual insights. Whether you are a longtime fan of Dick's writing or simply curious about his life and ideas, this film is well worth watching.

The Gospel According to Philip K. Dick is a 2001 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.6 and a MetaScore of 27.