Why Jonah Hill made a documentary about Phil Stutz

As the film progresses, the so-called “message” or “purpose” of the film is repeatedly questioned by Jonah Hill himself. At one point, Hill actually talks about the film’s misrepresentation of his “vulnerability” — he pulls back the curtain to reveal that he’s struggling immensely with what he wants this film to be, and that they shot hours of footage spent many different months in a vain attempt to invent some sort of story.

However, the ultimate goal, as stated in the film’s opening minutes, was to create a comprehensive documentary about Phil Stutz and to present his teachings to the world – which the film does brilliantly. “Stutz” details Stutz’s life up to the present, from growing up in Manhattan to his early psychiatric work on Rikers Island to his development of “The Tools” and his tragic diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. In addition to this portrait of his life, the film also delves into all of The Tools Stutz has developed over the years to help his patients manage their mental health issues – including specific exercises such as The Shadow, Life Force”, “, “The Snapshot”, “The Grateful River” and “The Reversal of Desire”.

Although Jonah Hill may have had early concerns about Stutz’s true purpose, in the end he achieved both goals that led him to create this film – presenting Phil Stutz’s best tools to a wider audience and creating a detailed Biopic that encompasses Stutz’s life and the unique patient-doctor relationship that Hill and Stutz share.