282. Web-series Reviews – 115

 Some interesting documentaries…

Still – A Michael J Fox Movie – Came out in 2023.  Follows the life of beloved actor and advocate Michael J. Fox, exploring his personal and professional triumphs and travails, and what happens when an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

Still was warmly and enthusiastically received at the SXSW Film Festival. An overflow crowd gave the film and its subject a standing ovation. Unlike your usual Hollywood Biopic, Still is an inspiring story of young, and perhaps somewhat superficial, movie star journey from celebrity to hero.

The creative presentation shows the present-day disabled Fox struggling with the consequences of Parkinson's Disease and uses that as a jumping off point for his telling the story of how we went from struggling actor to mega Hollywood star. Then it journeys through his diagnosis with Parkinson's which he initially hid from the public as well as his struggle with alcoholism. Eventually, it shows the evolution of his role as he emerges as inspiration to millions who struggle with Parkinson's and many other disorders. His extraordinary fundraising efforts are a celebration of the human spirit. His dignity and decency in the face of an incurable disease are truly inspiring.

The creative format of Guggenheim's film is fascinating, because he uses a mix of clips from Fox's TV and movies along with a series of recreations framed by modern day interviews to tell Fox's story. It is told with great humor and grace.

For anyone of a certain age, Michael J. Fox was a cultural icon. Back to the Future is one of the iconic cultural markers of the 1980s. And Still really is in and of itself, appropriately enough, a journey back in time. In a time where we seem to lack heroes, Michael J. Fox is one and this film provides a great tribute to him.

Another review...

You probably know Michael J Fox is Canadian, made Back to the Future and has Parkinson's disease.

What you might not know is how resilient, brave, funny and charming he is.

What you probably don't know is he falls over a lot and walks like Billy Connolly doing the Glaswegian drunk man impersonation.

In this documentary that is brilliantly directed by Davis Guggenheim there are two stars.

Michael J Fox who narrates the movie, to camera, with his mangled voice often quite difficult to comprehend and Michael Harte, the editor.

It's a piece of magical illusion because somehow the directing/editing team have managed to piece together snippets of Fox's work to sit alongside Fox himself in 'telling the story'. It has echoes of my all time favourite documentary, 102 minutes that Changed America, in that it's essentially 'found footage that's used to tell the story. It's remarkable.

But at its core is the sad (not sad) sight of Michael J Fox, that lovable little scamp, at 61 looking like a wreck, but still, somehow defying the hideous encroachment of Parkinsons with dignity and humour.

It's very moving and it's very great.

My Take – Don’t miss it!!

 

Sidney – Came out in 2022. Sidney Poitier was one of the most gifted and talented actors in the history of cinema. He set a new standard for Black actors in Hollywood as a leading man, becoming the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Lilies of the Field (1963). He acted in the Golden Age of Hollywood, became a key figure in the civil rights movement, served as a diplomat, and directed and produced highly successful films. Through it all he became husband to two wives, the mothers of his six daughters. Sidney the documentary takes viewers through the life and career of Sidney Poitier in his own words, through narration captured in an in-depth interview conducted by producer Oprah Winfrey, and in the words of his family, friends and those whose lives he influenced most.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

Like many "white people," I fell in love with Sidney. How could you not? He was extremely good-looking, a dazzling smile, a dynamic presence on the screen, and just explosive and surprising with every turn. Watching a film with him in his glory days was a thing of beauty.

Oprah and her partners have brought together many people from Sidney's life, including his first wife, and all his children, and every seminal figure in his life, to talk about him. And perhaps most importantly, this was created when Sidney was still alive.

It's very powerful and covers basically his whole life.

The first part is a bit slow as Sidney himself goes into a lot of detail about his young life. But I understood why they kept it, because he was so shaped by the things his mother and father did for him and it kind of started him on his journey.

Seeing this amazing man and all the lives he touched and the very powerful (and scary) eras he lived through is very moving. Revisiting some of his greatest roles brought tears to my eyes.

And the guests! They had Lulu from "To Sir With Love" -- I mean, we're talking history! They had Katharine Houghton from "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" -- where there was a prominent interracial kiss featured. "In the Heat of the Night" where an obnoxious righteous white man slaps Sidney, and Sidney slaps him right back (I'm white, and it was such a rich, delicious, powerful moment).

I think the reason I didn't give this a 10 is because of Oprah herself. I've noticed that when Oprah talks, everything is in superlatives and people and events "changed" her life "forever." All that may be true and I am sure she is being sincere about it, but if you hear it too often, it stops coming across as sincere, and even though she actually broke down and cried on camera at the end, I really hate to say this, because I'm sure it wasn't the case, but it came across as borderline fake. Then there is another moment when Sidney gives Oprah award, and at that moment, it's clear her tears are very real.

Sidney was obviously an extremely important figure to the Black community, for a long list of reasons, and that is made crystal clear in this documentary. But at the same time, Sidney was important to the white community, and, for this white person, I'd say it's because it was thrilling to see this beautiful Black man on screen in commanding roles and doing an amazing role as an actor. I love actors and creative people and I really don't give a f-f what their race or sexuality is. As Barbra Streisand says (she's featured in about 3 clips), when you looked at Sidney, he looked like what a movie star is supposed to look like. I agree.

A movie star is someone you cannot take your eyes off when they're on the screen; such was the case with Sidney Poitier.

Again, the documentary covers a lot of territory and they did to a pretty good job of condensing his life to two hours. It is definitely worth the time, especially for people who remember his seminal roles.

Another review...

Sidney is an inspiring documentary that will ensure generations to come to love and appreciate the impact of Oscar award-winning actor, Mr. Sidney Poitier. The techniques used to tell his story, the events shared and the contributions to the film will keep viewers engaged. Described by producer Oprah Winfrey as one of the most extraordinary people she's ever met, Mr. Poitier would be proud of this documentary about his life.

Sidney reflects on the life and legacy of iconic actor, filmmaker, and activist, Sidney Poitier. Born and raised in the Bahamas, the film shows life for him once he arrived in the USA as a colored man and how he rose to become an icon and the first Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, despite racism and other obstacles. The documentary creatively tells Poitier's story in his own words from interviews from Ms. Winfrey's personal collection. Anecdotes from his family and heavy hitters such as Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Halle Berry, and Oprah Winfrey herself included.

This film is truly a celebration of Mr. Poitier's legacy, the contributions he made, and a life well-lived. I love how the interview clips from the younger Poitier seamlessly blend together with the elder Poitier picking up the story. My favorite part of the documentary is the clip from Guess Who's Coming to Dinner when he says, "You think of yourself as a colored man. And I think of myself as a man," because it perfectly summarizes how he felt about himself and how he demanded other people to look at him. For me, this is what enabled him to break so many barriers and pave the way for other actors, including myself. The film does not hold back and includes some of Mr. Poitier's not-so-proud moments, which really help show the different sides of his complex life.

This film is about perseverance and being confident in who you are despite how the world sees you. I love that Mr. Poitier understood that he was not identified by his color and made sure everyone else knew it too, on and off-screen, even demanding scripts be rewritten to make his character stronger.

I rate Sidney 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. You can watch Sidney on Apple TV+ starting September 23, 2022. By Tiana S., KIDS FIRST!

My Take – Don't miss it!!

 

9/11: Inside the President’s War Room – Came out in 2021.  9/11 from the President's perspective, with exclusive access to information from the one's that had to take decisions during the World Trade Center's attack.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

"9/11: Inside the President's War Room" is actually a pretty simple documentary. It follows then-President George W. Bush from his morning jog in Florida to addressing the nation from the Oval Office later that night after the terrorist attack that felled the World Trade Center, damaged the Pentagon, and nearly targeted the White House were it not for the United Flight 93 passengers. This doc--under the direction of Adam Wishart--is utterly riveting in its simultaneous simplicity and complexity (as well as A-political nature).

Basically, "War Room" tells the story of what President Bush did during the course of that entire day, from reading to a elementary school classroom in Florida to jet-setting across the country in Air Force One (trying to keep his cabinet safe and gather information) to finally "coming home" to D. C. and addressing the nation. There is a palpable sense of tension throughout this entire doc, in a very small way mirroring the events of the day in question. While easy to look back in hindsight and criticize actions, it is instructive to remember the unprecedented nature of the day's events and how major decisions were being made in real-time.

I saw many photographs and video clips in "War Room" that I had never previously viewed--things like President Bush on Air Force One, Vice President Dick Cheney & Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a secure bunker. Again, this all helped me gain perspective on just how fractured and difficult the decision-making process was on that day.

"War Room" is also the type of documentary that doesn't even sniff a political stance or personal "take" on the issues at hand. While such a "just the facts, ma'am" approach limits the scope of the piece quite a bit, there is also something refreshing about hearing the stories directly from the sources (Bush, Cheney, Rice, cabinet/advisors, etc.). Agree/disagree, like/dislike, but to me this doc painted--via the first-hand accounts and corresponding images--about as accurate of a picture as can be had of the President's timeline and actions that fateful day.

9/11 is one of those events that will never be forgotten by those who lived through it. As such, there has been so much written/said/shown about every angle of that topic that it can be difficult to find something new or refreshing to cover. Fortunately, "War Room" worms its way into that niche by focusing on the President, his principal advisors, and a blow-by-blow description of the day's events. I was completely engaged from beginning to end and could have watched another hour and a half with ease. The narration of Jeff Daniels is also an enormous plus--his voice and composure is made for this sort of thing.

My Take – Worth a watch!

Cheers till next time😊!!