Amazing Grace, the Sidney Pollack film of the live recording of the biggest selling gospel album ever by Aretha Franklin at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles in 1972. Said to have been held back from release due to "technical difficulties" until 2011, but then as far as I can tell suppressed by Ms. Franklin herself until her death in 2018, after which her family immediately arranged for its release.
This is an incredible document of Aretha performing at her vocal peak, which was some peak, backed by extraordinary singers and musicians. And that is all the critics seem to focus on. But to me this film is loaded with mystery. It is hard to tell whether the film is as it is because of choices Pollack made in filming the 20 or so raw hours of film or in Alan Elliott's editing of it down to 87 minutes. It presents a very remote and affeckless seeming Aretha Franklin, seemingly detached from--never really lookin at--the music director, other musicians and singers except for Rev. Cleveland, and the audience, while she sings profoundly moving material in profound ways with extraordinary precision and skill.
I do not know why there has been little or no discussion of this by the critics, who seem to tout this movie simply as a presentation of incredible music and a record of a truly important recording session. I loved the music, too, but I think I can guess at some of the reasons Aretha brought two separate court actions to bar its release while she was alive, and I am skeptical of those alleged technical difficulties. I cannot recommend this movie as an uncomplex, feel-good music presentation. I would be interested in what others think.
This is an incredible document of Aretha performing at her vocal peak, which was some peak, backed by extraordinary singers and musicians. And that is all the critics seem to focus on. But to me this film is loaded with mystery. It is hard to tell whether the film is as it is because of choices Pollack made in filming the 20 or so raw hours of film or in Alan Elliott's editing of it down to 87 minutes. It presents a very remote and affeckless seeming Aretha Franklin, seemingly detached from--never really lookin at--the music director, other musicians and singers except for Rev. Cleveland, and the audience, while she sings profoundly moving material in profound ways with extraordinary precision and skill.
I do not know why there has been little or no discussion of this by the critics, who seem to tout this movie simply as a presentation of incredible music and a record of a truly important recording session. I loved the music, too, but I think I can guess at some of the reasons Aretha brought two separate court actions to bar its release while she was alive, and I am skeptical of those alleged technical difficulties. I cannot recommend this movie as an uncomplex, feel-good music presentation. I would be interested in what others think.
