"Amazing Grace" (2018 release; 87 min.) is a documentary about the making of Aretha Franklin's gospel album "Amazing Grace". As the movie opens, we are reminded it is "January, 1972", and that we are at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Rev. James Cleveland, the MC for these proceedings, introduces the Southern California Community Choir, and then Aretha Franklin herself. Aretha was on the cusp of turning 30, and at the peak of her creative powers. She opens at the piano, with "Mary Don't You Weep", keeping her eyes closed during much of the song. You listen in wonder and amazement.
Couple of comments: this is the long-delayed release of what Warner Brothers had intended as a TV special, with Sydney Pollack directing. Because of major technical gaffes during the filming of these 2 evenings of music, the film makers were unable to sync the audio to the film properly, and eventually the film was abandoned (the album became the best selling gospel album of all time). Decades later, Pollack, and later Alan Elliot, tried again to sync audio and image, and Elliot finally succeeded. after Aretha's passing last year, her family agreed to release the completed movie. And what a delight it is. The footage from thee 2 evenings is nothing short of amazing. Aretha dazzles, and hence this film dazzles. Her 10 min. interpretation of the title track alone is worth the film. Another highlight later on is "Climbing Higher Mountains" and "Wholly Holy", where the audience just goes bananas in the best possible way. This movie feels like a celebration of life, of music, and yes of the African-American community of that era. If you are a fan of music history, you are in for a treat!
"Amazing Grace" opened recently at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati. The Saturday early evening screening where I saw this at was attended nicely (I'm guessing about 30 people). You can just tell that the theater audience was really enjoying this. If you are a fan of Aretha or of music history, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater (if you still can), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is the long-delayed release of what Warner Brothers had intended as a TV special, with Sydney Pollack directing. Because of major technical gaffes during the filming of these 2 evenings of music, the film makers were unable to sync the audio to the film properly, and eventually the film was abandoned (the album became the best selling gospel album of all time). Decades later, Pollack, and later Alan Elliot, tried again to sync audio and image, and Elliot finally succeeded. after Aretha's passing last year, her family agreed to release the completed movie. And what a delight it is. The footage from thee 2 evenings is nothing short of amazing. Aretha dazzles, and hence this film dazzles. Her 10 min. interpretation of the title track alone is worth the film. Another highlight later on is "Climbing Higher Mountains" and "Wholly Holy", where the audience just goes bananas in the best possible way. This movie feels like a celebration of life, of music, and yes of the African-American community of that era. If you are a fan of music history, you are in for a treat!
"Amazing Grace" opened recently at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati. The Saturday early evening screening where I saw this at was attended nicely (I'm guessing about 30 people). You can just tell that the theater audience was really enjoying this. If you are a fan of Aretha or of music history, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater (if you still can), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.