300. Amazing Grace; movie review
Cert U
86 mins
BBFC advice: Contains no material likely to harm or offend
From the Magnum moustaches to the huge collars and flowery trouser suits, Amazing Grace is steeped in the 1970s.
But the voice of Aretha Franklin transcends time as much as the God to whom her songs are devoted.
This recording of Franklin's biggest selling album was made in 1972 at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles.
Originally, Sydney Pollack had been hired to make a documentary but it was not released because of his schoolboy blunder in not using a clapperboard which meant he was unable to sync the words and music with the images.
The visual print was in Warner Brothers vault until 2007 when producer Alan Elliott, a huge Franklin fan, purchased the footage and successfully synched it.
However, the story was far from over because Franklin, for reasons unknown, sued Elliott for appropriating her likeness without permission.
Finally, legal shenanigans ended in 2018 when she died and her family agreed it should be a eulogy to her greatness.
And music buffs will appreciate the opportunity to see a most unusual recording.
Franklin had a string of hits to her name when she returned to her roots to make what remains the biggest selling gospel album of all time.
Backed by the Southern Californian Community Choir, she belted out classic songs which she had known since she was a child at her minister father's own church (he makes a heartfelt but rambling speech near the end).
I was struck by the emotion of the audience and participants during Amazing Grace.
Tears literally rolled down cheeks and they screamed in the exultation of Franklin, her delivery and the lyrics.
It was a momentous moment and it is right that it was preserved and is now being distributed even if, as a film, it is a tad disjointed.
Reasons to avoid: Jolts about quite a lot
Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7.5/10
Did you know? Aretha Franklin performed at the inaugurations of three American presidents - Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
The final word. Alan Elliott: "Sydney Pollack couldn’t sync the movie and there was a 36-year hole that they could never dig out of until digital technology would allow it. Nobody at the film company wanted the movie out and so everybody worked diligently to make sure it never came out. Fortunately, I had more nerve than they did." Hotcorn
0 Response to "300. Amazing Grace; movie review"
Posting Komentar