It seems to us that Biographical Documentaries on iconic singers are a little like Buses in London There is not one in sight for simply ages, then suddenly there is a whole stream of them appearing at the same time. We have just reviewed films on Luther Vandross, Elton John, Celine Dion, Martha Stewart ….. earlier this year we saw excellent ones on John Galliano and Diane Von Furstenberg…. and now waiting in our intrays are Pharrell Williams, Robbie Williams, Bob Dylan and Thierry Mugler. Today’s film on Liza Minnelli by Emmy nominated Bruce David Klien is a wonderful contribution to this genre as he maintains a fine balance in his profile of the legendary performer without resorting to making this anything remotely like a Hollywood puff-piece.
Klein grabs your attention for the start as he and his crew are setting up an interview with the star herself. She may look her age (78) and seems still to be shaky suffering from her past addictions, but she is as sharp as hell directing everyone with precise details from the make-up artist to the unseen director behind the camera on how to get the best angle/shot. As she often reminds people she is after all the daughter of the Oscar winning director Vincent Minelli.
With her rollercoaster past played out in detail in the media its all most impossible not to come to the movie without some preconceived ideas about her life story. Full credit to Klien then for avoiding a tabloid press approach and where possible rely on the contributions of a coterie of interviews from the likes of Mia Farrow who has known Liza since school days. In fact its through them we actually learn that away from the spotlight one of Liza’s qualiites is her fierce loyalty to people on and off the stage. For example we know she and the designer Halston worked together on several occasions but had no sense of how deep …. and really genuine….. their relationship is.
Even now its still difficult for Liza not to be referred as Judy Garland‘s daughter although its over 50 years since her mother died from an overdose. Liza was just 23 years old at the time…… and she says she cried solid for 8 days at the time. The two things that she inherited from one of the most famous actors of the 20th Century was her talent, and also an addiction to both drugs and drinks, but Lisa was careful to avoid crediting her mother for either.
The clips of Liza performing throughout the ages are sheer joy to watch, so too was seeing her relations bloom and grow with Fred Ebb (of Kander and Ebb) and Bob Fosse. Every one kept commenting on how loyal she was as both a friend and as a work colleague. But its being reminded once again how electrifying she was on both stage and screen that made us big fans of her way back then.
Kudos too for not creating a tabloid moment of the fact that two of Liza’s husbands were gay but for crediting them for the contribution they made to her life…. particularly Peter Allen.
Strangely enough Liza’s life is the stuff that they made films out for her mother to star in …… once of course they had completely sanitized it and made it squeaky clean. After all as the title says it is…. A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story.
ROGER WALKER-DACK Creator, Editor-in-Chief Miami Beach, FL / Provincetown, MA IG @QUEERGURU Member of G.A.L.E.C.A. (Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association) and NLGJA The Association of LGBT Journalists. and The Online Film Critics Society. Ex Contributing Editor The Gay Uk & Contributor Edge Media Former CEO and Menswear Designer of Roger Dack Ltd in the UK
