Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
A short kid from a Canadian army base becomes the international pop culture darling of the 1980s—only to find the course of his life altered by a stunning diagnosis. What happens when an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease?
- Released: 2023-01-20
- Runtime: 95 minutes
- Genre: Documentaries
- Stars: Michael J. Fox, Tracy Pollan
- Director: Davis Guggenheim
Comments
- CinemaSerf - 4 February 2024
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
Now this is how you do a documentary about illness! Clearly this is a man with considerable skill in front of a camera, but his general demeanour and willingness to reflect on the drawbacks and positives of his Parkinson's Disease is revelatory and engaging. Using his highly successful Hollywood career as a bedrock, he shares the roller-coaster ride that has been his life. From his burger-fuelled bedsit, through "Family Ties" then his struggle to get film roles, his astonishing success and then to his discovery and disclosure of his illness. It's all presented candidly, amusingly and by a fellow who has steadfastly refused to be beaten. Frequently looking a bit bruised and battered after a fall, and unafraid to illustrate the effects on his mobility and speech, he uses his celebrity status to fundraise for better research into this debilitating brain disease - but he does it without whining. He appreciates he's had a great life - he's a wealthy man with a wife of 30-odd years and four children whom he clearly adores. So many of the documentaries we see nowadays are presented by people who take a camera phone and just use it as an excuse for an highly personal rant. This man has taken the time to construct - from his own book - a narrative that structures how his own (pretty constant) physiotherapy, his dependence on medication and the love of his family give him continuing strength to combat his own demons, sure, but also to put things into a perspective and that I found sad, but actually quite heart-warming. My one complaint is the interviews he does with director Davis Guggenheim. Couldn't he have given himself a microphone? He does rather mumble. Anyone else think MJF now looks a bit like Mark Hamill? - dfnrgpbq - 18 September 2023
Nothing Short of 10 Stars
I am perplexed by all of the glowing reviews for the movie made by viewers who rated this film 7-8 stars. This films is the epitome of genius and bravery. MJF's story is painful and heartwarming at the same time. The sprinkling in of old footage is so clever and entertaining. I sat there thinking how creative the director and editor are! I have a dear sister with a Parkinson's-like disease (PSP) and this film really connected with me and our family experience. People, this film should be rated nothing short of 10 stars based on the sheer bravery of MJF sitting in front of a camera telling his story in such a honest, raw way. If I could, I would rate it 11 out of 10 stars. Thank you to MJF and his very talented team of film makers for this very special film. - SnoopyStyle - 13 July 2023
still so charismatic
This is a documentary biography of Michael J. Fox. Director Davis Guggenheim has done plenty of directing and producing. His most noted work is probably 'An Inconvenient Truth'. For this one, he seems to be channeling Errol Morris.
This movie can be divided into three aspects. There is the standard childhood and starving actor stage of his life. It's interesting to see his short stature since his early years and struggling to live on his last dime. Then there is his TV and movie footage pulled together to tell his story. It's great nostalgia for me. It also works really well to show the progression of his career and the disease. The footage makes it seem like a movie we're familiar with, but the story is somehow new.
Finally, there is his present day interviews. He is still so charismatic although the disease has taken its toll. He shows his everyday struggles. Quite frankly, his is the same struggle that my elderly mother went through a few years earlier. I think a lot of the audience can see their family in his situation. It fills out my understanding of his disease and makes something human instead of simply academics. I grew up watching this guy. His humor is still here. More than ever, his dignity and humanity is on display.
