It's a little over a week before the Oscar nominations are announced. I hope that I've seen at least one of the shortlisted candidates for the Documentary Feature Oscar. That lucky film is Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, which premiered on Apple TV + early last year, and which I've gotten to this year because I cancelled that service.
Yeah, I needed to cut back on spending and there was little that I wanted to watch on it. So, let's get going.
Davis Guggenheim actually starts this documentary in media res, when superstar Michael J Fox noticed symptoms of Parkinson's Disease in 1990. From there, we learn about his upbringing in Canada, where he was constantly the shortest kid in his class. He eventually moved to Hollywood, where his fortunes dwindled until he was cast in the sitcom, Family Ties, despite some network reservations. "I can't see that face on a lunchbox," one executive said. He soon became the breakout star, and how he became so is quite entertaining to watch.
As told countless times before, the filmmakers of Back to the Future wanted Fox as Marty McFly, but Family Ties creator Gary Goldberg said no, so they had to make do with Eric Stoltz. Once the filmmakers realized that Stoltz wasn't right for the role, and Goldberg was amiable, Fox finally joined the film. Throughout the film, editor Michael Harte accentuates Fox's life with just the right film clips. This film's recreation of Fox's hectic life filming both projects, complete with ironic commentary from Family Ties, is his masterstroke. You can feel the madness as Fox recounts being shuttled between both sets, getting little sleep, and even getting his characters mixed up. Of course, the film became a smash, and hearing him recount the troubled production makes the success all the more heartwarming.
Throughout the film, we see him in physical therapy, spend time with his family and even record an audio book. I'm only vaguely familiar with Family Ties, so it was quite captivating to see how his on-screen girlfriend, Tracy Pollan, became his off-screen wife. Harte again frames there progressing romance through their characters, Alex P. Keaton and Ellen Reed, and while she didn't last beyond the fourth season, it's quite nice to see them together now. She helped him cope with his Parkinson's diagnosis, which shows with his good spirits even now (he trips at one point walking on the sidewalk and gets up with a good quip). Even him living his life is inspirational for anyone living with a debilitating condition.
What else is there? His early anecdote how the two-year-old him ran out to the candy store is funny. His recounting the death of his father in 1991 is sobering to watch. Harte gets another standout scene as he puts together Fox's daunting workload post Back to the Future. Fox recounting the onset of his Parkinson's Disease is perfectly eerie, which makes his career slump - compare Gene Siskel's glowing review of Back to the Future to his tepid review for the dud, For Love or Money - harsher in hindsight. That's quite a bit to like.
I think I'll renew Apple TV + if there's a bunch of stuff I want to watch. I mean, I can buy Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon on streaming if I wanted to. Anyone sticking around with the service will find Still: A Michael J Fox Movie a strong portrait of a pop culture legend. It will make for a nice hour and half learning experience whether you're familiar with Back to the Future or unfamiliar with Family Ties. Don't miss it. I'm glad I ultimately didn't.
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