SXSW Review – Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

The movie opens in 1990 at a hotel in Florida.  Woken up by what Michael J. Fox idea was a moth fluttering versus his cheek, it was rather a shivering pinkie finger animating itself, and he might not get it to stop.  Thinking of why this may be takingplace, hungover after a wild night with Woody Harrelson, no description appeared to be the cause of this brand-new, unwanted, shaking finger. 

Flashing forward to the present day, Michael J. Fox sits in the body that the shaking finger foretold.  He makes it instantly clear that he will have no pity, and if there is any, he will not let it get to him.  The movie’s opening ends with Fox leaving his apartment structure with his physical therapist, walking with his Parkinson’s, and totally conscious that the sight of him doing this can come throughout as unnerving.  Even as he falls after somebody acknowledges him, he keeps that comical beauty, specifying, “You knocked me off my feet.”

Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023) is much more than a documentary.  It is based on his books and, of course, his life.  It is informed through narrative by Fox himself and interviews inbetween Fox and director Davis Guggenheim.  It likewise looks at Fox’s present: his household life, his everyday hasahardtime with Parkinson’s, and how he utilizes his illness to drive researchstudy for it. 

The most innovative part of Still is how Fox’s story is illustrated on screen.  There are some reenactments utilizing stars, however as far as Fox’s representation, we neverever see the star’s face.  We see videofootage from Fox’s tv and movie profession utilized in location of reenactments whenever possible. It is extraordinary how lotsof pieces of videofootage fit together effortlessly and offer off the verysame feelings as what was takingplace in his life.  The method whatever works together so well is unquestionably due to editor Michael Harte, and Guggenheim hasactually been applauding his effort at post-screening Q&As like the one at SXSW.

Growing up in the 80s, Michael J. Fox was a huge star and a sweetheart beginning with Family Ties and then leaping to Back to the Future (1985) and Teen Wolf (1985).  I was in primary school then, however I strongly keepinmind seeing that program and those motionpictures.  What interested me about that part of the story was how versus casting Fox in Family Ties was by developer Gary David Goldberg and then, apparently desiring to keep Fox for himself, avoiding him from being cast in Back to the Future, just to offer in when Eric Stoltz was not working for director Steven Spielberg.  The entire lead-up to Fox being cast in Family Ties defines the terms “starving artist” and “struggling star.”

The latter half of his profession was topped off by the tv series Spin City, which permitted him to invest more time with his household, however undoubtedly led to him revealing his Parkinson’s to the public.  His illness had advanced enough that his techniques and medication were not working as well anylonger. 

Michael J. Fox is an American icon and a nationwide treasure, and Still only reemphasizes that status.  This male has the comical chops and ironical wit to still act with the greats and make bank if it was not for the development of his illness.  Fox has discovered lotsof lessons over his lifetime that have come with his popularity, however his otherhalf, Tracy Pollan, and his household haveactually called him back to truth and what is essential in life.  Still is an amusing and special documentary that exposes the early life of the star Michael J. Fox, how he endedupbeing well-known, and, in a sort of method, reestablishes him to those who grew up with him.  Plainly, it is one of the finest documentaries of the year.

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