Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie ★★★★
Davis Guggenheim
Starring Michael J. Fox, Tracey Pollan, Sam Fox, Aquinnah Fox, Schuyler Fox, Annabelle Fox
A remarkable documentary from the director that brought us An Inconvenient Truth back in 2006, Still focuses on the career and present day life of Michael J Fox with a clever blend of interviews, flashbacks and time with his family to give us a full portrayal of the man behind Marty Mcfly.
Going into this movie, I was a little trepidatious about how it would make me feel. Fox famously lives with Parkinson’s Disease, and while the documentary naturally focusses on this, it’s done in a matter of fact way rather than sympathetic, something that Fox states he much prefers. Rather than sad, it is inspiring to see how Fox goes about his life and the documentary focuses its attention on the realities of his condition rather than hiding behind pathos of what could have been.
We start the story at the moment where Fox realises one of his fingers won’t stop shaking. From there we dart back and forth from present day to the rise and rise of his early career through ingenious splicing together of archival footage to dramatise his past. The style ensures that the film goes by in a heart-beat, keeping you interested from the first minute to the last.
It’s obvious to see that Fox’s humour still intact although he’s not afraid to tell us how frustrating it is to be in a body that can fail him. There’s a moment where the interviewer asks if he’s in pain to which Fox responds in no in certain terms that he’s in agony. The way he says it though sums up the entire movie. It’s matter of fact, unsympathetic towards himself, and looking towards the future rather than dwelling on the past.
“As long as I’ve got a chip and a chair”, he says, referring to the fact that as long as he has a chip at the poker table, and a chair to sit on, he’s still in the game. That’s a slice of optimism and determination I think we can all get on board with and this movie is a must watch for those feeling a little lethargic about life.
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie available now on Apple TV+