“Miracle” is not a word I throw around lightly. Nor should the New Yorker, who called the “very existence” of this film a “miracle.” Miracle? Really? It’s a miracle that a mediocre video recording of an Aretha Franklin live album exists. Oh? Miracle as in the Red Sea parting, or the US hockey team winning gold in Lake Placid, or Trump (or any Republican for that matter) owning responsibility for anything? Now that would be a miracle. This was a recording session. Warner Bros. taped it and sat on it. I say it’s no more a miracle that Warner Bros. taped the recording session of a musical superstar than it is a miracle somebody unearthed it in the wake of Aretha’s death to make a buck.
In January 1972, American pop/soul recording star Aretha Franklin was beckoned to New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles to record a Gospel album. Wasn’t her first, wasn’t her last, might have been her best. Directors Alan Elliott and Sydney Pollack showed up to demonstrate a skill set no one would mistake with that of a professional (geez, Sydney, you would go on to direct Oscar films, how many years does it take to find the focus toggle?) while Aretha sang her heart out. What was caught on audio turned out to be a double platinum album. What was caught on video amounted to little more than a home movie.
Four takeaways from this documentary: 1) Aretha’s voice (without question the only good reason this is a film) 2) The choir reaction. The silver and black clad backup singers sit (?) for most of the performance. What was this curious age of music in which the choir was asked to perform on their asses? At random intervals when Aretha’s voice moved, however, choir members would do a strange whack-a-mole routine. 3) The appearance of Mick Jagger on day 2; apparently, word got around. 4) Finally, a surprisingly striking moment from our MC, Reverend James Cleveland, who pointed out how times have changed significantly for the better in the past twenty years (making this moment possible). Twenty years previous? That would be … 1952. Why, isn’t that the time when America was “Great” according to MAGA? Shocking isn’t it? You’re not gonna believe this, but there were millions of Americans who didn’t feel that way at all.
Look, I don’t want to crap on an album that went double platinum, but, umm, folks, are you sure? Aretha is Aretha, so yeah, when she’s singing, she’s wonderful. But isn’t Gospel about arrangements? Folks like me who don’t hear much Gospel probably cannot tell the ordinary from the exceptional; I tell ya this, however, the James Brown rendition of “Old Landmark” in Blues Brothers was better than the one on Amazing Grace. And, this is my review, so I get to say it: Aretha’s rendition of Amazing Grace itself was beautiful, moving, and … pretty darn indulgent. It reminded me primarily of “Bleeding Gums” Murphy’s 26-minute national anthem in season two of “The Simpsons.” Yes, many will love it. Many will not.
Let me bottom line this: you know how you go to a concert and you’re so excited to share your Prince Beyonce Billy Joel Madonna One Direction experience with the world, that you film 15 seconds of live action and share it on FB? Well, I’m excited that you’re excited, but I honestly could give a rip. The odds that I hit your “play video” icon on purpose are roughly about 20:1 against. And this is what Amazing Grace feels like for 87 minutes. Soooooo, if you love Aretha Franklin, if you actual shed tears with the queen of soul lost her body, if you bought a copy of Amazing Grace and still listen to it, by all means, go see this film and cry your eyes out. If, OTOH, your fascination with Aretha, Gospel, or Baptist church fanfare is minimal, don’t go out of your way. There ain’t much here and if you expect to be wowed, you’ll leave disappointed.
♪Oooh, your footage
Weak as horror
Guess what, baby?
Don’t need more or
All I need to see receipts
Is get a screen with Miss Thing (Thing Thing Thing Thing)
She’ll sing (sing sing sing sing)
Dig her for me (gold dig, just a little bit)
When we show this (just a little bit)
G-O-L-D-D-I-G
Cash in on legacy
G-O-L-D-D-I-G
Pass some of that green to me♫
Rated G, 87 Minutes
Director: Alan Elliott, Sydney Pollack
Writer: History
Genre: Churchin’
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: For Aretha fans, this is a must see
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Anybody lukewarm on the subject
♪ Parody Inspired by “Respect”
