Amazing Grace Review

G

NEON

1 Hr and 27 Minutes

Produced and Realized: Alan Elliott

In January 1972, Aretha Franklin gave two days of gospel performances at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles, recording what would become her best selling album, Amazing Grace. The sessions were captured by a film crew led by Sydney Pollack, but the footage wound up shelved in a vault and has remained one of the lost cinematic treasures of twentieth-century music. Before Pollack’s death in 2008, he expressed a wish for the film to be completed, and producer Alan Elliott took it up with a team of supporters as a passion project. Amazing Grace lets the events unfold on film without imposing present-day interviews. It fits in the tradition of other concert documentaries of the era, such as Monterey Pop and Woodstock, yet it stands out for its focus on African-American music (preceding Wattstax, filmed later that year).

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, accomplished so much in her career. It’s still unbelievable that she passed so soon. Truly, I was unaware about the roots of one of her beloved projects Amazing Grace, which was supposed to be a concert film of the live session of the album, helmed by acclaimed director Sydney Pollack and released by Warner Bros, but it couldn’t be completed because of technical issues. For many years people wondered what it was like being in that church seeing this cover album come to life and now they have it in theatrical format. After 47 years in the making, we have Amazing Grace.

As of recent, NEON has been on a roll with documentaries made to seat you in a time capsule that transports you to a moment in history. Apollo 11 was released not too long ago and was made to take you to the moon. Now, Amazing Grace is here to take you to church.

While this is a never-before-seen movie finally getting its release, you are transported to New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles, to simply witness the wonder that is Aretha Franklin.

Following a stylistic format similar to Apollo 11 where the entire session is presented through each angle of the church, you’re immersed into the atmosphere and infectious energy exhuming out of the room. With the footage capturing the audience, the choir, instrumentalists and the conductor, the entire room is just bombastic and filled with such power that it delivers chills. Hell, you even see familiar faces in the audience of other famous musicians who love Franklin's voice. I wonder if Alan Elliott went to the same restoration scanning place as Todd Douglas Miller because the film restoration is as clear as Apollo 11’s. A lot of the compliments I had regarding that film can be applied here; the restoration quality is crisp and clear, the audio quality is perfect and the compilation of sequences is well thought-out since the editing makes for an interactive experience. After a while I stopped writing in my notes and just listened to her voice because she has that power. Then, I fell asleep for a lil bit, not because I was tired or bored, but because Gospel music is my kryptonite and Aretha’s voice is so damn soothing.

If you are a fan of Aretha and her music, this film is for you. There is a specific audience for this movie and it will do wonders for them. That being said, don’t go in thinking you’re getting an Aretha Franklin documentary. This is somewhat a documentary, but it’s primarily a concert film. Nothing more, nothing less. Just know what you’re getting into before you get into it. With that knowledge, you’ll have a hell of a good time for an hour and 27 minutes.

If you’ve never been to a Black Church, Amazing Grace throws you into a Black Church. As Aretha belts her heart out singing these covers of songs with her friend Reverend James Cleveland, you witness every trait of the environment. It might’ve taken place in ‘71, but this is the same energy gospel churches have today. They’re so into their performance (and also compliments to the restoration) that you see sweat dripping down everyone’s faces. But my favorite aspect of this entire film is seeing all of these people in the audience (including Mick Jagger), no matter Black or White, catching the Holy Ghost because of Aretha’s powerful voice. You know when people start dancing without control?

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Everyone catches the Holy Ghost, including Aretha herself at some point. It’s enjoyable to watch, if not infectious.

Watching the energy this room had brought back memories of the first concert I attended, which was Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett’s Cheek to Cheek PBS taping in 2014. Watching the two live at Lincoln Square Center from the front row belt out their amazing voices was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I couldn’t believe I got a chance to experience, and I bet that was the same feeling the members of this church’s audience felt. We weren’t allowed to take out our cellphones as we were just in our seats watching these two icons perform and it was an incredible time for me. I bet it was a similar feeling for the people at the Amazing Grace session.

Not a cellphone in sight, just people living in the moment, Amazing Grace is an infectious concert film that celebrates the Queen of Soul and one of the groundbreaking albums of her career.

Rating: 3.5/5 | 73%