Amazing Grace Quick View Aretha Brings out the Saint in all of Us Grade: B+
Source: IMDB
Amazing Grace is a documentary film that covers Aretha Franklin’s Gospel Album Amazing Grace, which onto becoming the best selling Gospel Album of all time. The album was recorded in front of a live audience, in a small church service, as we witness actual footage from 1972 restored for today for the first time ever. Typically in this genre we watch a footage from a concert, then we have some behind the scenes look from the artist. In this film: It’s just a straight up concert film. My only real complaint about this film is that there are no interviews with Aretha Franklin, as I would like to learn more about what inspired her to create this album. Everything else about this film, I found it to be a wonderful concert film. This film has footage from the 1970’s, which you can clearly tell it’s from the 70’s... But how it’s shot is just outstanding, I really have no idea how they got this long lost footage to look this clean. Even when Aretha and another singer sweats, it’s shown in great detail as I’m truly stunned on how great this film looked visually, kind of reminds me what they did with last years They Shall Not Grow Old. The concert portion of this film is amazing, Aretha Franklin can make any believer of God ball their eyes out, truly terrific voice and such beautiful selection of songs. I think the most charming thing about this film is that it’s a quick reminder of why anyone should be proud to believe in God. You look at Aretha and the choir singing, the songs being sung, the audience in the room either taking it all in emotionally or dancing in joy... Everyone looks so happy and they’re all so passionate about what they believe in, it really touches me in a way. Whether you believe in God or not, you can not deny it warms your heart seeing people purely happy in believing in something good, rather than sorrowing in misery. There is really not much to discuss due to the fact this documentary only has two traits to discuss, but yes this one really impressed me big time. Neon Rated films got a couple documentary gems in their pocket for 2019, with this and Apollo 11. Overall, Amazing Grace is a pretty good concert doc film. I highly recommend checking this one out, you won’t feel disappointed I guarantee it. R.I.P. Aretha Franklin, thank you so much for blessing us for unforgettable tunes and also blessing the world with a beautiful voice. -Mitch Smietana