Amazing Grace (2019) Neon/Documentary RT: 87 minutes Rated G (nothing offensive) Director: Alan Elliott and Sydney Pollack Release date: April 12, 2019 (Philadelphia, PA) Cast: Aretha Franklin, James Cleveland, Alexander Hamilton, Cornell Dupree, Kenny Luper, Poncho Morales, Bernard Purdie, Chuck Rainey, The Southern California Community Choir, C.L. Franklin, Clara Ward, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Sydney Pollack.
Rating: *** ½
The story of how the documentary Amazing Grace made it to the big screen is a story in itself. It was shot in 1972 at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, CA where soul singer Aretha Franklin recorded her Grammy-winning gospel album Amazing Grace accompanied by the Reverend James Cleveland. Director Sydney Pollack (Tootsie) shot it over a two-day period with a live congregation. It then sat in a vault at Warner Brothers for 38 years due to “technical problems” syncing the footage with sound. It took an additional 10 years to deal with the technical and legal issues before Amazing Grace saw the inside of theaters at last year’s DOC NYC festival in September, approximately one month after Franklin’s death. It took a little while longer to secure a distributor. Now here it is, in all its glory, and it’s truly a wonder.
I know nothing about gospel music. I was raised in the Presbyterian Church where we sang traditional hymns at Sunday services. Going to church was at the top of my list of least favorite things to do. I found it incredibly boring. My first exposure to the black churchgoing experience was probably a TV show, but I’m going to attribute it to The Blues Brothers in 1980. I’m referring, of course, to the scene with James Brown belting out “That Old Landmark” to a lively congregation. And I mean lively! These folks were out of their pews singing and dancing and leaping and flying through the air. I thought to myself if my church was like that, I’d attend more willingly. There’s no chance of anything remotely like that ever happening in a church filled with old white people from the suburbs who didn’t even look kindly on singing “Amazing Grace” to the tune of “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing”.
ANYWAY, I haven’t been to a church service in years that didn’t involve a wedding, funeral or christening. Call me a heathen if you will, but I have enough difficulty staying awake during some of the movies I’m obligated to see. That doesn’t mean I don’t have faith. I do, my brothers and sisters. I don’t need to sit through a boring sermon to prove it either. Thankfully, Amazing Grace is anything but boring. Listening to “The Queen of Soul” sing is a treat in and of itself. Watching her sing gospel standards like “How I Got Over”, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and, of course, “Amazing Grace” is pure divinity. Seeing how it was all put together by Pollack and his crew, frequently seen on camera, is fascinating.
Ms. Franklin and Rev. Cleveland are backed up by the exceptional Southern California Community Choir conducted energetically by Alexander Hamilton. For two nights, congregants show up dressed in their Sunday best. A handwritten sign on the door informs them they are being filmed for the purposes of this documentary. A few celebrities like Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts show up to join in on the festivities. Gospel legend Clara Ward, one of Franklin’s primary influences, makes an appearance as does her father C.L. Franklin, a Baptist minister who delivers a brief sermon singing his daughter’s praises. In the film’s most touching moment, he lovingly wipes the sweat from Aretha’s face while she sings at the piano.
Amazing Grace is quite a technical achievement as well. The footage may be nearly a half a century old, but it looks as crisp and clean as if it was shot last week. That’s due in no small part to the restoration efforts of Alan Elliott who took the helm following Pollack’s death in 2008. You’ll be happy to know that the sound and footage are in perfect sync. The colors aren’t faded. There aren’t even any scratches or skips on the film. Plus, you can feel the love that went into the making of what is still the best-selling gospel album of all time. It’s palpable.
Another big/small moment is Rev. Cleveland, overcome with emotion, openly weeping on camera as Ms. Franklin sings the titular song. Amazing Grace also brims with energy. Hamilton’s whole body, not just his arms, speaks a language only a choir understands. Cleveland knows how to play to the congregation and camera. People in the audience are taken over by the spirit of the Holy Ghost; one woman has to be restrained. The act of watching the movie is tiring itself.
Then there’s Aretha Franklin. What can I say? She is AWESOME! What a voice. She speaks only a few words in the movie. Mostly, she saves her voice for praising the Lord. I think it shows amazing humility on her part to return to her roots, to the environment in which she was raised and the form that fostered her love of music. After winning five Grammys and having 11 consecutive number one songs, this is how she shows her gratitude to the Lord. Well, I believe that Jesus is still smiling over this beautiful tribute to His glory. And I KNOW that you’ll be smiling after you watch Amazing Grace. It made me feel good. That’s the highest praise one can heap on such an inspirational film. Can I get an amen?
