Movie Review - 20 Feet from Stardom

20 Feet from Stardom (2013)

Starring Darlene Love, Lisa Fischer, Merry Clayton, and Judith Hill 

Directed by Morgan Neville

***This film is currently streaming on Netflix***

The 2013 Academy Award-winner for Best Documentary, 20 Feet from Stardom references the distance from the background singers to the lead singer on the concert stage.  Always in the background, back-up singers have always found it difficult to make the leap to center stage for a variety of reasons which this documentary by Morgan Neville details.  While certainly easy to watch and enjoyable throughout -- it's one of those movies that makes you smile while you're watching it because of how pleasing and genial its subjects are -- the film lacks some emotional oomph and gravitas.  Despite the plights of some of these ladies, I never really felt bad for them.  Then again, in retrospect, I'm not really sure I'm supposed to feel bad for them.  And that limbo is what made 20 Feet from Stardom not quite connect with me.

The film focuses on four women -- Darlene Love and Merry Clayton (from the 1950s/60s), Lisa Fischer (from the 80s/90s), and Judith Hill (from the aughts) -- and all four have personalities that you immediately find charming and welcoming.  The film paints all of them in a glowing light, having nothing but respect for the oft-unrecognized job that they tackled.  Love and Clayton in particular were often left by the wayside despite playing key roles in many of the era's greatest songs.  Fischer tries for a solo career (and wins a Grammy), but never captures a solo moment for herself.  Hill is just now trying to stretch out from the background to the forefront.  All four of their stories are compelling, but the subject matter is almost treated too trite and sugary for its own good.

However, despite the qualms, I really did enjoy 20 Feet from Stardom.  Great music, amusing personalities...just not quite the impact I was expecting.

The RyMickey Rating:  B