This is not a documentary film but a pretty much uninteresting recording before live audience and that is a huuuuuge difference.
When you label something documentary, that means that it usualy must have a script of some sort, an idea, visual identity and , at least, some hints of direction. This footage has none of that. It is poorly shot and put together and why would anyone release it, call it documentary and put it in the theaters if not only to milk up some sweet cash from the misled audience.
Also, one of the biggest problems of this recording is that Aretha does not interact in any way with audience or the choir... It even looks like she doesn't want to be there or that she's extremely uncomfortable with something. That only adds up to flat, deadpan and boring pace of this whole mess. Oh yes, there is no "behind the scenes" footage, no explanation or insight into the whole idea or process of making the Amazing Grace album or at least this recording.
Maybe there's a good reason behind Aretha's decision to not let this footage go public. Ever. Maybe it's not enough to have a recording of a big musical talent and a true star that Aretha is to call it good documentary. Sometimes it's obviously not enough to hire talented people behind camera such as Sydney Pollack (he just finished his masterpiece They Shoot Horses, Don't They just before this shooting so he knew thing or two about directing) to make a good film. I have no idea what happened during that shooting so this turned out to be such a chaotic mess where experienced director forgets to use clapperboard and an amazing singer looks she's been forced to do the gig.
When you label something documentary, that means that it usualy must have a script of some sort, an idea, visual identity and , at least, some hints of direction. This footage has none of that. It is poorly shot and put together and why would anyone release it, call it documentary and put it in the theaters if not only to milk up some sweet cash from the misled audience.
Also, one of the biggest problems of this recording is that Aretha does not interact in any way with audience or the choir... It even looks like she doesn't want to be there or that she's extremely uncomfortable with something. That only adds up to flat, deadpan and boring pace of this whole mess. Oh yes, there is no "behind the scenes" footage, no explanation or insight into the whole idea or process of making the Amazing Grace album or at least this recording.
Maybe there's a good reason behind Aretha's decision to not let this footage go public. Ever. Maybe it's not enough to have a recording of a big musical talent and a true star that Aretha is to call it good documentary. Sometimes it's obviously not enough to hire talented people behind camera such as Sydney Pollack (he just finished his masterpiece They Shoot Horses, Don't They just before this shooting so he knew thing or two about directing) to make a good film. I have no idea what happened during that shooting so this turned out to be such a chaotic mess where experienced director forgets to use clapperboard and an amazing singer looks she's been forced to do the gig.