Pavarotti

It's highly unlikely that in our lifetime we will ever see another Luciano Pavarotti.

A man whose voice was beloved across the world and a man whose image was instantly recognisable for many, a rare achievement for a modern day opera singer, Pavarotti was that rare breed of human being that managed to share an incredible gift with millions upon millions of admirers and if this Ron Howard documentary does one thing unquestionably well, it's that it reminds us all of the privilege it was to get to witness this talent be shared with the masses.

As a documentary, Pavarotti pales in comparison to other recent examinations of famous figures such as Amy, Diego Maradona or Whiteny and continues on a trend for Howard to direct films in a solid fashion without ever trying to push the boundaries or his abilities but it's a workmanlike effort that is hard to not enjoy as we witness the young Luciano ply his trade from simple beginnings in his home country, right through to his defining stints in the 3 Tenors or his highly sought after live shows.

What we see throughout and what we hear about from those that knew Luciano best, is that Pavarotti was a fiercely determined man, one that was hell-bent on ensuring he never once took his gift for granted as he set about improving his workmanship in the field right through to his later years.

There's a power in watching Pavarotti perform and Howard's extensive access to archival footage and previously unseen home video footage helps create perhaps not the quintessential hard look exploration of his life, but an inside look into what a one in a billion talent looks like.

Despite the fact we are often watching decades old clips of performances or interviews there is also a clear and definable charm and showmanship that Pavarotti possessed.

As he walks into a room full of people, talking to students at a masterclass or simply sitting one on one with an interviewer, he was a consistently open and honest figure who at the very core of his being was nothing more than a devilishly charming rogue that faced many of the similar fears and worries we everyday people had, even though he had to be on top of them frequently to be able to deliver on the name and magic that he built his life around.

It's not the warts and all experience some documentarians would've gone for, but as a piece of fan service and carefully put together reminder of the genius that was, Pavarotti does its job without ever attempting to over work itself.

Final Say -

For long term fans and those that might simply need a showcase for the amazing voice that was Pavarotti, Howard's documentary will provide exactly what keen viewers will be seeking and while it never threatens to become a grand documentation, Pavarotti is a finely tuned ode to one of the modern era's great entertainers and popular figures.

3 ½ handkerchiefs out of 5

It's only been 12 years since the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti died of pancreatic cancer, too young at the age of 70. Ron Howard's documentary doesn't only make you miss the singer, it also makes you miss, Of all things, a robust music industry. The Movie itself reflects heavily on his life and his final days as an Opera Singer before his passing, and the direction that Ron Howard uses as his Key Directing Style fits very perfectly with the flow of this Movie. I love Opera Music as much as anything in the Musical Department and I REALLY love Pavarotti, and this Movie has lots of respect shown for the man. This is one of those Independent Movies and it may not play in many Theaters, so I had to find a Theater far away from where I live to see this Movie and I loved everything about it. Easily one of the best Documentary Movies ever made and an extremely accurate take on one of the greatest Opera Singers in History!

He was a famous tenor who helped make opera popular with the general public. I knew about him and his music, but this documentary opened my eyes to so much more. The viewer gets to meet his family, his managers, his celebrity friends. It was lovely to see the late Princess Diana during happier times, and awesome to hear the thoughts of Bono who appeared in concert with Pavarotti. Born during the War and following an early brush with death, Pavarotti grew up embracing life with a zest that rubbed off on many who crossed his paths. You don't have to be an opera lover or a Pavarotti fan to enjoy this film, but you will come away knowing a lot more about this fascinating larger-than-life human being and appreciating his outsized talent. And getting to hear him sing and see him perform on the big screen is a treat that i cannot recommend enough.

Pavarotti (2019) was directed by Ron Howard. It's a solid biography of the extraordinary tenor, with archival footage and interviews with Pavarotti's colleagues, family, and friends.

No one questions Pavarotti's genius. It's certainly on full display in the film. His personal choices may have been less than exemplary, so it's necessary to separate your thoughts about the artist from your thoughts about the man.

The good news is that, as far as I can tell, director Howard is presenting Pavarotti's story in an honest, unbiased way. At least, that appears to have been his goal. How well he succeeded is something that opera experts will have to tell us.

We saw the movie at Rochester's excellent Little Theatre. It will work well enough on the small screen, although certainly you need to see it with a system that has good sound .

The film has a solid IMDb rating of 7.5, which I think is just about right. Opera lovers won't want to miss it. I think it's worth seeing even if you don't love opera.

I am not an opera fan (to put it mildly). I have always had respect for Pavarotti, but knew little about him. This movie takes the viewer on a journey, and the more I've been wathcing, the more I got sucked into the world of Pavarotti. It is long, but felt suprisingly short, and I kind of felt sad when it was over....though also felt that i have learnt a lot. It is an inspiring story, perhaps even more so because it is true...and it's not a pink-clouded nostalgic fairytale either: it shows the flaws and exposes the weeknesses of the man too, yet somehow these just made him all more likeable and more...human. I was in awe by the end of film, and was so glad that I've decided to give it a go (not being an opera fan and all): i think that is time very well spent, with lasting impressions and inspiration.