Still

Still was warmly and enthusiastically received at the SXSW Film Festival. An overflow crowd gave the film and its subject a standing ovation. Unlike your usual Hollywood Biopic, Still is an inspiring story of young, and perhaps somewhat superficial, movie star journey from celebrity to hero.

The creative presentation shows the present-day disabled Fox struggling with the consequences of Parkinson's Disease and uses that as a jumping off point for his telling the story of how we went from struggling actor to mega Hollywood star. Then it journeys through his diagnosis with Parkinson's which he initially hid from the public as well as his struggle with alcoholism. Eventually, it shows the evolution of his role as he emerges as inspiration to millions who struggle with Parkinson's and many other disorders. His extraordinary fundraising efforts are a celebration of the human spirit. His dignity and decency in the face of an incurable disease are truly inspiring.

The creative format of Guggenheim's film is fascinating, because he uses a mix of clips from Fox's TV and movies along with a series of recreations framed by modern day interviews to tell Fox's story. It is told with great humor and grace.

For anyone of a certain age, Michael J. Fox was a cultural icon. Back to the Future is one of the iconic cultural markers of the 1980s. And Still really is in and of itself, appropriately enough, a journey back in time. In a time where we seem to lack heroes, Michael J. Fox is one and this film provides a great tribute to him.

Highly recommended. Michael J Fox is authentic and vulnerable in reflecting upon his successes as an actor, as well as his challenges with Parkinson's. He is fortunate to be surrounded by a loving, buoyant family who does not feel sorry for him. Like him, they retain their playful sense of humor, and it's clear that the Fox family has a good time being together. This film is edited effectively, and the director wisely made a choice in how the younger Michael would be portrayed in a handful of scenes. The stand-in they have for him is filmed from the back, which lends credibility. Luckily, for all involved, there is so much actual footage of Michael, mostly from his TV roles, that the editor had a lot of material to work from. The Director is the off-camera interviewer, who asks pertinent questions, while wisely avoiding the trap of sentimentality. It's curious that the film does not spend too much time addressing Fox's outstanding foundation for Parkinson's, but perhaps that will be revealed in a future film. If you're like me, and have known people who have Parkinson's, there are moments of this film which will touch you, while offering new insights.

From his hit series "Family Ties" through the iconic Back to the Future and beyond, the 80's diminutive Michael J. Fox has been an impish cultural giant. With the onset of Parkinson's disease, diagnosed in 1991 and revealed in 1998, he has been known as a fearless fighter, along with other famous sufferers such as Mohammed Ali and Kathryn Hepburn.

An informative new documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, streaming on Apple TV+, is a blend of original footage showing his meteoric rise to fame and subtle re-enactment. In all, it shows his charm and his determination to expose the disease to needed research by campaigning for funding.

Director David Guggenheim and editor Michael Harte have seamlessly spliced publicity B-roll, videos, stock footage and a few narrators to create a convincing bio about Michael's rise and fall and permanent rise again to national recognition. This doc is as much a powerful testimony to the threat of Parkinson's as it is a testament to the will power of a former super star to fight it.

Because Fox is eminently watchable even under the sway of the disease, this doc is entertaining and informative. He asks for no pity but gains enormous respect for facing reality and fighting for happiness.

Heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measures. It's so sad to see the actor of my all time favourite film Back to The Future battling Parkinson's.

It is so good to see him fight it head on though. There's no outward pity from him. He must have had plenty of 'why me?' moments, it's impossible not to, but he's fighting this with dignity and a big dose of humour.

This film/documentary was brilliantly put together. There's clips from film and television roles that Michael has played over the years that are put together to narrate the story. It is very cleverly done. Other parts of the story are acted out by actors but it's very realistic. You feel like you are watching a young Michael go on his journey through life and grow up in front of us.

To steal a pun from the film. It's all very moving!!

This is not a velvety self celebratory biography, but an honest insight in to the actual man, pain bruises and all, behind the face we thought we knew so well. Giving the sense that life happens to everyone, also celebrities, you understand how absolutely critical family, especially his wife has been in reflecting back on him, so that he could make the choices to become the man he is today. Parkinson's is a brutal disease, as I've also experienced first hand with an acquaintance, but Michael J Fox story, well told through clips from throughout his career, gives hope that you can break through living in accordance with your own perceived expectations of how the world needs to see you, and actually just be your true self, no matter what life brings, and no matter how differently you may be perceived compared to your old ideals. The less polished, authentic Michael J Fox, is an inspiration, and this documentary lets you meet him closer than ever.