peter-mercier

I loved this 4-part documentary. It was very moving and so great to hear the songs, see the performances and hear from the band, their family, and related musicians & talent.

I grew up in Toronto during this time but never saw the band in Canada as I moved away in the mid 1990s. I feel super fortunate to have seen them twice overseas in intimate venues during their peak and sang & sweated it out with everyone else. This was therefore a very emotional documentary capturing that experience. The band wrote some wonderful songs and the documentary did a great job highlighting Gord Downie's unique contribution as a performer, signer and wonderful lyricist.

Thank you to Amazon/MGM, to the band, and their families for making this film possible. Yours - a home sick Canadian.

I enjoyed this 2 part doc on Apple TV+. I had generally forgotten about Steve Martin in recent decades after having watched most of his 1980s movie output as a teenager.

Part 1 went into his childhood and early career in standup ending as his massive fame as a standup peaked in 1980.

Part 2 focussed on his pivot to movies and then catches up with his life since then focussing on his interests in fine art, his marriage and fatherhood, and recent work with Martin Short. Much of the latter episode is Steve and Martin working on current material in their joint show.

Some very touching moments as he tries to reconcile with his distant and cold father - the difficult relationship that seems to have defined his persona. Also as he reads a passage from Planes, Trains and Automobiles and remembers the late John Candy. Many great contributions throughout from people who worked with Steve over the years - commenting on his talent, his detachment, his personal struggles. Overall a thoughtful piece of work and a nostalgic one as I recalled having recited so many of his jokes from late 70s/ early 80s.