Watch Amazing Grace

"Amazing Grace" is a soul-stirring music documentary that captures the legendary recording of Aretha Franklin's live album of the same name, which went on to become the highest-selling gospel music album of all time. Directed by Sydney Pollack and later completed by producer Alan Elliott, the film was shot in 1972 over two nights at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles but was not released until 2018 due to various technical and legal challenges.

The documentary offers a rare, unvarnished glimpse into the raw power of Franklin's musical genius during an intimate moment in her career. It takes audiences back in time to witness the Queen of Soul returning to her gospel roots and immersing herself utterly in the spiritual and musical essence of the genre that first shaped her as an artist.

The setting of the film is humble, far from the glitzy arenas and concert halls where Franklin was accustomed to performing. The New Temple Missionary Baptist Church is filled with members of the local congregation, special guests, and music enthusiasts eager to experience Aretha's musical homecoming. The atmosphere within the church walls is electric, charged with anticipation, and buzzing with the collective excitement of those present.

Aretha Franklin is the centerpiece of this documentary, and her performance is nothing short of transcendent. She takes the audience on a journey through faith and surrender with her profoundly soulful voice that seems to draw from an immeasurable depth of emotion and spiritual resonance. Her renditions of gospel classics and her own spiritually infused compositions leave the audience visibly moved, often to the point of standing ovations and enthusiastic gospel shouts.

James Cleveland, a gospel music legend in his own right, serves as both collaborator and master of ceremonies. His warm, larger-than-life presence is a perfect complement to Franklin's extraordinary talent. He supports her not only musically but spiritually, injecting humor and poise into the proceedings while ensuring everything runs smoothly and with the dignity the event commands.

Alexander Hamilton leads the choir with an infectious passion that spreads throughout the performance. His directing elicits a powerful and harmonious sound from the assembled voices, reinforcing the emotional heft of Franklin's singing with rich, layered gospel harmonies. The choir, consisting of the seasoned members of the Southern California Community Choir, adds an additional layer of heart and soul to the film, underscoring the collaborative spirit of gospel music.

Behind the scenes, and significant to the documentary's behind-the-camera narrative, are the crew and Sydney Pollack himself. As the original director, Pollack faced numerous challenges, including the synchronization of sound to picture due to the absence of clapperboards during filming, leading to a delay in the movie's release. Decades later, technological advancements and painstaking restoration by producer Alan Elliott and his team allowed the lost footage to be revived, sound and picture finally aligned, bringing the movie to the public for the first time.

What makes "Amazing Grace" a compelling watch is its raw simplicity and authenticity. There are no staged theatrics or scripted moments; the film is a candid capture of Aretha Franklin's artistry in a setting that is stripped back to the essentials of music, voice, and spirit. As the camera moves through the crowded church, it captures the faces of those in attendance, including Gospel legends, celebrities like Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones, and local churchgoers, all sharing in this unifying, soulful experience.

Moreover, "Amazing Grace" presents more than a concert film; it is a historical artifact that showcases the cultural and social aspects of the African American church experience in the 1970s. The church setting, the interaction between the musicians, choir, and attendees, and the clothes, hairstyles, and expressions capture the time's zeitgeist, providing viewers with a window into a pivotal period in American music and history.

In essence, "Amazing Grace" is an intimate, powerful, and meditative experience that transcends mere entertainment to become an act of worship and celebration. The film is a testament to the enduring power of gospel music and the timeless voice of Aretha Franklin, a figure whose impact on the music world is eternally enshrined not just in her recordings but in the collective memory of all who witness her perform. For fans of Franklin, gospel music aficionados, and anyone moved by the profound depth of human voice and spirit, "Amazing Grace" is an essential cinematic experience that uplifts and inspires long after the final notes fade away.

Amazing Grace is a 2018 music movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received outstanding reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 94.