
A new documentary on legendary singer Liza Minnelli has a solid start, with an introduction that makes us feel like we’re about to experience something important and, well, terrific. And the set-up also presents a very interesting question: What do you do when your world famous mother (one of the most recognizable people on the planet) dies when you’re in your early 20s?
That’s what Minnelli faced when her mom Judy Garland passed away. Minnelli chose to surround herself with a group of mentors, friends and colleagues who could give her vital advice and cheer her on as she pursued her own showbiz career, trying to distinguish herself from her mother’s monumental success.
“LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story” isn’t exactly chronological, bouncing around in fractured ways as we learn about various chapters in Minnelli’s life — the highs and lows of her professional career (but mostly the highs) and a few personal struggles. And while Minnelli, now 78, details some of it on-camera and even sings a tune or two, it’s longtime friend and collaborator Michael Feinstein who gets the most screen time in this “LIZA” doc. His constant information, told to us in a very academic manner, doesn’t make for the most compelling movie. Occasionally Mia Farrow, Joel Grey, George Hamilton and the late Chita Rivera pop-in for a brief remark.
The juiciest moment in the film is footage of a young Minnelli on stage with her mother. Garland can tell that the audience loves her daughter (maybe more than her) so she rips the microphone out of her hands and tries to take control of the remainder of the performance. Unfortunately that’s one of the only times that “LIZA” feels gritty and raw. The rest of it (minus about five minutes on Minnelli’s addiction issues) plays like a tribute piece. We get to see Minnelli’s current inner circle, but director Bruce David Klein doesn’t really show what her impact has been beyond those people.
So many recent celebrity / biography documentaries (including a bunch on singers, groups and entertainers) are clear in presenting what the subjects have meant to the world. “LIZA” lacks that, making it one of the lesser successful entries in this ever-growing genre of the past half-dozen years.
LCJ GRADE: C
Running Time: 104 min.