"Man in the Mirror" is a feel-good movie set in New York City in the early 1970s. It centers around an inner-city neighborhood and the various people living there, each trying to overcome their own problems. The characters in this film are colorful and are drawn from director Frank Weston's own personal experiences while living in New York.
Michael Dunn plays Apple Joe, a street vendor who sells apples and tries to spread a little morality around the neighborhood. Joe is willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it, whether it's an out-of-towner down on her luck, an ineffectual cop, or a group of neighborhood kids tired of being treated as punks.
Martin Sheen does an excellent job playing nine roles in this film using a variety of looks, accents, walks, and personalities. Some of these roles are of a type that he hasn't played since. Fans of Martin Sheen will enjoy watching his versatility on screen.
The film captures life in the late 60s and early 70s in New York City, with references to civil unrest in the South. It is artistic and full of symbolism. Then when we meet the actual Man in the Mirror, his conversation with Joe mirrors the unrest present in America at that time. New footage added to this film might be said to suggest that although we have come far since 1970, perhaps we haven't come as far as we tell ourselves.
Most of this movie was filmed in 1970. For whatever reason, it was not released back then. In 2006 and 2007, new footage was shot and the process of restoring the original began. Unfortunately, some of the original footage had deteriorated or was missing. As a result, there are scenes in this film where the editing is uneven. This should be considered the fault of aging, not the filmmakers.
Despite the unfortunate problems caused by age, this is an enjoyable film to watch. Michael Dunn (best known as Dr Loveless in "The Wild Wild West") is a fine actor, and makes the most of a role that actors of his size rarely get a chance to play. Martin Sheen's various roles are enjoyable, and I found myself eagerly waiting to see what his next character would be like. All in all, this is a fine film which entertains you while delivering its message.
