Faye

Faye Dunaway was one of my favorite actresses she always played each role in such a classy and elegant and very sexy way. This "HBO" doc called just plain "Faye" is a treat and delight for any of her fans, as Dunaway is interviewed and she reflects on her life and Florida upbringing till her journey thru stage into the studios, as she becomes a fine actress. The footage is vintage and it brings back memories for all film buffs and fans of Faye, as during the 70's she was the queen of the big screen. Certainly her highs were "Bonnie and Clyde", "Chinatown", and "Network" and Dunaway talks very frank about the good times of stardom. Yet the bad times were mentioned like her over the top choices when she did "Mommie Dearest", it proves that an acting life is not easy. On the revealing side of life is hearing from Faye's son Liam it was touching and memorable as they go thru old family photos. Along the way though Dunaway's life was no bed of roses as she dealt with mental health issues. Still thru it all this doc proves that pain and the ups and downs was what made Faye so super good and great, a must watch for any old film fan.

Faye Dunaway is a true movie star. I thought that when she exploded onscreen in "Bonnie and Clyde" in 1967, and still think that now 57 years later at age 83. Director Laurent Bouzereau covers both ends of her career spectrum and makes a valid attempt to uncover Dunaway's austere persona and explore the person underneath in this 2024 documentary. The problem though is that he doesn't do enough to counterbalance the personal revelations with her impressive career accomplishments, at least in ways that help us understand how she achieved such legendary work beyond a generalized level of commitment. For instance, it would've been good to hear Dunaway's side of Bette Davis' vitriolic comment about her on The Tonight Show rather than showing it as evidence of her difficult reputation. Instead we get clips that illustrate anecdotes about the filming process behind a classic like "Chinatown" (my favorite of her performances): a stray hair plucked by director Roman Polanski, the classic revelation scene with costar Jack Nicholson. The contrasting remembrances of her castmates on "Mommie Dearest" best illustrate the extreme opinions on Dunaway's uncompromising approach to character. The personal revelations are plentiful though sometimes cursory: her bipolar disorder and alcoholism (which explains several infamous episodes), the secrecy of her son Liam's adoption, various high-profile relationships with the likes of Marcello Mastroianni. Her cosmetic surgeries are unsurprisingly not mentioned, but the changes in her appearance are hard to ignore. Bouzereau illustrates that Dunaway was overdue for a bio documentary. I think an extra half-hour focused on her work beyond the film's ninety-minute running time would've improved it substantially.

As "Fay (2024 release; 91 min.) opens, it is "March 28, 1977" and Fay Dunaway wins the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in "Network". We see the iconic picture taken the morning after as Faye lays poolside with newspapers spread out and laying about (perhaps the most famous Oscar photo ever taken). Various talking heads gush about Faye's most famous performances. We then go back in time as Faye talks about her upbringing in the deep South... At this point we are less tahn 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from director Lauren Bouzereau ("Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind"). Here, with a big assist from Fay's son Liam, he manages to have extended one-on-one sit-downs with Faye as she reflects on her life and times. She openly discusses her "difficult" reputation, but also her bipolar disorder diagnosis. I was most interested in hearing what became of this famous actress once she was no longer so much in the limelight (from the late 1980's on). Please note that this documentary is simply called "Faye" (as seen in the opening credits), and not "Faye: The Many Lives of Faye Dunaway" (as advertised on HBO and Max).

"Faye" premiered at this year's Canned film festival to positive acclaim. A couple of weeks ago it started airing on HBO and streaming on Max, where I caught it just last night. This documentary is currently rated 100% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. While "Faye" is certainly a worthwhile documentary, that rating seems a bit overly generous to me. In any event, if you are a fan of Faye Dunaway or of Hollywood in the 1970s, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

As someone who was born a few years shy of the 80's, my first encounter with Faye was, of course when she played Joan Crawford. My older sister and I would and still all these years later recite lines from that movie. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this documentary given what I had heard of Faye. I am truly enamored with her. What a wonderfully strong and courageous woman, friend and mother. She is legendary & I'm so thrilled that she is telling her story & speaking of her life then & now. Talent doesn't even begin to scratch the surface! Faye deserves all the respect and recognition! Brava!

"Faye" is a 2024 documentary film that delves into the life and career of legendary actress Faye Dunaway.

"Faye" is a compelling and insightful documentary that offers a unique perspective on the life of a Hollywood icon. It's a must-watch for fans of Dunaway and anyone interested in the history of cinema.

If you're a fan of:

Film documentaries Hollywood history Faye Dunaway's films Stories about overcoming adversity You're likely to enjoy "Faye."

"Faye" has garnered generally positive reviews, with critics praising Dunaway's honesty and the film's insightful exploration of her life and career.