Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story

Splashy documentary on actress/singer/dancer/legend Liza Minnelli isn't really about her movie career or her albums and concerts--it's about Life as Liza: her famous parents (Vincente Minnelli and Judy Garland), her many mentors (Kay Thompson, Charles Aznavour and Fred Ebb among them), her many friends, her marriages and love affairs, her addictions, and her resilience. Beginning with a recent Minnelli interview (in which she's surprisingly bossy), writer-director Bruce David Klein eschews Liza's stage and screen credits (except for "Cabaret") in favor of her personal life--something which Minnelli isn't particularly keen on discussing. What Liza does like to talk about is her friendships--she's a loyal lady and gets loyalty in return--and Klein has assembled some good interviews, previously unseen on-stage and backstage footage, and snippets of razzle-dazzle to make this a fast, entertaining 100mns. Half-sister Lorna Luft is interviewed, but their current relationship isn't brought up; Klein would rather give us the histories of Kay Thompson and fashion designer Halston, also a predictable jaunt back in time to Studio 54. I guess if you want to go through Liza's career step-by-step, the many TV-made biographies will have to suffice. Here, we get Vulnerable Liza, Tough Liza, Hard-working and Exhausted Liza. She breaks into song at the end ("But the World Goes 'Round"), accompanied by pianist and great friend Michael Feinstein, but Klein drowns Current Liza out with a clip of '80s Liza belting the song on-stage. We want to know how the lady is doing, but this scrapbook of memories is stuck in the past. *** from ****

Director Bruce David Klein deserves credit for not turning this 2024 documentary into complete hagiography as Liza Minnelli's celebrity-filled personal life and dazzling career would've been easy fodder for the goddess treatment I was fearing from the cheeky title. In fact, even in her current frail state, there is an unencumbered spirit that infuses the often enthralling albeit rather incomplete account of her storied life. Of course her accomplished parents are covered here and not surprisingly her loving but fraught relationship with her iconic mother Judy Garland. It was the aftermath of Garland's 1969 death that led Minnelli to seek the guidance of five key mentors - performer/vocal coach Kay Thompson, singer/songwriter Charles Aznavour, lyricist Fred Ebb, director/choreographer Bob Fosse, and designer Halston. Klein wisely focuses on Minnelli's defining career achievements through their individual contributions. Fosse, in particular, gets deserved attention for guiding her 1972 twin juggernauts, the film version of "Cabaret" and the TV special "Liza with a Z". However, those looking for a more complete career retrospective might be disappointed because the film ignores true career milestones like her first Oscar nomination for "The Sterile Cuckoo", "Arthur", and "Arrested Development", as well as high-profile bombs like "Lucky Lady" and "New York, New York" (except the signature song). Close confidants like Mia Farrow and Michael Feinstein act as talking heads for Minnelli who provides brief comments throughout. Nonetheless, the film is a fitting tribute to a true legend who unequivocally escaped the shadow cast by her legendary mother.

How this woman does not have a Kennedy center Honor I do not know. She's one every award there is to win EGOT and dozens more. This movie deserves one itself it's fun funny and goes by so fast Don't blink. You'll laugh you'll cry and you'll clap. It's wonderful to see and hear Liza narrate on top of everything else. Pure Bliss. Do not miss this! I wait with bated breath to see it again on PBS what a wonderful love letter to one of the greatest talents of our time. Everyone clapped at the end of this in the theater and that does not happen for movies very often. I cannot remember any that I've seen in the theater where people clapped like this. That tells you everything you need to know. I would have sat through a second showing if they would have let me. The direction and editing are top notch they cover Liza from birth to legend in the blink of an eye. My only complaint is that it was definitely too short it was over so fast like a fun ride at the amusement park. Keep your eye on this to win awards and your hearts. Enjoy everybody.

It's fascinating to see how something truly wondrous comes together from the ground up, witnessing the various components that go into the assembling if its finished form. It's particularly intriguing when that "something" is an individual who's tremendously gifted in some way and uses his or her talents to produce astounding works of creativity. That's especially true for those in artistic and entertainment pursuits, as is the case with iconic actress/singer/dancer Liza Minnelli, the famous daughter of actress/singer/dancer Judy Garland and filmmaker Vincente Minnelli. Writer-director Bruce David Klein's new biographical documentary of the legendary entertainer is a revealing look at the professional and personal life of its subject, told in nine chapters, most of which focus on the influences who helped shape the life and career of the storied stage, screen and concert performer. Under the tutelage of her famous parents, as well as mentoring collaborations with multi-talented entertainer Kay Thompson, singer Charles Aznavour, director Bob Fosse, composers Fred Ebb and John Kander, and fashion designer Halston, Liza emerged as one of the most distinguished and readily identifiable figures in show business, rocketing her to stardom on multiple fronts. Her singular look, polished persona and stellar performances placed Minnelli in constant demand, thanks largely to her determination to follow through on every venture she took on, a quality that helped earn her an Oscar, an Emmy, three Tonys and a lifetime achievement Grammy Award. At the same time, Liza's personal life was as ambitious and colorful as her professional pursuits, one filled with more than its share of highs, lows and challenges, all of which are candidly examined, including the stresses brought on by relentless press coverage of these developments. These explorations into her life are backed up with a wealth of archive footage, film clips from Minnelli's Academy Award-winning performance in "Cabaret" (1972), and recent interviews with friends, collaborators and entertainment industry observers, including Michael Feinstein, Ben Vereen, Mia Farrow, Joel Grey, George Hamilton, Chita Rivera and actress/half-sister Lorna Luft, among others. This combination of elements makes for an insightful profile of the entertainer, even if it sags a bit in the middle and has an occasional tendency to gush in the presentation of its content. Nevertheless, for the most part, "Liza" is a truly terrific true story that shows how success arises when it's carefully conceived, deliberately constructed and meticulously packaged, yielding a result we can all genuinely admire.

This documentary looks at the life of Liza Minnelli following her mother's death and how she then needed to develop herself and outside of her mother's shadow. This is explained in parts which focus on the individuals that influenced and guided her.

An odd but extremely fascinating documentary. Minnelli comes across as a pleasant but rather insecure individual, but completely a star and seemingly a loyal friend, but did seem to need guiding lights and mentors throughout her complex starry life. Her life does though also come across as one long party with lots of smiles, glitter and thousands of friends, who are all her 'best friend'. How this helped her is the big question. She undoubtedly has many close, loving friends, but you do get the impression that there are plenty of hangers on as well who may have had a hand in shaping her. Hence, there is a tone of sadness throughout.