Faye: Entre Luzes e Sombras

A recent MAX documentary on the ever glamorous, ever cantankerous leading lady Faye Dunaway. Tracing her humble beginnings as a theater actress from the South, she soon found her way to film, being part of director Elia Kazan's acting troupe also helped, where not only did she have the acting chops but the drop-dead beauty as well which served her well during the late 60's w/output like The Thomas Crown Affair & Bonnie & Clyde. The 70's were arguably hers as she continued to nab high profile roles which would culminate in her Oscar win for Network in 1976. On the personal front she could not have a child of her own so her son, Liam, he being adopted, was welcomed w/open arms (his constant presence by her side at public functions illustrates their closeness) & her admitting her bi-polar status also humanized the actress who tended to be demonized as difficult. W/the usual talking heads of past co-stars (Mickey Rourke who worked on Barfly w/her) & ardent admirers like Sharon Stone make director Laurent Bouzereau's effort (Laurent has been a fixture in Hollywood's behind the scenes for years since I remember listening to his commentary on Criterion's edition of Carrie on laserdisc (!)) an easy one to document as long as Faye gets her water in a glass.

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.

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 was one of the undeniable doyennes of New Hollywood, starring in some of the most important movies of the era: "Bonnie and Clyde", "Little Big Man", "Chinatown", etc. So why does she often get called things like "a pain to work with" or treated as a less-than-serious actress?

Laurent Bouzereau's "Faye" focuses on Dunaway from her childhood to the present. For the movies, it mainly focuses on a couple of movies - i.e. Her Oscar-winning role in "Network" - and how "Mommie Dearest" simply came out at the wrong point in history, leading people to scorn Dunaway as a joke.

As for Dunaway's reputation for being temperamental, it turns out that's the result of bipolar disorder. Her son mentions that he can tell whether or not she's taken her prescribed medications.

The point is that one gets to know not only this fine actress, but some of the history of cinema. In addition to Dunaway herself, it features interviews with her fans and colleagues, and some journalists. Definitely see it.

"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.