Peter Ettedgui.
In the latter half of the 1970s, Christopher Reeve broke away from stage acting to play one of the most iconic fictional characters of all time on the big screen: Superman. The role catapulted Reeve to overnight success, spawning many sequels, but his rough childhood and lack of a family structure made it difficult to commit to a steady relationship, even with the mother of his children. Paralyzed following a horse-riding accident in the mid 1990s, Reeve then became an activist for people with disabilities, crusading on their behalf with the hopes he would one day walk again, only to pass away in 2004 following a decade-long battle, leaving behind three children and an undeniable legacy. SUPER/MAN tells Reeve’s story through archival footage, home movies, and new and archival interviews with those who knew him best.
Christopher Reeve was a truly iconic actor; this was the man who brought the character of Superman to live like no one before him… and no one since. Despite his massive successes playing the Man of Steel, most of his other films were flops, and there were many struggles in his life that weren’t widely known. SUPER/MAN attempts to shed some light on the life of Mr. Reeve through a wide variety of storytelling techniques and the like. The end results are beautifully compiled and painfully emotional at times. SUPER/MAN is a tearjerker, make no mistake, but it’s one that must be seen.
There’s no bigger fan of the SUPERMAN movies Christopher Reeve appeared in; he made four movies as the character in total. But I’m ashamed and embarrassed to say that, prior to seeing SUPER/MAN at a screening the other night, I couldn’t name a single other film he’d appeared in! One of the greatest strengths of this film is it shows all phases of his career, including the flops he’d appeared in over the years, and even brief glimpses into his theater work. I’ve now got a list of films I need to track down and check out to experience some of his non-Superman performances thanks to this doc!
The directors of SUPER/MAN don’t do the doc in a strictly “Point A to Point B” structure, which in this case works to the film’s advantage. Even if you don’t know anything about Reeve’s life, the filmmakers bring you up to speed right away with the big picture, including the story of his accident, essentially giving you the “gist of it” first, and going back and filling in the gaps with the pertinent details. It’s a tale that’ll inform those with no prior knowledge, but there will still be plenty to learn and experience here even if you’ve followed his life.
There’s even a who’s who of interviewees in the film, with those being interviewed including Reeve’s family members and close friends, as well as many actors and actress who knew him, including Whoopi Goldberg, Glenn Close, Susan Sarandon, and Jeff Daniels. Even the late Robin Williams, a friend of Reeve during his lifetime, gets plenty of screen time via archival footage. Former presidential candidate John Kerry is among those interviewed well, going to further show how wide Reeve’s influenced stretched as an inspiration, both as an actor and, in his later years, an activist.
One of the aspects that impressed and surprised me about the film is that it isn’t afraid to show the less-than-favorable qualities of Mr. Reeve. Someone making a documentary on him easily could’ve glossed over these aspects, but the filmmakers here are brutally honest at times, and this only manages to make Reeve seem even more fully realized as a human being. The movie looks at his inability to maintain a relationship in the past largely as a result of his own childhood struggles, as well as some ad campaigns following his accident that were not seen as positive by many of his peers. Hats off to the filmmakers for not glossing over these events.
Also much appreciated is the fact that SUPER/MAN looks at the legacy left behind following his death, including the causes he once crusaded for in his life. Seeing his children today and how they had to deal with further struggles following his passing, not the least of which being his widow passing just a year and a half later, speaks for itself. There’s a sequence in this movie where someone mentions that Robin Williams may still be alive today if Christopher Reeve had survived/still been here for him. I don’t think I’d experienced a more emotional gut punch at the movies in 2024 than I had in that very moment.
SUPER/MAN is a revelation, telling the story of a man who needs no introduction but who certainly needed his life’s journey brought to the big screen and told in the best imaginable way. It’s well-paced and never drags, as informational as it is entertaining. The movie is unflinching and doesn’t shy away from darker details, which further works to its advantage. A must see.
Absolute highest recommendations!