With a career that spanned eight decades—his first credit was in 1946, his last 2017, two years after his death at 93—and a resume that includes almost 300 titles, which may or may not include uncredited roles, there is a great deal for the film to excavate. We begin with his childhood, largely absent of father figures, through his experience in World War II and his vaunted career as a Nazi hunter and spy, much of which remains classified. Allusions to him maybe being an assassin only deepen the intrigue.
[Related Reading: 'Sirens' Documentary Review]
From there the obvious next step was for Lee to become an actor, a field where he spent the remainder of his days and where he experienced any number of incarnations. Spira spends significant time on Lee’s days working with Hammer, tracks his time plying his trade on the Continent, then back to England, his stint in Hollywood, and beyond. We follow him through all the ups and downs, of which there are myriad. Lee had periods where he was a huge star, others where he could barely land a significant role, and then participated in his biggest hits, the Star Wars prequels and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, much later in life. The latter fulfilled a lifelong obsession as he used to read the LOTR books annually. He even recorded heavy metal albums, including two heavy metal Christmas albums, as late as 2013.
While great attention is paid to some areas, others are given short shrift. Lee’s career, understandably, takes up most of the time. Other things that initially seem like they’re going to be greatly important only warrant a couple sentences. Like meeting the love of his life, his wife Gitte. The film presents it as this defining event then moves right along. You look around like, “Oh, that’s it?” In general, that’s how the film treats his personal life. There are a few nice anecdotes, especially about his dear friendships with Peter Cushing, with whom Lee loved to marathon Looney Tunes, and Vincent Price. This offers a few nice emotional beats, but there’s little depth or insight. Or like with the lack of stable father figures, it’s mentioned early on then never again. It simply never feels like we fully learn what drove him. (Also, Ian Fleming was his cousin, and maybe some of James Bond was based on Lee’s exploits in espionage?)
[Related Reading: 'Facing Monsters' Documentary Review]
From a formal perspective, The Life and Deaths takes two distinct tacks. First there’s the standard documentary approach mixing talking head interviews, still photos, movie clips, and archival footage. There are interviews with Peter Jackson, John Landis, Joe Dante, and various friends, co-stars, a biographer, and his niece, actor Harriet Walter. The information is grand, but the presentation is standard stuff.
The other aspect combines lovely stretches of animation and the use of an elaborate marionet of Lee, voiced by Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy) fully inhabiting his subject. This seems like a strange strategy at first, but it quickly comes to feel natural, and the presentation captures his stature, his gravitas, and his essence. These moments surface throughout and provide an intriguing touch of innovation and intrigue.
[Related Reading: 'The Severed Sun' Movie Review]
More than anything, The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee celebrates the spirit of the legendary actor. The man had countless personal and professional resurrections, regenerations, and reinventions. He always gave it everything he had, no matter the role, no matter the project. This intimate, detailed, expansive portrait captures the infectious joy and passion of his rich, fascinating, singular life.
Find all our Fantastic Fest 2024 coverage here.
No comments:
Post a Comment