Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story shows that one can still make a straightforward biographical documentary with some degree of ingenuity and craft instead of just regurgitating facts. A deep, non-linear, but satisfying dive into the life and times of legendary stage and screen performer Liza Minnelli, this latest documentary from Bruce David Klein (Icahn: The Restless Billionaire) uses the artist’s influences and mentors as jumping off points to show what made her such a transfixing presence and accomplished icon. Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story is heavy on talking head interviews (including from the subject herself, who remains a charismatic, spitfire perfectionist even at an advanced age and in fluctuating health) and juicy archival materials, but Klein’s unique structure switches things up in a refreshing, respectful way.
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story is divided up into chapters and uses the death of Minnelli’s equally iconic mother, Judy Garland, as a starting point to talk about her career and notoriously guarded personal life. No matter how much success or how many accolades Minnelli racked up, her career was dogged by the inescapable shadow of her mother, who, by the account of this film’s own subject, wasn’t a bunch of roses or barrel of laughs to live with, in spite of the love that was always there. To carve out a name for herself, Minnelli turned to a variety of seasoned men and women that helped her cultivate and image and turn her into a true original.
It takes a little while to see where Klein and Minnelli are heading with all of this, and at first it looks like this is a creative documentary that isn’t going to dig into anything that could ruffle any feathers. Instead, Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story is a cleverly sneaky bit of business that builds towards talking about the darker things the film’s subject doesn’t like to discuss very much. There’s something elemental in Klein’s approach here, with each chapter and discussion of those who influenced Minelli’s look, sound, and career trajectory illustrating how these close personal relationships and collaborations helped her navigate the rough waters of show business and to free herself from the shadow of her mother.
Kay Thompson became Minnelli’s surrogate mother immediately after Garland’s passing, showing her the ropes of being a major solo artist. Bob Fosse pushed Minnelli to bring out the best side of her dancing and singing technique through his demanding nature, bringing her craft to almost otherworldly levels. Fred Ebb would craft some of the songs that would launch Minnelli to iconic status, some of them written expressly and only for her. Designer Halston was able to craft a signature, sparkly look for Minnelli – who would be a lifelong friend – that was both eye catching and uniquely functional.
Those might be some of the biggest influences on Minnelli – next to her award winning director father, Vincente Minnelli – but Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story gushes about those who made her a star almost as much as the film lavishes praise on the film’s subject. Some of Minnelli’s closes friends (Mia Farrow, Ben Vereen, Chita Rivera) provide a lot of context and substance in their interviews, but it’s Klein’s use of Minnelli’s musings combined with a treasure trove of archival footage (including some great, unseen stuff from her 1975 tour or Europe) that help to further enhance the thesis that she would be nothing if not for those who helped her along the way. This is a film that shows just how much goes into making an icon, and how many successes – no matter what family you come from – aren’t created and nurtured by a single person. And while Klein sticks mostly to documenting Minnelli’s career at its highest point in the 1970s, it moves so breezily that one doesn’t notice that a fair few noteworthy achievements have been overlooked.
One of the biggest aces Klein’s deck of interview subjects is Michael Feinstein, a performer, archivist, and close friend of Minnelli’s who speaks eloquently and at great lengths to create the very links the film needs to make between chapters. His contributions to the documentary are both low key in tone and immeasurable in terms of overall content. Feinstein’s observations help to show Minnelli as a loyal friend and eager collaborator who loves those around her dearly, giving them as much back as they gave to her.
Granted, that could also be seen as a downside, which is something Klein gently and empathetically builds towards. Minnelli’s relationships (both romantic and with her mother), struggles with addictions, and fluctuating health have always fuelled tabloid fodder about her, but in a thoughtful, but atypical move, Klein saves the most contentious and delicate matters for the film’s second half. Although Minnelli loathes talking about her romantic past, her friends are there to provide gaps in information so nothing seems missed. But they’re also respectful enough to realize they don’t speak for Liza. And when it comes to speaking about her battles with addiction issues, Liza doesn’t hold back or pull any punches, with her friends once again offering love and support.
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story prints the legend, but then goes the extra mile to break things down, and does so without resorting to shortcuts. There are a lot of complements and platitudes bandied about Klein’s documentary, but nothing comes across as meaningless or vacuous. It’s a film that will give Minnelli’s legions of admirers what they came for, and it gives the uninitiated or curious ample reason to care and learn. It’s the best case scenario for this type of biographical documentary.
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story opens at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto, Mayfair Theatre in Ottawa, and VIFF Centre in Vancouver on Friday, January 31, 2025. It expands to Fox Theatre in Toronto on February 2 and Revue Theatre in Toronto on February 8.
