Director: J.Clay Twill
By Alex Watson
Emotional and uplifting, Clay Twill documentary Gleason is one of those rare documentaries that fully captures your heart. Documenting the struggles former NFL player Steve Gleason as he learns to cope with his ALS diagnosis, Twill captures the true fighting spirit of the human soul. This documentary goes far beyond just showing a man's suffering, his whole family are having to deal with life-altering altering changes and on this determination alone, one of the films of 2016 is born.
Steve Gleason was a former player for the New Orleans Saints who at only 34 years old was diagnosed with ALS. As his body begins to deteriorate, Sean and his family refuse to give in and decide to form Team Gleason, a foundation that helps others with ALS. This documentary deals with his hopes and fears of not only living with the disease but whether he can still be a father to his newly born son.
Gleason is a movie that could have just been a glorified motivational video for Team Gleason, Twill goes under the hood and shows us Steve at his most vulnerable and most highest points. A cult hero to his former Saints fans, Steve achieved hero status when in the Saints first game back at the Superdome in 2005 after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, he blocked an opposing punt that would lead to the rebirth of the franchise. His ALS diagnosis is shown as a one-two punch because alongside that his wife Michel Varisco Gleason also became pregnant. Determined to leave behind some memories for son, Gleason throughout records video entries where he speaks to his child and gives updates on his health. This footage is among the rawest that cinema has to offer and theme of father and son is a prominent one throughout.
As his body begins to fail him, Steve is faced with no longer being able to have the typical father-son relationship. Learning to cope with the possibility of his death leads to some very heart rendering but also very humorous moments. One sequence sees Steve suffering after Stem Cell therapy and a jovial nurse called in to assist with his bowel problems "Am I the best-looking guy you've ever ass fingered?" he smiles to her. Steve's spirit it what keeps him running and his desire to give his son as much of his life as possible is what sets the tears in motion. His relationship with his own father Mike has its own issues as he is still struggling to cope with the likely hood of his son's death. The most emotional scene of the picture comes from Steve asking Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder about not knowing his deceased father. Watching his tears flow will melt the even hardest of hearts.
The real success of Gleason is how Twill is able to draw his viewers in and make us feel as we are sharing this journey with Steve and Michel. This movie is not just Steve's story as the dealing with his illness takes a toll on Michel as well, who is upfront about how also raising a toddler alongside the constant care that Steve requires has gradually washed away the sunnier side of her. While Steve becomes a hero in a whole new form, Michel is the one who has the deal with things behind the scenes, some moments they are reduced to near silent conversations. This picture is made to crush hearts and not for one second do you pity this family in any way because although his health will never recover, Steve is always able to smile and the birth of his son Rivers has given him a reason to fight on. There are sheer lows and moments where he questions going on, but Twill and the Gleason's refuse to extinguish the light of hope.
Possibly the best documentary you will see in 2016, Gleason is a movie which will make you unafraid to cry, feel and embrace this wonderful story.
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