Pavarotti

It's highly unlikely that in our lifetime we will ever see another Luciano Pavarotti.

A man whose voice was beloved across the world and a man whose image was instantly recognisable for many, a rare achievement for a modern day opera singer, Pavarotti was that rare breed of human being that managed to share an incredible gift with millions upon millions of admirers and if this Ron Howard documentary does one thing unquestionably well, it's that it reminds us all of the privilege it was to get to witness this talent be shared with the masses.

As a documentary, Pavarotti pales in comparison to other recent examinations of famous figures such as Amy, Diego Maradona or Whiteny and continues on a trend for Howard to direct films in a solid fashion without ever trying to push the boundaries or his abilities but it's a workmanlike effort that is hard to not enjoy as we witness the young Luciano ply his trade from simple beginnings in his home country, right through to his defining stints in the 3 Tenors or his highly sought after live shows.

What we see throughout and what we hear about from those that knew Luciano best, is that Pavarotti was a fiercely determined man, one that was hell-bent on ensuring he never once took his gift for granted as he set about improving his workmanship in the field right through to his later years.

There's a power in watching Pavarotti perform and Howard's extensive access to archival footage and previously unseen home video footage helps create perhaps not the quintessential hard look exploration of his life, but an inside look into what a one in a billion talent looks like.

Despite the fact we are often watching decades old clips of performances or interviews there is also a clear and definable charm and showmanship that Pavarotti possessed.

As he walks into a room full of people, talking to students at a masterclass or simply sitting one on one with an interviewer, he was a consistently open and honest figure who at the very core of his being was nothing more than a devilishly charming rogue that faced many of the similar fears and worries we everyday people had, even though he had to be on top of them frequently to be able to deliver on the name and magic that he built his life around.

It's not the warts and all experience some documentarians would've gone for, but as a piece of fan service and carefully put together reminder of the genius that was, Pavarotti does its job without ever attempting to over work itself.

Final Say -

For long term fans and those that might simply need a showcase for the amazing voice that was Pavarotti, Howard's documentary will provide exactly what keen viewers will be seeking and while it never threatens to become a grand documentation, Pavarotti is a finely tuned ode to one of the modern era's great entertainers and popular figures.

3 ½ handkerchiefs out of 5

When it comes to opera singers, there aren't many household names that people know or actually talk about, with the exception of one person, Luciano Pavarotti. Few documentaries make it all the way to the cinema, not to mention having a premier screening, so I was curious about what made this one so special.

I knew who Pavarotti was before watching this film and I have heard his performances, but I had no idea what kind of man he was and how people loved him for his voice, charisma, generosity and his big joyful smile. Ron Howard seamlessly blended the footage of Luciano's life to make it flow like a regular film while accentuating on the musical parts that left me in awe of how talented and impactful he was, specially hearing it through Dolby Surround system.

This film is more than just a documentary about a singer; it is a story of a man who worked tirelessly to achieve worldwide fame and yet not once did he lose himself in the process and that is how he will be remembered. He loved life, he loved the ones around him and he loved helping others. Luciano is one of those people whom I would love to meet just to bask in his grandeur and absorb some of his happiness, positivity and energy that he radiated.

This year's big doc may be Ron Howard's "Pavarotti," a love letter about the great tenor. More than any opera singer since Enrico Caruso a century before, Pavarotti made opera cool in the latter part of the 20th century. With his larger-than-life personality and crystal-clear voice, he became a worldwide sensation, performing everywhere from rural outposts to massive stadiums to outdoor parks.

Howard manages to piece together decades of film --- often grainy and amateurish - with deeply personal interviews with the Maestro's ex-wives, former mistress, daughters, peers (Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, and several sopranos), and admirers. He weaves biography with taped performances from the time Pavarotti was a promising young singer through his waning years.

In fact, Howard presents Pavarotti's life as opera. A man of great passion - for opera, for women, for food, for children - Pavarotti lived large. And he died painfully. Howard manages to make the audience feel the highs and the lows of Pavarotti's personal and professional lives.

But the film is long. It proves that even great directors can fall in love with their own films. Howard could have spent less time in the run-up to stardom to get us to the fantastic success of his middle years and the explosive teaming with Domingo and Carreras as The Three Tenors. His death is handled beautifully as is Pavarotti's heartfelt charitable endeavors in concert with Princess Diana, Bono and many others.

Even if you don't love opera, you will enjoy this stunning documentary.

Pavarotti (2019) was directed by Ron Howard. It's a solid biography of the extraordinary tenor, with archival footage and interviews with Pavarotti's colleagues, family, and friends.

No one questions Pavarotti's genius. It's certainly on full display in the film. His personal choices may have been less than exemplary, so it's necessary to separate your thoughts about the artist from your thoughts about the man.

The good news is that, as far as I can tell, director Howard is presenting Pavarotti's story in an honest, unbiased way. At least, that appears to have been his goal. How well he succeeded is something that opera experts will have to tell us.

We saw the movie at Rochester's excellent Little Theatre. It will work well enough on the small screen, although certainly you need to see it with a system that has good sound .

The film has a solid IMDb rating of 7.5, which I think is just about right. Opera lovers won't want to miss it. I think it's worth seeing even if you don't love opera.

I saw this film in a theater in New York a few days ago and was enchanted by the film and by the subject of the documentary: Luciano Pavarotti. I didn't know much about Pavarotti before having seen the film and I am not an opera fan. However, this touching documentary endeared me to the man and his music. His life is well documented in this film, excellently directed by Ron Howard. Whether or not you like opera, you will likely appreciate the humor & heart which Pavarotti had as well as his obvious vocal talent. A documentary about a person is supposed to capture the essence of the human being or artist and this film succeeds in doing that. It also successfully revealed the notion that a great artist is also a flawed human being who leads an imperfect life, just like everyone else. I left the theater wanting to know more about the man & his music. Bravo to all involved in this production.