George Michael: Freedom (2017 TV Movie) User Reviews

Illiuminating, soulful expose of tortured genius

[wellthatswhatithinkanyway · 9/10 · 19 October 2017]

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

George Michael was born in the 1960s to Greek immigrants, in London, and in the early 1980s, formed one pop pairing that wasn't terribly successful, before forming Wham!, which enjoyed phenomenal success that resonates until this day, whilst also enjoying a solo career of his own. But while becoming a worldwide superstar, in his private life, he was battling his own personal demons, including his repressed homosexuality, his unease with the limelight, through to the death of his partner and battle with his record company. Made in the few months leading up to his death, this documentary lifts the lid on his life in a way nothing else probably has before.

In a year where a superstar a minute seemed to pop off this mortal coil, the news of George Michael's death on none other than Christmas Day last year was like the final cherry on top of a particularly poisonous cake. So many cultural icons just snuffed out like candles, but no others seem to have left us with anything quite as revealing and intimate as this. As we learn, George was a guy who had to do everything on his terms, who had to be controlling the direction his life was taking, and so in this documentary, we learn in his own time, about the impact his personal and professional life took on him personally.

What emerges is a portrait of a young guy, thrust into the pit of fame, but he was no manufactured teen heart throb, a mature young adult, wise beyond his years, who allegedly wrote Careless Whisper, one of the most stirring and beautiful ballads of all time, on the back of a bus when he was just 17. It's interesting to wonder how a man of such tender years could have the emotional understanding and intelligence to write such material, but as we learn, he always felt more comfortable as a writer than a performer or celebrity.

The numerous musical talents who provide commentary never at all feel like unsavoury arse kissers, but give off a vibe of genuine admirers, whose musical style was genuinely influenced by George, possibly more than anyone else. You don't know what you've got till it's gone, I guess, and this revealing documentary certainly doesn't let you get away without knowing what exactly a one and only George was. ****

The music and the artist

[dakjets · 8/10 · 28 December 2017]

A year after the tragic death of George Michael, we get this film from the star a fine documentary. George Michael worked with this documentary before he died, and has been finished completely after his death. As a fan of George Michael, I found this film first and foremost interesting as it gives an insight into the music, albums and concerts. George Michael had great musical ambitions, which he achieved. Whether it was commercial with the Faith album, or the artistic and more demanding List Without Prejudice album. However, I missed the mention of the Patience album. The film has many music collegues that come with input and comments about George Michael and his music. But we also hear about his conflict with the record company and thus an insight into a cynical industry. George Michael also invites viewers into his private sphere, and the personal ups and downs he experienced throughout his life. The documentary, on the other hand, does not address any of the drug problems he had with, which led to prison sentences. George Michael was a great singer and songwriter, and this documentary shows it with full weight. On the other hand, it carries that it is made by himself, good and bad. After watching the movie, I think the best thing about it was the insight of the albums Listen and Older, which he was most proud of. See it as a reminder of the great artist he was. What a loss.

A beautiful tribute

[bbewnylorac · 8/10 · 22 November 2018]

While this documentary is very glitzy and isn't structured well, it is still a moving look back at an amazingly talented artist who achieved so much in his short life. You realise how incredibly young he was when he became famous, as one half of the pop group Wham. Actually, way too young. He gave the appearance of carrying it off with nonchalant aplomb, but over the years, the craziness of the spotlight slowly started to poison him. It's a great tragedy that Michael died in poor health shortly before this documentary was finished, and so he never got to bask in the overwhelmingly glowing tributes paid to his talents as a singer and songwriter here, by the likes of rock royalty such as Stevie Wonder, Nile Rodgers and Elton John. They're shown listening raptly to his songs, with low whistles and 'wows'. There were lots of revelations for me, for example that the love of Michael's life, a Latino man called Anselmo, died of AIDS; how Michael met one of his idols, Paul McCartney, who recorded one of his songs; and how an unassuming Michael was slammed for being the wrong demographic to win a major soul music award. Stevie Wonder, clearly a big George Michael fan, laughs and states that music isn't black or white. Yes, this is a documentary for the fans, yet I was never a big fan of his, but I really loved listening again to some of the classics, such as the epic Pray for Time, and his wonderful live version, singing the Freddie Mercury role, of Somebody To Love, with Queen. So I enjoyed this doco.

'There is no such thing as a reluctant star.'

[gradyharp · 25 October 2017]

George Michael is honored in a fine documentary released in October 2017, a film he wrote and directed and supervised about his life in show business before his death on Christmas Day 2016. The film was completed under David Austin's direction. As he states in the film, 'Stars are almost always people that want to make up for their own weaknesses by being loved by the public and I'm no exception to that.'

The movie is a frank and honest account of George Michael's professional life and career. Though the film was made by the man himself, various artists add to the narrative – Tony Bennett, Mary J. Blige, Emmanuelle Alt, Naomi Campbell, Ricky Gervais, Elton John, Liam Gallagher, Cindy Crawford, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Kate Moss Nile Rodgers, James Corden, Stevie Wonder, and many others.

The film highlights conversations with Michael, his crisis with Sony, his 'coming out' as a gay man and finding love with a Brazilian man who subsequently died of AIDS, his driving force to be the best performer and songwriter ever known, his many successful videos and clips from live performances and much, much more.

This is a very beautifully made film, steaming with love from Michael and from his many fans, and filled with information about the positive impact he made on the world. Completely entertaining and a fine tribute to an enormously gifted artist.

george

[bdbny · 10/10 · 26 November 2017]

Totally moving. Made me fall in love with George even more. Sad to lean his album Faith was done with so much pain. It was an album that bought me so much joy, with dancing. All I can say now is, rest in paradise George, there is so much talent up there with you, much love and respect

Flawless

[Lebowskidoo · 10/10 · 2 March 2020]

The Voice of my generation, in my opinion. He made so much music that will play on for many years to come. Still, I feel sad that he won't be here to create any more. His evolution into becoming himself took his whole life and was documented perfectly in his songs.

Damn, he really knew how to craft some perfect pop songs though!

Hey there Georgie boy

[Lejink · 6/10 · 24 November 2017]

2016 will be remembered by pop music fans as the year of so many untimely deaths. Amongst others, I suppose the two which stood out, if that's the right phrase, were those of David Bowie and Prince before George Michael succumbed on Christmas Day to blight his many fans seasonal joy and cap a miserable year for celebrity demises. Although his fame had diminished somewhat in America, he unquestionably remained hugely popular here in his native UK and it was certainly a shock to learn that he too had died so young.

With voiceovers by Michael himself, although he's coy about making an actual appearance on camera as we see a back view of him, at least I think it's him, sitting at an obviously favourite writing desk in his London home battering away at an old typewriter, by using the tried and trusted device of contemporary footage and celebrity endorsements, this is a loving, indeed at times adoring portrait of the artist as a young man.

Michael more than once equates himself with the three other acknowledged mega-stars of the 80's, Madonna, Prince and Michael Jackson and on the musical evidence here, he certainly deserved that accolade. Good looking, with a fantastic voice and a prodigious writing and production talent, he left his previous group Wham! at the height of their success before spring-boarding to even greater initial solo success with the release of his "Careless Whisper" single and "Faith" album.

This documentary focuses on his three-album run from "Faith" to "Listen Without Prejudice" and "Older" especially the middle album which became a cause-celebre at the time of its original release with Michael famously failing to promote it to protest at his US record label's failure to recognise his artistic pretensions at the time. Thus we see celebrity pals like Elton John, Ricky Gervais, Stevie Wonder, Jean-Paul Gaultier and a very unlikely Liam Gallagher lining up to fight George's corner, although of course he lost his infamous "professional slavery" court case against Sony Records at the time.

Michael also opens up about coming out as a gay man, although not until after the death of the great love of his life, Brazilian Anselmo Feleppa and how this, plus the death of his mother plunged him into both personal and artistic depression. There's relatively little coverage of the various, usually drug-related incidents in his personal life which fuelled the tabloids which tends to make what we see probably a little too adulatory and uncritical.

After he died, I remember stories coming out in the press about his generosity and philanthropy, usually done with anonymity, bolstering the strong central message that this on-the-face-of-it most photogenic of pop stars was actually shy, troubled and insecure. Poor little rich boy, some may sneer but seeing him ensconced in his London home hardly seeming to live the remote, luxurious rock-star life, you're left with the sad thought that like Michael Jackson, Prince and Whitney Houston, his celebrity status failed to bring him true happiness.

Better then to focus on the often wonderful music he provided and regret that he was denied the opportunity to return to the musical scene he once dominated. More human and approachable it seems than many in the music industry, his was a sad loss and another of those gone-too-soon exits which makes you wonder what he might yet have achieved had he lived.

A must see for George Michael fans

[nicerep · 10/10 · 17 October 2017]

What I really liked about this documentary was the insight we got, from George himself, into the beautiful lyrics that he wrote and performed, especially after the death of his first real love, Anselmo. George told us what inspired his song writing before and after his meeting with Anselmo and he showed us, with the help of musical clips, how his various emotions manifested themselves through song. His happiness when he met Anselmo, his sadness when Anselmo died and when his mother died of cancer, his anger when Sony refused to let him go and his humour after his unfortunate encounter in a Beverly Hills loo, Ricky Gervais made us laugh with his take on the affair. Elton John seemed to understand George well and perhaps surprisingly, Liam Gallagher too.They, along with a few other celebrities, helped us get to know George better and by the time Chris Martin started to sing "A Different Corner", his tribute to George at the Brit Awards, there were tears in my eyes. I met George Michael many years ago and we all knew he was gay, but most of all it was obvious that he was a very kind person and very vulnerable, which comes across during this fine documentary. You will laugh and probably cry when you watch Freedom, I dare you not too!

A public life

[paul2001sw-1 · 6/10 · 29 October 2017]

'Freedom' is a documentary about Geroge Michael's life mostly put together by the singer himself before his untimely death last year. And it was an interesting life, that of a Watford schoolboy who became a global pop star, a legal warrior fighting his record company, and a gay man who finally embraced his sexual identity. Unfortunately, this film is not particularly interesting: Michael was a private man, and the story as told doesn't feel particularly personal. Nor is there a great discussion of the music, beyond the obligatory parade of talking heads who gush but offer no insight. The main thing that comes across is Michael's professional self-belief and ambition; though he talked of slavery in his battle with Sony, we get the sense less of a free spirit unable to work with the man, and more of someone angry he was not getting the respect he considered his talent deserved. I'd have liked to know more about the real George Michael; but here I felt I saw only what Michael wanted to be seen.

Excellent!

[cardsovercubs-76197 · 10/10 · 17 November 2017]

This documentary isn't just for fans of George Michael. This is an insightful look at an extraordinary artist. Over 95 minutes, George primarily focuses on the time from his release of Listen Without Prejudice through his much publicized court case with Sony in the early to mid 1990's. Especially for any fans in the U.S., you will learn why it seemed George Michael may have disappeared from the music scene.

Hardly the definitive George Michael documentary

[paul-allaer · 6/10 · 26 October 2017]

"George Michael: Freedom" (2017 release from the UK; 95 min.) is another documentary about the life and times, but mostly the music, of George Michael. As the documentary opens, we touch briefly on Wham! before moving on to "Faith", and how its global success overwhelmed George Michael. By the time we move on to "Listen Without Prejudice", we are well into the documentary.

Couple of comments: this documentary is co-directed by David Austin (who has directed two previous documentaries on George Michael) and... George Michael himself. So if you are expecting to "get the dirt" on what George Michael really is like, you will be sorely disappointed. Instead, we get a chronological overview of the music in his solo career, with plenty of excerpts and correlating commentary by Michael himself and many other talking heads, including Elton John, Liam Gallagher, Mark Ronson, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, etc. You can pick up some interesting tidbits here and there (I never knew that George Michael wrote "Heal the Pain" as a tribute to Paul McCartney). Given that this documentary focuses on his solo career, there is no sight of or commentary by Andrew Ridgeley. While there are a couple of passages that discuss his personal relationships, that also is kept to a minimum. While his fight with Sony gets LOTS of screen time, other non-music incidents (such as his arrest in Hollywood) are left out entirely. So again, if you are looking for a more personal side of George Michael, this is the wrong documentary for you. If on the other hand you want to revisit some of Michael's best tunes and get the inside scoop of them, then this documentary will be right up your alley.

"George Michael: Freedom" premiered in the US recently on Showtime. I really didn't know what to expect, but nevertheless looked forward to catching it. Bottom line is this: "George Michael: Freedom" is pleasant viewing, no more, no less. But one day someone is going to make the definitive George Michael documentary, a la "Amy" by director Asif Kapadia.

George Michael: Freedom

[jboothmillard · 8/10 · 18 November 2017]

The world was shocked by the news that music icon George Michael had died, Christmas Day 2016, from natural causes (as a result of dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and a fatty liver), aged 53. This film, which he directed himself, alongside David Austin, was completed two days before his sudden death, so additional material was added, it serves as both a celebration and a tribute of the life and career of the acclaimed singer-songwriter. George Michael was born 25th June 1963, he formed the pop duo Wham! in 1981, alongside Andrew Ridgeley, and they had great success with many Top 10 and chart-topping songs, including "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)", "Young Guns (Go for It)", "Bad Boys", "Club Tropicana", "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "Freedom", "Everything She Wants", "Last Christmas", "I'm Your Man" and "The Edge of Heaven". In 1984, George recorded some solo work, including Number One songs "Careless Whisper" and "A Different Corner", and "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", the duet with Aretha Franklin, before the breakup of Wham! in 1986. George released his first solo album, Faith, in 1987, hit songs from the album included "I Want Your Sex", "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try" and "Kissing a Fool", the album went on to win at the Grammys, the MTV Video Music Awards, the BRITs, and the American Music Awards (awards then were normally given to black artists). His second solo album released was Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, featuring hit songs "Praying for Time", "Freedom '90" (the music video does not feature George, he directed it, it features supermodels, including Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford), "Waiting for That Day", "Heal the Pain" - which later became a duet with Sir Paul McCartney, "Cowboys and Angels" and "Waiting (Reprise)", but George refused to appear on the album cover, or do any real promotion for the album, it went on to win at the BRIT Awards. He released many songs and went on stage, including "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" - the duet with Sir Elton John, "They Won't Go When I Go" (a Stevie Wonder cover), "Living in the City" - live duet with Stevie Wonder, a collaboration with Adamski on "Killer/Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", singing "Desafinado" with Astrud Gilberto, "Too Funky" (his final single with Sony), and a cover of "Somebody to Love", with Queen as part of the Freddie Mercury tribute concert. But George went on hiatus from the music industry, leaving record label Sony, he went to court about ending his contract, he felt he had no control of his work, he lost the case and was out of work for five years, during this time he also suffered the death of his partner, Brazilian dress designer Anselmo Feleppa, who died of an AIDS-related brain haemorrhage. He finally returned to music in 1996, releasing his third solo album, Older, which featured the songs "Jesus to a Child", "Fastlove", "Spinning the Wheel", "Star People" and "You Have Been Loved", the album went on to win at the MTV Europe Awards, the BRITs, and The Ivor Novello Awards. During the late 1990s, George came out as gay, following his arrest for lewd conduct in a public toilet in Los Angeles, he released songs "Outside" (his "coming out" song), "As" - the duet with Mary J. Blige, and "If I Told You That" - the duet with Whitney Houston. George's fourth solo album release was Songs from the Last Century, but none of the songs on the album charted, he also suffered the devastating news in 1999 that mother Lesley had cancer, she died a year later. The fifth and final solo album George released was Patience, with many songs from it charting in the early 2000s, including "Freeek!", "Shoot the Dog" – 2DTV animation in the music video, "Amazing" and "Flawless (Go to the City)". In the late 2000s and early 2010s, George released many compilation albums, including Twenty Five, and released songs including "An Easier Affair", "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)" and "How Do You Keep the Music Playing" – duet with Tony Bennett. The documentary features many clips of George's personal home footage, his appearance on BBC Comic Relief – the first Carpool Karaoke with James Corden, his guest star appearance in the Extras Christmas Special, and his performance at the London 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony. It also features a cover of "Fastlove", a ballad version by Adele (she famously performed it live at the Grammys, and swore requesting to start again), and a new version of "A Different Corner" – a duet with Chris Martin, plays in the end credits. Introduced by Kate Moss, with contributions from David Austin (friend and manager), Emmanuelle Alt (editor of French Vogue), Tony Bennett, Mary J. Blige, Naomi Campbell, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Clive Davis (Whitney's manager), Tracey Emin, Linda Evangelista (model), Jean Paul Gaultier, Liam Gallagher, Ricky Gervais, Sir Elton John, Tatjana Patitz, Nile Rodgers, Mark Ronson, Christy Turlington (model) and Stevie Wonder. This film really makes you realise how much George Michael changed the music industry, touched many people across the world, how talented he was both writing and his brilliant voice, featuring great use of archive footage, George narrating a lot of it himself, a most watchable music documentary. Very good!

Songs from the last century

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 18 October 2017]

I saw George Michael in concert in 2007 and I think the experience in some ways might really summed his life up. It was an open air concert in the summer but it rained almost all night. George came on sang for what seemed like 45 minutes and then went off for a 20 minutes break, probably for a cup of tea and a snort of some illegal substance. He then did his second act for about 20 minutes and it was on to the encore.

When you have seen Bruce Springsteen live, pelting it out for 3 and half hours non stop then George was a disappointment by comparison. Then again I did not go to see for myself but my wife is a big George Michael/Wham fan. She was not a happy bunny on Christmas Day 2016. At least I took her to see him live in concert.

This documentary co-directed by George himself was a comprehensive look back on his career. A career that promised much as he and Andrew Ridgely quickly made it big with Wham. In 1988 he was the biggest selling rock star in the world and he sustained this throughout the 90s but by the start of the new millennium it quickly fizzled out as his private life was in turmoil and frankly his voice started to go as he started to sing songs through a vocoder (just listen to his version of True Faith.)

George talks about his highs and lows, his love life and his short lived happiness before his partner died of AIDS and later his mother died of cancer. Then his public falling out with Sony records as he did not want to promote his albums the want his record company wanted him to.

Some of the contributors were a bit disappointing. I can understand Elton John being there but they also had a falling out and I wanted to hear about that. There was no Andrew Ridgely which was a glaring omission but plenty of Tracey Emin which I found mind boggling.

One sided

[lgroberts-59907 · 5/10 · 25 February 2023]

This only concentrates, as per usual what the artist and his representatives want you to see.

Those who truly knew him, knew about his drug addiction etc.....and other out of the public lovers, no mention of that or them. No in depth personal info.....apart from what they wanted you to see.

There's no raw truth to his personal life here, only what his company and team want people to know.

Be honest, not only about one lover, but all the others.....true fans know so much more....and deserve everything. This documentary is truly one sided and edited to suit.....

Also his dedication to his home town, buying the local Christmas tree without wanting recognition etc, his donations to a lot of foundations and local charities. None of this is mentioned in the documentary.

Good, bad, ugly.......if you're a fan then you'll love him anyway, but this documentary is biased.

Jesus to Michael!!!

[li0904426 · 9/10 · 30 August 2022]

It's very sad to watch the documentary "George Michael: Freedom" knowing that he left this world when he was finishing this work. Michael passed away on December 25, 2016, at the age of 53. This documentary seems like a testament letter about his life. The accelerating career success and pressure from the media was the abyss to his demise, exactly like Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Witney Houston, and Prince. The quick voyage of their lives between us was simply to gift us with each one's voice and talent. George Michael was no different, only after winning the much-desired public recognition did he realize that he was not happy. And when he discovers the happiness of love, "...Heaven sent And Heaven Stole You smiled at me...". We and the media didn't allow them to live in peace as an artist. We created, idolized, and at the same time silenced these voices. I am so...so...sorry for that, Michael!!!

A Sad Look At a Talented Artist

[tkdlifemagazine · 6/10 · 13 April 2023]

This movie could not help me to think of how much has changed since George Michael was famous and ended up depressed and suicidal. The world is a more inviting place and on the artistic side seems to be more open and accepting of all alternative lifestyles. This was a deeply talented and sensitive man whose life ended too soon. This film shows some great footage of his talent. It is a decent documentary- not fantastic from a. Filmmaking standpoint, but good. The interviews are personal. The archived and news footage are good. I was never a huge fan of Wham! Or George Michael, but it kept me interested and entertained. Some great interviews with the likes of Ricky Gervais, Kate Moss, George Michael, himself, Naomi Campbell, David Corden, and more.