Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds

Directed by Alexis Bloom and Fisher Stevens, Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds is about the unique relationship between actress/entertainer Debbie Reynolds and her daughter in actress/writer Carrie Fisher. The film follows the lives of the two women as Reynolds is about to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actor Guild in 2015 while Fisher is working on Star Wars: The Force Awakens as the film feature rare footage and old interviews about the two as well as new footage of their life together before their tragic deaths in December 2016. The result is a dazzling and heartfelt film from Alexis Bloom and Fisher Stevens.

Shot from late 2014 to early 2015, the film follows the life and relationship of Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher as they both live next door to each other while working on respective projects. The film follows the two on what they do together and separately yet remain close to each other no matter how turbulent their lives were. Notably through Reynolds’ marriage to singer Eddie Fisher in the 1950s were they were Hollywood’s It couple until Fisher left her for Elizabeth Taylor which was considered scandalous at the time leaving Reynolds to care for Carrie and son Todd while marrying a rich businessman in Harry Karl that ended in divorce in 1973 due to Karl’s compulsive gambling, drinking, and sleeping with hookers. For Fisher, she too would have a life of chaos through her own bipolar disease, drug and alcohol abuse, a messy marriage to Paul Simon, and all sorts of shit that also gave Fisher material to write that included the book Postcards from the Edge which was adapted into a hit film by Mike Nichols that was about Fisher’s own relationship with her mother.

Though Reynolds and Fisher were able to go through all that stronger than ever, the film follows the two as they deal with all sorts of things while they’re surrounded by a close entourage that includes Todd, his wife Catherine Hickland, Carrie’s daughter in actress Billie Lourd, Carrie’s assistant Abe Gurko, a former babysitter of Carrie, childhood friend Griffin Dunne, and a couple of dogs. The film follows the two and most of the entourage as they all tell stories about the two with Todd being the one who is given a lot to say as he talks about what his mother and sister both had to deal with as well as his father Eddie. The film also has some revelations about what entertainers used to continue to perform which Todd reveal was crystal meth as his father never knew what he was using as it would eventually destroy his career. The film also feature footage of Carrie seeing her father a few months before he died as well as an interview in 1995 between Carrie and her maternal grandmother about Reynolds.

The direction by Alexis Bloom and Fisher Stevens is quite simple as they’re aided by cinematographers Vasco Nunes and Billy Pena where it‘s shot with hand-held cameras and some hidden cameras to play into what Reynolds and Fisher do in their lives. Yet, there’s moments where there is action happening off-camera provided by sound editor Kate Bilinski as it relates to Reynolds being ill as Bloom and Stevens know not to have her on camera out of respect for her. Editors Penelope Falk and Sheila Shiraz would help Bloom and Stevens in gathering all of the home movie footage and newsreel about Reynolds‘ time in the limelight as well as footage from the films she and Fisher had both appeared in. The film’s music by Will Bates is playful as it play into the show tunes and pop that Reynolds was famous for as well as music that she sang in some of her films with Fisher singing along to those songs. The film would culminate with Reynolds receiving her lifetime achievement award from the Screen Actors Guild in early 2015 as it play into the bond she has with Carrie and the family that adores and care for them.

Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds is a phenomenal film from Alexis Bloom and Fisher Stevens. It’s a documentary that documents Hollywood royalty at its finest as well as a powerful relationship between mother and daughter who are just as interesting as any mother-daughter duo. It’s also a fitting tribute to two iconic women who mean so much to the world as they will be missed. In the end, Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds is a sensational film from Alexis Bloom and Fisher Stevens.

Related: (Wishful Drinking)

© thevoid99 2017

Before the Flood

Directed by Fisher Stevens and written by Mark Monroe, Before the Flood is a documentary film in which actor Leonardo diCaprio goes on a journey to see parts of the world that has been affected by climate change and global warming. The film is an exploration into the parts of the world that is eroding away as diCaprio interview many about what is there to do to save planet Earth. The result is a gripping yet evocative film from Fisher Stevens.

The film follows actor Leonardo diCaprio as he travels around the world just as he had been made as representative for the United Nations on climate change in 2014 where he would speak at the United Nations building in New York City about the subject. During this three-year journey around the world while making The Revenant for director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, diCaprio would learn about many things that is happening around the planet as it relates to a painting he remembered seeing when he was a baby as it was above this crib. The painting depicts three different images in the panel as the first depicts life in Eden with Adam and Eve as it was calm and peaceful. The second involves that world in chaos due to overpopulation and such while the third features that world dead as diCaprio sees that painting as a reflection of what is happening.

By going to places such as Miami which is dealing with rising water levels as its mayor is trying to stop that as well going to the smog-ridden Beijing in China. The film showcases the world’s reliance on fossil fuel such as oil, coal, and natural gas as it has caused a lot of environmental trouble while countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands, and Spain are trying to move away from fossil fuel in favor of solar power while Sweden is becoming the first country to become free of fossil fuel. Still, diCaprio would see that while there are countries that are trying to do something as well as make it a big issue including President Barack Obama who talks with diCaprio about climate change being a national security issue rather than an environment issue. It’s not enough as diCaprio is aware that many of these oil companies are part of corporate conglomerates who are more interested in making money than doing what is right while there are also politicians who refuse to believe in the concept of global warming and climate change.

Fisher Stevens’ direction is very simple in the way he shoots many of the locations that are present as well as showing what is happening as coral reefs under the sea have died while Greenland is starting to melt in a rapid pace. The usage of the wide and medium shots with the aid of cinematographer Antonio Rossi would showcase the world that is starting to fall apart in some places including Indonesia where forest fires are becoming common all because of industry. With the aid of Brett Banks, Geoffrey Richman, Abhay Sofsky, and Ben Sozanski as well as sound designer Allan Zaleski, Stevens would use old footage of leaders in the past trying to make an effort to do something but often result in very little or often taking a step back in favor of more profitable interests. The interviews Stevens shoots with diCaprio talking to scientists, environmentalists, and world leaders showcase the people who weren’t just going to tell diCaprio what they’re facing but also the fact there is still hope and ways that can help the planet. Especially as some of these world leaders have faced the idea of what is happening while one of the biggest advocates in the subject of climate change is Pope Francis who is seen briefly conversing with diCaprio as the two talk and give each other gifts.

The film’s music by the Scottish post-rock band Mogwai, Gustavo Santaolalla, and the duo of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is mainly an ambient-based score that features some of the soothing post-rock elements of Mogwai with Reznor/Ross‘ eerie ambient sounds driven by electronics with the folk-inspired music of Santaolalla. It is one of the film’s highlights as its overall presentation showcases a world that is coming apart but with a chance to repair itself.

Before the Flood is a marvelous film from Fisher Stevens. It’s a film that showcases the world that is starting to become more fragile as well as what can be done and what must be done to save it. In the end, Before the Flood is a remarkable film from Fisher Stevens.

© thevoid99 2016