Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

20 Feet from Stardom Blu-ray Movie Review

90 minutes of fame.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 4, 2014

Don't let your dream disappear.

Raw musical talent isn't always the key determiner of success in the industry. Then again, what one may cite as "success" may differ from the majority. Making the most of God-given talents in church choirs, performing at local events, singing background, or fronting a popular band are in their own ways immensely gratifying for both the singer and the listener and a means of allowing the world to hear the beauty of a gifted voice. Yet it's human nature to want more, for the church choir member to lead the congregation, for the struggling artist to aim for that big contract, for the background singer to take center stage, for the lead singer to perfect his or her craft and sell more records. Sometimes, destiny has a set place for someone, and even if that place isn't front-and-center behind the lead microphone, an individual can make a mark in his or her own little corner of the spotlight. Director Morgan Neville's (Johnny Cash's America) 20 Feet from Stardom introduces audiences to the world of background singing and several of the more prominent voices that back most of the world's most popular artists and bands. It's a fascinating glimpse into an under-appreciated and under-documented role that finds the faces and the souls behind the people who exist just a note away from some of the biggest names in music.

The backups.

The background singer is an unheralded yet critically important position. He or she brings more life to the tune, carries the harmony, and must blend with the other performers. They're neither stars nor nobodies. They're appreciated in the inner circles but hardly known outside. Yet they're the backbone of some of the world's most renowned performing artists, including Michael Jackson, Sting, The Rolling Stones, Bette Middler, and Luther Vandross. The film explores the lives and works of several of the industry's best, including Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, and Judith Hill. Performers such as Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Stevie Wonder, and Mick Jagger appear in interviews. The film follows not simply their careers but how they started, where they've gone, dreams fulfilled and dreams broken, and the real life behind the behind-the-scenes performer.

Most of the best Documentaries explore the unexplored and introduce audiences to the people and places and things that don't usually enjoy their just attention, recognition, and appreciation. 20 Feet from Stardom does just that, exposing the people behind the melody and bringing them to the forefront for their due time to shine. Certainly, the individuals highlighted in the film aren't totally anonymous; they've enjoyed a number of successes within the background vocal industry and on their own, to varying degrees of recognition and staying power, but never have they truly been at the center of attention quite like they are here, opening up to music fans with a tangible sincerity and heartfelt honesty about what they've done, where they've gone, the highs and lows of their careers, and their lifelong desires. The picture is a genuine example of humanity at its most basic, portraying living examples of people whose entire careers have been defined by a dream just out of reach, their push to better themselves, their efforts to finally realize not the full potential of their gift -- that they have already mastered -- but the recognition their talents deserve. It's a quintessential real-life story that's moving, uplifting, and even lightly funny at times, embodying a core humanity in the voices that bring fullness to the melody, that give life to a recording, that bring a soul to the music.

Through the film, Director Morgan Neville doesn't merely tell the stories of his subjects but rather the stories of music, culture, and recent history as they're experienced, shaped, and understood by the subjects. There's almost a magic to it, a pulse that runs through it, a narrative that comments on fundamental human emotions and life in modern times by way of exploring the life of the background singer. It's a picture of multiple components even through its underlying theme, and the filmmakers have shaped the movie in a way that accentuates the surrounding pieces nearly as much as the subjects themselves, demonstrating an understanding of the symbiosis at work and the unique perspectives available to tell a story greater than that of the backup singer alone. The picture is also a living document of success and failure in an industry that's far too often anymore shunning real talent in favor of marketable figures and thereby shutting out some of the most talented voices around for any number of reasons, reasons the singers acknowledge in various parts of the film. Technically, the picture is simple yet subtly stylish, focused on the subjects but occasionally drifting into a more artistic and, by extension, fundamentally deeper and significant posture that accentuates the core and makes the movie a little more compelling on a purely visual level.

20 Feet from Stardom Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

20 Feet from Stardom's high definition transfer shines. The HD video source material, which comprises the majority of the content, offers an honest, clean, accurate picture. Details are crisp and clear, presenting faces, microphones, clothes, and background accents with natural precision. Graphics, too -- notably those that identify the stars with whom various singers have performed -- are well defined and sharp. The image shows some vintage photographs which are also presented with a natural appearance, as well as plenty of older film and video footage that lacks stability and precision but fares well enough for its age and source. Colors are balanced throughout the newer HD segments, revealing accurate skin tones and clothing hues with ease. Black levels are sufficiently deep and true. Very light banding, noise, and shimmering irregularly appear in a few shots. Overall, this is a strong presentation from Anchor Bay.

20 Feet from Stardom Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

20 Feet from Stardom arrives on Blu-ray with a robust, hugely satisfying DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. As expected, this one's all about the music. The track pumps out dynamic, crystal clear notes one after another, filling the listing area with the sort of sonic goodness reserved for the finest tracks. The music features real, full body, crisply defined highs, and a solid midrange. The low end is particularly impressive, playing with a deep, sometimes thunderous presence but never falling too rattly or becoming little more than a collection of unkempt reverberations. The entire stage is flooded with the notes, including a robust, smooth, and even surround companion. Vocals are equally balanced and enjoy pinpoint stage placement. It's a beautiful presentation of a variety of music that will be nothing short of a treat for casual and hardcore music listeners alike. The track features little else beyond the spoken interview word, which plays accurately and evenly from the center. In short, this is a wonderful sound presentation from Anchor Bay.

20 Feet from Stardom Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

20 Feet from Stardom contains several supplements.

• Deleted Scenes (HD): Judith's Youth (1:34), Jingles Galore (1:36), Lisa and Jo in Harmony (1:47), Judith Recording (2:04), Jo's Curveball (2:21), Stevvi on the Road (2:06), Working Together (2:37), 'Mean Old World' (1:36), Sunset Sound (3:04), The Blossoms Reminiscing (3:19), Merry and Her Granddaughter (3:00), and 'Desperation' (3:50).
• The Buddy System (HD, 8:52): A look at the friendships between the backup singers, performing with different singers, the skills required to sing backup, the evolution of the backup singer, and more.
• Times Talks: Q&A with Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer & Director Morgan Neville (HD, 29:24): An episode of the New York Times program, moderated by Jon Pareles who presents a number of questions to the stars and the director. From June 11, 2013.

20 Feet from Stardom Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In the One Direction Documentary This is Us, fans are briefly introduced to the band's backup singers and musicians, a nice touch and a nod towards their importance to the greater whole. Yet that's just a taste of the truth behind the spotlight. 20 Feet from Stardom explores the people behind the stars and their contributions to the musical scene, but more importantly it examines their lives, the complexities of those lives, the dreams fulfilled, and the dreams never attained. It's as moving and honest as it is thematically enthralling and structurally captivating. The Oscar-nominated Documentary is a must-see for music fans and anyone interested in the lives of people who live in the proverbial shadows and yearn to break free into center stage. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of 20 Feet from Stardom features solid video and remarkable audio. A few extras are included. Recommended.