Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

I Am Woman Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 26, 2020

With musician bio-pics all the rage these days, it’s about time someone decided to bring the story of Helen Reddy to the screen. A powerhouse vocalist and cultural icon, Reddy (who sadly passed away last September) has experienced all the ups and downs of the music industry, also enduring a multitude of challenges in her personal life. She’s a fascinating individual, but it’s strange to watch “I Am Woman,” which is more about her marriage to manager Jeff Wald than it is about Reddy’s achievements and ambitions. Screenwriter Emma Jensen (“Mary Shelly”) looks to honor Reddy, highlighting her as a key figure of the feminist movement with anthemic songs and fierce intelligence, but she makes a curious choice to downplay the individual to focus on the couple as they stumble through the years. There’s more to Reddy than her self-destructive spouse, and it’s very strange that “I Am Woman” doesn’t recognize that, resulting in a disappointing film.

In the mid-1960s, Australian native Helen Reddy (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) moves to New York City with her daughter, Tracy, to pursue her dream of singing stardom. What she discovers is a profoundly sexist industry that wants nothing to do with her. Meeting Jeff Wald (Evan Peters) at a party, Helen falls in love with the fast-talking lackey at a talent agency, with the pair soon marrying, making a move to Los Angeles, with the husband promising to turn his wife into a major force on the scene. Trouble comes with more rejection, leaving Helen fearful of becoming a housewife and losing her dream. Pushing Jeff to make the connections, Helen’s presence is soon recognized on a national level, boosted by the success of her hit, “I Am Woman,” which becomes an anthem for the Equal Rights Amendment movement in America. However, while Helen’s career takes off, Jeff’s addictions bring them down, forcing the singer to deal with her husband’s problems, which threaten her financial and emotional future.

“I Am Woman” begins in 1966, with Helen arriving in New York City to meet with a record label that made misleading promises to her, leaving her without a contract. Jensen doesn’t waste time setting the scene, with Helen exposed to a wave of casual sexism from the company executive, and she’s forced to sing submissive love songs for small audiences at a local bar to survive, only to learn she’s making less than the all-male band. It’s this initial struggle that helps define Helen’s determination, raising Tracy in a dilapidated apartment while clinging to her dream. She finds an ally in Lilian Roxon (Danielle Macdonald), a journalist working on an encyclopedia of rock music at night while banging out stories on beauty tips during the day. The pair become friends, but such attention is weakened with the arrival of Jeff, a smooth talker who captures Helen’s heart.

Once Jeff enters the picture, “I Am Woman” explores their relationship, which doesn’t run especially hot, as the manager tends to expose his impatience early in the coupling, making Helen’s fondness for him bewildering. The actors share little chemistry, and director Unjoo Moon (“The Zen of Bennett”) doesn’t encourage heat, preferring a more melodramatic understanding of the problematic union, finding Jeff unwilling to push Helen as an artist, devoting his time to other bands. As the 1970s begin, “I Am Woman” offers a vague charting of Helen’s career, where she finally caught a break and soon hammered out the details on the tune “I Am Woman” (songwriting controversy with collaborator Ray Burton isn’t addressed), launching an anthem for the Women’s Liberation Movement, giving her a number one hit and a worldwide audience. Stage and television performances are included, offering Cobham-Hervey a chance to play with Reddy’s musical presence, but awareness of the career as it developed is missing, creating confusion as the star experiences everything only to end up with nothing thanks to Jeff’s cocaine-fueled recklessness and displays of chauvinism.

I Am Woman Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is at its best with colors, offering a bright display of period clothing and concert/television lighting, with deep reds and blues. Skintones are natural. Detail is also strong with facial surfaces and interior decoration, highlighting studio time and various apartments/households. Dimension with concert performances is satisfactory. Delineation is acceptable, but blacks look a little milky at times. Compression issues are consistent during the viewing experience, with banding a common sight.

I Am Woman Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

While not a lossless track, the 5.1 Dolby Digital mix provides an inviting listening event for "I Am Woman." Soundtrack selections and stage performances are commanding, with big vocals and sharp instrumentation, giving the low-end some percussive presence. Dialogue exchanges are clear and emotive. Surrounds are active, capturing echoed room tone and group bustle, and urban movement is present, contributing some mild separation effects.

I Am Woman Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Cast Interviews (9:36, HD) collect EPK-style thoughts from Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Evan Peters, and Danielle Macdonald. Topics include the challenges involved playing real people, respecting relationships and personalities, intense preparation, and a celebration of director Unjoo Moon is included.

• Crew Interviews (35:05, HD) collect thoughts from director Unjoo Moon, screenwriter Emma Jensen, producer Rosemary Blight, cinematographer Dion Beebe, editor Dany Cooper, production designer Michael Turner, costume designer Emily Seresin, composer Rafael May, music producer Bryon Jones, and makeup and hair designer Nikki Gooley. Technical challenges are highlighted and preparation is recalled. Everyone tends to share the same information, offering surprise when confronted with Reddy's career achievements.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:45, HD) is included.

I Am Woman Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's not a lot of nuance in "I Am Woman," which goes broad with scenes of discrimination and self-doubt to reach a wide audience. Real textures on Jeff's malevolence, Helen's frustrations, and Lilian's vindictiveness are avoided to keep the story simplified, focusing on the singer's ability to rally a movement with her biggest hit. Of course, there's more to Helen Reddy than "I Am Woman," but the producers don't pursue career achievements in full or celebrate her interest in education, making the movie about marital suffering, which tends to muddy the picture's intended message of individual empowerment.