Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon Blu-ray Movie Review

Mensch (noun): "A person of integrity or honor."

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 8, 2014

All lives are created equal, but what one does with life isn't. Shep Gordon lived the Hollywood dream, not appearing front-and-center but serving as the soul of the elite of the elite in entertainment. He managed the stars, yes, but he was something more: their friend. He built talent, but he did something more: he developed lives. Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon tells the story of one of the most fascinating people in the entertainment industry, a man whose stamp can be heard in music, seen on the screen, even tasted in supermarket spices. The film, directed by Mike Myers (Wayne's World , the Austin Powers films) and Beth Aala, shapes Gordon's life through his own words and those of the people whose lives he touched, of whom there are many. From superstars to everyday people fortunate enough to call him "friend" and "mentor," his reach extends well beyond Tinseltown, far past titles, and closer to the heart than most anyone who came before or who will come after.

Supermensch.

Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon plays with a linear retelling of Gordon's life story, beginning with his move to Los Angeles and chance stay at a hotel where he met Janice Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, the latter of whom encouraged him to pursue a career in talent management. That led him to Alice Cooper and his role in ascending Cooper into the public eye, with emphasis on stage performances and the School's Out album. It follows his time working with other top musical talents like Anne Murray and Teddy Pendergrass. The film examines his bachelor lifestyle but dream of settling down and beginning a family. It follows to his current life in Maui, his personal relationships with relative unknowns to Sharon Stone, his work in defining the "celebrity TV chef" business, and his retirement and life-threatening surgery.

The sheer amount of star power appearing on camera for the film is staggering. Sylvester Stallone, Willie Nelson, Fab Five Freddy, Sammy Hagar, Michael Douglas, Alice Cooper, Anne Murray, Tom Arnold, and Emeril Lagasse are only some of the names that sing Shep's praises and show a genuine love for the man who helped shape their lives, propel their careers, and opened his door and heart to their every need. It's a fascinating cross section of talent and a beautiful display of humanity and tenderness, all in response to a man who got his start pushing drugs out of a hotel but who ultimately became a maker of talent and a dear friend to the stars. The picture tells a fairly linear story, yes, and it's not so much captivating as it is interesting in a human interest sort of way. It's an open door of sorts into the real world behind the screen or in front of the microphone, a look at one of the people who helps shape that world and make the magic happen behind the scenes.

For all of his successes with talents like Alice Cooper and Emeril Lagasse, the real treasure of the Shep Gordon story comes from the inside. This is an intimate, honest portrait. Shep's story is not simply shared. His joys are evident, his regrets are open, and the humanity rolls off him with every word, with each new revelation about his life. The film, and his story, are at its best as he recalls an ex-girlfriend's loss and his taking in her children as his own. It's a tender example of the real Shep Gordon and the true contributions his life has allowed him to make. Sure, panties on a record might have made a lot of people a lot of money, but the people around Gordon are infinitely more wealthy than money could ever make them considering his generosity, hospitality, and desire to help others not for his own gain but because it's what he was made to do. The film is otherwise a good life overview, including both broad, arcing stories -- his relationship with Cooper seems to fill about a third of the film -- and intimate, off-the-cuff stories involving, for example, a cat of whom he and neighbor Cary Grant claimed joint custody. The film is a success at every level, even as it's a fairly straightforward presentation. It's the life that makes the movie, and Mike Myers simply allows Shep to tell it, with some vintage and recreated archival footage both seriously and humorously helping push the narrative forward.

Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon arrives on Blu-ray with a grab bag sort of 1080p transfer. The main material is presented in a fairly flat, not particularly interesting HD video style that's smooth and clean but produces adequate textures on faces, clothes, and backgrounds. Several close-ups look rather good, exposing complex facial features with pleasing ease and efficiency. Colors range from natural to warm to hot but find a fair balance in the middle, most of the time. There's a variety of older material scattered throughout, some truly vintage, some appearing recreated to look vintage. Either way, most of it looks good in context and there's never much of a jarring feel as the image transitions from smooth HD video to roughly textured old film; a lot of that is the quality of the story delivery and the attention to detail and flow in the supportive imagery. It's not demo material but it suits the video requirements well enough.

Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that, in typical Documentary fashion, almost never has to extend itself beyond simple dialogue and music. The latter can be a little sharp, particularly near the beginning. Clarity is lacking but not absent. Musical spacing never proves overly problematic, however, and it features a light bit of surround help. Dialogue, likewise, is once or twice a little on the sharp side but is generally presented clearly and accurately from the center channel. Light ambient effects, such as gently rolling waters, occasionally support a few scenes, but this is generally a straightforward music and talk track that serves the material with commendable efficiency.

Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon contains no bonus content.

Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon is a solid biographical Documentary about one of the most popular men in the entertainment scene, and most people wouldn't recognize him if they saw him strolling through the local mall. The life story of Shep Gordon, manager of the stars and friend and mentor to most everyone who crossed his path, makes for a fascinating tale. The film is straightforward but in a good way, allowing Shep and his closest friends to tell his story, a story anyone who has ever watched a movie or listened to a record should stop to enjoy. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon delivers good video and adequate audio. No extras are included. Recommended primarily on the strength of the film.