Sidney review – a brilliant and captivating look at a revolutionary man

By Ricky Valero
Published: September 22, 2022 (Last updated: February 1, 2023)
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3.5

Summary

Sidney is a fine-tuned documentary that should be watched for generations to come.

Apple TV+ documentary film Sidney will be released on September 23, 2022.

We have a documentary from Apple TV+ in Sidney. The film follows the life of actor, filmmaker, and activist Sidney Poitier. Is the new documentary worth a watch? I will share my thoughts and let you know.

If you are a fan of movies, you know who Sidney Poitier is and his incredible work in the world of film. Whether it was his acting in In the Heat of the Night or the director’s chair in Uptown Saturday Night, Poitier was an immensely talented person that stood out from the rest of the crowd. However, this documentary showed early on the battle he faced to make it into the world of show business.

Speaking of the battle, this is where filmmaker Reginald Hudlin knocks it out of the ballpark from the moment the film starts. It began with Poitier talking about those obstacles. While we hear from so many people throughout the documentary, you hear these stories out of Poitier’s mouth, making the stories stand out on their own. You can tell that Poitier worked in film because he is one fantastic storyteller.

With that being said, you can’t help but appreciate hearing from all these actors, directors, and other people in film about Poitier’s impact on their lives. The amount of people he inspired with his work in cinema is incredible because, without it, so many people might not have wanted to make that jump.

Another thing that stands out is Jesse James Miller’s writing paired with Hudlin’s direction. As you watch the film, you notice it’s not messy or out of sync. It is the story of Poitier from the beginning of time to the end of time. You cling to this journey of Poitier’s life and grow a newfound appreciation for certain aspects of his journey.

Sidney is that type of documentary that could be used in schools so that for generations to come don’t forget about these figures that truly were revolutionary for their work. I hope we get to see more documentaries like this from Oprah’s production company and this writer/director combination.

Overall, Sidney is an incredible look at an extraordinary human being. With a documentary, you want to learn about a person, understand their story, and what kind of impact they had on people, and this checks all of those boxes. I can’t recommend this one enough.

What did you think of the documentary film Sidney? Comment below.

You can watch this film with a subscription to Apple TV+

Additional Reading

Apple TV+, Movie Reviews, Streaming Service