In 1991 while shooting “Doc Hollywood,” actor Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a currently incurable degenerative chronic nerve disorder which results in physical tremors, slowness of movement, rigidity, difficulty with speech, and, eventually dementia. It is an ugly, cruel, and relentless disorder that generally starts in people approaching middle age. Fox was 29 when he was diagnosed.
“STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie” (stylized “STILL”) is a tour-de-force chronicling of his life story and his ongoing battle to deal with and find a cure for Parkinson’s.
Thin Docudrama Ice
In the history of the film medium, no one (with the noted exception of Errol Morris, “The Thin Blue Line”) has yet to produce a memorable docudrama feature—until now. It is the opinion of many purists and critics (me included) that shooting “reenactments” of past events and including them within a documentary framework dilutes the art form.Much like Morris, Guggenheim was smart in not revealing too much visually with the reenactment portions. None of the faces of the actors portraying Steven Spielberg, Woody Harrelson, Fox, and others are shown, and the sleight of hand is all the more convincing when woven into and around stock, live-action TV and film clips, and outtake footage.
The finest example of this is during a segment where Fox spent 10 weeks simultaneously shooting the second season of “Family Ties” and “Back to the Future.” Days were spent on the TV set, with nights and weekends in various film locations. These 18-hour days were understandably draining for Fox, even though he was 23 at the time and in excellent physical shape.
Family Ties
The second half of “STILL” spends a great of time in the company of Fox, Tracy Pollan (his wife of 34 years), and their four children. As with other parts of the film, Fox and Guggenheim shy away from sugarcoating the early years of his marriage when he was largely MIA due to his work schedule.Needle Drops
Guggenheim also deserves high marks for his choice of included source pop songs. Starting with Joe Walsh’s “A Life of Illusion,” these precise needle drops fit hand-in-glove with the progression of the narrative.
Fox’s hopeful first arrival in L.A. is accompanied by “This Is It” by Kenny Loggins. “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns ‘n’ Roses plays during a montage of images capturing Fox’s hazy club/party period. The INXS tune “New Sensation” is played over clips of TV shows when Fox first began taking Sinemet, a dopamine-inducing prescription drug that reduces tremors.
The most effective and stirring of these passages is the haunting ballad “Strange Magic” by ELO when Fox and Pollan fell in love during the filming of “Bright Lights, Big City.”
Watch Your Step
Sober for over 30 years, Fox has mellowed and is determined not to let Parkinson’s rob him of his optimism, wit, and laconic humor. In an early scene, he is walking a little too fast down a sidewalk when he trips over his feet and falls. Helped up by his physical therapist, Fox is recognized by a woman passerby, who says “Nice to meet you.” Fox retorts with “Thanks, you too. You knock me off my feet.”
Since the founding of The Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2010, he and others have raised nearly $2 billion for Parkinson’s research.
Fox is an inspirational, courageous warrior, and a selfless humanitarian of the highest order. God bless him, his family, and the millions of other Parkinson’s patients and their families the world over.
