‘Steve McQueen American Icon’ Movie Review follows the legend from greatness to salvation
The new documentary centering on Hollywood icon, Steve McQueen, follows the star beyond his success to his reclusiveness and ends with his salvation, becoming a born-again Christian late in his life.
Greg Laurie, a mega-church pastor, produces and appears in the film as an avid fan, telling the story of McQueen’s troubled childhood and races around in a replica of the Ford Mustang McQueen barreled through the hills of San Francisco in Bullitt.
Laurie interviews Mel Gibson, who talks at length about McQueen’s minimalist acting style, stating “He was the best Steve McQueen there was.” Gibson added that he possessed a “disinhibition almost to the point of criminality.”
Numerous clips effectively showcase McQueen’s intense charisma, scene-stealing performances in films like The Magnificent Seven, in which McQueen consistently upstaged and irritated his co-star Yul Brynner.
The film has narration by Gary Sinise and never shies away from the darkness McQueen struggled with, nearly becoming one of the victims of the Manson Family murders, his divorce from Ali McGraw and withdrawing from Hollywood, growing a heavy beard and turning down film offers.
At one point, he even began charging $50,000 just to read a script.
Filmmakers Jon Erwin (October Baby, Woodlawn) and Ben Smallbone (Priceless) close out with a focus on McQueen’s time with a mentor and father figure, a Godly man giving the star flying lessons before being diagnosed with the rare form of lung cancer that eventually killed him at age 50.
Meeting Reverend Billy Graham, who gifted the actor with his personal leather-bound Bible, and an audio recording about Christ surprise and anger some critics.
The THR criticizes the film for “its hammering home of the religious angle in the final segment” and that it “…feels more than a little heavy-handed.”
McQueen’s widow, Barbara Minty McQueen, offers up time with open dialogue and insight into McQueen. She confirms the narrative and the angle Laurie presents.
Hollywood would have showcased McQueen’s drug use, battles and divorce from McGraw. Imagine an Oliver Stone, The Doors film titled “McQueen” and you can envision the nihilistic version of how Hollywood sees excess and fall from the top. Sadly, few appreciate the hope that McQueen found.
McQueen is indeed cool, a macho and interesting figure in Hollywood’s history, but the star appears to have an even greater legacy…one which Laurie presents.
