Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story

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Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story

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1h 44m

Documentary

Biography

Music

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94%

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35 Reviews

96%

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100+ Ratings

This star-studded tribute brings into focus the dazzling, complex period of Liza Minnelli's life starting in the 1970s, just after the tragic death of her mother Judy Garland--as she confronts a range of personal and professional challenges on the way to becoming a bona fide legend. Over these years, Liza seeks out extraordinary mentors: Kay Thompson, Fred Ebb, Charles Aznavour, Halston, and Bob Fosse. With insightful participation from a coterie of colleagues such as Michael Feinstein, Mia Farrow, Ben Vereen, Joel Grey and the late Chita Rivera, along with the revelatory participation by the star herself, the film illuminates the contradiction of Liza Minnelli: her privilege and struggle, strength and vulnerability, unreal expectations and towering talent--the friction of which fueled her stunning rise, resilience and her enduring place as one of the greatest, most original performers in the history of entertainment.

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Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

“Liza” captures an attractive swath of show business history and reminds us of Minnelli’s accomplishments, which were significant.

Rated: 4/4

Feb 28, 2025

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

You get six little docs inside this big Liza doc... A lovely film. I loved it completely.

Feb 11, 2025

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Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

Beyond the fascinating history that “Liza” delightfully unravels, there’s a comforting takeaway: the warmth and respect with which friends and loved ones old and new talk about her on camera.

Feb 3, 2025

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Amber Wilkinson

Screen International

The vulnerability that several of her friends refer to also comes through, including in previously unseen backstage footage from a European tour. Meanwhile her star quality shines and sparkles in a plethora of clips from stage shows.

Mar 11, 2025

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André Hereford

Metro Weekly (Washington, DC)

'Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story' vibrantly celebrates the career of one of our greatest entertainers.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 7, 2025

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Megan McLachlan

The Contending

As Bruce David Klein’s documentary LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story posits, being the daughter of Judy Garland often held her back. But unlike her mother, Minnelli’s found family of friends saved her from an untimely demise.

Mar 7, 2025

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Wendy W

If you are a true Liza devotee you will love this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/12/25

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Francesca

Intimate, warm and moving. a class act like Liza., herself. An respectful look at an icon that is a bright spot in a dark time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/06/25

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Juan A

There are a lot of good clips of her performing, but if you go hoping to get some new and meaningful insights into who she is as a person, what drives her to work so hard, how she FELT about living in the shadow of her famous Mom, youll be disappointed. Did she ever sing and deliver a song QUIETLY, without a lot of loud razzmatazz?

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/02/25

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RENAISSANCE

I love Liza and will support anything with her at the theater but the documentary does her a disservice. We see a lot of other people and not a lot of Liza. She is alive and living and yet we hear so much of people talking about her in the past tense. I would have loved to hear her in her own words.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/15/25

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Meggie

The Queen deserves her due, and this film gives it to Liza. and in turn, to us viewing this film. Insightful, beautifully organized, with tons of fascinating footage never before seen. You'll love this documentary if you already love Liza, but if you don't know enough about Liza to love her, get ready, because you're going to fall hard!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/13/25

Full Review

GCW

Id hoped for more of her history and more of Liza talking. A run time of nearly 2 hours felt much longer and also very repetitive.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/07/25

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Bruce David Klein

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Liza Minnelli

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Michael Feinstein

Self

Mia Farrow

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Joel Grey

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Synopsis

This star-studded tribute brings into focus the dazzling, complex period of Liza Minnelli's life starting in the 1970s, just after the tragic death of her mother Judy Garland--as she confronts a range of personal and professional challenges on the way to becoming a bona fide legend. Over these years, Liza seeks out extraordinary mentors: Kay Thompson, Fred Ebb, Charles Aznavour, Halston, and Bob Fosse. With insightful participation from a coterie of colleagues such as Michael Feinstein, Mia Farrow, Ben Vereen, Joel Grey and the late Chita Rivera, along with the revelatory participation by the star herself, the film illuminates the contradiction of Liza Minnelli: her privilege and struggle, strength and vulnerability, unreal expectations and towering talent--the friction of which fueled her stunning rise, resilience and her enduring place as one of the greatest, most original performers in the history of entertainment.

Director: Bruce David Klein
Producer: Bruce David Klein, Alexander J. Goldstein, Robert Rich
Screenwriter: Bruce David Klein
Distributor: Zeitgeist Films
Production Co: Atlas Media
Genre: Documentary, Biography, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 24, 2025, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $211.6K
Runtime: 1h 44m

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