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Sidney

PG-13 2022 1h 47m Documentary TRAILER for List
90% Tomatometer 81 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
From producer Oprah Winfrey and directed by Reginald Hudlin, this revealing documentary honors the legendary Sidney Poitier and his legacy as an iconic actor, filmmaker and activist at the center of Hollywood and the Civil Rights Movement. Featuring candid interviews with Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Robert Redford, Lenny Kravitz, Barbra Streisand, Spike Lee and many more, the film is also produced by Derik Murray, in close collaboration with the Poitier family.
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Sidney

Sidney

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Critics Consensus

Sidney might feel a bit standard compared to its trailblazing subject -- but then again, it'd be all but impossible to capture a life this extraordinary in any single film.

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Critics Reviews

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Candice Frederick Huffington Post “Sidney” doesn’t bother to simplify details around Poitier’s biography, nor does it try to complicate his story. Rather, it honors the very real complexities of the life he lived. Dec 6, 2022 Full Review Colin Grant New Statesman Though far from hagiography, Sidney is laudatory, and given to a kind of soft-focus sentimentality, especially when a lachrymose Winfrey is interviewed. The tone is set by the inclusion of extracts of film archive, and Poitier’s calm, dignified voice. Nov 2, 2022 Full Review Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News While the reflections from Denzel Washington, Oprah, Robert Redford help define Poitier’s career and life, it’s when we hear from the legend himself that “Sidney” comes to life. Rated: 3/4 Sep 29, 2022 Full Review Jericho Tadeo MovieWeb "Revolutionary" is a word that gets thrown around and carelessly tacked on to a lot of things, but it is precisely the best word to describe Poitier as an artist and activist. Sidney triumphs in reminding us of why exactly that is. Jul 12, 2024 Full Review Louisa Moore Screen Zealots The most effective and touching parts of the documentary come when Sidney tells his story in his own words. Talking directly to the camera, he reminisces about a life well lived, creating a memoir of his legacy that will live on for generations. Dec 5, 2022 Full Review Armond White National Review He’s memorialized as an artist-activist and significant only for that. The doc is angled toward how Oprah wants us to see Poitier and herself. Nov 23, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kyle M If you haven't seen all the actor's works, this respectfully enriching humane portrait detailing his legendary contributive stature will still definitely win you over as it further cements his legacy over the important themes he'd confronted and emphasized. (A-) Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/15/24 Full Review Marcus J Saw it. Loved it, in limited theatrical release September 26, 2022. Shame on Apple TV+ for restricting access to this important historical work. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Michael W This showbiz documentary was very good. The entire crew did a spectacular job on documenting on the career of one of the greatest actors of all time Sidney Poitier. It goes into specific detail of his childhood and on all the movies he starred and directed. He really was a true inspiration to the world. If you're an Apple TV+ member, you have to watch this documentary sometime. It's a definite must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member Outstanding documentary about a beautiful, powerful, gracious and determined man and one of our greatest actors! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/21/22 Full Review ranny l Sidney is an inspiring documentary that will ensure generations to come to love and appreciate the impact of Oscar award-winning actor, Mr. Sidney Poitier. The techniques used to tell his story, the events shared and the contributions to the film will keep viewers engaged. Described by producer Oprah Winfrey as one of the most extraordinary people she's ever met, Mr. Poitier would be proud of this documentary about his life. Sidney reflects on the life and legacy of iconic actor, filmmaker, and activist, Sidney Poitier. Born and raised in the Bahamas, the film shows life for him once he arrived in the USA as a colored man and how he rose to become an icon and the first Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, despite racism and other obstacles. The documentary creatively tells Poitier's story in his own words from interviews from Ms. Winfrey's personal collection. Anecdotes from his family and heavy hitters such as Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Halle Berry, and Oprah Winfrey herself included. This film is truly a celebration of Mr. Poitier's legacy, the contributions he made, and a life well-lived. I love how the interview clips from the younger Poitier seamlessly blend together with the elder Poitier picking up the story. My favorite part of the documentary is the clip from Guess Who's Coming to Dinner when he says, "You think of yourself as a colored man. And I think of myself as a man," because it perfectly summarizes how he felt about himself and how he demanded other people to look at him. For me, this is what enabled him to break so many barriers and pave the way for other actors, including myself. The film does not hold back and includes some of Mr. Poitier's not-so-proud moments, which really help show the different sides of his complex life. This film is about perseverance and being confident in who you are despite how the world sees you. I love that Mr. Poitier understood that he was not identified by his color and made sure everyone else knew it too, on and off-screen, even demanding scripts be rewritten to make his character stronger. I rate Sidney 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. You can watch Sidney on Apple TV+ starting September 23, 2022. By Tiana S., KIDS FIRST! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis From producer Oprah Winfrey and directed by Reginald Hudlin, this revealing documentary honors the legendary Sidney Poitier and his legacy as an iconic actor, filmmaker and activist at the center of Hollywood and the Civil Rights Movement. Featuring candid interviews with Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Robert Redford, Lenny Kravitz, Barbra Streisand, Spike Lee and many more, the film is also produced by Derik Murray, in close collaboration with the Poitier family.
Director
Reginald Hudlin
Producer
Derik Murray, Oprah Winfrey
Screenwriter
Jesse James Miller
Production Co
Digital Thunderdome, Harpo Films, Apple Studios, Network Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Some Smoking|Some Language|Racial Slurs)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 23, 2022
Runtime
1h 47m
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