Sidney Review: A Celebration of an Icon
Apple TV+ celebrates the life of a Hollywood legend and a true trailblazer in its new documentary, Sidney. It looks at the life and career of Sidney Poitier through interviews with family, friends, admirers, and the man himself.
The film is a love letter to the actor from its creators. If viewers are looking for something unvarnished — like Ethan Hawke’s docu-series about Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, The Last Movie Stars –, this is not that.
For example, while the film discusses Poitier’s long-time affair with Diahann Carroll, it is mainly in passing. Similarly, the film only superficially engages with criticisms of Poitier’s filmography.
A more robust discussion of the criticisms of his career — both from the time and now — wouldn’t have taken anything away from Poitier’s importance or status as a trailblazer.
If anything, that complexity would make Sidney’s career even more relevant. It would have contextualized it in a larger conversation about media and representation. A conversation we still grapple with today.
The film acknowledges the criticisms. It just doesn’t engage deeply with them. The exception to this is the excellent discussion of Poitier’s career during the era of Blaxploitation films. By and large, though, it is a missed opportunity.
Even acknowledging its shortcomings, it is impossible not to be moved by the film. The affection the filmmakers have for Poitier can be a blind spot, but it is also an emotional asset.
Ultimately, Sidney leaves viewers feeling uplifted and inspired.
Much of what gives the film that warm feeling is hearing from Poitier himself. It adds a sense of familiarity to the film that you can’t get reading a tribute or obituary, no matter how heartfelt.
Poitier was a wonderful storyteller. Hearing him relay anecdotes from his life feels like having a conversation with an old friend.
These moments are especially poignant because the documentary was filmed shortly before Poitier’s death.
Knowing that this is some of the last footage captured of Poitier makes hearing from him feel precious. Every moment he is on screen feels like something that should be cherished.
Just as moving is hearing people talk about Poitier and what he meant to them. The emotion that people like Oprah and Morgan Freeman express is profound.
It’s easy to understand Poitier’s legacy intellectually by reading about it. It’s a whole other experience to feel that impact on a human level through the eyes of the people who grew up with him as their hero.
The film also does an admirable job of chronicling Poitier’s civil rights work. It does an even better job of showing Poitier’s relationship with race and racism in America.
Poitier’s experience of race was different from many other Black actors in Hollywood. He faced much of the same racism they did. However, growing up in the Bahamas gave him a unique perspective.
You can see how his upbringing shaped his understanding of race and how his understanding of racism evolved over time. That journey provides insight into how Poitier thought about his career.
The film doesn’t make that connection explicitly. Still, the juxtaposition of his career and clips of him talking about civil rights is compelling. It is an important part of understanding how Poitier saw himself and his image.
Sidney is not everything it could be. Its admiration for its subject can get in the way. Painting such a positive picture flattens some of Sidney’s story. Yet, that isn’t something you notice while watching it.
The experience of watching Sidney is an aspirational one. Watching it makes you feel grateful that this man was part of popular culture for so long. It also makes you grateful that we get this final conversation with him.
Sidney might not be Sidney Poitier’s full story, but it is his story. It’s a worthy starting point for learning about a remarkable figure in Hollywood history.
Stray Thoughts
- There has never been a better smile in Hollywood than Sidney Poitier’s.
- A big highlight of the film is the depiction of Poitier’s decades-long friendship with Harry Belafonte.
- Rev. Willie Blue talking about Poitier and Belafonte’s harrowing journey to deliver money to the organizers of the Freedom Summer is one of the film’s most moving moments. Viewers may already know the story, but hearing Blue recount it is incredible.
- I loved seeing the footage from the night Sidney got his honorary Oscar, and Denzel Washington and Halle Barry won theirs. Nothing underscores Poitier’s legacy more than that.
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What did you think of Sidney? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Sidney premieres Friday, September 23, on Apple TV+.
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Sarah Fields
Sarah is an obsessive geek who likes to get into the weeds and over think things. She is passionate about Sci-Fi and comics and is a giant classic film nerd. Sarah cares deeply about media representation and the power of telling diverse stories. When she's not writing or watching her favorite shows she spends her days working in the non-profit world trying to make life a little better for those that need some extra help.