SummaryAt the age of 34, former New Orleans Saints defensive back Steve Gleason was diagnosed with ALS and given a life expectancy of two to five years. Weeks later, Gleason found out his wife, Michel, was expecting their first child. A video journal that began as a gift for his unborn son expands to chronicle Steve’s determination to get his relationsh... Read More
Directed By:Clay Tweel
Written By:Clay Tweel
Gleason
Metascore
Generally Favorable
80
User score
Universal Acclaim
9.0
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
80
97% Positive
28 Reviews
28 Reviews
3% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Jul 28, 2016
100
Gleason is so powerful in its cumulative effect that it should be accompanied by a consumer advisory — something along the lines of “This documentary may cause sudden alterations of mood and attitude.”
User score
Universal Acclaim
9.0
91% Positive
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
9% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Aug 21, 2022
10
This documentary is still in my head, although I watched it yesterday. I cried often in this movie to see how this disease is destroying the life. It was very sad to see how normal function of the body are stopping to work and what terror that means for Gleason and how much help he needs. One scene caught me a lot. Gleasons foundation fulfilled some trips for ALS patients and you could see how happy a patient was to go to Italy and cried because of that. In 5 days I will fly to Kenya, am only little excited because I travelled so much and for me it is normal. I was even so lazy, that I didnt organize much. So I felt, how lucky I am to see the world alone and without any problems. In addition I organized some hosts today already. Enough of sad situations. The humour sometimes... perfect dark humour. The movie is beautiful also...what a contrast to the sad conditions. I was stunned by the help and solidarity by his wife and how eager Gleason is to be a good father. A big punch in the face to feminism and the system we are living in the western world. I am 39 and not married because of the danger of being married (men going their own way :) ). But some of the scenes could shake my opinion ... for a short moment of course ;)
Mar 30, 2017
80
This moving docu-portrait of former NFL player Steve Gleason’s battle with motor neurone disease is as much heartrending home video as it is awareness-raiser.
May 30, 2016
80
Focused much more intently on video journals Gleason made as his illness progressed, the film both documents his rapid physical decline and ponders the many existential issues it raises — especially for a married couple expecting their first child in a few months.
Aug 4, 2016
75
Tweel has edited this material into a complex and emotionally exhausting vérité-like tapestry.
Jul 27, 2016
75
He can afford the best treatments and technologies and — by the end — even to extend his life, because he’s a well-off former NFL player. Most patients don’t have these luxuries.
Jul 28, 2016
50
If I go on about how Gleason’s convention-bound filmmaking and drawn-out running time dampened my reaction to Steve Gleason’s journey, am I being a good critic, or just a dick?
Aug 14, 2016
10
Devastating, and absolutely unforgettable. Includes an incredibly candid depiction of the effects of the title character's disability on his wife, who tries to stay sane while dealing with her husband's increasingly severe affliction. If, like me, you're dealing with the inevitable troubles of aging, see this film for a ****...balance. An Oscar winner.
Aug 6, 2016
9
An excellent, compellingly candid documentary about a remarkable man on a remarkable journey. The raw honesty and uplifting inspiration showcased here are astounding, portrayed with an uncensored frankness rarely depicted on screen. Even though the film is at times heartbreaking, its celebration of personal heroism and the spirit to carry on despite the odds is touching, enlightening and mesmerizing.
Production Company:
- Dear Rivers Productions
- Exhibit A
- IMG Original Content
Release Date:Jul 29, 2016
Duration:1 h 50 m
Rating:R
Tagline:Live with purpose. Love with purpose.
Website:
Awards
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards
• 1 Win & 5 Nominations
Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
