This documentary about Sheryl Crow depicts a musician whose work ethic did not allow a lot of time for frivolity.
The early trajectory of Sheryl Crow’s career is not entirely unfamiliar. Born and raised in the Missouri Bootheel, she grew up loving and learning music. After a fortuitous break — a vocal in a McDonald’s ad — she lit out for more showbiz-friendly environs and got an instant dose of reality. Crow’s tale of finding a boot on her parked car and being unable to pay the ticket seems inevitable.
In time she found a place in Michael Jackson’s band and its attendant glitz, glam and eccentricity. And, later, experienced sexual harassment at the hands of Jackson’s manager Frank DiLeo. Crow drops this bombshell with what some may consider surprising equanimity. It’s not the only dark story she tells here.
Eventually, of course, Sheryl Crow became Sheryl Crow — the multiplatinum-selling singer-songwriter with a hefty set of radio hits. This documentary, directed by Amy Scott, is assembled in the semi-standard slick method of our day — you know, where they make the vintage footage look really vintage by digitally inserting a sprocket hole on the left side of the frame. Oy.
Still: Crow herself is a more than interesting subject. She’s a musician whose Rock-with-a-capital-R cred — her guitar playing is ace, her voice is soulful and her ear for a hook is unimpeachable — is sometimes overlooked in favor of her pop appeal. And her story has a lot of twists. (Remember when she was engaged to Lance Armstrong?)
Here she’s an engaging, unpretentious and consistently frank docent of her own career, which she assures the viewer is still ongoing, despite the fact that she’s not making albums right now. Friends including Laura Dern, Keith Richards and Brandi Carlile kick in words of admiration.
Sheryl
Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 34 minutes. Watch on Showtime platforms.
Source: Movies - nytimes.com
