HBO Max has another hit on its hands – and it’s something that could very easily never have seen the light of day.
The Last Movie Stars, a docuseries directed by Ethan Hawke, unveils the untold story of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s life and relationships in their own words as told by others.
The premise, as revealed in the trailer below, is that Newman got his screenwriter friend Stewart Stern to tape over 100 interviews with friends and family — “stuff they’d never say if they weren’t with friends” — in view to writing a memoir. Apparently Newman had a change of heart when he destroyed the tapes – but not before they were transcribed.
These transcriptions were provided to Hawke by one of Newman’s children, and with the help of actors such as Laura Linney, George Clooney and Sally Field, he set about turning the recordings “into a sort of voice game”. Fourteen years after Newman’s death, we finally get a glimpse of what he might have written.
The project is a clear hit with critics. It currently has a 100% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes (opens in new tab), with universal praise from the 21 critics cited.
The gamble on having instantly recognizable Hollywood voices playing the “latest” stars ultimately paid off in the eyes of critics. “The series is a visual feast,” writes Mark Feeney of The Boston Globe (opens in new tab), highlighting the wealth of clips, archival footage, photos and hundreds of photos. “But at its core are Stern’s interviews, and Hawke has come up with a great way to present them.”
Joel Keller of Decider (opens in new tab) agrees. “Despite the rampant aspects of The Last Movie Stars, Ethan Hawke has created a fascinating docuseries about one of the greatest Hollywood power couples of all time and the troubles that beset their marriage,” he writes.
In fact, this behind-the-scenes look seems to reveal the real people behind the behemoths of a bygone cinematic age. “Instead of untouchable stars, the show portrays Woodward and Newman as totally identifiable people who survive many of the trials of young couples growing up in the 1950s and ’60s and manage to keep their relationship strong,” writes Aaron Barnhart Primetimer (opens in New Tab).
But it’s also undoubtedly one for movie nerds. “This is a great story; It’s an absolute feast of movie clips, full of things I didn’t know, full of things a lot of people probably don’t know,” writes Linda Holmes in her glowing NPR review.
At the time of writing, there are only four audience reviews reflecting public opinion, but each reflects critical sentiment with a five-star rating. This certainly seems like one to check out if you have an HBO Max subscription and even have a passing interest in Hollywood history. And it’s another reminder of why HBO Max is one of the best streaming services.
Next: I just found my favorite show of the year – and it’s 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. Also, here are the top new shows and movies to catch this weekend on Netflix, HBO Max, and more.
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