SYNOPSICS
Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool (2005) is a English movie. Mimi Freedman has directed this movie. Steve McQueen,Robert Culp,Neile Adams,Suzanne Pleshette are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2005. Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool (2005) is considered one of the best Documentary movie in India and around the world.
Friends, co-stars and admirers of actor Steve McQueen - including first wife, actress and dancer Neile Adams, and third wife, model Barbara Minty - discuss his life in relation to his movie career. His screen persona was one where women loved him, in part because of his piercing blue eyes, and men both wanted to emulate him and be his buddy. Despite having screen presence even in early bit parts, he didn't start to hone his craft of acting until he was accepted into the Actor's Studio. In what some consider his breakthrough movie, he took the sure thing of a meager paycheck instead of taking a percentage of the movie's profits, as he thought the movie would be a commercial flop. That movie was The Blob (1958). Although he made a name as the rebel loner and an action hero in the television show Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958) and smaller parts in movies such as The Magnificent Seven (1960), his status as such, but in a movie starring capacity, was solidified with The Great Escape (1963), ...
Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool (2005) Reviews
Work Hard and Trust the Camera
This is a brilliant documentary on a fascinating film star. All too often, documentaries like this are bits of fluff that offer no insight into how the subject achieved what he did. Not this time. The interviews are conducted in a variety of manners. Some are conducted solo: his ex-wife, Neile Adams speaks of him, with an air of getting a lot of her chest; Robert Vaughn and Martin Landau, two of the most cerebral actors of that generation, talking about craft. Only Richard Attenborough is guarded. Other people they shoot in pairs or groups: director Norman Jewison and d.p. Haskell Wexler wind up talking freely, as do the three stuntmen, speaking in a group; and a taped interview with McQueen talks about his issues. It is not often you see the craft behind what goes onto the film. You do here. Don't miss this.
Unforgettable Steve
This documentary is nostalgic and let us remember him as the way he was: the real fast and furious, but wonderful macho man on the screen, he often wanted to show everybody he was the strongest, the best, the most fearless and the bravest guy in the world, sometimes against the world, sometimes against the stablisment, sometimes against the unjustice, he was an example to many how to face adversity, no matter how tough the problems seemed to be, he tried to get over them and during his fifty years of live in this world, he lived in his own way and we'll always miss him, including new generations of fans and fortunately we can watch his films on TV and dvds.
Video history of one of the most dynamic and individualistic actors in film history.
As a MAJOR McQueen fan all of my life, I was eager to see this documentary and I was not disappointed. Many actors whom I have enjoyed and admired were interviewed and greatly added to the interest of the film. I especially enjoyed the interviews with his friends behind the camera and his relationship with them. I must agree with an earlier reviewer who commented on Neile Adams' statements but I also saw a woman who still loved that man after all these years. McQueen's last years as he battled with cancer were heart-wrenching but, I think, were handled with such honesty that it was bearable. Those last interviews were awesome and is this beautiful film available on DVD yet?
Loved the documentary
Loved the documentary "Essence of Cool". I'd seen Steve McQueen in a few movies as a younger person but now, older with a slightly different outlook to "back then" I realized what a man Steve was as an actor. Every (mature aged) woman loves a dare devil! Most interesting were the cool motor cycles Steve rode. And I loved how he taught his kids to ride. What a Dad! I now want to go rent all his old movies - asap.From humble beginnings came a focused, risk taking, talented individual. Well done to the producers and to all the contributors of this great documentary. They captured the man, especially his "Essence of Cool".
Interesting bio of McQueen with good insight from Neile Adams...
Fans of actor STEVE McQUEEN will no doubt admire this compelling bio of his early days, through to his career highlights and untimely death from cancer--all of it helped by some insightful comments from co-workers, but particularly his wife NEILE ADAMS who divulges a lot of information about her marriage to the man who became a superstar and rugged hero. Especially good are the film clips including some from his early days on TV in "Wanted: Dead or Alive." His first breakthrough came with THE BLOB, never expected to be the major hit it became on a low budget--and then onward to films like THE GREAT ESCAPE, BULLITT and PAPILLION. Good contributions from Suzanne Pleshette, Martin Landau and several others make it a very watchable look at Steve's career. The final years are told in a way that is poignant and well documented.