2 Best Movies to Watch by Will Reeve

At the peak of his fame in the 80s, Christopher Reeve was constantly seen as his onscreen character, Superman. Like him, Reeve could fly (planes). He was full of charm and stood for what was right. But in this revealing documentary, we learn the whole truth about Reeve; his troubled childhood, his initial struggles with commitment, his physical talents, his love for family, and—as many a superhero star will sympathize with—his deep yearning for a creative career outside of the comic book character who made him famous. Of course, a significant chunk of the documentary also deals with Reeve’s unfortunate paralysis. We witness, through home movies and narrated biographies, how he coped with the tragedy. Making the film even more special is the input of his three children, who look back at the time with generous honesty and vulnerability. This film is made for fans of the actor, but it’s also a great example of the power of advocacy (Reeve became a disability rights activist after the accident), love (his wife Dana is a superhero on her own), and legacy (his children run his foundation to this day).

Genre: Documentary, Drama

Actor: Alexandra Reeve Givens, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Christopher Reeve, Dana Reeve, Gene Hackman, Glenn Close, Hillary Clinton, Jane Seymour, Jeff Daniels, John Houseman, John Kerry, Johnny Carson, Margot Kidder, Matthew Reeve, Richard Donner, Robin Williams, Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg, Will Reeve

Director: Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui

Rating: PG-13

In the Gloaming has the expected constraints of a made-for-TV movie. It is set in only a handful of places, features even fewer characters, and utilizes that all-too-familiar cheesy soundtrack present in (I swear) every family drama produced in the ‘90s. That said, In the Gloaming feels more like a precious indie than a cheap TV movie. Mostly, it has the leading performances of Glenn Close and Robert Sean Leonard to thank for that. The two don’t have the big performances you’d expect from a film about AIDS, but their simple and subtle approach works even better than that. First-time director Christopher Reeve (yes, Superman) does well to stay on Close’s face for a few beats longer to show how much pain and doubt she’s hiding beneath her facade of calm. I only wish the film could’ve tied its many loose ends and that we got to know more about Leondard’s character—really know him, beyond his being gay. This would’ve made the film stronger, though it is already a moving watch.

Genre: Drama, TV Movie

Actor: Bridget Fonda, David Strathairn, Glenn Close, Robert Sean Leonard, Whoopi Goldberg, Will Reeve

Director: Christopher Reeve

Rating: PG