Little Richard: I Am Everything
The story of the Black queer origins of rock n' roll. It explodes the whitewashed canon of American pop music to reveal the innovator - the originator - Richard Penniman. Through a wealth of archive and performance that brings us into Richard's complicated inner world, the film unspools the icon's life story with all its switchbacks and contradictions.
- Released: 2023-04-11
- Runtime: 98 minutes
- Genre: Documentaries, Music
- Stars: Little Richard, Paul McCartney, Billy Porter, Mick Jagger, John Waters, Tom Jones
- Director: Lisa Cortés
Comments
- adamoda14 - 27 November 2023
Originator
Little Richard is certainly an originator. There at the birth of 'rock and roll.' What people tend to ignore is the short life of his string of hits. Perhaps his sound could have evolved. It might have been tough to bring piano music into the 60's, see non existent Jerry Lee.
This doc uses new or current artists to somehow justify Richard's legacy, while telling his story with a 2023 political lense. Noticeably absent was Richard's upbringing and the sexual abuse that was brought on him by his family. Add to that his relationship with the great Billy Preston.
It's a watch that is worth your time if you are a fan of music docs. Just know that between archival footage, interviews from living legends, you are going to get thoughts and performances from irrelevant people who weren't there.
