American Symphony – Movie Review
ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nominations – A
Director: Matthew Heineman (A Private War)
Plot: In this deeply intimate documentary, musician Jon Batiste attempts to compose a symphony as his wife, writer Suleika Jaouad, undergoes cancer treatment.
Runtime: 1 Hour 44 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict on American Symphony
American Symphony is a documentary following musician Jon Batiste as he breaks the record for the number of nominations. It should be the highest moment of his career, but at home, his wife Suleika Jaouad has been battling cancer. The movie follows his journey to continue his rise to superstardom while balancing the personal battle his wife goes through.
In the movie, we get to follow his preparation for his biggest show, in which he balances his struggles. He faces different criticism than he is used to while exploring the biggest battle. It is eye-opening to experience the journey of somebody in the spotlight, who is helpless in the personal battle.
This is an interesting journey through the life of somebody thrown into the biggest spotlight. It shows how his success means everything, but his wife’s battle is even more important. However, this was harder for me to enjoy because I don’t know anything about the artist. It makes it harder to see the level of stardom he has, where it seems like he is more of a national hero, rather than global. Anyway, this is interesting and creates a connection between a human and their art form.
Where to Watch
Final Thoughts – American Symphony is an interesting journey through this artist’s life.
