Elaine Stritch is one of the biggest names on Broadway. She has been in practically everything and has been an a presence on TV and film for decades. People who know her shows love her and those who know her personally, well, they love her more. Chiemi Karasawa’s biopic “Elaine Stritch: Just Shoot Me†proves this.
Simply put, it’s full of pure joy.
In this biopic ,we see Stritch’s life both on stage and backstage. We get to see the people she works with daily, her room at The Carlyle and how she does what she does at 89 years old.
The highlight of the film, Elaine Stritch, is one of those people who you don’t care what she says, you just want to listen to her speak. What she says in the movie is both hilarious, insightful and all around interesting. You will fall in love with the person behind all these characters the second she opens her mouth.
What the movie does well is show how truly interesting Stritch is. Here we learn about what it’s like for her to live with diabetes, all the shows and rehearsals she does and about her past. At first, she seems to have lived the life of practically every big name actress. She’s had many boyfriends, is a recovering alcoholic and has seen all the backstage drama that went into her life. Notwithstanding she still manages to get the proper  emotion when she returns to her home town in Michigan when she does a show in Detroit.
This movie also shows just how human Stritch truly is. Her diabetes is one prime example of this. The movie shows some of her really serious bouts of low blood sugar to the point where she needs to be hospitalized. On top of that, the scenes where she is talking about her personal life and seeing her tear up feels like you are right there and she is talking directly at you. It’s a surreal experience that can only be done by a special person.
The movie also has people who know her speak about her for a bit. These include the cast of “30 Rock†and the director of “Elaine Stritch: At Liberty.†Even though what they say is interesting, their interviews seem to fall a little flat in that Stritch’s huge personality has sapped any enjoyment from them. It’s like going on the biggest, scariest roller-coaster then immediately going on a merry-go-round.
“Elaine Stritch: Just Shoot Me†is a celebration of an iconic Broadway actress’s life and every moment is worth it. Stritch’s large and likable personality and her more than interesting life is what makes this movie a joy to watch even it does downplay the other people in the movie.
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