Making Montgomery Clift

I just saw this doc at the Palm Springs Film Festival last night. While it valiantly attempts to dispel supposed "myths" about Monty's life, it fails to recognize some obvious truths, as well. such as his decline into alcohol and drugs, which undoubtedly led to heart failure at 45 years old.

It was only mentioned during the Q&A's afterward that Clift's even had a twin sister and her entire side of the large family refused to participate. Much of the doc was composed of secret recording by he filmmaker's father, Monty's brother Brooks Clift.

While the doc's obvious mission was to focus on his talent and unconventional bucking of a studio contract to maintain his sexual freedom, I feel it was rather to have more control in the films he chose and the dialog contained within. They filmmakers heavily downplayed the impact of his automobile accident, which forever altered his incredible good looks and descent into addiction. I applaud them for attempting to show a different side of Clift than the one portrayed by both biographers Bosworth and LaGuardia, but in doing so, they also failed to address several elephants in the room.

The doc loses its way on occasion and becomes bogged down in its own minutia, but still offers an alternative to previous insights by a proud nephew..