IMDb RATING
7.2/10
3.8K
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Follow the tender but appropriately irreverent account of the life and career of Robert Downey Sr., the fearless and visionary American director who set the standard for countercultural come... Read allFollow the tender but appropriately irreverent account of the life and career of Robert Downey Sr., the fearless and visionary American director who set the standard for countercultural comedy in the 1960s and 1970s.Follow the tender but appropriately irreverent account of the life and career of Robert Downey Sr., the fearless and visionary American director who set the standard for countercultural comedy in the 1960s and 1970s.
- Awards
- 3 wins & 8 nominations total
Paul Thomas Anderson
- Self
- (archive footage)
Allan Arbus
- Self
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
Dick Cavett
- Self
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
Patrick Dempsey
- Self
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
Elsie Downey
- Self
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
Antonio Fargas
- Self
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
Allen Garfield
- Self
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
Featured reviews
Robert Downey Jr.'s documentary "Sr.," a tribute to his dying father, filmmaker Robert Downey Sr., is the stuff dreams are made on, a freestyle, loopy narrative, much like that of his father's films, that doesn't so much as unfold as unravel. However, there is a thread that holds this narrative together: the chronology of Downey's short career, beginning with "Chafed Elbows" in 1966 to "Putney Swope" in 1969, the film for which he is best remembered (accepted to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress--an argument can be made for "Greaser's Palace" from 1972, a worthy film, fully realized, and borderline coherent). There are highlights from "Pound" in 1970 (Downey Jr.'s acting debut) to "Hugo Pool" in 1997 (with Jr again, who has now become a rising, mainstream actor). Movie clips are fun to see and serve a purpose, but are presented without insights into Downey's unique vision and style that would have been helpful to those unfamiliar with his oeuvre. Sadly, Sr.'s career in the 90s took a wrong turn on the Hollywood freeway, where his quirky genius and undisciplined creativity were tampered down by studio moguls ("Hugo Pool" is perhaps the best of the later films). If there is anything to be learned from Sr.'s output of irreverent, undefinable, sometimes incomprehensible movies is that they are a pervasive call to action, so beautifully lampooned in "Putney Swope," which is to raise an indignant finger at the established order. In another time, Sr would have been the Paul Thomas Anderson of his age, making undefinable, irreverent, sometimes incomprehensible movies, but with wider acceptance and better production values.
Downey's loving portrait, his efforts to memorialize his father's career, from his youth to his deathbed (not a figure of speech), and document the final three years of his life, is at times touching and embarrassing to watch. I understand his motives in making this film: he has, after all, earned the wider, public appeal and financial rewards that Sr could not, whose fame far surpassed that of Sr., only to be labeled "Robert Downey's father." But I question this fashionable compulsion nowadays to broadcast the intimate, private moments of one's life, those moments clearly not intended for mass consumption. Sr always lacked discretion in his material, so this compulsion somehow seems appropriate, but disturbing, too. There is also something incongruous at work here, in that the phenomenally successful actor, with homes in Hollywood and the Hamptons, mostly films his iconoclastic father inside his modest New York apartment, an irony which I doubt was lost on Sr. (although maybe lost on Jr.). For the record, Jr was at one time the most promising actor of his generation, one of the best in fact (just watch his brilliant performance in "Chaplin"), but who in the end squandered his gifts for the profitable, movie franchise business. He is not, however, alone on that well-worn path, traversed by others of his age, Cage, Depp, Reeves, and Cruise. To his credit, he overcame addictions and revived a floundering career, yet it remains to be seen whether he will fulfill his former promise in more challenging, meaningful work. This documentary may be a step in that direction, as it returns him to his father's drive and purpose in the movie-making business. It may as well return audiences to the first Downey, especially Jr.'s Sherlock fans, turning them onto his modest, experimental, joyful, confounding movies. I for one want to watch "Putney Swope" and "Greaser's Palace" again.
Downey's loving portrait, his efforts to memorialize his father's career, from his youth to his deathbed (not a figure of speech), and document the final three years of his life, is at times touching and embarrassing to watch. I understand his motives in making this film: he has, after all, earned the wider, public appeal and financial rewards that Sr could not, whose fame far surpassed that of Sr., only to be labeled "Robert Downey's father." But I question this fashionable compulsion nowadays to broadcast the intimate, private moments of one's life, those moments clearly not intended for mass consumption. Sr always lacked discretion in his material, so this compulsion somehow seems appropriate, but disturbing, too. There is also something incongruous at work here, in that the phenomenally successful actor, with homes in Hollywood and the Hamptons, mostly films his iconoclastic father inside his modest New York apartment, an irony which I doubt was lost on Sr. (although maybe lost on Jr.). For the record, Jr was at one time the most promising actor of his generation, one of the best in fact (just watch his brilliant performance in "Chaplin"), but who in the end squandered his gifts for the profitable, movie franchise business. He is not, however, alone on that well-worn path, traversed by others of his age, Cage, Depp, Reeves, and Cruise. To his credit, he overcame addictions and revived a floundering career, yet it remains to be seen whether he will fulfill his former promise in more challenging, meaningful work. This documentary may be a step in that direction, as it returns him to his father's drive and purpose in the movie-making business. It may as well return audiences to the first Downey, especially Jr.'s Sherlock fans, turning them onto his modest, experimental, joyful, confounding movies. I for one want to watch "Putney Swope" and "Greaser's Palace" again.
In "Sr.", Robert Downey Jr. And Chris Smith present a unique and personal approach to a bio-doc about Robert Downey Sr., the filmmaker and father of the famous actor. Shot in black-and-white, the film captures the intimacy and complexity of their relationship, as well as Downey Sr.'s artistic process. The inclusion of alternate versions of certain scenes and discussions about the framing of others adds to the documentary's focus on the art of filmmaking. Despite some potential areas for deeper exploration, the emotional access given to Smith by the subjects and the power of finality as Downey Sr. Faces his own death make for a moving and thought-provoking viewing experience.
I came across this by accident, and am SO glad I did. An absolutely honest, touching and truly raw look at an unconventional father/son dynamic. A father and son, who, despite their seemingly dysfunctional and unhealthy relationship, possess a wholly unconditional love, affection and mutual respect for each other. A truly beautiful and touching love letter from a son to his father, "hero". Thank you so much for reminding us that our connections are what are truly important at the end of the day. I love how much Jr loves Sr. I have ALWAYS been a Jr fan, and this film has welcomed me into an honest relationship, with all of its ugliness.
10traviiii
Wonderful...so much history and tender, truly funny moments. Such a real and joyful father/son and filmmaker/student portrait. RDJ made a movie about Dad, who's making a movie also about Dad and his pretty ok kid. I laughed so much- what a quirky, fun Dad he must have been. A truly inspiring film about it never being too late to cherish the ones you love. See it and prepare to fall for these two. You won't regret it.
My review's too short, so...
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My review's too short, so...
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxooxooxxoxooxoxxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo.
Wow. I have to admit never seeing any of the movies featured but can identify many of the cast as movers and shakers in the industry. Testament to a man who made movies for the pure pleasure of movie making and challenging the perceptions of others. Family and friends contributing to a precis of a craftsman and a Son charting his final farewell to a Man who allowed him live his own life.
Many time I recognised parallels in the relationship between Father and Son and my own parent & myself (sudden death syndrome) and that last 'interview' where Jr 'knows' is touching as it is shared with Jr's Jr. I can only conclude that when Sr's mind went elsewhere it was back to the time when editing of his segment was in process.
At times poignant, mostly humorous, this end-time journey was something I would not usually watch but I am so glad I did, such creativity.
Many time I recognised parallels in the relationship between Father and Son and my own parent & myself (sudden death syndrome) and that last 'interview' where Jr 'knows' is touching as it is shared with Jr's Jr. I can only conclude that when Sr's mind went elsewhere it was back to the time when editing of his segment was in process.
At times poignant, mostly humorous, this end-time journey was something I would not usually watch but I am so glad I did, such creativity.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn a 2022 interview with The Upcoming, Chris Smith spoke about how the film approached the complex dynamic between Robert Downey Jr. and his father: "Very early on Robert's like, 'We're not making a rosy portrait of our relationship because it wasn't all roses', and he was very clear about that. But I think there was an undeniable connection and love between these two people. So I think that push and pull was what made the film interesting. There's a real universality in the relationship between parents and children that we all have and we all experience and I think that those are the things that I was excited about because you have two larger than life personalities, yet there was something very relatable and human about the movie that came together in the end."
- ConnectionsFeatures Balls Bluff (1961)
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- "Sr."
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 29 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1
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