Being Mary Tyler Moore

I still watch reruns of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" religiously, and they feel as fresh today as they did back then thanks to her. I remember how disappointed I was when she lost the Oscar for "Ordinary People" to a deserving Sissy Spacek. Yes, I've been a fan of hers since my early childhood, and even six years after her death, this 2023 documentary does a compelling job in revealing a genuinely talented woman who was deeply guarded but still unafraid to expose her personal growth to the world. Starting with a 1966 interview where she showed poise and intelligence to a misogynistic David Susskind, director James Adolphus effectively blends archival footage, home movies and stills (provided by her third husband Robert Levine, one of the film's producers), and of course, clips from her TV and movie appearances to present a more objective portrayal than a fan would allow. Yet, fans will see revealing moments around the deaths in her immediate family (her only son by gunshot, her sister by drug overdose), her relentless fight against juvenile diabetes, and even a roast from Betty White at her bridal shower. Only the audio of interview clips with friends and celebrities is used, a disappointing decision to me. Many clips are shown without explanation, but fans like me know where they come from.