Film Review: I Am Woman Dir: Unjoo Moon

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Starring: Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Danielle MacDonald, Evan Peters

A solid, standard music biopic that feels more timely with the recent death of its subject, Helen Reddy.

For many casual fans, Helen Reddy was something of a one-hit wonder. She was best known for her 1972 anthem, I Am Woman, but of course there was a lot more to her story.

The film starts 1966 as the transplanted Australian singer struggles to make her name in New York. Already a single mum, she and her 3 year old daughter hit the club scene and eventually she befriends music journalist Lillian Roxon (Danielle MacDonald) and producer Jeff Wald (Evan Peters) who she marries.

Wald is, in a word, driven.

The hard work pays off and within five years she scores a recording contract with Capitol and starts churning out the hits.

Sadly the usual suspects…drugs and alcohol…take their toll with Wald becoming an abusive, coke-addled monster. Through it all Reddy remains stoic and productive cranking out hits like Angie Baby, Leave Me Along and Delta Dawn while touring and hosting a TV show.

Wald is also huge, eventually managing Sylvester Stallone, Donna Summer and Deep Purple.

As a film, this is fairly standard stuff. Director Unjoo Moon keeps a steady hand on the til while Australian actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey turns in a stand out performance as Reddy and Evan Peters is convincing as the abusive and driven Jeff Wald.

Sadly, Helen Reddy died just as the film was being released. So, do yourself a favour and get to know and appreciate an artist who deserves to be known for more than just one iconic anthem.

Marty Duda

 

Marty Duda
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