‘I Am: Celine Dion’ evaluation: Surprising, humorous, and deeply Dion

Within the wake of a uncommon analysis that threatened to derail her 40-year music profession, Canadian singer Celine Dion allowed a documentary crew into her Las Vegas dwelling to introduce a brand new facet of herself in I Am: Celine Dion. Contemplating all the edges she’s already offered to audiences over many years of concert events, albums, and TV appearances, this in and of itself is an achievement, as Dion is as multifaceted as a diamond. 

One facet of her is the belter of rousing love songs, like ’90s hits “Because You Loved Me,” “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now,” or the Titanic theme, “My Heart Will Go On.” Past these glamorous romantic tracks, she’s bought a dizzying catalog of songs in French and English, with which she has toured the world, gained 5 Grammy Awards, constructed an enormous and fervent fandom, and created a profitable Las Vegas residency. Her efficiency model is eccentric, led by confidence, bespoke jumpsuits, and a flinging of limbs that’s unapologetically enthusiastic — if not a bit goofy. It is little marvel that she’s impressed the weird unofficial biopic Aline, the off-Broadway jukebox musical Titanique, and numerous drag queens. However that is not all. 

In I Am: Celine Dion, which is peppered with live performance footage and residential films, the world-famous singer additionally reminds us of her humorous facet, with clips from her Titanic boat experience efficiency for The Late Late Present with James Corden and giving her all for an additional theme tune, “Out of Ashes” for Deadpool 2. 

Watching such clips one after one other, I Am: Celine Dion urges audiences to acknowledge that whereas Dion takes her craft severely, she refuses to take herself severely. Her diva stage persona is bolstered by a unusual capability to snort at her personal indulgences. Her capability to make us cry via her tune is born from the vulnerability she shares generously. And with this documentary, she’s extra susceptible than followers have ever seen her earlier than. 

I Am: Celine Dion is not any tedious music bio-doc. 

In the event you’re in search of a bog-standard documentary that child steps audiences from Dion’s Quebec childhood to her profession launch at Eurovision ’88 via her controversial romance along with her supervisor, the late René Angélil, and on to mega-stardom — look elsewhere. Documentarian Irene Taylor refuses to be so predictable. 

There might be no speaking heads of colleagues or influenced artists or critics or historians weighing in on who Dion is. As a substitute, this doc is firmly rooted in Dion speaking about herself, which is inherently fascinating. Whereas some divas is perhaps in search of overt management over their narrative, decided to maintain something unglamorous or probably damning off-screen, Dion is keen to indicate us not simply her private life but additionally her harrowing battle with stiff particular person syndrome, a uncommon neurological dysfunction that causes stiffness and seizures of the muscular tissues. 

In interviews, Dion explains the lengthy journey of getting this analysis, the prescribed medicines she took to stave it off so she might carry out, and the hardships now that these coping strategies not serve her. The development of the illness might imply the top of her performing profession, a chance she is brazenly terrified about. However it’s not that her work or her artwork is all she has. Dion is up entrance concerning the many blessings in her life, like her household. 

The movie begins with a playful interview by which Taylor steps apart to let the singer’s teen sons, Nelson and Eddy, supply some questions of their very own. Even when the query appears easy — “What’s your favorite color?” — Dion regards it thoughtfully, inviting of their perspective. Typically, she seems in these at-home interviews with little to no make-up on. But this does not really feel like a ploy to color her as identical to us. 

One sequence — maybe the movie’s funniest — reveals Dion touring her private warehouse of mementos, which incorporates the whole lot from high fashion worn on pink carpets to crayon drawings from her youngsters, all lovingly saved and inventoried. It is that scene from Hacks, however extra exceptional as a result of that is actual. Surrounded by primarily a museum of Celine Dion, it is one way or the other each candy and foolish to listen to the singer go on a rant about how she loves sneakers a lot she is going to will them to suit, dimension be damned! “When a girl loves her shoes,” she explains, “She always makes them fit.” On this, she appears relatable, but additionally defiant in a manner that’s distinctly Dion.  

However for all these tender moments, there are some actually robust ones. 

I Am: Celine Dion is stunning in how a lot of her struggles it reveals. 

As teased within the movie’s trailer, the documentary does current footage of Dion in a protracted and painful seizure. Early on, Taylor reveals a short clip of this sequence, which cynics may consider as a strategy to tantalize with the stunning climax. However contemplating the clear affection the movie has for its topic — swirling in a cycle of present confessions to nostalgic highlights of Dion’s profession — I believe this early second is extra a warning of what is to return. Not meant to hold like a looming cloud over the sunshine that’s Dion reflecting on her life and taking part in along with her youngsters throughout COVID lockdown, this temporary clip is about giving the viewers an opportunity to brace themselves for the way laborious this may get.

Nonetheless, whereas the seizure scene is alarming — each for the clear misery Dion is in and for the extreme intimacy of seeing such a personal second — there’s one thing much more stunning right here. Celine Dion permits us to see her fail. 

In an interview, she explains how stiff particular person syndrome has impaired her vocal cords, making it tougher than ever earlier than for her to hit these excessive notes that dazzle audiences worldwide. Inside that, she struggles along with her id. Who’s she if not the Celine Dion who can hit the notes that makes us all drop jaw in awe? Who’s Celine Dion if not her? 

So, when she lets the cameras right into a studio session, it feels much more private than letting us in on the medical alert. Right here she is, earlier than the mic, and we all know how scared she is that that is it. This could possibly be her defeat, the top of the concert events, the cheering, the connecting, the top of her profession. The strain is terrible as we witness her struggle along with her personal physique. I Am: Celine Dion reveals audiences how uncooked and actual her battle to reclaim the life and vocation she loves is. There might be no chipper Hollywood ending, promising us that the robust occasions are behind her and her subsequent world tour is simply across the nook. As a substitute, the movie leaves us in a second of combined feelings, the place Dion has discovered a win in reclaiming her voice however a loss in her physique’s response to that. 

Primarily, I Am: Celine Dion is a story of resilience. Whereas many music docs look to bolster legends or construct legacies, Dion’s ends on a little bit of an ellipsis, unsure what may come subsequent for her. However because the previous footage of excellent occasions (her concert events, her TV appearances, dwelling films of the delivery of first-born) and unhealthy (her husband’s funeral, her slipping up on stage), there is a mild reminder that she isn’t just what she will be able to do, but additionally what she will be able to endure. 

Removed from a fluffy documentary that fawns over its topic, I Am: Celine Dion is a roller-coaster of feelings that leaves audiences with a mixture of elation and uncertainty. However most extremely, it provides one among music’s largest stars her voice again. 

Learn how to watch: I Am: Celine Dion is now streaming on Prime Video.