Popular reviews

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  Review by Aaron Hendrix ★★★★½

  It's easier to make a difference in the world versus the reality of the hardness that it is to maintain relationships.

  There comes a point in Gleason where Michel and Steve are lying next to each other. Michel in one bed, Steve in the other. Steve notes that Michel has been distant and hasn't been paying attention to him. As Michel listens, her beautifully expressive eyebrows contort from fatigued irritation to soul-crushing sorrow and, then, once more back again to frustration. At the risk of arm-chair psychologizing, this moment, to me, encapsulated what is so powerful about this documentary. Yes, it's a celebration of Steve's life. Yes, it's a video diary to his son. Yes, it's a documentation of one…

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  Review by Jake Alda Coffey ★★★★★

  Gleason might be one of the most emotionally difficult documentary to watch with maybe the exception of Dear Zachary. 

  Steve Gleason was an NFL player for the New Orleans Saints who, a few years after retiring from the sport, was diagnosed with ALS. All diseases are bad, but ALS is extremely awful because it’s almost always fatal. Soon after, his wife becomes pregnant so Steve decides to start documenting his entire life for his son to see for when Steve is no longer around. The sad truth about ALS is that it usually kills you within 5 years of your diagnosis so Steve wanted to make sure his son could see him even when he’s no longer there. 

  Gleason is…

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  Review by NickyD316 ★★★★½

  Heart wrenching yet undeniably inspirational, Gleason is a emotionally authentic look at overcoming adversity and the true value of life.

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  Review by 🐱Andrew Chrzanowski🐱 ★★★ 4

  ☆"Be present now, right?"☆

  Heartstrings will be pulled, and hard, in J. Clay Tweel's documentary Gleason, a biographical tale of former New Orleans Saint NFL player Steve Gleason, diagnosed with ALS at the age of 34 only a couple weeks before he learned he was going to be a father for the first time. A video journal in many parts, the film is a personal journey about fame, purpose, fatherhood, and life itself.

  The football star from Spokane, Washington was an undated free agent picked up by the Saints after a couple years, for whom he played through 2008 as defensive back and special teams player. New Orleans of course was the victim of the devastating Hurricane Katrina, and Gleason's…

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  Review by camerontzky ★★★★

  Beautiful and raw.

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  Review by evilbjork ★★★

  This whole documentary is basically a straightforward video diary of Steve Gleason and his wife, Michel Gleason, dealing with him having ALS. It was much more personal and intense than I was expecting and serves as an amazing teaching experience about what ALS is. I have so much respect for Michel and a huge amount of respect for Steven for being so open and creating something so personal with the intent to help others.

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  Review by Will Steele ★★★★★

  Incredibly intimate without ever feeling false or forced, this insight into the life of an inspiringly brave person utterly destroyed me, but also made me grateful to have the things we take for granted like speech and movement. Required viewing for everyone!

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  Review by Brian Tallerico ★★★★½

  "It's not gonna be easy but it's gonna be awesome."

  Just such a beautiful, moving, inspirational film about why we're here.

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  Review by Nesib ★★★★

  No me imagino lo que debe pasar una persona promedio de su economía ni siquiera pienso en las que no tienen nada que triste al menos Steve ha hecho muchas cosas por ayudar a quienes padecen está enfermedad.
  documentar la lucha de seguir adelante tras una enfermedad que es incurable no dejarse caer ni encerrarte en la depresión es algo tan increíble de admirar en la vida de Steve un claro ejemplo de que nunca hay que rendirse que fuerte la transitoriedad de esta terrible enfermedad por la que pasa Steve cada paso que sigue y como transcurre el documental se vuelve a un más grande la enfermedad y más preocupante para el espectador esto es un completo desespero tan…

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  Review by Joachim Jelle ★★★★

  Utterly uncompromising in its portrayal of Steve Gleason’s illness, this documentary chronicles the NFL-player’s life from the moment of his ALS-diagnosis, through the birth of his son, and his monumental charity work.

  Comprised of several years of video-log, Gleason is an up-close, hard-hitting testament to the effect on family life and life in general that severe illnesses cause, but also a positively sentimental statement on how to live one’s life. Steve Gleason decided at the moment of diagnosis that he would create years of life advice for his unborn baby, and by watching these profoundly personal, deeply poetic vlogs, it seems unavoidable not conceding to tears.

  The footage takes us around his family, united in hardship, and things work out…

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  Review by adelinetaylorh ★★★½

  This fucked me up.

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  Review by PuRock ★★★★★

  Fuck. When a film makes you call up everyone you know and tell them you love them and makes you want to live life to the fullest it deserves everyone ounce of praise. 5 stars for life!

  I think understanding one's mortality can help open a person to lead a more meaningful life.

  Steve Gleason's quote from the film is dead on. And not only does he unfortunately and unfairly have to deal with it firsthand, he shares the preciousness of life's moments with the viewer. I was dreading watching Gleason. But I am entirely grateful for being able to experience it. Despite the sad toll of the film, this is a life-affirming must watch. Get on it.