I like a good documentary. I didn't care for this one. The creators made a point of saying that this was about the man's career, not the end of his life. And, at the beginning, that seemed to be the case. Basic biographical information was provided, as well as clips of his early work, leading to his first break, his big break, etc. But all along the way there is an emphasis that despite everything, Rock Hudson was a gay man living a huge lie. Lovers are interviewed (a ... LOT ... of lovers). They all say nice things, funny things, and in one case some fairly ... detailed ... things. And we see more and more clips. Along the way the clips become a way to clap back at the struggles the man faced. With every "he was living in the closet" comment there is an accompanying clip to show the irony of his life, or to try and bolster the dead man into understanding that he was seen for who he was, despite it all. It's heavy-handed and too opinionated for a good documentary. And we don't see all the speakers. Most of the actors, including Linda Evans, are heard but not shown. Even the voice of Mr. Hudson is added in as a voiceover, with rare moments when we actually see him talking. This adds to the artifice, the idea that the world circled around Rock Hudson and Rock Hudson alone. Honestly, I've seen better retrospectives on CBS Sunday Morning. And that's what this is. Not so much a documentary. It doesn't reveal anything new or make you think. It's just a sad retrospective on a man who had it all but didn't. Kind of like the montage you might see at a funeral. It's a love letter by those close to him but it's a letter we aren't truly allowed to see. Just a fuzzy outline of a time past without giving the viewers a real connection.
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