Screens/Movies

Where: Netflix
What: Movie, 96 mins.
When: Now
Genre: Documentary
Rating: NNNN (out of 5)
Why you should watch: An illuminating, fun and seemingly honest inside look at the creation of the well-intentioned music-superstar-powered We Are the World recording session, a 1985 fundraiser for famine relief in Ethiopia. The film avoids being a backslapping, self-congratulating tribute to the artists. Instead, it’s an incredibly revealing look at larger-than-life megastars Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and so many more. We see how they work, how they interact with each other, how egos are managed and massaged, and the brilliant way producer Quincy Jones keeps everyone focused and feeling valued in the late-night/early-morning recording session immediately after the American Music Awards in Los Angeles.

With so many honest and revealing moments, the stars are humanized as many are in awe of each other, everyone seemingly proud and a little blown away to be in the room together. This film is more about an inside look at how music is created rather than a sickly sweet celebration of the good intentions of those who made it. Recommended.