Vague Visages’ Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story review contains minor spoilers. Bruce David Klein’s 2024 documentary features Liza Minnelli, Michael Feinstein and Mia Farrow. Check out the VV home page for more film criticism, movie reviews and film essays.

Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story humanizes its bigger-than-life subject, the legendary American entertainer Liza Minnelli. Director Bruce David Klein structures an accessible road map for devoted fans and curious pop culture consumers who might strictly associate the doc’s titular name with jazz hands and Broadway bravado. Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story is both an illuminating documentary and a how-to industry guide for young performers.

Importantly, Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story immediately addresses the subject’s privileged childhood. As the daughter of filmmaker Vincente Minnelli (An American in Paris, Gigi) and actress Judy Garland (The Wizard of Oz, A Star Is Born), Liza grew up in the entertainment industry and befriended a teenage Mia Farrow, a now-legendary actress who arguably provides the best first-hand anecdotes in Klein’s documentary. And while celebrity mythology is very much a crucial aspect of Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story, the most interesting moments transpire when the subject discusses her bond with Kay Thompson, an industry coach and accomplished performer who mentored Liza after the death of the aforementioned Garland in 1969. Now without a mother, a 23-year-old Liza learned how to stand on her own by observing colleagues and welcoming feedback from trusted advisors. As friend and fellow singer Michael Feinstein notes about the documentary subject, “her mother’s passing was a catalyst.”

Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story Review: Related — I Sing for Myself: Renée and Judy on Judy Garland

The title of Klein’s documentary presumably references Liza’s history of evading questions about her personal life. Fortunately, the subject does indeed open up about past relationships and drug use in Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story, though it’s her friends that gently fill in the blanks. For example, Liza states that “I didn’t want anyone to know that I was less than perfect,” and yet she also suggests that “nobody did drugs” at Studio 54 during the 70s. However, the biggest takeaway — beyond the mild stories about celebrities, sex and substance abuse — is the psychological aspect and why Liza occasionally strayed from Thompson’s industry road map. In that sense, the subject is quite transparent while discussing insecurities about her weight, talent, looks and personal relationships.

Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story Review: Related — ‘Anonymous Club’: A Gift from the Rock Gods

From a critical point of view, Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story could be viewed purely as a celebration of its subject, rather than a fully transparent look at her life and career. For every story about a past relationship gone wrong, there’s an ego-boosting clip about Liza’s perseverance, leaving viewers with little to process in terms of the subject’s complicated personality. Is there a dark side to Liza? And why did she fall in love with gay men?

Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story Review: Related — Passion, Truth and Lillian Gish: The American Film Foundation Collection Releases Digitally on Vimeo

One could argue that Feinstein, the most prominent interviewee in Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story, operates as a publicist/conflict manager, as he makes several cryptic statements that aren’t fully addressed by Ms. Minnelli. Still, Liza helps viewers connect the dots via performative interview sequences, and she even channels a directorial spirit at times by telling a story and exclaiming, “Cut and go to the clip.” Liza expertly shifts the narrative in her favor by telling half-truths, which only heightens the mythology of her life and career.

Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story Review: Related — Review: Jessamyn Ansary and Joyce Mishaan’s ‘Lee Fields: Faithful Man’

A personal story: when I moved from small town Minnesota to Hollywood almost 20 years ago, I briefly worked with one of Richard Thomas’ (The Waltons, The Americans) daughters. In 2006, she returned from a weekend in New York with stories about a familial hang with Liza, and though I don’t remember the specifics, I do recall the theme of friendship. Throughout Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story, the concept of long-time loyalty is perhaps the strongest thematic element. There’s clearly a circle of trust in Liza’s life — a shared connection that was developed by assisting friends in need or helping colleagues in emergency situations, such as when she filled in for Gwen Verdon during a Chicago stage run in 1975. Even though Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story might leave fans wanting more, Klein’s documentary will presumably be the go-to Minnelli doc for years to come, based on the subject’s participation and an interview cast of high-profile names.

Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story opens January 24, 2025 at IFC Center in New York City and January 31, 2025 at Laemmle’s Royal in Los Angeles and Town Center in Encino, with a national rollout to follow via Zeitgeist Films in association with Kino Lorber.

Q.V. Hough (@QVHough) is Vague Visages’ founding editor. Thank you for reading film criticism, movie reviews and film essays at Vague Visages.

Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story Review: Related — Review: Don Hardy’s ‘Linda Perry: Let It Die Here’