[Rating: Minor Rock Fist Up] 
The world of fashion, from the minimal stance I know of it based on The Devil Wears Prada, is a cutthroat world. All of these different designers trying to be some of the best on the planet. Showcasing their outfits that the common man or woman would probably never find in the aisle of Target. Some rise to the top that their names become synonymous with fashion. Lee Alexander McQueen became one of those people. Using his artistic abilities and style to showcase a myriad of different works of arts. Any red carpet special during awards season will always hear the name “McQueen”. In this new documentary named for the designer, it explores the life of a working class man who rose to the top, but faced his own personal demons.
I guess there is something about a tragic documentary that makes people want to see it. Especially if it is about somebody so famous in their particular field. There’s Amy, Whitney and now McQueen (Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui). In this documentary we learn through both McQueens family & friends, and archival footage recorded by McQueen himself about his life; growing up the son of a taxi driver turned fashion empire. It’s understandable as to why most of the documentary talked about McQueen’s strong relationships with those around him, particularly those who helped him learn the fashion world and those who worked alongside him when he was an up and comer. There’s a plethora of talking head interviews throughout this documentary, but it is at the very heart of it, the photographs and self filmed interviews of McQueen himself that pulls this in. We learn about what he thinks life is all about and how he reacts to his latest endeavours be it the high points or the controversial lows. Obviously as viewers and with research, we know about the tragic ending to McQueen’s story. I think this film does a good job at explaining some things that really affected and hurt McQueen emotionally in the final years including the death of his mother that came within weeks of his own passing.
I myself won’t lie and say I knew who McQueen the person was, but rather the name. I was shocked watching this that early on when they spoke about how he passed so suddenly, that he was in fact gone. The name and house of McQueen though, will always be part of this man’s life and legacy of underprivileged people who want to create their own unique brand of fashion for others to display their own creativity. The life of an artist is always hard, McQueen knew that and this film like so many tragic figures before him, is a celebration of a life cut short, but a life well spent.
Christian Ramos is a classic film fan, having had the dream to host Turner Classic Movies for years now. He also has a large amount of Oscar trivia in his head, remembers dressing as Groucho Marx one Halloween, and cherishes the moment Julianne Moore liked his tweet.
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