Life Support
Reviewer: Tom Leins
Issue 101 March 2008
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The needle and the damage done.
The Lowdown: Ana developed HIV 11 years ago after shooting drugs with her long-term boyfriend Slick. Now, after turning her back on her squalid past, Ana devotes her energies to ‘Life Support’, an AIDS outreach group that hopes to educate the African-American community about the dangers of sex and drugs.
Review: In Life Support, Queen Latifah delivers a Golden Globe winning performance as Ana, a character based on writer/director Nelson George’s activist sister, Andrea Williams. Noted cultural commentator George is best known for his music writing and documentary filmmaking, and once again applies his personal touch to the proceedings. During its early stages, Life Support is almost documentary-like in its approach, with a succession of ‘talking head’ style admissions from those involved in the AIDS awareness programme. However, as soon as it finds its feet, it hits the spot with some poignant, sincere, TV-shaped melodrama. It may have missed the target as part of Sundance’s closing night selection last year, but I imagine it fared much better on HBO, a place where its dynamic seems far better suited.
Ana carries the weight of the world on her shoulders and arguably Queen Latifah carries this TV movie on her own shoulders. However, to give credit where credit is due, she is ably backed up in all quarters by a fine spread of talent. The Wire’s Wendell Pierce plays Ana’s equally combative husband Slick (the man whose casual approach to drug use originally led to the pair’s infection), Rachel Nicks plays Kelly, the embittered daughter that Ana was forced to give up and Evan Ross (the young son of soul superstar Diana Ross) gives an eye-catching performance as Amare, a virus-ravaged teenage street hustler. The smattering of special features are all very brisk, but at £7.99 Life Support offers an uncomfortable, affordable lesson that is well worth paying attention to. Uncompromising stuff.
FILM: 6 EXTRAS: 4
DVD Info:
Certificate: 15
Starring: Queen Latifah, Wendell Pierce, Rachel Nicks, Evan Ross
Directed By: Nelson George, 2007
Distributor: HBO Video
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Visuals: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 87mins
Price: £7.99
Film supplied by: Premier PR
Special Features:
Scene Selection
‘More Support’ Deleted Scene
Audio Commentary With Writer/Director Nelson George
‘The Story Behind The Story’ Featurette
‘Interview With Andrea Williams – The Inspiration For Life Support’ Featurette
‘On-Set Video Diary With Writer/Director Nelson George’
