User reviews

I am not an opera fan (to put it mildly). I have always had respect for Pavarotti, but knew little about him. This movie takes the viewer on a journey, and the more I've been wathcing, the more I got sucked into the world of Pavarotti. It is long, but felt suprisingly short, and I kind of felt sad when it was over....though also felt that i have learnt a lot. It is an inspiring story, perhaps even more so because it is true...and it's not a pink-clouded nostalgic fairytale either: it shows the flaws and exposes the weeknesses of the man too, yet somehow these just made him all more likeable and more...human. I was in awe by the end of film, and was so glad that I've decided to give it a go (not being an opera fan and all): i think that is time very well spent, with lasting impressions and inspiration.

I saw this film in a theater in New York a few days ago and was enchanted by the film and by the subject of the documentary: Luciano Pavarotti. I didn't know much about Pavarotti before having seen the film and I am not an opera fan. However, this touching documentary endeared me to the man and his music. His life is well documented in this film, excellently directed by Ron Howard. Whether or not you like opera, you will likely appreciate the humor & heart which Pavarotti had as well as his obvious vocal talent. A documentary about a person is supposed to capture the essence of the human being or artist and this film succeeds in doing that. It also successfully revealed the notion that a great artist is also a flawed human being who leads an imperfect life, just like everyone else. I left the theater wanting to know more about the man & his music. Bravo to all involved in this production.

This year's big doc may be Ron Howard's "Pavarotti," a love letter about the great tenor. More than any opera singer since Enrico Caruso a century before, Pavarotti made opera cool in the latter part of the 20th century. With his larger-than-life personality and crystal-clear voice, he became a worldwide sensation, performing everywhere from rural outposts to massive stadiums to outdoor parks.

Howard manages to piece together decades of film --- often grainy and amateurish - with deeply personal interviews with the Maestro's ex-wives, former mistress, daughters, peers (Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, and several sopranos), and admirers. He weaves biography with taped performances from the time Pavarotti was a promising young singer through his waning years.

In fact, Howard presents Pavarotti's life as opera. A man of great passion - for opera, for women, for food, for children - Pavarotti lived large. And he died painfully. Howard manages to make the audience feel the highs and the lows of Pavarotti's personal and professional lives.

But the film is long. It proves that even great directors can fall in love with their own films. Howard could have spent less time in the run-up to stardom to get us to the fantastic success of his middle years and the explosive teaming with Domingo and Carreras as The Three Tenors. His death is handled beautifully as is Pavarotti's heartfelt charitable endeavors in concert with Princess Diana, Bono and many others.

Even if you don't love opera, you will enjoy this stunning documentary.

No being real familiar with Opera but somewhat with Pavarotti I was not sure what to expect, but decided since Ron Howard does not make bad movies, bound to be good. After watching and learning so much about Pavarotti the Opera Star and Man was very moved. What an Incredible Performer and even better Human Being. I very much want to visit Italy to see his Musuem and Hometown. See an Opera. I saw the Film at a neat little theatre in Downtown Monterey CA

When it comes to opera singers, there aren't many household names that people know or actually talk about, with the exception of one person, Luciano Pavarotti. Few documentaries make it all the way to the cinema, not to mention having a premier screening, so I was curious about what made this one so special.

I knew who Pavarotti was before watching this film and I have heard his performances, but I had no idea what kind of man he was and how people loved him for his voice, charisma, generosity and his big joyful smile. Ron Howard seamlessly blended the footage of Luciano's life to make it flow like a regular film while accentuating on the musical parts that left me in awe of how talented and impactful he was, specially hearing it through Dolby Surround system.

This film is more than just a documentary about a singer; it is a story of a man who worked tirelessly to achieve worldwide fame and yet not once did he lose himself in the process and that is how he will be remembered. He loved life, he loved the ones around him and he loved helping others. Luciano is one of those people whom I would love to meet just to bask in his grandeur and absorb some of his happiness, positivity and energy that he radiated.

It's highly unlikely that in our lifetime we will ever see another Luciano Pavarotti.

A man whose voice was beloved across the world and a man whose image was instantly recognisable for many, a rare achievement for a modern day opera singer, Pavarotti was that rare breed of human being that managed to share an incredible gift with millions upon millions of admirers and if this Ron Howard documentary does one thing unquestionably well, it's that it reminds us all of the privilege it was to get to witness this talent be shared with the masses.

As a documentary, Pavarotti pales in comparison to other recent examinations of famous figures such as Amy, Diego Maradona or Whiteny and continues on a trend for Howard to direct films in a solid fashion without ever trying to push the boundaries or his abilities but it's a workmanlike effort that is hard to not enjoy as we witness the young Luciano ply his trade from simple beginnings in his home country, right through to his defining stints in the 3 Tenors or his highly sought after live shows.

What we see throughout and what we hear about from those that knew Luciano best, is that Pavarotti was a fiercely determined man, one that was hell-bent on ensuring he never once took his gift for granted as he set about improving his workmanship in the field right through to his later years.

There's a power in watching Pavarotti perform and Howard's extensive access to archival footage and previously unseen home video footage helps create perhaps not the quintessential hard look exploration of his life, but an inside look into what a one in a billion talent looks like.

Despite the fact we are often watching decades old clips of performances or interviews there is also a clear and definable charm and showmanship that Pavarotti possessed.

As he walks into a room full of people, talking to students at a masterclass or simply sitting one on one with an interviewer, he was a consistently open and honest figure who at the very core of his being was nothing more than a devilishly charming rogue that faced many of the similar fears and worries we everyday people had, even though he had to be on top of them frequently to be able to deliver on the name and magic that he built his life around.

It's not the warts and all experience some documentarians would've gone for, but as a piece of fan service and carefully put together reminder of the genius that was, Pavarotti does its job without ever attempting to over work itself.

Final Say -

For long term fans and those that might simply need a showcase for the amazing voice that was Pavarotti, Howard's documentary will provide exactly what keen viewers will be seeking and while it never threatens to become a grand documentation, Pavarotti is a finely tuned ode to one of the modern era's great entertainers and popular figures.

3 ½ handkerchiefs out of 5

Pavarotti (2019) was directed by Ron Howard. It's a solid biography of the extraordinary tenor, with archival footage and interviews with Pavarotti's colleagues, family, and friends.

No one questions Pavarotti's genius. It's certainly on full display in the film. His personal choices may have been less than exemplary, so it's necessary to separate your thoughts about the artist from your thoughts about the man.

The good news is that, as far as I can tell, director Howard is presenting Pavarotti's story in an honest, unbiased way. At least, that appears to have been his goal. How well he succeeded is something that opera experts will have to tell us.

We saw the movie at Rochester's excellent Little Theatre. It will work well enough on the small screen, although certainly you need to see it with a system that has good sound .

The film has a solid IMDb rating of 7.5, which I think is just about right. Opera lovers won't want to miss it. I think it's worth seeing even if you don't love opera.

If you like Pavarotti, then you're likely to enjoy this film. I recommend it for fans of the man and his music.

The life and career of opera legend Luciano Pavarotti are the subject of this documentary co-produced by the USA and the UK.

The footage of this film includes moments that can easily induce tears. Some of the best include the Three Tenors' 1990 concert (with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras) that followed the FIFA World Cup. Whether singing with his fellow tenors or belting out "Nessun Dorma" as a soloist, Pavarotti's passion was phenomenal and it shows in these excerpts. Another touching moment is a close-up of the legend as he is knowingly singing one of his last performances before his impending death from pancreatic cancer.

While there is fascinating information revealed about Pavarotti's personal history, this film is not as good as it could have been despite the great footage and the grand subject. Compared to the very charming "Maria by Callas" released a couple of years ago, "Pavarotti" seems to stay at the surface and misses opportunities to be as magical as its subject. This sense of lack might have generated a lower rating than the one below but the man himself and his voice (which united heaven and earth) raise the otherwise ordinary film-making to a higher level.

It's only been 12 years since the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti died of pancreatic cancer, too young at the age of 70. Ron Howard's documentary doesn't only make you miss the singer, it also makes you miss, Of all things, a robust music industry. The Movie itself reflects heavily on his life and his final days as an Opera Singer before his passing, and the direction that Ron Howard uses as his Key Directing Style fits very perfectly with the flow of this Movie. I love Opera Music as much as anything in the Musical Department and I REALLY love Pavarotti, and this Movie has lots of respect shown for the man. This is one of those Independent Movies and it may not play in many Theaters, so I had to find a Theater far away from where I live to see this Movie and I loved everything about it. Easily one of the best Documentary Movies ever made and an extremely accurate take on one of the greatest Opera Singers in History!

All I want to say is thank you Ron Howard for brilliantly introducing me that one of the best musicians of all time.

A truly wonderful documentary...Required viewing for people who like all types of music and see the life of a real artist

If you don't have quad sound at home to listen to his audiophile recordings, then catching this in a theater with a big sound system is worth while. Well crafted tho' it is, more could have been shown about Pavarotti's technical development in the early years. It also underplays the tackiness of the stadium appearances of the last years The talent was too big for this particular man. "Maria by Callas: In Her Own Words" is far more satisfying.

The film was overall quite informative and really provokes further interest in those trying get into Opera music. The film was a quite random and disorganised in terms of its contents. For instance it would pan back to childhood and then to his 50s without any logical flow and at times I could not keep track with what was going on. It needs to be more dramatic and more artistical. I do praise the effort of the crew gathering so many interviews from so many people about Pavarotti, but it should have been better organised even if that means a bigger spending budget for a movie take such a big international stage.

I'm very fond of opera, classical music, etc. so it was logical for me to go and see the movie of Pavarotti. I'm almost 50 so he was a great part of my life there and I was enjoying his voice. I was mostly intrigued by the fact that the man has not only such a good voice but choose to use it to do better for others. I think it was a good representation of his life as also a good inspiration for the attendee in more than one way. A little bit sad is the fact he was less father than he wanted to be so lets take lesson out of this. respect to his first wife who could accept Pavarotti for the men who he was, what he meant for others and his flaws he had to deal with.

When I watched "Pavarotti", the first thing that came to mind was...'why now?'....why make such a documentary about the man now, 12 years after his death instead of back when he could have enjoyed it and participated in it more. But my feelings were premature, as the film did feature many, many clips of the man talking about his life, his career and life. It is very fortunate that he and his family used video cameras and documented so much of his life. These film clips along with many interviews actually worked well to create a film well worth watching...whether you are a huge opera lover or not.

Overall, a very thorough film about a great singer....focusing much on the good as well as the bad about the guy. I like warts and all documentaries....and this is clearly one and a good and interesting one at that.

I would love to write a review! After all, even though I live in a fly-over state, I am familiar with Pavarotti and his body of work. I guess we just aren't savvy enough to get the movie here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sad...just sad.

He was a famous tenor who helped make opera popular with the general public. I knew about him and his music, but this documentary opened my eyes to so much more. The viewer gets to meet his family, his managers, his celebrity friends. It was lovely to see the late Princess Diana during happier times, and awesome to hear the thoughts of Bono who appeared in concert with Pavarotti. Born during the War and following an early brush with death, Pavarotti grew up embracing life with a zest that rubbed off on many who crossed his paths. You don't have to be an opera lover or a Pavarotti fan to enjoy this film, but you will come away knowing a lot more about this fascinating larger-than-life human being and appreciating his outsized talent. And getting to hear him sing and see him perform on the big screen is a treat that i cannot recommend enough.

So me and the opera crowd were sitting there enjoying this positive - perhaps too positive - biopic when up pops Bono.

Sigh. Here's the sweary luvvie Irishman, swearing away, paying tribute YET AGAIN to someone from the world of showbusiness. It really jars. This is just like in Ron Howard's Beatles movie when Whoopi Goldberg comes on. Why does he do it? It's like he thinks, 'Let's bring someone discordant on to swear a bit, that'll do it'.

What have we done to deserve Bono? Can't he just go away forever?

Anyway, film is a decent watch. You can't help but grin along with Luciano.

Pity Gazza isn't in it, though.

So we'll done! Gives a lot of insight into his family life and his life's work. He was a very altruistic human being.

Ron Howard's documentary covering the life of the famous tenor. It is unremarkable in that it covers from birth to grave, features many of his great performances and interviews most of his family, work colleagues and other talents eg Domingo, Carreras and Bono. There is little in the way of controversy here, although this does demonstrate once more what incredible voice he had plus overall what a kind and generous person he was. There may well have been a diva element to his persona but this is skipped over pretty swiftly. Interesting though.

My Review- Pavarotti

My rating 8:10

This film directed and produced by Ron Howard is a labour of love and quality documentary making.

Luciano Pavarotti reached millions of different audiences and crossed generation gaps at times slapping the snobby opera cliques in their face with his pop / opera fusion . This happened late in his life after he had attained equal fame to the previous King of Opera Enrico Caruso.

Ron Howard's film celebrates his fame and glorious voice but at the same time reveals his inner demons and insecurities and infidelities.

The most impressive part of the film for me was Pavarotti's sheer joy of life and his generosity to important and needy charitable causes .

There's an iconic image of tenor Luciano Pavarotti and Diana, Princess of Wales: he looking fresh and invigorated after an open-air performance in Hyde Park, she looking absolutely soaked through with rain because she'd been watching said performance.

She looks absolutely charmed, no doubt because the legendary tenor had just dedicated a Puccini aria to her in front of hundreds of thousands of people: They became great friends and he joined her in her charitable quest for the elimination of land mines world wide.

After the war in Bosnia, he financed and established the Pavarotti Music Centre in the southern city of Mostar to offer Bosnia's artists the opportunity to develop their skills. For these contributions, the city of Sarajevo named him an honorary citizen in 2006.

His foundation continues today to contribute millions of dollars and each year in his hometown of Modena Italy he is honoured for supporting refugee causes all over the world.

In 2001, Pavarotti received the Nansen Medal from the UN High Commission for Refugees for his efforts raising money on behalf of refugees worldwide. Through benefit concerts and volunteer work, he has raised more than any other individual.

A great documentary about a great man.

Reminded me of growing up in Newark NJ until I was 12 years old. The sad sad operas I understood because my beloved grandmother spoke italian who watched me. I miss her so much.