Filmed in 2019 in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of Mary J. Blige’s “My Life” album, I know in another world where Covid didn’t happen, there is a good chance this movie would’ve seen a 2020 TIFF screening complete with red carpet. This documentary would’ve been right at home at the Princess of Wales with a Toronto audience of her fans primed to watch, possibly even paired with a live performance of one or two songs. Unfortunately we don’t live in that world.
I’ve watched a few of these artist documentaries. The ones that work do so because the artists are ready to be vulnerable and there is a distinct visual style. In Mary J Blige’s My Life, Mary J. Blige was vulnerable and Vanessa Roth brought a distinct visual style utilizing art/illustrations to make the music and story come to life and break up the talking head.
Right from the jump, Mary J. Blige lets you know that the making of the “My Life” album was the darkest point of her life. Then she hits you with context letting you know how hard her life was long before she made the album: her father leaving when she was young, moving to the projects, being molested, her mother being abused, etc. By doing this, she’s establishing a base point for her darkest point, so you truly understand what she means when she says that. She likened growing up in the projects to being in “a prison, inside a prison, inside a prison.” How as a teenager she never smiled, and how she started to carry everyone’s pain (her mother’s, her neighbours, etc.). She also talked about how she turned to drink and substance abuse to cope and how that was common for girls in the projects.
After she got discovered, and her first album blew up, she leaned more into drinking and substance abuse as they were her proven coping method. She also got into an abusive relationship with K-Ci. They showed an interview where the interviewer showed Mary a clip of K-Ci dismissing their relationship, the possibility of them being engaged/serious, and Mary was expected to respond. She had seen her mother be in abusive relationships, but she was unable to break the cycle.
Some people hate hearing about celebrity struggles, but I think what she grappled with while making “My Life” is important to talk about. It’s important to know that just because someone has wealth doesn’t mean they don’t struggle to face the same insecurities many people do, especially in regards to self-worth. She does a good job of explaining the heartbreaking reality of why people stay in abusive relationships.
Mary J Blige’s My Life looks at more than just the “My Life” album but why Mary J. Blige herself is someone with a lasting legacy and, like with all things, it comes down to talent and representation. She’s an undeniable talent and she filled a void for people that weren’t being seen.
Let’s start with fashion. Her look is iconic, but at the time no one was making these looks in fashion houses so Misa Hylton, her stylist and designer, had to make them custom. Seeing Mary rock the looks she did made people, like Taraji P. Henson interviewed in the documentary, feel seen for the first time.
Her sound was R&B vocals over Hip Hop beats, songs you could both sing along and dance the current styles to. She was rougher at a time when Black female artists were expected to be smooth. Alicia Keys, also interviewed, said Mary made her feel good about who she was and that she could be who she actually was and be special.
The tape she made of herself that got her the record contract was of her singing Anita Baker. The documentary included footage of her later singing live with Anita Baker, everything coming full circle. There was a lot of symmetry in the documentary. Making the album was the darkest time of Mary’s life, but now she looks on the album with fondness; because she’s on the other side.
Mary J. Blige and her fans have a symbiotic relationship: she uplifts and saves them, and they return the favour.
Available on Amazon Prime
© 2021. UniversalCinema Mag.