Movie review - "Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool" (2005) ****

Terrific documentary on the iconic movie star, which benefits from some marvellous footage and co operation from his family. (His first and third wives are interviewed and son, but not Ali MacGraw). It is pro McQueen, full of praise of the man's undoubted talent and ability, but also doesn't hide that he could be a prick at times - Nelie Adams says he hit her, he wasn't the best father in the world (Chad McQueen says one day he hurt himself and Steve said "life isn't fair" - nice parenting! - then Chad says "and I tell my kids the same thing"). McQueen was clearly a bit screwed up, greatly affected by his erratic up bringing - it didn't also help that when he became a star in the 60s, Hollywood studios were in a decline so they all kissed his arse, which further encouraged bad behaviour. He had an understanding of his image and screen acting that few movie stars equalled. All the iconic roles are here - the film also shows some of his early television work, and later dud films such as Enemy of the People (which looks awful, as does The Hunter - its a shame he never got to make Tai Pan which George MacDonald Fraser writes about in his memoirs which would have been a worthier way to end a career). When McQueen died his image went strangely into eclipse, but now it is coming back and in a big way. He may have been a prick but he was cool.