"STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces" Makes Some Magic
Like the master multi-hyphenate comedian/author/composer/art collector/musician/actor Steve Martin, his documentary defies neat categorization.
STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces is streaming on Apple TV+
Grade: A
Synopsis: A comedian’s life in two, very distinct acts forms this 2-part documentary about the 78-year-old Steve Martin.
Newer audiences know Martin as one of the trio (which includes Martin Short and Selena Gomez) from the much-beloved show on Hulu about amateur detectives who start a true crime podcast called Only Murders in the Building but for many, Steve Martin is the comedian whose meteoric rise to superstardom in the mid-to-late 1970s as a standup comedian of the avant garde was unprecedented. Before Martin left stand-up for 35 years in 1981, he was selling out major stadiums the likes of rock legends.
So what happened to make him walk away?
Then & Now
This question is a defining one in STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces directed by Morgan Neville. In “Then,” the first part of the documentary, Neville takes viewers on a journey into Martin’s rather emotionally distant childhood in Orange County, California, and the early days of Martin’s career as a writer on The Smothers Brothers show and bombing his stand-up acts. “Then” is woven together in a very true-to-type biography of a man of a certain age. It explores Martin’s grappling with the lack of affection and positive reinforcement from his father and how this seeped into his disposition, for better or for worse. His father was a funny man, by Martin’s admission. Martin’s a private and shy person - this is something the press and those closest to him have always been quick to call out. At times, this distance has translated to reductive descriptors like “aloof” or “off-putting.” In the context of the documentary however, what this veneer means is that to get at the deeper, more intimate stuff of Martin’s life, the best path is through his friends and especially, Martin Short, his comedic partner of many years. The most unguarded scenes are found in his interviews with Short, comedian Jerry Seinfeld, and Adam Gopnik.
Master of his Craft(s)
Adam Gopnik, a good friend of Steve Martin’s and an acclaimed essayist who recently published a book about mastery, co-authored a book with Martin, “So Many Steves: Afternoons with Steve Martin” which I highly recommend listening to. Gopnik, who is featured in “Now,” the second part of the documentary which is based on Martin’s 2007 memoir, “Born Standing Up” is a skilled interviewer and the influence Martin likely had on Gopnik’s most recent book which delves into the art of mastery is evident.
Steve Martin epitomized the “growth mindset” concept before it was even a thing. In early notebooks from his teenage years he shares on camera, he’s meticulously documenting his performances and assessing opportunities for improvement, analyzing them in great detail. It’s akin to how a scientist would go about experimentation or a product manager working on creating a lean, useful tool for customers. The rigor and discipline he applies to the analysis of his magic shows, and then to comedy (“What if we released the tension?”), would serve Martin as he reinvented himself artistically throughout his career - later as a film actor, then as a composer, writer, playwright, art collector, and somewhere in the mix a banjo player. Martin experienced many failures in the form of film flops, stand-up routines, and relationships, and yet he was resilient. His curiosity and interest in the creative outlet of his choice coupled with the ambition and persistence to see it through to mastery formed the blueprint for his accomplishments.
Steve Martin is Not a Jerk
But he played one on camera and had the “wild and crazy guy” Saturday Night Live persona. He even starred in a film called The Jerk (1977).
There was a misconception for a long time that Martin was an arrogant, distant person. But what the documentary clearly illustrates is that he’s not and whether you like his brand of stand-up comedy, this portrait of the life of an exceptional person has a lot to teach simply by demonstrating the inner workings of a lifelong learner and master of his many crafts.
My 3 Favorite Martin Movies
L.A Story (1991) - A witty satire on Los Angeles in the heyday of early 90s yuppy-dom
Shopgirl (2005) - A poignant coming-of-age reflection on adulting and dating. Also, Claire Danes is an icon, so naturally this is in my top 3.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) - The best Thanksgiving movie. Two funny men (Martin and Candy) who make cinematic magic showing vulnerability, depth and connection.
What are your top 3 Martin movies?
Some Nostaglia
“Dueling Banjos” with Kermit. Martin was in The Muppet Movie (1979)
“Best of” which includes him doing magic and “The Incredible Shrinking Man”
“King Tut”
Let’s Get Small! What are your top Martin comedy shticks?
What a great ode to Steve Martin, a rare talent.
I can't wait to see this! Thanks, Beth.