Jeri Jacquin
Coming to theatres from director/producer Garrett Price and
Lurker Productions is a documentary on the life of Anton Yelchin with LOVE,
ANTOSHA.
Best known for his role as the young Chekov in the STAR
TREK films, Anton Yelchin wasn't a new comer to films. Not at all, in fact his
career began at a young age beginning in 2000 with a role in the television
series ER. I remember that episode clearly and Yelchin plays young boy Robbie
who loses his parents.
From the moment Yelchin is on screen, there is something
amazing in his eyes that says 'get ready to break out the kleenex everyone'
which I did. But this wouldn't be the only time this actor would move me.
In 2001 in the film HEARTS IN ATLANTIS, he once again tests
every emotion possible. Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2004 would show us another side
of Yelchin with scenes that were pure brilliance.
HOUSE OF D that same year from writer/director David
Duchovny cements Yelchin as an actor beyond words. Next came ALPHA DOG and
CHARLIE BARTLETT along side Robin Williams followed by THE BEAVER with Jodie
Foster.
In between Hollywood
roles, Yelchin made it clear he wanted to make the un-Hollywood type films.
Those around him saw that he needed to stretch and explore different characters
in different ways.
When STAR TREK came, viewers thought that this was a
newcomer to Hollywood
But there was so much more to this talented and sensitive
actor. The only son of immigrant Russian parents, Yelchin showed at a very
early age that he was fascinated with films and music. He grew with each and
every opportunity and influenced by each person he met.
That is what makes this documentary so absolutely
fantastic. It starts with his family talking about where they came from and how
they raised their son. Then his close friends talk about the time they spent
together and how they always did things nutty (as guys tend to do).
The most surprising part of this documentary is the amount
of people that actually knew Yelchin and by this I mean Kristen Stewart,
Jennifer Lawrence, Martin Landau for starters. There are funny stories told by
Chris Pine and Simon Pegg about Yelchin's need to photograph the unusualness he
would find just walking down the street.
The most moving part of this documentary are the notes that
Antosha left for his family to constantly remind them of his love. The raw
notes he would write to himself are read by Nicholas Cage who happened to be
Yelchin's favorite actor.
What a rare few knew was that Yelchin suffered from Cystic
Fibrosis and, as with everything this young man did, he did not use CF as an
excuse to not push himself. Instead he did what was necessary and jumped into
his life fray with every bit of heart and soul he had.
June 19, 2016, the world would lose Yelchin in what would
seem the most senseless way. A preventable accident would take him away from
the world that so embraced his talent.
In the sadness of this we have to remember one thing, this
young actor left behind 69 films and that is stunning. I have seen many of his
films but after seeing this documentary, I want to see each and every film he
made!
The film brings J.J. Abrams, Sofia Boutella, John Cho, Ian
Cripps, Marlon Clark, Willem Dafoe, Joe Dante, Paul David, Ryan Dean, Drake
Doremus, Ben Foster, Jodie Foster, Cxraif Gillespie, Dave Glowacki, Bryce
Dallas Howard, Nick Jones, Avy Kaufman, Frank Langella, Mary Lester, Mark
Palansky, Jon Poll, Zachary Quinto, Parush Rao, Zoe Saldana, Luke Shaft, Sophie
Simpson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jon Voight, and Richard Wicklund out to talk about
their feelings and some of it will bring a tear and a lot will bring laughs.
Having amazing access to his journals, writings, home
movies, photographs, artwork and music - there doesn't seem to be a stone left
unturned to share with the viewer. That is what makes this documentary so very
special - its honesty to both the light and dark of his life.
We should all have such amazing friends that would want the
world to know who we are, how we are and everything in between in such a way as
Price has put together in LOVE, ANTOSHA.
In the end - he was so much more and now we know just how
much more!
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