“I’m watching the documentary about Michael Feinstein!”
– Michael Musto after seeing PBS’s airing of Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story.

It’s a double-edged sword making a documentary about someone still alive.  Take Liza Minnelli.  Oh sure, she’ll ramble on and on about Kaye Thompson, Kander and Ebb, Halston, and even Mia Farrow.  But she doesn’t want to talk about her parents, her siblings, her “romances”, her addictions, or even Studio 54.  All that stuff is recounted by people who are Liza’s confidants from the past decade or two.  Do they have firsthand knowledge of events that happened half a century ago?  In most cases, no – they just know what Liza told them.  Her own lore has become fact by way of repetition.  While the documentary is short on insight and revelations, it includes some fantastic film footage.  There are also curious moments.  For instance, one almost never imagines Darren Criss to share a Liza story – let alone one that also includes Mitzi Gaynor.  It’s almost otherworldly – and yet, oddly familiar.  Come to think of it, it’s not surprising at all.