"Gleason" Documentary Gives Intrusive Take On The Struggles Of ALS

Former NFLer Steve Gleason's 111-minute documentary "Gleason" premieres in theaters across the country on Friday. The idea originated from Gleason himself, as he "decided to tape a series of video journals" chronicling his bout with ALS. Director Clay Tweel then "combed through that 1,300 hours of recorded history to shape the footage - raw and uncensored, as Gleason wanted it" (MMQB.SI.com, 7/26).

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY graded it at a B+, as the film is an "inspirational and unflinching look at the devastating effects, physical and emotional," of the disease (EW.com, 7/28). The "raw and intimate" documentary is a "glimpse into how ALS affects lives" (USA TODAY, 7/29). The film is "incredibly frank about Gleason’s physical suffering and the toll his terrifyingly implacable physical deterioration takes on his marriage" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/29).