Fans may know Marc Maron as a podcaster, comedian, and/or an animated snake but in this new documentary – Are We Good? – they get to learn more about the man behind the jokes, with this honest and raw look at grief and loss.
Are We Good Review
In his song, Chinese Translation, singer-songwriter M. Ward asks, “What do you do with the pieces of a broken heart, And how can a man like me remain in the light, And if life is really as short as they say, Then why is the night so long…” Such are the emotional struggles for comedian and podcast pioneer Marc Maron, whose WTF with Marc Maron paved the way for the format we see today. Steven Feinartz’s Are We Good? focuses on the post-Covid life of comedy’s smartest comedian after the death of his partner, filmmaker Lynn Shelton, in May of 2020. The documentary examines his unfiltered emotional journey to give his life meaning while struggling with such a profound loss.
Are We Good? doesn’t go for directorial flourishes, taking a straightforward path as Feinartz follows Maron’s career and personal ups and downs. The doc is unflinching in how it captures Maron's grief featuring many scenes where he must gather himself when talking about Shelton’s death. The audio of his first podcast after the tragedy is devastating.
Director Feinartz isn’t manipulative. This is two men talking, even if Maron gets frustrated with the whole project. The director doesn’t press, but his subject knows he must address what happened and captures a sweetness to Maron’s sadness. There is nothing he would like more than speaking about Lynn Shelton. When he does, there are as many smiles as there are tears. It is quite touching when Maron shows the camera Shelton’s boots and jacket, which are still in his living room in the exact spot she put them on the night of her death.
Maron is genuine in both his pain and his unique sense of humor. One of the best examples of how he balances the two can be found in his 2023 HBO special Bleak to Dark, performed almost three years after Lynn Shelton died. The comedian is completely raw as he speaks about going to see her body at the hospital. When he arrived, Shelton was gone but he was allowed to look at her and say goodbye. The moment is heavy and the crowd is silent. You can feel their connection to his pain. When he describes the intricacies of such a devastating situation, he ends the story by revealing how he pondered whether or not to take a selfie on the way out. The audience erupts with laughter; the yin and yang of Marc Maron on full display. Though he may not realize it, we could learn a lot from Marc Maron.
The film speaks to his drug use, the bad marriages, and the anger issues, but shows respect for Maron and his place in modern culture. Are We Good? features some great footage of Maron on stage letting the audience in on his “process” (random words he has jotted down over the months), while giving an annoying heckler no quarter. In true Marc Maron fashion, he regrets being overly harsh to the audience member after she comes to congratulate him on a good performance. We get to see Maron in his world, following him through the comedy clubs and his favorite vinyl record store. This is where he does his magic, but still, the man is constantly annoyed and self-defeating. His sanctuary should be his home, but the tragedy of May 2020 still haunts every room. Maron doesn’t have the luxury of a restful mind.
At 62. Marc Maron is a soul in continuous transition. He forged a path to understanding towards his father. After decades of not being ”a draw”, Maron can sell out venues. His groundbreaking podcast has earned the artist respect and a bigger fan base. After failing at marriage and relationships for his entire life, he finally found his soulmate. Lynne Shelton was his peace and perhaps his soul was as settled as it could be. For Maron, life was balancing. And then she was taken from him, which sent the artist on a new, unwanted, journey.
By the close of Are We Good?, Marc Maron has found himself an in-demand actor and comedian who earns admiration from his peers and from anyone who listens to his podcast or attends his shows.Maron the artist is on a career high and through his unfiltered observations about life, love, and everything that’s wrong with society, he has taken his place among the great comic minds.
Maron the man continues to be unable to process Lynn Shelton’s tragic death and fights against his own path to happiness. He has his collection of vinyl and plays his guitar (he’s an accomplished musician). He does his standup and a few films/tv shows a year. Maron has his cats, who frustrate him and bring him joy in equal measure. Most importantly, Maron learned to open up again and has found love. It is unclear if this will be a lasting relationship to carry him through his next 20 or so years, but he proclaims to have found a real connection.
Verdict
By film’s end, Are We Good? becomes more than a title. The phrase was taken from something Maron always feels the need to ask, as his insecurities constantly call out for acceptance. If he could allow himself to take a breath and sit back to see the scope of his accomplishments, perhaps he could find that missing center of happiness within. But this is Marc Maron, a man who has learned to survive so many setbacks for so many years. While he may not be zen, he is maintaining. In Maron’s world, this is closer to any version of peace than he ever thought possible. Maybe he taught us something after all; to strive for as much happiness as we can and that tragedies don’t define us. Yeah, Marc, we’re good.
Are We Good? is available on digital November 14.
Reviewer: Anthony Francis. He is the CEO and Editor-in-Chief of The Movie Revue. You can find his reviews, interviews, and other works at TheMovieRevue.com, as well as on Instagram and Facebook.
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