This doc cares about Jennifer Lopez, and so do we.

We first see that Jennifer Lopez has turned 50, and is on the verge of performing at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2020. As a Latina, she wanted to use her voice to help stand up against racism. The made-for-Netflix doc “Halftime” wants us to acknowledge her hardships as a star and human being, especially when she expresses her hatred towards sexism and discrimination.

In her early days, she was a Fly Girl dancer on “In Living Color,” and struggled to prove she was an actress. Her breakout role was in “Selena,” which was about the late singer and fashion designer. And she was able to balance her career as an actress and a singer, leading her to become a global icon. But even half the day public felt she had no talents, which lead her to nearly quit.

Besides acting, Lopez wanted to produce movies that actually had meaning and not what men wanted to sell. She was an actress, not a piece of meat. “Hustlers” almost never got made, because men thought women didn’t have what it takes to tell a fresh story. But the reviews, box office receipts, movie goers, and Lopez’s Oscar nomination say otherwise.

She got her hopes up that she would finally win the Oscar, but of course, Laura Dern beat her for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in “Marriage Story,” and so, Lopez felt she failed her family and fans. But you know what? She made it this far to being nominated, so I thinks he should be proud of herself for that. And after overcoming that defeat, she learns she is courageous.

Parts of the story are standard stuff, since we’ve seen certain behind the scenes moments before. I’m talking about concert scenes, and how fame has threatened to destroy her happiness and families. So, it’s basically the same elements happening over and over again, but “Halftime” wants us to acknowledge that Jennifer Lopez isn’t just a. celebrity, but a person with real feelings, too. We already knew that, but we want to see how she expresses her love for humanity and how she wanted to make a difference in this world.

It’s also uplifting when she learns to better herself, and accept that circumstances can’t destroy her. She can push forward, and she believes she can. “Halftime” is essentially an underdog story for her. Even without this doc, life was already an underdog story for her, and I’m proud of her for thriving on the negativity. Not because she’s a celebrity, but because people of all races are human, too.

One more thing: the opening line from “The Departed” had the Jack Nicholson villain saying: “I don’t want to be a product of my environment; I want my environment to be a product of me.” I like to say that word from my sense, because I don’t want racism or discrimination, and if I conceived society, the world would be a better place. As I told a black reporter a the Tribeca Film Festival: “I may be white, but I don’t discriminate people by their skin color, but by their actions and how they treat people.”

Jennifer Lopez, thank you for not turning your back on everyone.

Streaming on Netflix

Categories: Documentary, Music