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Follows acclaimed actor Stephen Lang as he tracks the ten year odyssey behind his one-man show about eight medal of honor recipients.
The Medal of Honor has always been synonymous with bravery and heroism, handed out to countless men and women over various conflicts throughout history. “Beyond Glory,” written by acclaimed actor Stephen Lang, most notable for his roles in James Cameron’s “Avatar” and “Conan the Barbarian,” invites us to sit front row at his one-man show honoring eight recipients of the Medal of Honor. Using his Tony-Nominated theatre skills, Stephen Lang takes us on an adventure through the ages of conflict as his one man show re-enacts the stories of these eight individuals. Directed by Larry Brand, known for “Halloween: Resurrection” and “Christina,” this one-man show inside a documentary, a 10-year passion of Stephens, has been shared with the world with the hope they will never fade.
“Beyond Glory” opens with writer Stephen Lang addressing the US troops, performing his one man show in-front of maybe the one audience that fully understands the emotional toil these eight former servicemen went through. Next we see Stephen Lang on an aircraft carrier, attending various US bases around the world as he performs to the troops, a small montage showing the dedication and sacrifice endured to present these men’s stories to as many people as possible. A 10-year odyssey that’s seen Stephen perform his show nearly 500 times as he tours the heartland of America. From Peal Harbor to the Persian Gulf, these first hand accounts of Medal of Honor recipients, leave a lasting impression thanks to Lang’s tremendous performance. The task of re-enacting these eight different individuals must have been a daunting prospect, eight different personalities, all with their own harrowing tales and emotional turmoil laid bare before our eyes. Lang slips in and out of these characters with ease with an unpredictable, engaging, funny and edgy performance, packed full of emotion as he delves deep into each character, almost becoming them for a moment. For someone who, in my opinion, has a tough-guy aura around him, his ability to switch his emotional range so easily was impressive. It’s an eye-catching performance that I for one, was pleasantly surprised with as I was unaware of Lang’s previous theatre experience and he draws upon it here with great effect.
The feature itself is a pretty straightforward documentary, a piece focusing on Stephen Lang’s 10-year adventure as he takes his solo show on the road, performing to troops across the US. Primarily we are witness to these performances, however, they are inserted with short POV shots of Lang in front of screens, depicting violent scenes relevant to that particular war. An announcer calls out the name of each particular serviceman, with Lang jolting to attention while reciting his name, regiment and other vital information. As the stories unfold, the use of sound effects and props are vitally implemented, with Lang sometimes even breaking the 4th wall. As I have stated before, it is an eye-catching performance, made even more impressive as Lang’s solo performance keeps us interested. There may be one person on screen but the eight servicemen’s characters are brought to life, creating a whole cast more different than the last. Torture scenes to emotional breakdowns, each story illuminates the past and highlights the consequences of conflict.
As a feature it can be a hard watch, it’s a succession of stories re-enacted in various locations with no real break to the action. It’s basically like sitting in the front row of his show so I can see how it could become a bit too much for some people. All I say is give it a try, even if you don’t watch the whole thing, listen to a few of the stories.
Stephen Lang’s dedication to this project is apparent from the first performance, he surprised me by his range of acting and his ability to change characters with such ease. There’s a passion behind his performances that helps greatly at bringing these character’s stories to life. When asked why he does it, Lang replies, “Lots of reasons.” He goes on to explain that everyone loves a good story, “Stories tell us where we came from and illuminate the past.” While the documentary is decent in structure and presentation, it is the acting that really stands out, or should I say, the actor. Each story is told with passion, respect and honor for each serviceman, with a glimpse into the past, leaving us feeling pride in their accomplishments.
Available on VOD & Digital HD October 4th
