Sidney Poitier was a great actor and a great man, so I was very much looking forward to this movie, especially given some very positive reviews.

The documentary 'Sidney' is fascinating when Poitier is on screen, being interviewed for this project or in the extensive archive footage.

However it is intensely irritating when some random celebrity comes on screen to tell us what we've just heard, or explain the obvious.

I don't mind the views and anecdotes from his family or people who actually knew him, but there were too many unnecessary talking heads delivering exposition that had obviously been scripted by the production.

Like many "white people," I fell in love with Sidney. How could you not? He was extremely good-looking, a dazzling smile, a dynamic presence on the screen, and just explosive and surprising with every turn. Watching a film with him in his glory days was a thing of beauty.

Oprah and her partners have brought together many people from Sidney's life, including his first wife, and all his children, and every seminal figure in his life, to talk about him. And perhaps most importantly, this was created when Sidney was still alive.

It's very powerful and covers basically his whole life.

The first part is a bit slow as Sidney himself goes into a lot of detail about his young life. But I understood why they kept it, because he was so shaped by the things his mother and father did for him and it kind of started him on his journey.

Seeing this amazing man and all the lives he touched and the very powerful (and scary) eras he lived through is very moving. Revisiting some of his greatest roles brought tears to my eyes.

And the guests! They had Lulu from "To Sir With Love" -- I mean, we're talking history! They had Katharine Houghton from "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" -- where there was a prominent interracial kiss featured. "In the Heat of the Night" where an obnoxious righteous white man slaps Sidney, and Sidney slaps him right back (I'm white, and it was such a rich, delicious, powerful moment).

I think the reason I didn't give this a 10 is because of Oprah herself. I've noticed that when Oprah talks, everything is in superlatives and people and events "changed" her life "forever." All that may be true and I am sure she is being sincere about it, but if you hear it too often, it stops coming across as sincere, and even though she actually broke down and cried on camera at the end, I really hate to say this, because I'm sure it wasn't the case, but it came across as borderline fake. Then there is another moment when Sidney gives Oprah award, and at that moment, it's clear her tears are very real.

Sidney was obviously an extremely important figure to the Black community, for a long list of reasons, and that is made crystal clear in this documentary. But at the same time, Sidney was important to the white community, and, for this white person, I'd say it's because it was thrilling to see this beautiful Black man on screen in commanding roles and doing an amazing role as an actor. I love actors and creative people and I really don't give a f-f what their race or sexuality is. As Barbra Streisand says (she's featured in about 3 clips),when you looked at Sidney, he looked like what a movie star is supposed to look like. I agree.

A movie star is someone you cannot take your eyes off when they're on the screen; such was the case with Sidney Poitier.

Again, the documentary covers a lot of territory and they did to a pretty good job of condensing his life to two hours. It is definitely worth the time, especially for people who remember his seminal roles.

This documentary on Sidney Poitier is an absolute must-watch.

He is near the top amongst my favorite actors and, for that matter, people; his book The Measure of a Man is required reading, because he reveals an extraordinary perspective on countless subjects gleaned from his life time of experiences.

This documentary is jam-packed with appearances and testimonials from Mr. Poitier inspired and associated with: his family, co-stars, friends, and various luminaries.

They all pour forth, with no small amount of affection, great love, and eloquence.

All of the accolades and encomiums fully deserving.

It is a fitting tribute to one of the greatest, most trail-blazing figures of our time.