Mystify neither sanctifies nor sledges Michael Hutchence

Michael Hutchence’s reputation has repeatedly been picked up, put down and invariably tarnished by those out to make a buck. But Mystify is such a beautifully assembled doco, it’s no wonder Kylie Minogue and Helena Christensen contributed on a personal level.

He was fervently adored by millions, truly known by too few, and died alone.

Since his sad passing in Sydney in 1997 at the age of just 37, history has not been kind to Michael Hutchence.

Both his considerable creative legacy and personal reputation have been repeatedly picked up, put down and invariably left tarnished. Usually by those out to make a quick buck, or grind a belated axe.

Quite wisely, the new documentary Mystify: Michael Hutchence doesn’t concern itself with smoothing out all the erroneous wrinkles that have crumpled the late INXS frontman’s life story over time.

Mystify is filled with Michael Hutchence’s own words, thoughts, deeds and talents.

Instead, Mystify starts with a fresh, blank page, and allows the man himself to fill it in — with his own words, thoughts, deeds and talent.

In this beautifully researched and assembled doco, you won’t be seeing a single talking head for the duration of its running time.

Instead, Mystify releases a constant flow of footage of Hutchence on the rise, in his prime, and then in free fall.

Some of the most telling and revealing vision was shot either by Hutchence himself, or someone close at his side, and is being shown for the very first time.

The voices of family, friends, lovers and collaborators are heard on occasion, but usually only to add another layer of context to the real life being lived in the moment on-screen.

If you’re expecting a sanctifying or sledging of Hutchence, you’ve come to the wrong place. There has been enough of that already.

Lowenstein’s considered approach to Mystify is no doubt what drew Hutchence’s ex-girlfriend Kylie Minogue to contribute to it.

Australian filmmaker Richard Lowenstein (along with several members of the team behind Mystify) knew and worked with Hutchence back in the day.

His own intimate understanding of the subject — and the copious amount of footage in his archives — interlocks strongly and sensitively with others who had previously been reluctant to share their perspective on Michael Hutchence.

Lowenstein’s considered, matter-of-fact approach undoubtedly drew the likes of ex-girlfriends Kylie Minogue and Helena Christensen to contribute to Mystify on a very personal level.

While Hutchence’s unusual, self-taught gifts as a singer, lyricist and stage performer are rightly and vividly acknowledged, so too are a distinct thoughtfulness and devastating internal turmoil never addressed in such detail before.

The rapid decline in Hutchence’s fortunes in his final years — accelerated by a violent assault that left him with permanent brain damage — is hard to watch even now, but again is handled by Lowenstein with rare clarity and honesty.

MYSTIFY: MICHAEL HUTCHENCE (M)

Director: Richard Lowenstein (Dogs in Space)

Starring: Michael Hutchence

Rating: ****

Demystified to dignify, not deify

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