Michael J. Fox receives standing ovation at Sundance Film Festival ‘Still’ premiere

The standing ovation lasted for several minutes after Michael J. Fox took to the stage for the ‘Still’ premiere at the Sundance Film Festival Friday. ‘Still’ portrays a journey of ups and downs, with the overarching theme of hope.

The 61-year-old fielded an energetic Q and A session, where he explained why he wanted to tell his story now rather than later.

“I like where my mind takes me, and I fear that going as well”, he confessed to an attentive crowd. “It’s been a f–king amazing life.”

What is Michael J. Fox’s documentary about?

‘Still’, directed by Davis Guggenheim, is a deep dive into his decades-long battle with Parkinson’s, where the actor bravely opens up about the struggle and exhibits great optimism throughout his trials.

In the film, the Canadian-born actor relates one of the challenges he’s faced. After a walk in New York City, he comments on how it feels to walk with an uneven stride.

“The walking really freaks people out”, Fox explaind. “But if you pity me, it’s never gonna get to me.”

Film footage shows Fox strengthening his gait as he works with a trainer to overcome the physical limitations he faces, which are many — Fox frequently falls due to Parkinson’s symptoms, and has dislocated his shoulder and broken bones in his cheek, arm, and hand.

Still, he keeps a humorous attitude.

“A festival of self-abuse,” Fox joked.

‘Still’ reveals Fox’s battle with alcoholism

Though now sober for 30 years, Fox opens up about his ongoing struggle as a recovering alcoholic, which he is still trying to unpack in relation to the Parkinson’s diagnosis.

“I drank to dissociate,” he told the director in one scene.

Fox shares that it became apparent something was wrong after a bender in 1990, when he woke up to a twitching pinky finger.

The twitch persisted into the following year, when he sought a professional medical opinion. The neurologist diagnosed him with Parkinson’s.

According to the five stages of grief model, denial is the first stage. At that moment in 1991, Fox retorted, “You know who you’re talking to, right? I’m not supposed to get this.”

Keeping his secret for the next seven years, the actor silently dealt with the burden by abusing alcohol.

To keep the early symptoms discreet, he carried props on-set and took regular doses of dopamine.

Michael J. Fox speaks out on Hollywood

The ‘Family Ties’ actor, who moved to Hollywood from Edmonton, Canada as a teenager, has lots to say about his experience in the limelight.

“I was the Prince of Hollywood”, he said in the ‘Still’ documentary. “You think it’s made of brick and rock. But it’s not. It’s made out of paper and feathers. It’s an illusion.”

Michael J. Fox retired from acting in 2020 but he continues to write books and pursue other projects in which he can share his journey and life learning experiences. He founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which advocates and provides support and resources for people with Parkinson’s disease.

“People express to me that I make them feel better and do things that they normally wouldn’t do,” he explains. “That’s a big responsibility.”