Cinema Review: Framing John DeLorean (2019) has cars, cocaine, hot chicks, and Alec Baldwin

Framing John DeLorean (2019) is a documentary feature film that examines the question “Who was the real John DeLorean?” DeLorean began his career as a successful executive at GM and eventually started his own company with the hope of fulfilling his dream of building an affordable sports car. He is to some people a renegade visionary—who revolutionized the automobile industry—and to others, the ultimate con man. This biography film is a mix of vintage videos, interviews, re-enactments featuring Alec Baldwin, and behind-the-scenes footage. The film is noteworthy for its comprehensive look at the subject, unique editing style, and input from John DeLorean’s family.

The documentary provided a comprehensive examination of the subject within the one hour and forty-nine minute running time. The story began with John DeLorean’s career at GM, where he introduced the high performance Pontiac GTO. He became a charismatic public figure and married a popular fashion model named Cristina Ferrare. Soon he set out to show the big automobile makers that he could succeed on his own.

The film pointed out that when the DeLorean factory was built in Northern Ireland, it brought jobs and stability to a part of the world that was in upheaval due to conflicts between Irish Catholics and Protestants. Unfortunately, the car’s performance fell short of expectations, sales were weak, and government funding was discontinued after Margaret Thatcher rose to power. Financial difficulties put John DeLorean in a desperate situation. In a shocking turn of events, he entered into a cocaine deal setup by US authorities who were motivated by President Reagan’s war on drugs. The scandal was John DeLorean’s downfall, and the company was dismantled by 1982. It is too bad the company could not survive for a few more years as the film Back to the Future (1985) featured the car prominently and may have lifted sales.

The mix of documentary style narrative, re-enactments, and behind-the-scenes content was like watching a DVD movie and the special features at the same time. The re-enactments featured Alec Baldwin as John DeLorean and Morena Baccarin as Cristina Ferrare. In the behind-the-scenes footage, they shared their thoughts on the characters. It was clear that Alec Baldwin really cared about faithfully portraying John DeLorean.

The development of the car company and the ensuing scandal had a negative impact on DeLorean’s family, especially the children. Although many people were interviewed in the film, the insight provided by the daughter and adopted son was perhaps most revealing. The son talked about how he would like the story to end, and the filmmakers honored the son’s wishes.

Framing John DeLorean does not glorify the man, nor does it vilify him. It presents both sides of the story and allows the viewer to decide whether John DeLorean was a hero, con artist, or both. It is inspiring, but it is also a cautionary tale. DeLorean was a successful man who got carried away. One can see a parallel to Elon Musk and his obsession to build the ultimate car. Regardless of one’s personal opinions, this documentary film is a good choice for history buffs and car fans alike.