Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore
July 7th, 2025
MOVIE: MARLEE MATLIN: NOT ALONE ANYMORE
STARRING: MARLEE MATLIN, JACK JASON, TROY KOTSUR, RANDA HAINES
DIRECTED BY: SHOSHANNAH STERN
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 ½ STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: PG
RUN TIME: 96 MINUTES
The cards dealt to Marlee Matlin would have taken down almost anyone. But the first deaf actor to win an Oscar for Best Actress never let her circumstances define her or limit what she could achieve. Even at her highest points, Matlin had to continue fighting to prove her worth in an industry and a world that often boxes in those with disabilities. Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore is a powerful and deeply moving documentary that chronicles her extraordinary life: growing up as the only deaf person in her family, surviving a turbulent relationship with William Hurt, and confronting addiction to drugs and alcohol. The film beautifully captures why Matlin remains an icon and a constant source of inspiration.
At first, it’s easy to see why someone like Matlin would be the subject of a documentary. But director Shoshannah Stern does more than recount her life—she highlights the profound impact Matlin has had on the deaf community and beyond. The pivotal moment came when Matlin was cast in Children of a Lesser God, leading to her historic Oscar win. What followed was not just fame, but a deeper responsibility: becoming a relentless advocate for the deaf, championing closed captioning legislation, and demanding inclusion in Hollywood. The weight of that role was immense, and Matlin speaks openly and fearlessly about the challenges she faced.
As a filmmaker who is also hearing-impaired, Stern ensures this documentary is made for the deaf community. Everyone interviewed signs their responses, and the film includes subtitles and captions throughout. Voices both familiar and deeply personal—like Aaron Sorkin, Henry Winkler, and Matlin’s longtime interpreter Jack Jason—help paint a full portrait not just of Matlin’s journey, but of the broader fight for deaf rights and representation. And through it all, Matlin remains a trailblazer: breaking barriers on television, opening up about her lowest moments in a powerful memoir, and returning to the Academy Awards in triumph with CODA, a Best Picture winner that redefined what deaf representation in cinema could look like.
What sets Not Alone Anymore apart is that it’s not just a celebratory puff piece. It’s a vital reminder that stories about the deaf and hearing-impaired deserve attention, nuance, and urgency. Topics that might seem minor to some—language development for deaf children, the ongoing fight for inclusion, or the ripple effect of Troy Kotsur’s Oscar win—are, in reality, part of a much bigger conversation. With an estimated 70 million deaf individuals worldwide, Matlin’s work and visibility cannot be overstated.
Not Alone Anymore is more than a documentary. It’s a tribute to resilience, a call for representation, and a testament to the power of one person to change the world. Matlin’s story reminds us not just of her strength, but of our collective responsibility to amplify the voices that too often go unheard.
3 ½ STARS
MARLEE MATLIN: NOT ALONE ANYMORE IS PLAYING IN SELECT THEATERS ON FRIDAY, JULY 11TH, 2025.
Written by: Leo Brady
