Jessica Lange: On Her Own Terms (DVD, 2006, A&E Store Exclusive)

"One Her Own Terms" is a pointed subtitle for the A&E network's documentary made for their television series, "Biography."

Lange, nominated for 6 academy awards, is the winner of 2: her first was in 1983 for Best Supporting Actress in "Tootsie." She is one of 9 actors ever nominated for two Oscars in the same year. In 1983, she was also nominated for her leading performance as Frances Farmer. Then, in 1995, Lange won an Oscar for Best Actress for her outstanding performance in "Blue Sky" (1994). Lange has also won 19 more prestigious awards for her stage & screen performances.

Born in 1949 in Minnesota, she was the companion of the great ballet dancer, Mikhail Baryshnikov; they have a grown daughter. Since 1982 Lange has been the life partner of Sam Shepard; they have a daughter & son.

This documentary is obviously not going to be a complete one since Lange was only 47yo when it was made. With nearly 40 features films to her credit already & such great potential ahead of her, Lange has already been acclaimed as the sexiest star in 1995 by "Empire" magazine. More recently, in 2006, her performance in "Frances" (1983) was ranked as number 85 of the top 100 all time greatest by "Premiere" magazine.

Lange is politically active against violence as a mother, she makes clear, not as an actor. She was a featured speaker in the anti-war protest in Washington, DC on January 18th, 2002, who delivered one of the most passionate speeches.

Her life is presented in this documentary as very well rounded with both a career, world & family focus~