Stevie is an exceptional documentary by Steve James, creator of the stunning Hoop Dreams. It's an intimate, heartbreaking portrait of a troubled man, and by the end of the film, it's perfectly clear that the troubles that plagued Stephen Fielding as a child would ultimately shape who he would become as an adult.

Back in 1995, Steve James decided he would go back to the small town of Pomona, Illinois, and re-connect with Stephen Fielding, a troubled twenty-something with whom he had served as an "Advocate Big Brother" ten years earlier. Initially, James envisioned "Stevie" to be filmed as a short, but upon meeting Fielding again, it was completely apparent that James' worst fears had been realized. So ultimately, "Stevie" becomes something much bigger; a painful therapy session.

While catching up, James discovers that Fielding has had an extremely rough go of it. He's been in trouble with the law several times and has an incredibly volatile relationship with his birth mother (who sent Stevie to live with his grandmother when he was very young.) And during the course of the documentary, Fielding is accused of committing a crime that instantly rips his life apart even further.

During his lengthy re-connection with Stevie, James also documents the lives of those around Fielding in an attempt to analyze the source of his troubles. This includes family, friends and even a set of Foster parents who were a major source of love and respect at one point in Fielding's life.

Everyone has a story to tell and Stevie wouldn't be the first to suffer from dysfunction and an awful upbringing. But James' portrait is so observant and complex, that we sympathize with Fielding and even though we hardly approve of most of his actions, we can understand what lead him in those directions.

What's more, "Stevie" isn't just a film about Fielding. It's also a picture about Steve James himself. Ridden with guilt for leaving Stevie's side ten years earlier, James does reach out and hopes to make Fielding's life better. The only question is, is it too late?

"Stevie" is an extremely efficient documentary. Stevie and his family and friends are infinitely interesting subjects, and by the end of the picture, they become something much more. As "Stevie" came to a close, I really felt like I knew these people. Even James professes during the picture, that as the filming went on, it became increasingly difficult for him to continue shooting because he became so emotionally attached.

"Stevie" is a tough film to sit through, particularly the ending in which even James' life is altered. It's a picture that offers no easy answers and deftly deals with themes of dysfunction, guilt, and hopelessness. And as sad as this picture and it's subject is, hopefully some good will come out of it.

Steve James has fashioned a haunting American portrait in "Stevie."