Robbie Williams Review
The world of celebrity documentaries is experiencing a resurgence’ and it’s not limited to just David Beckham and Coleen Rooney. Enter the four-part Robbie Williams series on Netflix’ offering a deep dive into the psyche of the former Take That star. What sets this documentary apart from its counterparts is its unapologetic honesty’ in contrast to the somewhat self-conscious Beckham and Rooney projects. In fact’ Robbie Williams doesn’t even bother with trousers for most of the documentary’ embracing his authentic self.
Each episode takes us on a journey through Robbie Williams’ past’ featuring a treasure trove of old video diaries and behind-the-scenes footage. Robbie’ in his signature candid style’ provides insightful commentary on the clips. The selection of these videos is spot-on’ effectively capturing the whirlwind of fame and the emotional turmoil that often accompanies it. Williams’ articulateness and thoughtfulness shine through’ but there’s a somewhat numbing quality to the format. The repetitive shots of Robbie pacing around his house or bathed in the laptop’s glow lend the documentary a therapeutic ambiance’ almost like an extended counseling session.
Nonetheless’ the series provides a valuable glimpse into the darker aspects of fame. From grappling with jealousy toward bandmates (as exemplified when his 11-year-old daughter’ Teddy’ curiously asks him to pick the one he disliked the most)’ to the relentless grind of touring and promotional obligations’ the downsides of stardom are laid bare.
While Robbie Williams was always known as the cheeky’ fun-loving member of Take That’ this lighthearted image masked a deeply insecure character. Joining the band at the tender age of 16’ he now diagnoses himself as emotionally stunted by the experience’ deprived of the usual process of growing into adulthood. When he eventually parted ways with the group’ his personal struggles became apparent. However’ his humor and jesting may have veiled the seriousness of his issues.
There’s an old interview that’s particularly poignant in hindsight. It dates back to 1999’ while he was promoting a concert at Slane Castle. When asked about his well-being’ Robbie candidly admits to being in a “black depression” for the past five weeks. The interviewer’ somewhat bewildered’ calls for a retake. This time’ Robbie conceals his true feelings with a smile and enthusiastically declares it to be the “biggest gig of his life.”
The documentary takes an unexpectedly somber turn at the conclusion of each episode. Filmmaker Joe Pearlman asks Robbie about what lies ahead’ and the responses are haunting. It’s a stark reminder that the worst is yet to come’ and Robbie’s psychological battles are far from over.
The documentary isn’t devoid of small pleasures for Robbie Williams fans. It offers glimpses of his past relationships with Nicole Appleton and Geri Halliwell and provides a sneak peek into his beautiful home. Most importantly’ it delves into two significant love affairs in his life: one with Ayda Field’ the wife who played a crucial role in helping him battle addiction’ and another with Guy Chambers’ his former writing partner.
The insights into Chambers are particularly intriguing; old footage portrays him as patient and level-headed’ adding depth to the narrative. It’s a notable omission that the documentary predominantly features Robbie in the present day’ as contributions from other key figures’ like Chambers’ could have offered a more well-rounded perspective on this extraordinary artist.
Conclusion
Robbie Williams’ four-part Netflix documentary offers a refreshingly honest and candid exploration of the star’s life and struggles. While it provides a unique insight into the challenges of fame’ it also highlights the need for a more well-rounded perspective’ including contributions from key figures in Williams’ life.
