We’re only about a month and a half in, but so far 2013 has been The Year of Beyonce. The Presidential Inauguration. The Super Bowl Halftime Show. Oprah’s Next Chapter. And perhaps the most highly anticipated Bey-related event of 2013 thus far (because we’re sure there’ll be more): her new HBO documentary Life is But A Dream (which she not only starred in, but also directed. And produced. And narrated. And… you get the picture).
The film promised to delve into the behind-the-scenes world of Mrs. Carter and reveal emotional and intimate details of the notoriously private pop star’s personal life. But did it deliver? The reviews are in and it seems that the critics… can’t agree on that. Head below for a roundup of the mixed bag reactions to Queen B’s documentary.
:: The New York Times calls Life is But A Dream “as contrived as ‘Madonna: Truth or Dare,’ but probably for good reason it is neither daring nor entirely truthful. It’s an infomercial, not just about Beyoncé’s talent onstage but her authenticity behind the scenes. She is a people-pleasing diva and she wants to keep it that way.” The paper concluded that “this documentary doesn’t really convey what life as a celebrity is like, but it does say a lot about how this celebrity would like to be seen.”
:: The A.V. Club also found the doc reminiscent of Truth or Dare, however questioned whether the former was as honest as the latter. They proclaim that the film is not for the “casual fan … who finds Queen Bey attractive and entertaining and all,” but caters more to “the true beylievers, for only Beyoncé’s biggest fans could look beyond the amount of superficiality and narcissism in the doc.”
:: In probably the most succinct review of the movie, Indiewire calls LIBAD “the film equivalent of a selfie.” The site note that even though she keeps “an iron grip on her own image” throughout the documentary, Beyonce is still “immensely watchable and fabulous.”
:: Billboard saidthe film was “a pleasant surprise of a watch” and noted that the film made Beyonce seem more “real.” “The well-oiled, media-trained, hit-making machine has a heart. And it’s huge.”
:: Pitchfork lamented the lack of new insight into Bey’s personal life, however praised her for appearing “convincingly genuine and without a single drop of jaded, cynical, or ironic blood.” They wonder if maybe the entire point of the documentary was to show that “she’s simply everything we want her to be.”
:: MTV is among those that think that the documentary may have been “overly polished” and lacking in new insights.
:: The Hollywood Reporter didn’t have many favorable things to say, calling the doc “repetitious and bland” and noting that among everything else in the film, her “music becomes almost an afterthought.”
:: The Washington Post also thought the movie included nothing we didn’t already know about Queen B, calling it “a hallucinatory advertisement for success” and lamenting its lack of linear narrative.
:: Unlike most other reviews, People thought “the film was full of new and exciting moments.”
:: Entertainment Weekly essentially said it’s up to the audience to decide how they view the doc: as “a verité video-quilt stitched from snippets of the private life of America’s current First Performer” or “just a televised press release.” The truth, they conclude, “is probably somewhere in between.”
:: And lastly, Idolator’s very own Erika Brooks Adickman had this to say: “I could watch it once a day for the rest of the year. And I probably will.”
What did you think of Bey’s documentary? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter.
Solid 2 out of 5 stars. Trying to humanize a machine..mission not accomplished.
The year can’t be over soon enough. One more music slut destroying our culture.
Totally agree. I love how Jay Z calls himself an artist!! Too funny. No talent Beyoncé sounds so stupid when she talks. They really believe they are talented lol. Not only is Beyoncé stupid, but she must be legally blind, because Jay Z looks like a penis with eyes
I could have not said it better!!! WOW!! and she went to private school.. Some role model..
She embarasses the nation at the Presidential Inauguration and gives a luike warm performance at the Super Bowl and this is the year of Beyonce? LOL!
It was difficult to watch someone become so narcissistic and out of touch with reality. She doesn’t have an ounce of humility or authenticity. Humanity is worse off since the rise of Beyonce corp.
I loved it and i felt really bad for the pain she seems to still be going through from the firing of her father and loosing him as a result. I love how she lets us see not only how much she loves Jay but we see a little bit of how much he loves her.
It was nice and refreshing, but nothing we didn’t already know. I give it a 3.
I am a fan of Beyonce’s music, but this doc was very insignificant. It was 1d and very flat. I have seen her act better. It seemed forced and unnatural. I didn’t buy it. I watched it on Youtube would not pay for it or HBO.
I agree.. Not enough emotion!! To much of what we have already seen on T.V..
At first I concluded that this chick is so self indulged she made it from an angle of a personal diary seeing very little interaction with her and other people, some really unnecessary scenes of other random peoples characters. However as it progressed and she emphasised her point of not wanting people in her business and how she feels about celebrity culture and not knowing how much to share with her fans, I began to feel the style it was made in was justified. She has protected herself from celebrity culture like no other and it’s admirable. Also the show where she complains about the stage not being all white in the background I watched that full performance a few weeks ago and became a massive fan instantly. Her voice still doesn’t captivate me but on a performance level she is freaking outstanding and I loved every song that I barely knew. To now learn that all her latest music is her own personal venture away from her dad, again I’m really admirable. With my latest obsession with Heidi and Spencer who are reality stars who want people in their business for having no specific talent I now conclude there is room for the likes of them even more so. Bring on reality stars that love people in their business and let us let true artist like Beyonce be artist. I also thought of how this documentary is going to look in years to come and I love it, it’s pure class and maintains her dignity. I was shocked by how stiff and rude she was with the people that work alongside her (real Diva) but she immediately explained and I can I relate to that statement about politeness and business not matching. I did wonder though if her girly perception of life is like bla bla bla to Jay Z as she clearly doesn’t have a really significant hardship type story to tell that people can relate to but I guess for a thug that’s a perfect wifey – lol and naturally I love her passion for God and the testimony of Jesus cause on that level I can relate. Also after watching that recent performance that made me an instant fan, I really was thinking “is she a man hater, why is she so lyrically geared to Independent women” etc, and again she explained that in a nutshell; sisterhood is her philosophy in life and I like and respect that. Beyonce clearly also loves Jay Z madly and I wouldn’t be surprised if that has caused a feud with her and her family especially as she gives him credit for her breaking away and becoming her own true artist and I’d imagine her parents were real possessive about her career. So overall I enjoyed it, got a bigger insight into who she is and I love Beyonce!
this is crazy! I thought the doc was really amazing! very genuine and humble! yes beyonce could have shared more but shes not kardashian and i love for that!
Beyonce has a great voice, and captivating looksand has managed to sell sex without being labelled a ‘bad girl’.. Having said that I’m still not convinced she ‘physically’ had the baby..her body silhouettes just looked completely different than all the pap pics released in blogs. I question the sincerity and proclaimed humbleness of anyone announcing a pregnancy at an awards show, Only to turn around Saying people should mind their business..all in all the fact that its called a movie says it all. She was trying to buy back her face she lost through all the accusations of a fake preg, while recruiting new admirers. I don’t know who fell for that. And who else does this sort of thing every year and claims to be so private, we’ve been there seen that saw her do that, really like take a break now.
People that love Beyonce are the same type of people that spend their rent money on a new iphone.. Mindless lemmings
Lmao!!!
That’s not true at all. I’m actually a fan of her music, and never once have I spent my rent money on anything else other than my rent.
That is not true…I have $50,000+ in savings, make $80,000 yr as an engineer, and I’m a huge B fan; rent money only goes to rent. And you…..?
I enjoyed it….HOWEVER!!!! Beyonce sure loves herself now, I really wish she would have cut out more of the performances which we can see anytime by going to YOUTUBE, and elaborated a little more about her upbringing, her hubby and baby. This would of been the perfect time to show snippits of her wedding or reception. I think she just focused ONCE AGAIN too much on her performances. She also could of incorporated alot more footage of the girls of Destiny’s Child…they were basically non existent in the doc, when they, I think got her to where she is today, JUST SAYIN’. Good Job though overall. Love Beyonce though!!
I don’t think this Documentary was HBO worthy for one it could of aired on regular tv 1 the stuff that she showed it was stupid the concerts that she has done could of been edited out nobody wants to see that and the only reason why HBO had got good ratings was due to the fact ecerybody wanted to see what she was going to talk about some of that stuff she did was seen on other documentary that she has done in the past so there was noything new there I felt like she should of talk to people about how her family talk more about her Father Because he was a big part in her career and why she is where she is today. For example Her little brother does she have a relationship with him we know she has one with her nephew but I wish I would have seen more home videos of her and jay z and Blue ivy and not her damn concerts. I think that documentary was a waste of my time.