Stompgal_87
I saw the DVD of this documentary advertised on television quite some time ago and was interested in seeing it as a Beyoncé fan. She is beautiful, talented and has an incredible singing voice. Whilst renting it out, I found it intriguing with a great mix of cinematography albeit the pace being somewhat slow and a couple of lesser known, forgettable songs.While the cinematography looks crisp and professional with interesting camera movements for the most part, it was a tad amateurish in places with shaky camera-work and grainy pictures. Despite this, I liked the archive footage of Beyoncé as a child and a teenager as well as the camera panning above an illuminated city at night while rumours of Beyoncé hiring a surrogate mother are heard. The editing had some good variety to it by breaking up Beyoncé's narration with the archive footage, live performances and backstage footage. I liked the narration, the majority of it coming from 'Bouncy' (what my mum and maybe several other people call her) herself and I could relate to it in a way when she mentioned the difficult relationship with her father but in a professional sense. When I was 18, I had a difficult relationship with my parents, which is why I could relate to Beyoncé. The part that made me laugh the most was Beyoncé and possibly two other former Destiny's Child members singing along to 'Lovefool' by the Cardigans. The part that made me cry the most was towards the end when Beyoncé says her grandmother prayed for her mother, her mother prayed for Beyoncé and Beyoncé would pray for Blue Ivy, who was a cute baby and shown briefly. I also found the revelation of Beyoncé's miscarriage, which I was unaware of until shortly before I saw this documentary, moving as well as the lyrics of the song she wrote after that tragic event. Another part I found rather amusing yet clever was Beyoncé saying, "Life is But a Dream," before jumping off the boat and into the water since part of its title is 'Life Is But A Dream.' This also made me think of a line in the well-known nursery rhyme 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat.'With regard to the music, an essential asset to this documentary, there were some well- known songs such as 'Crazy In Love (despite finding the prior sound of buzzing bees scary);' 'Run The World (Girls),' which was performed in front of an impressive piece of projection mapping at the 2011 Billboard Awards; and the underrated 'Love On Top,' where Beyoncé announced her pregnancy with Blue Ivy at the end of it. While the incidental music was sparse but I could see why, it was beautiful, heartbreaking and funky in different places.Overall this is an engaging musical documentary despite the slow pace and two of the live songs I hadn't heard before. 8/10.
Shady knight
The movie begins with a monologue about childhood, narrated by Beyonce. Then we're at a concert, she drops the B word for some reason (She's bad like that), and we're done with that.Then the "documentary" goes on to the event concerning her father, and their breakup as co workers, Beyonce talks, in, this, slow, and, odd way, as, if, everything, she, says, has, a, deep, impact, and, are meaningfull, but really, it's just comes off as if she is not accustomed to use those big words ...Then we see her being interviewed, Beyonce is talking about the cross-road she faced after she fired here father, and throws all this questions at the viewers regarding her priorities, and guess what, next sentence is about something completely different.Next we have her talking about how we all are brained-washed by the media, well, this is something we can argue, but, why, does, she, still, talk, like, this?Next we see her before her album release, in the office, listing to one of the songs, while mostly white men in their mid 40 is bumping their head (not exactly to the beat, but just randomly), and she paused the song and says "sorry (something something)" and the room breaks out in laughter, and stands up clapping. After thet is done with, one of the men (the one sitting closest to B) says that this album raises the bar. That is funny Because as B is leaving the building we see a poster of Adel's "21", a album that did raise the bar.Anyway, anyway, that is how far I came, the movie is co-directed by B, and that just means that it is going to be shallow, after all, a self-portrait that you publish will not be anything more than that. B tires hard to be deep, but the movie is shot in this artsy way witch makes it come off as superficial. If my review came off disjointed, it's because the movie is like that, now try watching an hour of that. :)
llundber
Beyonce the Great had her name and hands on every bit of this production.Do not waste your time on this. I only watched because a friend wanted to see what a train wreck it would be, and it was.I love how she set up the false interview situation, how she begged sympathy and empathy, how the intrigue with her father was a big nothing, and on and on.Vacuous, egotistical, brainless. That's Miss B. Unfortunately, that is now the role model for so many youth.
