‘Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry’ review: Dir. R.J. Cutler (2021)

Following from last year’s brilliant feature documentary Belushi, which focussed on the life of the late comedian, musician and actor John Belushi, filmmaker R.J. Cutler turns his attention to contemporary musical sensation Billie Eilish, the global superstar and her rise to the top of the music industry in just a couple of years. Read our Billie Eilish The World’s A Little Blurry review below.

Billie Eilish The World’s A Little Blurry review

60 million+ Instagram followers, five Grammy awards, a James Bond theme song and number one albums all over the world – and she’s still only 19. Wow. I am the first to admit to not particularly looking forward to reviewing this new fly-on-the-wall piece. I’m clearly not the target audience, did not know anything about Billie Eilish; her material or history- bar the theme song the new Bond – and initially baulked at the feature’s 2 hours and 21 minute running time. However, this week, I found myself sat at home pressing play on the screener and not only being immediately engaged by the material, but glued to that screen for the entire running time – even continuing through the intermission. Yes, there is an intermission.

The film starts at the beginning – which is actually just a few years ago, and charts Eilish’s rise through the industry from internet sensation – with a track that was uploaded to Soundcloud by her brother Finneas (who also features throughout), through to performing to sell-out crowds at venues across the globe and then to her crowing glory at the Grammys for her debut works. This is a warts and all piece, the filmmakers having access to the artist and her family, as well as reams of archive material from mobile phones, and of course, professional footage captured during earlier on in her career. Cutler manages to capture the essence of Eilish away from the cameras as well; away from the glamour of the spotlight, and shows off the vulnerability of the person behind that public figure. Eilish touches on issues she’s experienced over the years, how those have found their way into her song writing, and there’s also the running thread of her relationship from a young age with fellow musician Justin Bieber, whose rise was remarkable similar to Eilish’s. There’s a wonderful couple of moments where fan (Eilish) meets idol (Bieber), both at the massive Coachella festival – their first physical meeting – and then post-Grammy win, Eilish crowned as the toast of the industry.

Any good documentary has the ability to draw in the viewer to the material with them not having any vested interest in its subject – which was the case with me for this. Having walked away, I not only believed that I had seen something truly exceptional, but witnessed a phenomenon first hand of a true music icon in the making. Even more, I walked away a fan.

Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry is a not only a wonderful piece of documentary filmmaking, but a rare glimpse in the artistry of the music industry, and one of its future greats. I was cynical before, wrongly so, against everything I believe in when I sit down to review a film, and I feel guilty for feeling that way. I honestly believe that this Apple TV+ release is not only their best documentaries since the Beastie Boys Story which dropped last year, but absolutely one of the best films of the year – across any genre. Unmissible.

Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry is now streaming on Apple TV+.