Love, Resilience, and the Dark Side of Fame: Anna Nicole Smith’s Profound Legacy

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MOVIE REVIEW
Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me
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Genre: Documentary
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 1h 56m
Director(s): Ursula Macfarlane
Where To Watch: streaming now on Netflix

RAVING REVIEW: Prepare to journey through the life of one of Hollywood's biggest names from the late 90s/early 2000s and her ultimate fall from heights. We're talking about ANNA NICOLE SMITH: YOU DON'T KNOW ME, a dynamic tribute to a woman who had the whole world betting against her; this intimate portrait, directed by Ursula Macfarlane, shows Smith’s story and the unfortunate price her stardom cost her in the end.

From a small middle-of-nowhere town, a girl named Vickie Lynn Hogan dared to dream big and would become the one and only Anna Nicole Smith “Adored by millions. Known by few.” My only issue with the film is that I wish it had taken more time to explore the person she was instead of just the tragedy she faced.

Smith was more than just a one-dimensional character that you would see on the cover of magazines; she was many things, from a daughter to a mother, a lover to a fighter but in the end, she just wanted to make her dreams come true like anyone else. She would come far closer than most but at what cost? Macfarlane's film explores Smith's existence, showing the battles she faced from day one and her spirit to overcome hurdle after hurdle.

Macfarlane employs a creative narrative structure, blending unseen footage, photographs, home movies, and gripping interviews with those closest to her. Smith’s life was well known, but this film attempts to show us another version behind closed doors. We had a few peaks into that world, but as a whole, the movie just didn’t dig deep enough.

The movie didn’t shy away from the grittier aspects of Smith's life, showing her struggles with addiction, her well-publicized romance with a man 60+ years her senior, and the heartbreaking loss of her son. In the end, I was left with the same image of Smith in my mind that I started with, for the most part. I will say that the film changed my opinion on her relationship with oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall. I believed too much of what I saw in public while this documentary showed a private life that let you see their true love (even if Smith had some slip-ups due to other issues.)

ANNA NICOLE SMITH: YOU DON'T KNOW ME pays homage to a woman unafraid to challenge societal norms and redefine traditional beauty standards with her audacious confidence. Her story is a poignant reminder of the steep price of fame and the harsh realities of life in the limelight. Sadly her life mirrored that of one of her icons, Marilyn Monroe, who also passed away far too young.

This film resonates with Smith's profound love for her children, unwavering resilience, and daring spirit. To me, that ended up being an essential part of this film; it showed the human side of Smith and the fact that while she wasn’t perfect, she honestly had a heart of gold. I wish fewer negatives could be shown about her life, but at the same time, I understand that it is all part of her story—the human element of fame and the personal toll it exacts on those under constant public scrutiny.

In essence, ANNA NICOLE SMITH: YOU DON'T KNOW ME is a genuine and heartfelt image of emotions that leaves you with a renewed respect for Smith and a deeper understanding of the woman behind the larger-than-life persona. It's a raw, deeply human story that lingers in your mind long after the credits have rolled.

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[photo courtesy of NETFLIX]