By Gregory Crofton
Director R.J. Cutler (The War Room, The World According to Dick Cheney) took a cinema verité approach once he was granted access to the day-to-day of rising superstar Billie Eilish in 2018. That meant Cutler didn’t ask questions when the cameras were rolling, instead he let the action speak for itself.
Since this type of doc involves trolling for meaningful moments rather than setting up traditional interviews, it follows that the film is a long one at 140 minutes. The investment pays off. The longer you’re able to live with Eilish, a generational phenomenon on par with an artist like Kurt Cobain, the implications of what’s happening to her and her family sink in.
What’s also apparent is Eilish’s level of talent. The hits pour out of her and her brother Finneas, who produces and co-writes with his sister. The doc allows us to watch them write “No Time to Die” for the James Bond film while on board their tour bus. The clip reminded me of watching outtakes of Cobain work in the early 90s.
Watch the trailer for “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry,” only streaming on Apple TV+.