Like the remainder of the world, I used to be launched to Eminem when his “My Identify Is” music video premiered on MTV’s Whole Request Reside in January 1999. From then on, I used to be a large fan of the rapper often known as Slim Shady, and it stayed that method for fairly a while. So, after I came upon that his new documentary, Stans, was going to be accessible with a Paramount+ subscription, I made certain to take a look at the exploration of his profession and people diehard followers of his.
Little did I do know going into the documentary, however I would depart the expertise with an entire new perspective on Marshall Mathers, his music, his profession, and the legions of stans which have devoted a lot of their lives to one of many biggest rappers of all time. What a journey it was…
I Went Into Stans Pondering It Was Simply About Fandom (Which It Form Of Is)
Once I watched the Stans trailer earlier than the documentary landed on the 2025 film schedule, I believed I used to be going to easily be watching a deconstruction of fandom, particularly surrounding Eminem. With the documentary being a play on the rapper’s 2000 hit “Stan,” which tells the fictional story of an obsessive fan, it’s straightforward to see the place I used to be coming from on this regard.
To be completely trustworthy, numerous the documentary is in regards to the numerous followers that idolize Marshall Mathers and his huge library of tracks, and the way his music has impressed them and lifted them up in a few of life’s hardest moments. Whereas a couple of of the followers admittedly take issues farther than I’d have with their obsession, they’re by no means introduced in a adverse mild or something near the “stan” performed by Devon Sawa within the unsettling music video.
However Eminem Opening Up About The Influence Of Fame Led To Me Seeing Him In A New Gentle
Whereas Stans does spend numerous time interviewing followers from all all over the world, the extremely partaking documentary additionally dives deep into how fame, and people followers, impacted virtually each facet of Eminem’s life. There are nice moments the place the rapper opens up about how a lot the followers imply to him, however there are additionally some fairly harrowing moments alongside the best way, and one specifically led to me seeing him in a brand new mild.
Partway by the doc, Eminem opens up a few time when he took his daughter to the mall solely to be surrounded by screaming followers. The way in which he describes it makes the scenario really feel much less like a run-in with followers and extra like one thing out of Daybreak of the Lifeless. Although well-meaning, the followers modified the best way he went about his every day life, and watching that resulted in me seeing him as a human being simply making an attempt to stay his life.
The Documentary Is A Should-Watch For Stans, Followers, And Non-Followers Alike
There have been numerous nice music documentaries this 12 months, and that is proper up there on that listing. Just like the good Turning into Led Zeppelin being one thing that followers and non-fans alike can get pleasure from, the brand new Eminem doc is an eye-opening and entertaining expertise that has one thing for everybody, stan or not.
Should you’re a fan of Slim Shady, there’s one thing there. Should you’re a diehard fan, you’ll discover one thing to latch onto. If you recognize nothing about Marshall Mathers and his rap persona, that is going to do the trick. It’s uncommon that you simply discover one thing so eye-opening and entertaining, however this doc does it.
I’m actually glad I watched Stans, particularly as a result of it has me seeing Eminem in an entire new mild. Now I simply want to search out a type of wildly memorable popcorn buckets.