I am about 10 years older than Brooke and I remember her early movies and ads for Calvin Klein. I never saw Pretty Baby, Blue Lagoon or the Zeffirelli movie. I was creeped out by the kiddie-porn aspect back then and her mom-manager. I want to say as much as everyone hammered her mother's bad choices, her father's total emotional absence is given a pass by the world. I had respect for her when she went to Princeton and always seemed to handle herself well as an adult. I really enjoyed her clap back at Tom Cruise - as he spewed his cult nonsense. I really appreciated the first two episodes and will definitely see the rest of the series. She survived and kept herself together and that is an enormous accomplishment. The flow of the documentary is great. It addresses the systemic misogyny in our country with color and light which will allow us to look directly at it and give us the words to express it.
22 Reviews
Excellent
ccard-381554 April 2023
Brooke Shields is incredibly impressive with her down to earth honesty in reviewing her life highlights. The documentary is concise for the most part, and while the viewer might want more focus on specific areas, it's enough to convey her often alarming story of unaware exploitation. While there has been personal and media manipulation, the history of female sexual sensationalism is spotlighted. Though she will not think of herself as a victim, what's pointed out repetitively is times have changed, and what the industry did then is not socially acceptable now. What makes this documentary great is her brave perspective and intelligent insight. Hopefully others can learn from her or more about her, if they choose to do so.
Shields Shares Unblinking Personal Revelations with Cultural Impact
EUyeshima4 April 2023
I've so disconnected her comfortable present-day persona from the sexualized media sensation she was as a child that I never gave any thought what it took to make such a dramatic life adjustment. Director Lana Wilson and Shields herself don't hold back in sharing personal revelations that include a previously undisclosed rape, postpartum depression (and that public fight with Tom Cruise), her dysfunctional relationship with Andre Agassi, and her largely fictionalized one with Michael Jackson. No surprise that her obsessive mother, a raging alcoholic, takes center stage, but this penetrating two-part 2023 documentary doesn't dwell on Brooke as a victim. Losing her virginity to Dean Cain (before becoming Superman and a fervent Trump supporter) and finding out Laura Linney has been a lifelong friend since childhood were just icing on the cake. There's a great dinner table conversation toward the end where Shields discusses whether her grown daughters with similar aspirations had any interest in seeing their mom's early movies. The answer was a definitive no as they can't reconcile her sexual exploitation as a child. A full circle moment.
Would've benefited from more info on her father
dfloro12 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Over approximately a three-year period, young Brooke Shields appeared (with her controlling mother's full permission and encouragement) in three movies that would both make her globally famous and in some quarters, disrespected and reviled. The titles of these movies are liable to provoke strong reactions from many people to this day, more than 40 years later: "Pretty Baby," "The Blue Lagoon" and "Endless Love." All films about the sexual awakening and/or exploitation of young people, and specifically the beautiful, pre-pubescent model/actress, Brooke Shields, who was 11-14 years old and a proud virgin IRL. If that weren't enough controversy and chaos for that juvenile a person to live through, then just wait and see what designer Calvin Klein had in store for her in unquestionably iconic and yet deeply disturbing mass-media advertisements. As Brooke and a close personal friend both say in the course of their in-depth interviews: it's a wonder she survived {any or all of} it. And as one might have feared back in the day (or even today, FTM), she reveals the details of a rape she survived by an entertainment industry figure (so many possible predators from whom to choose; my money is on Brett Ratner, who was making lightweight comedies in the years during and after she would've been graduating Princeton). Brooke would go on to be praised for her turn on Broadway in "Grease" and on the TV sitcom, "Suddenly Susan," in the titular role. It's lovely to see her at a family dinner with her (second) husband, Chris, and two daughters, discussing why "Pretty Baby" wouldn't get made today. All those actresses on "Euphoria," a daughter notes, are well over the age of consent, playing roles younger than they are. "Why couldn't they have done that with your movie(s), Mom?" Bam! Why indeed?!? I rate this 8/10, deducting a star since all of the parenting blame is heaped on Brooke's mom, Teri, and Teri's oft-mentioned alcoholism. Her dad was alive & sentient during those years!
A 10 for Bravery
charlottestreet-2834612 April 2023
Its hard to give this any less than a 10 - for Brooke's willingness to share her story with the world - knowing a lot of people are going to have a lot to say.
The challenge comes when things are reviewed in retrospect. The media industry allowed and encouraged the distribution of Blue Lagoon and Pretty Baby and the success of those films encouraged the genre to grow more. Even Roman Polanski remains a celebrated director in spite of his pleading guilty to terrible crimes again minors.
This is a tough one to gauge - the Kardashian's aren't far off from the reality here and they are thriving.
The good news in all of this is that Brooke's mother insisted Brooke stay in college - and Brooke admits that was a critical turning point in her own life - where she learned to be her own voice. If her mother was so obsessed with controlling her - I don't know if that encouragement would have happened.
I wonder what her mother would say now - looking back on the explicit sexuality of Brooke's earlier films. As a young teenager, Blue Lagoon was one of my favorite films but watching those film selects now - as an adult - I am completely horrified.
All the best to Brooke - she seems like a strong and wonderful woman.
The challenge comes when things are reviewed in retrospect. The media industry allowed and encouraged the distribution of Blue Lagoon and Pretty Baby and the success of those films encouraged the genre to grow more. Even Roman Polanski remains a celebrated director in spite of his pleading guilty to terrible crimes again minors.
This is a tough one to gauge - the Kardashian's aren't far off from the reality here and they are thriving.
The good news in all of this is that Brooke's mother insisted Brooke stay in college - and Brooke admits that was a critical turning point in her own life - where she learned to be her own voice. If her mother was so obsessed with controlling her - I don't know if that encouragement would have happened.
I wonder what her mother would say now - looking back on the explicit sexuality of Brooke's earlier films. As a young teenager, Blue Lagoon was one of my favorite films but watching those film selects now - as an adult - I am completely horrified.
All the best to Brooke - she seems like a strong and wonderful woman.
The panic in Brooke Shields' eyes.
lhollan10 April 2023
Brooke Shields was a stranger in her own life...a life she lived for her mother, then subsequently for Agassi. It's clear her mother peddled her in ways that are objectionable and damaging to a young woman's core self. This explains why I have always seen an nearly imperceptible look of panic in Shields' eyes. Look, you will see it. This documentary is eye opening as it exposes the way Brooke was offered up as a youth sex symbol by uncaring and greedy movie producers who birthed the 70's era of child sex symbols in film--something we are smart enough to reject today. But this bought fame and fortune to young Brooke while the price she paid was personality dissociation. She separated her instinct and feelings from her big celebrity ambitions--it was survival. Somehow, I'm not completely buying the victimization of her narrative, particularly when she defends her role in Pretty Baby to her daughters. Give it up, Brooke. Your mother made you do things that you would never ask your daughters to do.
The industry devours the willing for a pot of gold, even when that will is fabricated. The good part is that Shields has survived her wounds and has self-actualized. That's always a good ending.
The industry devours the willing for a pot of gold, even when that will is fabricated. The good part is that Shields has survived her wounds and has self-actualized. That's always a good ending.
I was there - Get ready to think
thejdrage7 May 2023
One reviewer said they remembered it all - so do I. And that they now understand what was behind it all. Again, I found that interesting because it affected all women and people of less power.
Another reviewer was unhappy that she didn't name the rapist. I wish she had too, but that's a massive legal problem that she didn't want to take on - and we don't have to pay for. But, I'm betting we all know who it was.
The one question that woke me up and that I am ashamed of myself for not asking is: Where the hell was her father in all of this? Why didn't he take the reins away from mom once in a while and protect her from some of the flagrant missteps of mom?
It's all hindsight, and this was a really good documentary because it seems to have made a lot of us actually think!
Another reviewer was unhappy that she didn't name the rapist. I wish she had too, but that's a massive legal problem that she didn't want to take on - and we don't have to pay for. But, I'm betting we all know who it was.
The one question that woke me up and that I am ashamed of myself for not asking is: Where the hell was her father in all of this? Why didn't he take the reins away from mom once in a while and protect her from some of the flagrant missteps of mom?
It's all hindsight, and this was a really good documentary because it seems to have made a lot of us actually think!
Eye opening
katshot-628-7917807 April 2023
Guess I never knew much about Brook Shields. Of course you know the face, but how much more? I remember Blue Lagoon but not much else. I remember hearing the name "Pretty Baby" but I never actually saw the movie. So, I guess I'm probably like a lot of people who really only knew of Brook Shields through her modeling. I did watch Suddenly Susan from time to time also but didn't really like it. I recognized Brook as a talented comedian but again, never really gave her much attention beyond that.
Watching the documentary on Hulu accomplished multiple things for me. First, I realized just how damaged Brook Shields is thanks to the terrible parenting she suffered through as a child. If the 2-part series is to be believed, her Mother Teri basically pimped Brook out to anyone willing to pay. Sure the industry itself can certainly be blamed for taking advantage of a beautiful young girl but the two people who should've been keeping her safe, her parents, completely let her down. So in my mind, the documentary is a sad tale about a kid who was abandoned by one parent and completely abused by the other. I'm truly amazed Brook survived her childhood. So while the documentary is interesting, it's also depressing. Overall, I think it was done well but there was one glaring omission, the Father. He basically escapes the whole process here. I'd like to know how he felt about his Wife pimping out his Daughter?
Watching the documentary on Hulu accomplished multiple things for me. First, I realized just how damaged Brook Shields is thanks to the terrible parenting she suffered through as a child. If the 2-part series is to be believed, her Mother Teri basically pimped Brook out to anyone willing to pay. Sure the industry itself can certainly be blamed for taking advantage of a beautiful young girl but the two people who should've been keeping her safe, her parents, completely let her down. So in my mind, the documentary is a sad tale about a kid who was abandoned by one parent and completely abused by the other. I'm truly amazed Brook survived her childhood. So while the documentary is interesting, it's also depressing. Overall, I think it was done well but there was one glaring omission, the Father. He basically escapes the whole process here. I'd like to know how he felt about his Wife pimping out his Daughter?
Brooke Beats the Odds
jrbrowzer4 April 2023
Pretty Baby, the documentary about one of the 20th's century's most iconic faces, proves her beauty runs deep. In the late seventies, we were bombarded with her image of flawless beauty but as she matured we got to see something deeper about her humanity which is well captured in this film. Despite some situations which would have been legally prosecuted today, Brooke seems to accept it all as part of what makes her today. Had no idea who messed up her mother relationship was. It is a miracle she came out sane. Her path to self-discovery is something all young people can understand, but she was able to take the public's glaring and critical eye and say "That's all fine, but this is me." I saw her in a stage show of The Exorcist years ago and said "She really nailed it." It was quite an intense role and she owned it. I've always liked her and now I know better why.
An Insightfully Harsh Look into the Life of Brooke Shields
elicopperman12 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Actor and model Brooke Shields is often regarded as one of the earliest child models to make it huge in the industry due to her attractive appearance that fit America's problematic view on standards amongst women. In the Hulu original two parter documentary known as Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, the project looks over Shields' early career from childhood in modeling and acting all the way up to the present day where she has long since moved on to better things. When looking at the documentary from the perspective of Shields and many others, it's clear just how traumatic her life was beyond what little the public knew.
As the documentary respectfully points out, there was sadly a time when sexualizing underrage women was permitted in the fields of modeling and film. Many examples include Shields' performances in Louis Malle's Pretty Baby, Randal Kleiser's Blue Lagoon and Franco Zaffirelli's Endless Love, an infamous series of Calvin Klein commercials and an endless amount of borderline predatory covers displayed in magazines. Although there are many other interviewees in the documentary with as much insight on these outdated views of women, let alone teenagers, it's clear the series is shown through Brooke' life of being forced into an industry by bigwigs and her own mother, Teri Shields. On top of using her daughter as a means of being a breadwinner through fame and fortune, Teri was a chronic alcoholic whose emotional disconnect and personal problems would end up being her own downfall. In many ways, Pretty Baby is a critique on how society views women through the male gaze and how certain women function as a result of misogynistic expectations.
That's not to say Brooke's entire life was one big heartbreak after another, as certain significant events such as her attending college and going through marriage and the troubles of pregnancy proved how strong and smart she really was. Considering that the general public might not have considered who Shields wanted to be behind her facade of a career, accomplishments like getting away from abusive executives and going in depth on her postpartum depression showed how influential she really was to people who knew nothing about the horrors of the industry in the first place. One must be reminded that this is the same woman who called out Tom Cruise on his willful lack of knowledge towards what women might go through during pregnancy. In a day and age where people are speaking out a lot more about times they've dealt with identity crises, psychological breakdowns and severe depression, this documentary speaks volumes on how whether you're a famous celebrity or the average Joe, human beings can be relatable in similar ways as far as what we all go through.
So whether or not you are familiar with Brooke Shields as both an entertainer and in real life, Pretty Baby is a heavily insightful look into her scary career and what many women go through in the type of field she was forced into. Unless the subject matter is too much for you to handle, the series is absolutely worth the watch to gain a whole new outlook on the life of a starlet who was thrusted into a life she might not have wanted from the start and the aftermath she faced. In more ways than one, you might not be able to look at any other model / actor's life the same way ever again.
As the documentary respectfully points out, there was sadly a time when sexualizing underrage women was permitted in the fields of modeling and film. Many examples include Shields' performances in Louis Malle's Pretty Baby, Randal Kleiser's Blue Lagoon and Franco Zaffirelli's Endless Love, an infamous series of Calvin Klein commercials and an endless amount of borderline predatory covers displayed in magazines. Although there are many other interviewees in the documentary with as much insight on these outdated views of women, let alone teenagers, it's clear the series is shown through Brooke' life of being forced into an industry by bigwigs and her own mother, Teri Shields. On top of using her daughter as a means of being a breadwinner through fame and fortune, Teri was a chronic alcoholic whose emotional disconnect and personal problems would end up being her own downfall. In many ways, Pretty Baby is a critique on how society views women through the male gaze and how certain women function as a result of misogynistic expectations.
That's not to say Brooke's entire life was one big heartbreak after another, as certain significant events such as her attending college and going through marriage and the troubles of pregnancy proved how strong and smart she really was. Considering that the general public might not have considered who Shields wanted to be behind her facade of a career, accomplishments like getting away from abusive executives and going in depth on her postpartum depression showed how influential she really was to people who knew nothing about the horrors of the industry in the first place. One must be reminded that this is the same woman who called out Tom Cruise on his willful lack of knowledge towards what women might go through during pregnancy. In a day and age where people are speaking out a lot more about times they've dealt with identity crises, psychological breakdowns and severe depression, this documentary speaks volumes on how whether you're a famous celebrity or the average Joe, human beings can be relatable in similar ways as far as what we all go through.
So whether or not you are familiar with Brooke Shields as both an entertainer and in real life, Pretty Baby is a heavily insightful look into her scary career and what many women go through in the type of field she was forced into. Unless the subject matter is too much for you to handle, the series is absolutely worth the watch to gain a whole new outlook on the life of a starlet who was thrusted into a life she might not have wanted from the start and the aftermath she faced. In more ways than one, you might not be able to look at any other model / actor's life the same way ever again.
Fascinating
blanche-27 April 2023
This is a wonderful, interesting, and informative documentary about beautiful Brooke Shields. Gorgeous from birth, joined at the hip with an alcoholic mother, sexualized at an early age, in the public eye from childhood- she somehow has turned out to be a well adjusted wife, mother, and performer. None of it was easy.
The story of her horrific post-partum depression is heartbreaking. Her story of Zefferelli twisting her toe trying to get a look of ecstasy on her face is hilarious.
What saved her, I think, was truly not being sexualized in her private life, her intelligence, attending Princeton, and her humor. (Trying to find work in show biz after college - "Um, is that Brook with or without an E?")
Enlightening and inspiring, Shields is the true adult daughter of an alcoholic who, frankly, could be a big mess today.
The story of her horrific post-partum depression is heartbreaking. Her story of Zefferelli twisting her toe trying to get a look of ecstasy on her face is hilarious.
What saved her, I think, was truly not being sexualized in her private life, her intelligence, attending Princeton, and her humor. (Trying to find work in show biz after college - "Um, is that Brook with or without an E?")
Enlightening and inspiring, Shields is the true adult daughter of an alcoholic who, frankly, could be a big mess today.
Good documentary with some flaws
pamj-5019522 April 2023
Very insightful although parts were hard to watch. I am writing this review only to speak of the documentaries glaring problem. Some of the people speaking for Brooke were very adamant to soley blame men for her sexual exploitation and yes men should not be casting children in such provocative roles *but* the root of Brookes exploitation was primarily caused by her mother. Jobs aren't forced and the mother accepted these inappropriate jobs for her daughter. This is mostly glossed over and instead her actions are excused by harping on the fact that her mother was the "victim of a hard life", I would have liked the documentary much more if these speakers were not in it as their opinions are irresponsible and hurt feminism.
Annoyed
micheleadams-134576 April 2023
I think she is a nice person, did not come across as a spoilt brat, her mother was the spoilt alcoholic brat, facts are her mother sold her out with having no morals, if you are going to get big dollars, who needs morals, those movies happened back then because of the creepy men running the studios and her mother allowing it, pretty baby should have been played by an older actress playing young as it usually happens, look at the movie Grease most were in their 30s, movie was made around the same time
She loved Princeton as she learned it was the first time she was not being expolited
Calvin Klein used her up for sales, those ads are uncomfortable to watch, but in her eyes I could see she thought she was having fun (as she said), at that age you are not fully aware what it looks like to others
I first saw those ads when I was young and yes to my younger self, it looked fun, but my older self watching those ads can clearly see the intent, and so could her god damm mother.
She loved Princeton as she learned it was the first time she was not being expolited
Calvin Klein used her up for sales, those ads are uncomfortable to watch, but in her eyes I could see she thought she was having fun (as she said), at that age you are not fully aware what it looks like to others
I first saw those ads when I was young and yes to my younger self, it looked fun, but my older self watching those ads can clearly see the intent, and so could her god damm mother.
Well done in depth doc on the life and coming of age and understanding of the beautiful Brooke!
blanbrn1 June 2023
Growing up and even today as a man I always thought that actress and model Brooke Shields was one of the most beautiful women in the world and still is. Well this "Hulu" doc called "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields" backs that claim up as it presents things in a blunt and truth telling way with clips, old pictures and interviews with friends, family, and even Brooke herself. Done in two parts the doc follows her from pretty baby to young model and actress, to growing up off to college at Princeton to becoming a successful adult woman. As in the 1980's Brooke was the most famous teenager in the world, yet it was all controversial as in those days her images, photos, and pictures all felt high sexualized to the public. As her early film roles as a 12 year old prostitute in 1978's "Pretty Baby" and starring in hormone and racy driven films like "Endless Love" and "The Blue Lagoon" really did stereotype her image. Still nothing came between Shields and her Calvin ads. Most notable a highlight was the struggle with her mom and manager Teri, plus spotlighted were her relationships with Dean Cain(who it's believed that Brooke lost her virginity to) and Michael Jackson, and her first marriage to tennis great Andre Agassi before she got it right with her current husband as she achieved motherhood with two daughters. Overall super doc that any fans of Shields should watch as it plays tribute to the beautiful Brooke.
She's such a gem
mselisagrant4 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
She was the girl we all wanted to be in my youth - so beautiful, so versatile and so "lucky". Then she became the first person I felt was like "a peer" to confess her life wasn't at all like what it seemed to us.
This revealing documentary touches on all the important moments of her life - as we all remembered them too - and explains things in her own words and with the insight you only get with age.
The documentary gives great perspective on what was happening in parallel to key moments of her youth in particular which hopefully conveys to those who didn't live through it just how much she really was a "consumer product".
I have always thought highly of her and after watching this I feel that was completely warranted. She really is a beautiful human - inside and out. And the decades of solid friendships she has been able to maintain despite the chaos of her life prove it.
This revealing documentary touches on all the important moments of her life - as we all remembered them too - and explains things in her own words and with the insight you only get with age.
The documentary gives great perspective on what was happening in parallel to key moments of her youth in particular which hopefully conveys to those who didn't live through it just how much she really was a "consumer product".
I have always thought highly of her and after watching this I feel that was completely warranted. She really is a beautiful human - inside and out. And the decades of solid friendships she has been able to maintain despite the chaos of her life prove it.
Fan of hers, but confused at times by this doc
pdxseayvr4 April 2023
I'm a Brooke fan, so I wanted to like this more, but I was left somewhat confused. While it has great production value and is interesting and surprising, I was left wondering why the focus was on Hollywood directors/NY advertisers, etc. Instead of her mom. It's no shock that the film/media world has often sexualized minors - which is disgusting & wrong, of course - what *is* shocking is that a mother would have allowed any of it. Having grown up close in age to Brooke, I knew this was a talked-about issue (Barbara Walters, for example), but I had no idea that it was even worse than probably many of us thought (take, for example, the nude pics taken by a family "friend" (later involved in a lawsuit) - who in their reasonable mind would allow their daughter to be subjected to that???). This doc tried to make a big statement on society - no argument there - but that attempt fell flat, as it seemed extremely disingenuous to almost completely gloss over her mother's massive fault in all of this. The buck should have stopped with her, but it seems she was more interested in buck$. Her mother's negligence and harm in allowing all of this & putting her young daughter in many sexualized situations is the real story, and that was mostly ignored in order to pretend it was all about this more commercial/profitable angle.
Also...I was confused by how she makes claims on how uncomfortable it was to discuss her sexual life (completely understandable), and how everyone always asked her about sex, sex, sex......but what did she expect to happen when sex was the main content & focus of so many of her movies & commercials? That said, it doesn't excuse creepy interviewers salivating through their questions...but again, it also doesn't excuse her mom, who was entirely responsible for Brooke ending up in sex-focused projects and then being asked incessantly about sex.
Also, if talking about her sex life is not what she wanted to do, and she's making a documentary all about not wanting sex to be/have been the focus, then why did she further discuss parts of her sex life, in current time (about the past)? It's contradictory to her entire point. For example, why would she share the details of her encounter with Dean Cain, when divulging details of her private sex life is against the entire point of the documentary?
All this aside, I'm a fan of hers, as I think she has a very genuine & kind heart. I just didn't like a few things about this doc.
Still, it was entertaining, interesting, and surprising at times.
Also...I was confused by how she makes claims on how uncomfortable it was to discuss her sexual life (completely understandable), and how everyone always asked her about sex, sex, sex......but what did she expect to happen when sex was the main content & focus of so many of her movies & commercials? That said, it doesn't excuse creepy interviewers salivating through their questions...but again, it also doesn't excuse her mom, who was entirely responsible for Brooke ending up in sex-focused projects and then being asked incessantly about sex.
Also, if talking about her sex life is not what she wanted to do, and she's making a documentary all about not wanting sex to be/have been the focus, then why did she further discuss parts of her sex life, in current time (about the past)? It's contradictory to her entire point. For example, why would she share the details of her encounter with Dean Cain, when divulging details of her private sex life is against the entire point of the documentary?
All this aside, I'm a fan of hers, as I think she has a very genuine & kind heart. I just didn't like a few things about this doc.
Still, it was entertaining, interesting, and surprising at times.
Eh. Autobiography is Oversimplified. Skims over biggest moments
domotime210 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
It sounds like the Brooke shields story is definitely one deserved to be told. Staring in a bunch of controversial movies as a kid, becoming an icon in the 80s and 90s, and then semi fizling out kd the limelight. Toss in an over bearing, wild mother agent and this story has it all.
But since it's in Brooke Shields words, everything seems like everyone else's fault, she glosses over the most intriguing things like a) who raped you???? B) what was the real story behind mjax c) the agassi marriage ended so abruptly d) you fired your mother?? Id love to hear what others have to say about a lot of these stories and just her best friends.
It was a nice trip down memory lane, that's for sure. I also think Brooke Shields seems like a great person and I applaud the fact she didn't 100% turn herself into some sobbing victim story. She seemed to have taken most of her life in stride and I think thats awesome of her.
But since it's in Brooke Shields words, everything seems like everyone else's fault, she glosses over the most intriguing things like a) who raped you???? B) what was the real story behind mjax c) the agassi marriage ended so abruptly d) you fired your mother?? Id love to hear what others have to say about a lot of these stories and just her best friends.
It was a nice trip down memory lane, that's for sure. I also think Brooke Shields seems like a great person and I applaud the fact she didn't 100% turn herself into some sobbing victim story. She seemed to have taken most of her life in stride and I think thats awesome of her.
Interesting, perhaps a bit unbalanced?
wunderbaum1112 April 2023
Brooke Shields seems like a delightful, intelligent person with lots of humour and charm. Undoubtedly famous some decades ago although mostly in the US and they may have exaggerated her international fame a bit (maybe living in a bubble are we?), but we get the point. Learning about her childhood was interesting and it must have been quite challenging to grow up in that kind of environment. Quite remarkable that she made it through in one piece even though it took its toll psychologically speaking.
The documentary turns a bit unbalanced at times with several in her entourage quite aggressively pushing the female victim narrative over and over again. It's fair to mention once or twice that her experiences can be seen as an example of how many women have been suppressed in show biz, but it seems they are trying to force every mishap of women to fit into this particular world view, causing the viewer to take the overall message less seriously because the bio turns into an agenda instead of just objectively show the many challenges she faced and let the viewer decide for themselves (wasn't that what much of the message was about - making your own opinions?)
Having supportive friends is important, but some of these people don't exactly seem to be particularly balanced in their world view and one have to start wonder how healthy it could be if you're constantly being told by your supportive friends that everything bad that happened to you is 100% because of the rest of the world and the patriarchal system etc. It's nothing you could have done differently, you're just a victim. That aspect of feminism can be quite one-sided and toxic. Wasn't the mother perhaps the biggest reason for the difficult childhood? She was mostly excused, which is fine, but then they can't just go about judging everyone else instead. Also, where's the comment that a pretty woman wasn't/isn't allowed to be funny by society coming from? Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox to name a few - wasn't being encouraged to be funny a big part of their success in many of their roles? So many contradictions and strawmen throughout this documentary.
Brooke herself seemed more balanced than many of the more activist types in her bio, although revelations such as her ex-husband Agassi destroyed all of his tennis trophies out of jealousy because Brooke licked Joey Tribbiani's hand in a (very funny) Friends episode came off as a bit petty and unnecessary, strongly insinuating him being a maniac.
Brooke's eyes looked quite frightened, spooked and unsettled during most of the bio but at the very end when she was speaking about taking action and finding a purpose they increasingly sharpened and sparkled. Good to see.
The documentary turns a bit unbalanced at times with several in her entourage quite aggressively pushing the female victim narrative over and over again. It's fair to mention once or twice that her experiences can be seen as an example of how many women have been suppressed in show biz, but it seems they are trying to force every mishap of women to fit into this particular world view, causing the viewer to take the overall message less seriously because the bio turns into an agenda instead of just objectively show the many challenges she faced and let the viewer decide for themselves (wasn't that what much of the message was about - making your own opinions?)
Having supportive friends is important, but some of these people don't exactly seem to be particularly balanced in their world view and one have to start wonder how healthy it could be if you're constantly being told by your supportive friends that everything bad that happened to you is 100% because of the rest of the world and the patriarchal system etc. It's nothing you could have done differently, you're just a victim. That aspect of feminism can be quite one-sided and toxic. Wasn't the mother perhaps the biggest reason for the difficult childhood? She was mostly excused, which is fine, but then they can't just go about judging everyone else instead. Also, where's the comment that a pretty woman wasn't/isn't allowed to be funny by society coming from? Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox to name a few - wasn't being encouraged to be funny a big part of their success in many of their roles? So many contradictions and strawmen throughout this documentary.
Brooke herself seemed more balanced than many of the more activist types in her bio, although revelations such as her ex-husband Agassi destroyed all of his tennis trophies out of jealousy because Brooke licked Joey Tribbiani's hand in a (very funny) Friends episode came off as a bit petty and unnecessary, strongly insinuating him being a maniac.
Brooke's eyes looked quite frightened, spooked and unsettled during most of the bio but at the very end when she was speaking about taking action and finding a purpose they increasingly sharpened and sparkled. Good to see.
Nothing New. Just More Polite Prattling That Says Even Less Than Ever...
transientdreams5 April 2023
The Brooke Shields story is a pretty epic one, and definitely worth retelling in its entirety. Problem is, this boring rehash falls flatter than road-kill constantly. It's the same moralistic drivel that tries to entice you with what it says we are all bad people for allowing ourselves to be enticed by: young Brooke. Seriously?? It's all been said and done before a dozen times, but in most cases, far better! It's really NOT a "documentary" at all. It's more like randomized factoids and Cliff-Notes about someone's life. Brooke is SO much more deserving of a better vehicle for her story than this mess. It's all very 'Safe' and under-spoken. There are videos on YouTube about Brooke that are far more interesting, exciting, and informative than this very amateur and exploitive mess. The very few minutes of segment regarding the Blue Lagoon was wonderful, but again, it seriously lacked anything and everything poignant and informative. This Dull-Fest was a true disaster for such a great talent and beautiful soul as Brooke Shields. As soon as it began saying anything about the mom, it never finished the thought. There are SO many missing pieces of information and incomplete thoughts here it's like an ADHD nightmare. You can't "Entice" and "Play-it-Safe" at the same time. This unfortunate project tried to do both, and FAILED epically!
Not a documentary
pzambouka28 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
It was so contradictory and full of unanswered questions. Brooke Shields keeps defending her mother, the movies and the ads she made (shockingly sexualized for her age) and even the child pornography - she simply said that a friend of the family who was photographer took some pics of her naked while she was a child (!) in order to distribute them to men who had paid! And then because that photographer circulated the photos many years later her mother took him to trial! Maybe because she didn't make any money out of this? And Brooke seemed ok with this exploitation. When i heard her justifying it i was in shock! I do not recommend this fake documentary, i am deeply disappointed. It just washes out the truth.
Revisiting Sadness and Exploitation
rapadgettra12 April 2023
One reviewer said they see panic in her eyes, and I agree i see it as well as she retells these horrible examples of exploitation of her childhood. I cringed at some of the retelling of these movies and ads, they were painful at the time. Why did her father never protect her from her alcoholic mother, perverted directors and money hungry designers? Were there no trustworthy adults anywhere? Surely this child sex exploitation of Brooke Shields pushed sex trafficking and porn forward, in ways we could never have imagined. To be exposed like this from such a young age is truly perverted, my heart is heavy for her and all that were influenced by it. I guess there was no one around that cared enough for her to separate her from her mother, a truly evil person.
Contradicting, yet informative doc -
sinnerofcinema10 April 2023
Love Brooke Shields. Grew up in the 70's and i do remember some of these controversies. However, the doc harps on the enticing and sexualizing of Brooke when she was young yet later on she goes deep into her own devirginizing and sexual experience w Dean Cain? Is Dean Cain aware that pop his sex laundry was exposed like this? Because he's the other half of the equation in this. It just seem very contradictory. It's preaching a morality tale of how awful Hollywood was back then yet her mother kept coming back for more collecting the cash from the "ill-gotten gains"? Putting her in these roles. Where there no kids shows her mother could have put her in... I dunno the Wonderful World of Disney, Sesame Street, other kid shows? Etc. It all seem like the mothers choices were skewed. I'm sure the filmmakers at the time were going for authenticity, but then again they could have cast 18 year olds who look (12) they are out there, if that's what the role required. But then had the filmmakers have gone in that direction, Brooke would not have had this ABC documentary platform to criticize the same people who help make who she was back then - the face of an era 70's/80's. Plus, as others reviewers mentioned, the blame here falls squarely on the mothers shoulders. A drunk or not she should have known better. You open yourself up for all kinds of views when these contradictory messages are all bundle in one doc. Granted the 70's was what it was but obviously Brooke's mother sold her out to the highest bidders certainly not worrying about the moral effects this would have on allowing her minor kid to be in these sexualized movies. I'm not blaming the filmmakers here because they were doing their art. We all have choices in life and ultimately we must live and deal w the consequences. She was under the custody of her mother, the mother is the person to fully blame here. My favorite part of the doc was revisiting that period and the films.
Blue lagoon is one of those iconic films from the 80's. I recently read she rejected a phone call from the director. The only thing I would add here is the opportunity should have been given to someone 18 or over that looks younger and also maybe someone who years later and after maximizing the opportunity may have been grateful and appreciative for what this film did for their career. . It did not have to be a 15 year old, but to complain about the opportunity most actresses at the time would die for 40 years later would have made me as the director regret giving her the opportunity in the first place. But then again it's normal and of human nature to complain now matter how amazing an opportunity may be. It's built in human DNA.
Blue lagoon is one of those iconic films from the 80's. I recently read she rejected a phone call from the director. The only thing I would add here is the opportunity should have been given to someone 18 or over that looks younger and also maybe someone who years later and after maximizing the opportunity may have been grateful and appreciative for what this film did for their career. . It did not have to be a 15 year old, but to complain about the opportunity most actresses at the time would die for 40 years later would have made me as the director regret giving her the opportunity in the first place. But then again it's normal and of human nature to complain now matter how amazing an opportunity may be. It's built in human DNA.
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