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Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry

{{short description|2021 American documentary film directed by R. J. Cutler}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry

| image = Billie Eilish - The World's a Little Blurry.png

| caption = Promotional release poster

| director = R. J. Cutler

| producer = {{Plainlist|

  • R. J. Cutler
  • Anthony Seyler
  • Trevor Smith
  • Chelsea Dodson
  • Michelle An
  • Jay Peterson
  • Todd Lubin
  • Mark DiCristofaro

}}

| writer = R. J. Cutler

| screenplay =

| story =

| based_on =

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| narrator =

| music = {{Plainlist|

  • Billie Eilish
  • Finneas O'Connell

}}

| cinematography =

| editing = {{Plainlist|

  • Lindsey Utz
  • Greg Finton

}}

| studio = {{Plainlist|

}}

| distributor = {{Plainlist|

}}

| released = {{Film date|2021|02|26}}

| runtime = 140 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget = $1–2 million

}}

Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry is a 2021 American documentary film directed by R. J. Cutler and centered around singer-songwriter Billie Eilish.{{Cite web|last=Strauss|first=Matthew|date=September 28, 2020|title=Billie Eilish Announces New Documentary The World's a Little Blurry|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/billie-eilish-announces-new-documentary-the-worlds-a-little-blurry/|access-date=September 28, 2020|website=Pitchfork|archive-date=September 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928190041/https://pitchfork.com/news/billie-eilish-announces-new-documentary-the-worlds-a-little-blurry/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Gregory|first=Allie|date=September 28, 2020|title=Billie Eilish Announces 'The World's a Little Blurry' Documentary|url=https://exclaim.ca/film/article/billie_eilish_announces_the_worlds_a_little_blurry_documentary|access-date=September 28, 2020|website=Exclaim!|issn=1207-6600|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001004044/http://exclaim.ca/film/article/billie_eilish_announces_the_worlds_a_little_blurry_documentary|url-status=live}} The film details Eilish's rise to fame since the release of her 2016 single "Ocean Eyes" and the creative process behind Eilish's debut studio album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019),{{Cite web|last=Mahale|first=Jenna|date=December 6, 2019|title=Here's everything you need to know about Billie Eilish's new documentary|url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/59nnyn/billie-eilish-documentary-2020-rj-cutler|access-date=October 4, 2020|website=i-D|issn=0894-5373|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008023641/https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/59nnyn/billie-eilish-documentary-2020-rj-cutler|url-status=live}} with the title referencing a lyric from the album track "Ilomilo".{{Cite web|last=Bossi|first=Andrea|date=September 28, 2020|title=Discovering Billie Eilish: Apple's 2021 Documentary Digs Into Young Star And Mystery|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andreabossi/2020/09/28/discovering-billie-eilish-apples-2021-documentary-digs-into-young-star-and-mystery/|access-date=October 4, 2020|website=Forbes|issn=0015-6914|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001024804/https://www.forbes.com/sites/andreabossi/2020/09/28/discovering-billie-eilish-apples-2021-documentary-digs-into-young-star-and-mystery/|url-status=live}} The film was released in select theaters via Neon and on Apple TV+ on February 26, 2021.{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=September 2, 2020|title='Billie Eilish: The World's A Little Blurry' Documentary Hitting Theaters & AppleTV+ This February|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/billie-eilish-the-worlds-a-little-blurry-documentary-hitting-theaters-appletv-this-february-1234586263/|access-date=September 28, 2020|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-date=October 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003052553/https://deadline.com/2020/09/billie-eilish-the-worlds-a-little-blurry-documentary-hitting-theaters-appletv-this-february-1234586263/|url-status=live}}{{Cite press release|title=Apple Original Films releases trailer and premiere date for "Billie Eilish: The World's A Little Blurry"|url=https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2020/12/apple-original-films-releases-trailer-and-premiere-date-for-billie-eilish-the-worlds-a-little-blurry/|date=December 15, 2020|access-date=December 15, 2020|work=Apple TV+|language=en-US}}

Synopsis

Rather than a linear narrative, the film follows several intertwining plot threads in a stream-of-consciousness style.

  • Billie is seen performing her song "Ocean Eyes" at a small venue in Salt Lake City. After seeing a fan being carried out after getting hurt, she reminds the audience that they need to be okay because they are the reason that she is okay. Billie explains that she doesn't refer to her fans as "fans", but rather as a part of her. She acknowledges her audience as people going through tough times just as she is.
  • Billie and her brother Finneas are shown rehearsing and recording various songs in Billie's bedroom, including "Bury a Friend", "I Love You", "All the Good Girls Go to Hell", "My Strange Addiction", and "Wish You Were Gay".
  • Billie's mom Maggie helps Billie show off her idea for the music video for the song "When the Party's Over". At the shoot for the video, Billie becomes frustrated due to various mistakes. After the shoot, Billie says that she wants to direct the rest of her music videos by herself.
  • Several scenes depict Billie's relationship and eventual breakup with her boyfriend, whose name is given only as "Q".
  • Billie is shown earning her learner's permit and later, her driver's license. She is presented with her dream car, a matte black Dodge Challenger, as a present for her 17th birthday.
  • Billie is shown struggling with her health issues, including her Tourette syndrome and the pain in her legs due to excessive jumping at her shows. She reveals how injuries ended her dancing career when she was younger. She reveals that she used to cut her wrists with blades in the bathroom.
  • Billie and her family meet Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom at Coachella's backstage area. Katy gives Billie advice and tells her that she can call if she needs anything. Billie performs and is unimpressed with her performance due to technical difficulties and forgetting lyrics to the song "All the Good Girls Go to Hell". During Ariana Grande's set, Justin Bieber surprises Billie and they meet for the first time.
  • While on tour, Billie becomes frustrated with being forced to meet multiple media people that she deems "random". Subsequently, she deals with the fallout from this incident. At a show in Milan, Billie sprains her ankle at the start of the performance which leaves her embarrassed. She apologizes to the audience and says that she'd rather not give them a show versus give them a mediocre one.
  • The film ends where it began, showing Billie singing "Ocean Eyes", the song that launched her career.

Production

Recording for the film began in 2018 and was completed in early 2020.{{Cite web|last=Weir|first=Keziah|date=January 25, 2021|title=The Charming Billie Eilish|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/01/the-charming-billie-eilish-march-cover|access-date=January 25, 2021|website=Vanity Fair|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125151204/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/01/the-charming-billie-eilish-march-cover|url-status=live}} The Hollywood Reporter wrote in December 2019 that the film was developed with a budget between $1 million and $2 million. They also claimed that the film was worth $25 million before being purchased by Apple TV+, but this claim was later denied by Eilish's team.{{Cite web|last=Masters|first=Kim|date=December 4, 2019|title=Billie Eilish Lands Massive Payday for Apple TV+ Documentary|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/billie-eilish-lands-massive-payday-apple-tv-documentary-1259738|access-date=October 4, 2020|website=The Hollywood Reporter|issn=0018-3660|archive-date=April 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403062352/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/billie-eilish-lands-massive-payday-apple-tv-documentary-1259738|url-status=live}}

Release

Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry was officially announced via Eilish's social media profiles on September 28, 2020,{{Cite web|last=Richards|first=Will|date=September 2, 2020|title='The World's A Little Blurry': Billie Eilish confirms upcoming documentary|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-worlds-a-little-blurry-billie-eilish-confirms-details-of-upcoming-apple-documentary-2763554|access-date=September 28, 2020|website=NME|issn=0028-6362|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001033824/https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-worlds-a-little-blurry-billie-eilish-confirms-details-of-upcoming-apple-documentary-2763554|url-status=live}} but had begun developing attention as soon as late 2019,{{Cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=December 5, 2019|title=Billie Eilish Documentary In Apple Talks For Major Money; RJ Cutler Directing|url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/billie-eilish-documentary-apple-rj-cutler-1202801120/|access-date=October 4, 2020|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-date=October 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004005439/https://deadline.com/2019/12/billie-eilish-documentary-apple-rj-cutler-1202801120/|url-status=live}} and more after she discussed it in several press interviews in early 2020.{{Cite magazine|last=Schiller|first=Rebecca|date=January 26, 2020|title=Billie Eilish Promises Fans Will Learn 'Hella S--t' About Her in Her New Documentary|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/8549199/billie-eilish-video-interview-2020-grammys|access-date=October 4, 2020|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510}}{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Damian|date=January 20, 2020|title=Billie Eilish confirms new album plans and documentary details|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/billie-confirms-new-album-plans-and-says-she-terrified-about-her-forthcoming-documentary-2599120|access-date=October 4, 2020|website=NME|issn=0028-6362|archive-date=October 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004070953/https://www.nme.com/news/music/billie-confirms-new-album-plans-and-says-she-terrified-about-her-forthcoming-documentary-2599120|url-status=live}}

The film was released in select theaters and IMAX via Neon and on Apple TV+ on February 26, 2021.

Critical response

Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry was released to widespread acclaim.{{Cite web |last=Brisco |first=Elise |date=April 29, 2021 |title=Billie Eilish gets 'vulnerable' in new single and video 'Your Power' from follow-up album |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/04/29/billie-eilish-your-power-her-vulnerable-new-song-next-album/4878423001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622193707/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/04/29/billie-eilish-your-power-her-vulnerable-new-song-next-album/4878423001/ |archive-date=June 22, 2021 |access-date=July 18, 2022 |website=USA Today }} On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of 100 critics have given the film a positive review, with a 7.3 out of 10 average rating. The website's critical consensus reads, "Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry offers an enlightening -- and sometimes uncomfortable -- look behind the scenes of a young star's ascension."{{Cite web|title=Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/billie_eilish_the_worlds_a_little_blurry|url-status=live|access-date=March 2, 2021|website=Rotten Tomatoes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227043525/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/billie_eilish_the_worlds_a_little_blurry |archive-date=February 27, 2021 }} According to Metacritic, the documentary received "generally favorable" reviews, based on an average score of 70 out of 100 from 23 critic reviews.{{Cite web|title=Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/billie-eilish-the-worlds-a-little-blurry|url-status=live|access-date=March 2, 2021|website=Metacritic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226044320/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/billie-eilish-the-worlds-a-little-blurry |archive-date=February 26, 2021 }} It was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards, including the Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program, Outstanding Sound Editing, Outstanding Picture Editing, and Outstanding Music Direction.{{Cite web|title=Billie Eilish Doc, Dave Chappelle's 8:46, and More Nominated for 2021 Emmys|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/billie-eilish-doc-dave-chappelles-846-and-more-nominated-for-2021-emmys/|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Pitchfork|date=July 13, 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=July 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713204053/https://pitchfork.com/news/billie-eilish-doc-dave-chappelles-846-and-more-nominated-for-2021-emmys/|url-status=live}}

= Awards and nominations=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" style="width:20%;"| Award

! scope="col" style="width:15%;"| Date of ceremony

! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Category

! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Recipient(s)

! scope="col" style="width:5%;"| Result

! scope="col" style="width:10%;" class="unsortable" |{{Abbr|Ref.|References}}

rowspan="4"|Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards

| rowspan="4"|September 12, 2021

| Outstanding Music Direction

| Aron Forbes

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="4"|

Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming

| Greg Finton, Lindsay Utz, Azin Samari

| {{nom}}

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program

| Elmo Ponsdomenech, Jason Gaya, Aron Forbes, Jae Kim

| {{nom}}

Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program (Single or Multi-Camera)

| Richard E. Yawn, Robert Getty, Steven Avila, Shawn Kennelly, Michael Brake, Melissa Kennelly, Vince Nicastro

| {{nom}}

Critics' Choice Documentary Awards

| November 14, 2021

| Best Music Documentary

| rowspan="3"|Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry

| {{nom}}

| {{cite web|url=http://www.criticschoice.com/documentary-awards/2021-6th-annual-critics-choice-documentary-awards-winners/|title=2021: 6th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards – Winners|access-date=February 1, 2022|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115053653/http://www.criticschoice.com/documentary-awards/2021-6th-annual-critics-choice-documentary-awards-winners/|url-status=dead}}

Seattle Film Critics Society

| January 17, 2022

| Best Documentary Feature

| {{nom}}

| {{cite web|url=https://seattlefilmcritics.com/2022/01/10/the-power-of-the-dog-leads-the-2021-seattle-film-critics-society-nominations/|title="The Power of the Dog" Leads the 2021 Seattle Film Critics Society Nominations|website=Seattle Film Critics|date=January 10, 2022|accessdate=January 10, 2022|archive-date=January 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110223828/http://seattlefilmcritics.com/2022/01/10/the-power-of-the-dog-leads-the-2021-seattle-film-critics-society-nominations/|url-status=live}}

Cinema Eye Honors

| March 1, 2022

| Audience Choice Prize

| {{nom}}

| {{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/2022-cinema-eye-honors-complete-nominations-list-flee-summer-of-soul-1234871458/|title='Flee' & 'Summer Of Soul' Lead Cinema Eye Honors Nominations|website=Deadline|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=November 10, 2021|accessdate=November 11, 2021|archive-date=November 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110215053/https://deadline.com/2021/11/2022-cinema-eye-honors-complete-nominations-list-flee-summer-of-soul-1234871458/|url-status=live}}

American Cinema Editors Awards

|March 5, 2022

|Best Edited Documentary – (Non-Theatrical)

|Greg Finton, Lindsay Utz

|{{nom}}

|{{Cite news|last=Tangcay|first=Jazz|date=January 27, 2022|title='Belfast,' 'King Richard,' 'No Time to Die' Among ACE Eddie Awards Nominations|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2022/artisans/awards/ace-eddie-awards-nominations-2022-full-list-belfast-king-richard-no-time-to-die-1235164534/|access-date=January 30, 2022|archive-date=January 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130154457/https://variety.com/2022/artisans/awards/ace-eddie-awards-nominations-2022-full-list-belfast-king-richard-no-time-to-die-1235164534/|url-status=live}}

Golden Reel Awards

| March 13, 2022

| Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Documentary

| Richard Yawn, Michael Brake, Rob Getty, Steven Avila, Shawn Kennelly, Melissa Kennelly, Vince Nicastro

| {{nom}}

| {{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/dune-golden-reel-awards-nominations-2022-1235161036/|title='Dune' Leads Nominations for Golden Reel Awards|website=Variety|first=Jazz|last=Tangcay|date=January 24, 2022|accessdate=January 24, 2022|archive-date=January 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124174423/https://variety.com/2022/film/news/dune-golden-reel-awards-nominations-2022-1235161036/|url-status=live}}

Cinema Audio Society Awards

| March 19, 2022

| Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Non Fiction, Variety or Music – Series or Specials

| Jae Kim, Elmo Ponsdomenech, Jason "Frenchie" Gaya, Aron Forbes, Jeffrey Roy, Shawn Kennelly

| {{nom}}

| {{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/cinema-audio-society-nominations-set-dune-spider-man-west-side-story-more-1234919334/|title=Cinema Audio Society Nominations Set: 'Dune', 'Spider-Man', 'West Side Story' & More|website=Deadline|first=Erik|last=Pedersen|date=January 25, 2022|accessdate=January 25, 2022|archive-date=January 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125172705/https://deadline.com/2022/01/cinema-audio-society-nominations-set-dune-spider-man-west-side-story-more-1234919334/|url-status=live}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{IMDb title|tt11459366}}

{{Billie Eilish}}

{{R. J. Cutler}}

{{Apple TV+}}

Category:2021 films

Category:2020s English-language films

Category:2021 documentary films

Category:American documentary films

Category:Apple TV+ original films

Category:Billie Eilish

Category:Documentary films about pop music and musicians

Category:Documentary films about singers

Category:Documentary films about women in music

Category:Films directed by R. J. Cutler

Category:IMAX documentary films

Category:Neon (company) films

Category:2020s American films

Category:English-language documentary films