I never got caught up in Anna Nicole Smith's saga during the 90's. My appreciation for her (like others) never went beyond the physical. Saw her Playboy pictorials and then much much later her two action flicks, PB videos and movie exploits made about her life. I honestly didn't expect 'You Don't Know Me' to add anything new to the tale because frankly I don't think there's any deep secrets to be told. This documentary didn't change my view.
From growing up in small town Texas to her son Danny and then Howard J. Marshall onward to fame, stardom. Playboy, Guess jeans, appearances in legit movies, talk shows. Natural charm, love for the cameras, paparazzi. The reunion with her estranged father than went sideways. Prescription drugs, alcohol, a fondness for partying and the wheels slowly coming off. Howard K. Stern enters the picture, the reality show, her weight gain, a new baby with it's father in doubt. Danny dies and she passes soon afterwards at only 39 years old.
Everything here is well put together and flows nicely. A lot of the details are old hat, but the narrative is decent with interviews from people who've never spoken in depth about Anna or their roles in her life until now. It's a talking heads style of doc that uses footage from shows, home footage, Playboy or shot specifically for use in montages. Every topic is touched on in compact format rarely dragging on or overstaying it's welcome.
Put this two hour Netflix doc 'You Don't Know Me' in the curiosity category that will get views from lifelong ANS fans or those who think there's deeper meaning to be found when really there isn't. Her undoing was her own. You get sprinkles of new facts, but the end result remains the same. We love our celebrities. We love underdog stories, beautiful woman. Praising them where they're up, tuning in or kicking them when they're down.
