This Is Paris

I can't believe these words are about to come out of my mouth (or from the ends of my fingertips), but this Paris Hilton documentary is actually great. It's truly mesmerizing and well worth your time, and yes, I know, pass the smelling salts and get thee to the fainting couch.

I've never been a big fan of hers, but I also wasn't that bothered by her antics. I watched "The Simple Life" back in the early aughts and was entertained. She then popped back on my radar after we watched the Netflix docuseries "The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping", in which she appeared and then again when she testified in Sacramento a few weeks ago about her experience. That led to this documentary, which is an imperfect, though sincere and vulnerable portrait where she goes into more detail about her harrowing experience as a victim of the troubled teen industry. I have more sympathy for her and what she went through and while it might be hard for an heiress to change her image (leopard, spots), I think she's definitely not the worst person alive. There are so many more worthy contenders for that title.

This film totally surpassed my expectations. The documentary reveals someone who has been hiding in plain sight. It broaches deep and universal questions; and examines what fame and fortune look like in excess. I highly recommend this documentary to both fans of Paris' and those who wouldn't think this documentary was for them. It takes you to the unexpected and will leave you questioning what you thought you knew about all sorts of public facing personas. Simply excellent.

This was an interesting documentary but the bit about where her trauma came from should have been closer to the beginning.

She comes from a rich family and like any family it has it ups and downs. Paris as a child always wanted to be in the limelight and over the years this has not changed. Contrary to what she says, she is still feeding her brand, this time seeking sympathy by telling the hard times she had as a child. But let's face it, Paris was out of hand and any parent would have taken steps to curtail this behavior. Perhaps Paris was badly traumatized at Provo and is reliving this to this day, but for sensation and dramatization, this viewer does not buy it.

It is obvious looking at her over the years that she loves the attention and will always do as Paris does.

I'm in my 30s so I grew up watching Paris on tv & seeing her in the tabloids so I assumed this documentary would be the same old Paris persona but I was pleasantly surprised it was not that at all! I have a new found respect for Paris & I hope she continues to show her true real self.