Beckham (Netflix) review: A blockbuster look at a blockbuster personality

Beckham is a 4-part docu-series charting the rise of David Beckham, arguably one of the biggest superstars in the world of football and beyond. The series is streaming on Netflix.

Story

David Beckham was meant for big things right from a young age when he was signed by Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson. What followed was a storied career that took him from Manchester to Madrid, to Milan, to Paris, and to Los Angeles.

David was always in the spotlight, whether it was his appearance or his high-profile relationship with Posh Spice Victoria Beckham. This attention wasn’t always positive and David went through many hardships in his life because of it.

Input from his former managers, teammates, prominent journalists, and people who interacted with David regularly paints a picture of a nice man who just wanted to live life doing what he enjoyed.

No matter where he went in the world, David Beckham was more often than not the center of attraction and David capitalized on that to build a lucrative brand and ensure a comfortable life for him and his family.

Positives

The series is incredibly well-produced. The sheer profile of personalities brought in to talk about Beckham is incredible and most of them have insightful input on his life.

Fisher Stevens does a wonderful job as director and chief interviewer. He sets up a very casual atmosphere and allows his subjects to feel comfortable, open up, and provide honest answers.

The archive footage, the score behind the video, and the choice to focus on an individual’s face while they watch replays of a significant match, combine brilliantly in this series. Even people who aren’t fans of football might appreciate the quality on display.

Negatives

While the series is considerably in-depth, the episodes are quite long and take some effort to get through. It is certainly not something that can be enjoyed in one sitting and that’s not something that should be said about a docu-series too often.

Verdict

Beckham is a wonderful series focused on one of the most recognizable people in the entire world and how he came to be. David Beckham is a charming person and the interviews with people who have been within his orbit cement that point even further. David’s marketability has always been through the roof and this is just the latest example of how his star refuses to dim.


Also Read: Is The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar based on a true story?

More from The Envoy Web