I love this Selena Gomez documentary (and I didn’t even know her music)!
It’s the story of a likable young star dealing with Bieber drama, bipolar disorder and a vicious paparazzi.
I’ll likely add this Selena doc to my list of Best Documentaries on Mental Health when I write it (so much to do!).
Thanks to Russell Nohelty for reminding me about this doc at the Craft + Commerce show in Boise in 2024!
Trailer for “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me”
Watch “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me”
I watched “XYZ” on Apple TV+ at https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/selena-gomez-my-mind–me/umc.cmc.39yw4dp13gshxq5bt9fsl0o5y (I’m a subscriber ($9.99 per month last I checked) but you can do a 7 day free trial if you want.
It’s an Apple Original and the only place I see to watch it right now.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 95/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 93/100 (Users); 97/100 (Critics)
Review of “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me”
“Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me” is not your normal Pop Doc.
It’s got the gritty highs and lows of the pop star’s life.
Very little fluff.
Director Alek Keshishian, the mastermind behind the project, wasn’t interested in making just another glossy, superficial film. No, he wanted something raw, authentic, and vulnerable. And that’s exactly what he got.
The journey kicks off around 2015, right after Keshishian directed Gomez’s “Hands to Myself” music video. Little did he know, he was about to embark on a six-year labor of love that would chronicle Selena’s battles with fame, lupus, and bipolar disorder.
Selena’s got lupus, and it nearly took her out. But a kidney transplant saved her life, and now she’s got to keep a close eye on her blood pressure while she’s out there burning up the stage on her Revival Tour.
And if that wasn’t enough, she’s got the paparazzi breathing down her neck, shouting nasty things like “Did you hear Justin has a new girlfriend?” and “Are you still drinking?” I mean, come on, give the girl a break!
But wait, there’s more. After 55 shows, Selena has to pull the plug on her tour. Rumors start flying that she’s depressed, suicidal, you name it. TMZ, in all their infinite wisdom, reports that she’s been admitted to a psychiatric hospital and is “unrecognizable.”
And get this: her mom finds out about it when TMZ calls her for a comment.
Ouch!
But Selena’s a fighter. She gets diagnosed with bipolar disorder and starts putting the pieces back together. She even takes a surprise trip back to her old stomping grounds, visiting her childhood home and catching up with old pals.
And then, in a moment of pure magic, she writes “Lose You to Love Me” in just 45 minutes flat.
That’s the fastest she’s ever written a song!
It’s a raw, emotional powerhouse of a song that captures her journey of self-discovery and healing.
Of course, life keeps throwing curveballs. The pandemic hits, her WE charity gets caught up in some Canadian controversy, and her lupus rears its ugly head again.
But through it all, Selena keeps pushing forward.
In 2020, she creates the Rare Impact Fund, with the goal of raising a whopping $100 million for mental health.
Alek Keshishian originally had a 2 hour and 30 minute cut of this thing, but he knew he had to trim the fat.
With the help of his sister Aleen, who introduced Selena to all sorts of mental health charities and initiatives, he crafted a lean, mean, fighting machine of a documentary that hits you right in the feels.
“My Mind & Me” is a raw, honest look at the life of a pop star who’s been through hell and back. It’s a story of resilience, hope, and the power of speaking your truth.
And if you’re lucky enough to catch a screening with Alek Keshishian himself, moderated by the one and only Jazz Tangcay, you’re in for a real treat.
Keshishian had a staggering 250 hours of footage to work with, but with the support of Interscope and Lighthouse, he managed to distill it down to a concentrated 95-minute punch that’ll leave you reeling.
And he did it all while steering clear of the typical social media-focused fluff that plagues so many pop docs.
So, if you’re ready for a wild ride through the highs and lows of Selena Gomez’s life, buckle up and get ready for “My Mind & Me.”
It’s a documentary that’ll make you laugh, cry, and everything in between. And it’s a testament to the power of authenticity, vulnerability, and the unbreakable spirit of one of pop’s biggest stars.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc