Regardless of how much (or how little) I had going on, I couldn’t just ignore this. I was immediately drawn by the concept of Stan and “Stans”. Automatically, I wondered, “What could Shady Films possibly be up to this time?” And still, with part of me angry at everything and at nothing, I went for it. Hoping I wouldn’t regret it. And I didn’t.
Stans is a documentary in the form of a film, lasting around 1 hour and 45 minutes. It was initially released for theaters but, soon after, began streaming on Paramount+, in the year 2025, during the summer, on August. It features clips from Eminem’s history as well as direct testimony from him and his many supporters (including devout “Stans”).
If you’re one of the “Stans”, this is for and about you, and you should watch it. And if you like Eminem despite or even because of his problematic nature, you should watch it. Also, if you just enjoy raw, profound, masterfully crafted, and infinitely meaningful storytelling, particularly regarding the character arc of a musician in the industry, you should watch it. I recommend it to you.
SPOILER ALERT! Keep reading at your own risk. There are spoilers ahead...
“ Well, none of this is normal. None of it’s normal.”
- Eminem
For real, no matter how much I ramble on and on about it, it’s still, by far, way less than all I wish I could say. It’s like it’s filled to the brim with little, yet insanely effective, thinking and/or feeling prompts, coming at ya every 2-10 seconds, and I can’t even find the words to express myself most of the time. Then, as though wanting to explode, but being unable to, I implode instead. It’s not an exaggeration when I say that I will be watching and re-watching this for years to come. But also avoiding it when I can’t afford to be moved like that. Electrically, it may even be the equivalent of a surge of energy.
His existence brings me inexplicable joy. I enjoy the little things, here and there, the presence, the activity. Whatever comes out. And I enjoy the singles, the albums, the concerts, too. Though, not gonna lie, there have been instances (certain songs) that made me angry or sad or both, to the point of tears. ‘Cause… you know. LYRICS. But I also totally enjoy being surprised with something this HUGE. And I say huge because it is A WHOLE FREAKIN’ THING put together in unimaginable ways. IDK, man, maybe I’m more of an Eminem fan than I admit to myself. There’s only so much I can brush off as “It is objectively great, so why wouldn’t I like it?” I’ve said it before that there’s stuff I can relate to and resonate with. However, this isn’t trivial at all. If I could, I would give Eminem a tight hug and thank him for everything. Like a Stan. Shamelessly.
It amused me how confused he was shown to be, in there, about what was happening around him, because of and for him. I recall coming across a clip going off on how he hadn’t yet realized how rich he was and him asking if he could really afford a watch. And it’s like… Yeaaahhhh, a lot is not quite computing fully. I’M JUST A PERSON. Well, turns out that person has gone through some wildly unbelievable ups and downs, zigzags and spirals, got crowned Rap God, and it undeniably set him apart. At this point, it's legendary.
I was left astonished and in awe. I was betting that it would be a trip down memory lane, inducing the kind of nostalgia that Eminem always provokes in me, but I was not expecting it would take me in, through, and out of such vulnerable yet important aspects in such a sophisticated and insightful manner. Not that this is never in his works. The guy is brilliant in more than one way. But it blew my mind and I’m still puzzled.
