Beyond the buzz: 'aka Charlie Sheen' reveals the real story behind the headlines
The docuseries dives deep into Charlie Sheen's turbulent history, addressing his long battle with addiction to pills, alcohol and crack cocaine, as well as his struggles with relationships and his sexuality.
Image: Instagram.
Charlie Sheen is making headlines again, not for a new project, but for an impactful documentary called "aka Charlie Sheen".
Currently streaming on Netflix, the two-part tell-all takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster, showcasing the star’s turbulent life, his rise to fame and his significant struggles.
In the documentary, which runs for three hours, Sheen opens up about his past with unflinching honesty.
After eight years of sobriety, he sits in a simple diner booth, sharing his story with director Andrew Renzi.
Sheen discusses some very personal subjects, including his rise to fame, his self-destructive nature, his decades-long addiction to pills, alcohol and crack-cocaine, as well as his sexuality, HIV+ status and the downfall of three failed marriages.
It features interviews with many significant people in Sheen's life.
Viewers get the chance to hear from his ex-wives, Denise Richards and Brooke Mueller, as well as his children, Lola and Bob.
Richards, in particular, agreed to speak only because she didn't want the doccie to end up a "fluff piece".
Charlie Sheen's ex-wife, Brooke Mueller.
Image: Instagram.
She goes on to speak openly about the challenges of being married to someone with such a heavy addiction, but it is evident that she still loves him.
Sheen's story is mind-blowing. After achieving incredible success with "Two and a Half Men" and being paid $2 million an episode, everything began to unravel in 2009 when he started smoking crack cocaine.
The documentary reveals that he was introduced to the drug by a friend, who later died of an overdose.
This addiction led to conflicts with "Two and a Half Men" creator, Chuck Lorre, resulting in Sheen’s dismissal.
As the documentary unfolds, it showcases Sheen's bizarre public appearances during that time, where he famously talked about "winning" and using "tiger blood".
Watching these clips just shows how lost Sheen was.
Other notable figures, such as actors Sean Penn and John Cryer, also share their thoughts on Sheen’s journey.
Cryer, who starred alongside Sheen on "Two and a Half Men", recalls his experiences with him and offers insights into Sheen’s character that many people may not have seen.
Somewhere along the line, Sheen also expresses deep gratitude toward his family and friends for their unwavering support that has helped him through dark times.
He admits that father Martin Sheen and brother Emilio Estevez chose not to participate in the documentary due to the painful memories it might bring up.
Sean Penn.
Image: Instagram.
Meanwhile, Sheen's best friend, Tony Todd, tears up while recalling their experiences together, especially his fears of losing Sheen during his wild party years.
Overall, "aka Charlie Sheen" is a dramatic and sometimes heartbreaking look into the life of a star who was lost in the glitz and glamour of fame.
This documentary is a must-see for anyone wanting to understand the real Charlie Sheen.