NWR (2012)

What makes NWR special is how it pulls back the neon curtain on Nicolas Winding Refn and reveals not just the auteur, but the person—restless, funny, anxious, and fiercely committed to his own strange compass. Moving from his early years to the pressure-cooker lead-up to Only God Forgives in Thailand, the film feels like a front-row seat to creativity in real time, with candid moments that make his process less myth and more human. It’s entertaining in that you’re surrounded by the orbit of collaborators and admirers, but it’s also quietly insightful, showing how taste, temperament, and doubt shape the images we end up calling “vision.” If you don’t care about Refn or behind-the-scenes portraits of filmmakers, it may feel niche, but for anyone curious about how a singular voice is built, it’s an essential watch.

NWR is clearly trying to be an intimate, stylish hangout with Nicolas Winding Refn as he rides the post-Drive high and gears up for Only God Forgives, more mood and access than hard-hitting biography. The problem is it often settles for light anecdotes and surface-level admiration, so if you’re expecting real insight into his craft, contradictions, or the tougher parts of his career, you may leave feeling shortchanged. The score and overall self-mythologizing vibe can also grate, making it feel more like a glossy fan piece than a documentary with teeth. If you’re already a Refn devotee, there’s some fun in the behind-the-scenes proximity and cameos, but curious newcomers looking for depth should probably spend their time elsewhere.