Kanye West Dissected on and off Stage in Ground-Breaking Documentary "In Whose Name?"

The remarkable documentary "In Whose Name?," a journey through six tumultuous years of Kanye West's life, directed by Nico Ballesteros, concludes with the rapper reflecting on the complexities that arose while compiling the film. In a pose of self-aware candor, West admits the complexity of narrating his life - an admission that seems to capture the essence of the documentary itself.

In essence, the narrative of "In Whose Name?" is the attempt to thread together 3,000 hours of footage, captured between 2018 and 2024, into an impartial depiction of West; a public personality who forever appears to be in the eye of controversy, often triggered by his own actions. The justification for the documentary's existence seems to rest primarily on the extraordinary access given to Ballesteros, who was 18 when he started filming, to shadow West.

West frames "In Whose Name?" as a film centered on the topic of mental health. It unravels his life, unmedicated for months, revealing a figure who oscillates between extreme certainties and moments of evident instability. The film leaves viewers questioning if West is the architect of his own situation or a manifestation of it. It reveals the immense power his celebrity status wields, drawing individuals into its orbit for varying reasons.

When Ye, as he prefers to be recognized, is challenged, the film at these points feels most authentic and succeeds in making him appear most relatable. Such moments include confrontations from Swizz Beatz over West's choice of headwear, and Michael Che's pushback on comments West made on a "Saturday Night Live" show.

However, those who disagree with West are often left backstage, at the mercy of his unpredictability. Highlights of these moments include a passionate outburst at Kris Jenner over medications and an impromptu clash with his cousin in Uganda over local politics.

Kim Kardashian, his former wife, comes across as a much-needed beacon of sense within the film, appearing to ground West during his most volatile moments, while also revealing the strain on her.

While much of the footage in "In Whose Name?" will be familiar to those who follow West, the unseen fragments provide fascinating new perspectives on public incidents. The film trails the career milestones of West, the behind-the-scenes stories, and the instances of brilliant madness - all making it a captivating watch.

Despite this, for those hoping to illuminate the enigmatic persona of West, the array of lengthy monologues and self-adulation may fall short of expectation. With the documentary's conclusion reflecting sharply on West's consumed ego and career downfalls, "In Whose Name?" succeeds in presenting a raw, riveting, yet still enigmatic portrait of Kanye West.