The two-part documentary on the tumultuous life and scandalous exploits of Charlie Sheen on Netflix is a gripping three-hour watch. The 60-year-old actor, a symbol of unrestrained hedonism and unquenchable addiction, has perpetually been in the public eye. Initially, he was a fast-rising Hollywood superstar, known for his roles in “Platoon”, “Wall Street”, and more. Later, he became infamous as one of Hollywood’s most notorious party animals and, eventually, one of its most significant burnouts.

The documentary’s title, “aka Charlie Sheen” (also known as Charlie Sheen), suggests that “Charlie Sheen” was always a persona cultivated by Carlos Estevez from a young age. Unlike his older brother Emilio, Carlos chose to adopt the Hollywood “stage name” used by their father, Martin Sheen (born Ramon Antonio Gerardo Estevez), as a means of reinventing himself.

The 60-year-old actor has been in the spotlight since his rapid rise to Hollywood stardom and later as the ultimate party animal.

Martin Sheen, like Emilio Estevez, is not directly interviewed in the documentary. However, he appears in several clips from his films and from his attempts to rescue his son from recurring cycles of brutal addiction and humiliating public scandals.

Charlie Sheen himself, who claims to have been “clean” for eight years after decades of substance abuse, is a dominant presence in the documentary. He provides articulate accounts of his experiences and encounters with the darker side of fame. Some of his long-time friends also contribute, including Sean Penn, who shares insights into his childhood friend’s unique constitution: “Most men who consume large amounts of coke have extremely enhanced sexual fantasies but also extremely unstable sexual capacity. And thankfully so! But what would happen if the sexual capacity were matched by the fantasies?

“Just ask Charlie Sheen about that!”

Two of Sheen’s ex-wives, Denise Richards and Brooke Miller, share their experiences despite the tumultuous nature of their respective marriages. Two of his five children (Sheen is also a grandfather of two) also weigh in. However, the most riveting – and perhaps chilling – account comes from Sheen’s long-time drug supplier and close friend, a robust middle-aged man known as “Marco”. He narrates his wild escapades with Sheen in an apartment the actor purchased for him. “Sometimes Charlie would smoke so much crack that he couldn’t utter a word,” he recalls with a grin.

Sheen’s long-time co-star from the hit sitcom “Two and a Half Men,” John Cryer, is less nostalgic. He expresses his reservations about the “aka Charlie Sheen” project from the get-go: “I had serious doubts about participating in this project, largely because a recurring pattern in Charlie Sheen’s life has been to mess up, hit rock bottom, and then start anew. That’s when he brings positivity back into his life, only to burn out again. It’s as if he can’t help but set his own house on fire.”

aka Charlie Sheen | Official Trailer | Netflix

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