{"id":48482,"date":"2025-10-07T13:28:53","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T13:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/07\/no-escape-from-now-shows-an-extraordinary-man-review\/"},"modified":"2025-10-07T13:28:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T13:28:53","slug":"no-escape-from-now-shows-an-extraordinary-man-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/07\/no-escape-from-now-shows-an-extraordinary-man-review\/","title":{"rendered":"No Escape From Now’ Shows an (Extra)Ordinary Man: Review"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

The new documentary\u00a0Ozzy: No Escape From Now<\/em>\u00a0shows the (extra)ordinary man behind the “Prince of Darkness” moniker that has been bestowed upon him for so long.<\/p>\n

“Where are the good old days?”<\/em><\/p>\n

“They’re fucking gone.”<\/em><\/p>\n

This\u00a0comically bleak exchange between Ozzy<\/a> and Sharon Osbourne<\/a> comes near the beginning of the new documentary\u00a0Ozzy: No Escape From Now<\/em>, which premieres on Tuesday. The film covers roughly the last seven years of the Prince of Darkness’ life as he faced myriad health issues that derailed his\u00a0performing career and\u00a0left him in near-constant agony.<\/p>\n

It also\u00a0highlights\u00a0the many career\u00a0milestones Ozzy achieved during that time \u2014 two well-received albums, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction and the triumphant Back to the Beginning farewell concert \u2014 with the love and support of his musical associates and tirelessly supportive family.<\/p>\n

‘Ozzy: No Escape From Now’ Reconciles Ozzy’s Celebrity With His Mortality<\/h3>\n

The triumph of\u00a0No Escape From Now<\/em>\u00a0is its ability to\u00a0reconcile Ozzy’s celebrity with his mortality.<\/p>\n

It offers a devastating (and devastatingly relatable) portrait of a family grappling with its patriarch’s progressively worsening health\u00a0while\u00a0juggling large-scale obligations that are\u00a0fulfilling but exhausting. And it strips the\u00a0most famous heavy metal frontman in history of his armor, revealing not a madman but an ordinary (and extraordinary) man behind the Prince of Darkness.<\/p>\n

No Escape From Now<\/em>‘s staggering vulnerability also makes it a brutal watch, especially for Ozzy fans who so deeply loved the\u00a0singer and wished for his recovery.<\/p>\n

The major travails\u00a0began in late 2018, when Ozzy contracted a staph infection while on tour. In February 2019, he suffered a nasty fall that damaged his vertebrae and kicked off a series of invasive and excruciating surgeries.<\/p>\n

Tours get cancelled, answers elude the family and Ozzy’s depression mounts to the point of suicidal ideation. Recovery feels like a Sisyphean effort. Sharon faces\u00a0twin\u00a0hurdles\u00a0of managing what’s left of Ozzy’s career and helping her husband physically and emotionally in his hour of need.<\/p>\n

“I know Ozzy\u2019s a drama queen. He\u2019ll do anything for a pain pill. But this was for real,” she says amid one of his several unsuccessful surgeries.<\/p>\n

Through Ozzy’s endless tribulations, Sharon remains a pillar of grace under pressure, a relentless cheerleader, a world-class promoter and a soothing voice of reason \u2014 and\u00a0No Escape From Now<\/em> ought to permanently silence any critics who interpret her actions in bad faith. Everything she\u00a0did\u00a0was for Ozzy, and\u00a0the singer makes it clear multiple times throughout the film that she’s the reason he made it as far as he did.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

ozzy and sharon osbourne from sharon and ozzy coming home trailer in 2025<\/span><\/p>

YouTube: BBC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

As Ozzy’s Health Worsens, He\u00a0Finds\u00a0Solace in Music<\/h3>\n

As his health deteriorates, Ozzy finds solace in a reliable source: music.<\/p>\n

No Escape From Now<\/em> documents his\u00a02019\u00a0Post Malone<\/a> collaboration\u00a0“Take What You Want” and subsequent collaborations with producer Andrew Watt<\/a> on 2020’s Ordinary Man<\/i> and 2022’s\u00a0Patient Number 9<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The singer lights up at studio sessions, excitedly workshopping lyrics and recording\u00a0vocals from a chair as Watt, drummer Chad Smith<\/a>, bassist Robert Trujillo<\/a> and other rockers jam and watch in awe.<\/p>\n

The Prince of Darkness’ 2024 Rock Hall induction gets significant playtime and\u00a0provides a sense of drama and emotional catharsis. It’s heartbreaking to watch him accept that he can’t perform at his own ceremony, but it’s exciting and inspiring to watch\u00a0him and Sharon\u00a0recruit an all-star tribute band (including Smith, Trujillo, Billy Idol<\/a>, Maynard James Keenan<\/a>, Wolfgang Van Halen<\/a> and many more) to honor him.<\/p>\n

And when\u00a0Ozzy lends his unplanned vocals to “Mama, I’m Coming Home” during rehearsals, the chills that gripped the room\u00a0become palpable.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Maynard James Keenan, Wolfgang Van Halen, Robert Trujillo at Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony – Inside<\/span><\/p>

Dia Dipasupil, Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame<\/span><\/p>

Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong>\u00a0Ozzy Osbourne Celebrated With All-Star Performance at Rock Hall<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ozzy’s\u00a0Long, Hard Road Back to the Beginning<\/h3>\n

The high from the Rock Hall unfortunately\u00a0doesn’t sustain Ozzy physically and the end of\u00a0No Escape From Now<\/em>\u00a0covers the lead-up to July’s Back to the Beginning show.<\/p>\n

It’s touch-and-go for a long time \u2014\u00a0less than three months before the performance, Sharon doesn’t think\u00a0Ozzy can make it \u2014 but he resolves to\u00a0get to the gig\u00a0and doubles down on physical therapy to prepare.<\/p>\n

We know now that the show was a jubilant, record-smashing success, but the extended behind-the-scenes footage and reflections from other\u00a0Back to the Beginning performers further emphasize the momentousness of the occasion.<\/p>\n

Metallica<\/a>‘s James Hetfield<\/a> muses on what it means to end a decades-spanning, era-defining career. “That’s got to be a really difficult position to be in and I will get there one day, I’m sure,” he says. “And I don’t know how I’m going to handle that either. So again, Ozzy is cutting the path for us still.”<\/p>\n

READ MORE: 8 Things We Can’t Believe Happened at Back to the Beginning<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ozzy Gets Candid About His Mortality in ‘No Escape From Now’<\/h3>\n

The most\u00a0impressive and startling thing about\u00a0No Escape From Now<\/em> is how candidly Ozzy discusses his own mortality.<\/p>\n

He’s open about his depression, anger and disappointment\u00a0at his inability to put a satisfying bow on his career. But he’s also grateful for\u00a0his unprecedented life and maintains the charming irreverence that made the world fall in love with him.<\/p>\n

“It’s\u00a0kind of befitting to the reign of Ozzy, isn’t it?” he marvels to Sharon on the way to the Rock Hall induction. “This conclusion. What a life, what a great career I had. How wonderful, what a great success story. From humble beginnings to a fucking desolate end.”<\/p>\n

\n

Photos: Ozzy Osbourne Through the Years<\/h2>\n
\n

We celebrate the life and legacy of Ozzy Osbourne \u2014\u00a0The Prince of Darkness \u2014\u00a0with a gallery of photos from his life and career through the years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Gallery Credit: Loudwire Staff<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n