Reel Reviews | Billy Joel: And So It Goes

by Tim Gordon

Few artists have captured the restless spirit and raw heart of New York quite like Billy Joel. Billy Joel: And So It Goes dives deep into the life and music of the Piano Man in a sweeping, two-part documentary that gives you five hours with this superstar that feels as immersive as it is unflinchingly honest.

Through rare performances, candid home movies, and intimate conversations with Joel himself along with family, lifelong friends, and music legends who revere him, this film pulls back the curtain on the trials, triumphs, and timeless songs that defined one of America’s greatest storytellers.

Billy Joel: And So It Goes is a massive two-part look into what feels like an immersive portrait of a musical titan. This engrossing, deeply personal chronicle traces the life and music career of one of America’s most enduring songwriters. This extensive documentary weaves together exclusive interviews, intimate home movies, vintage performances, and never-before-seen photographs to paint a vivid portrait of the man behind the hits.

Told primarily in Joel’s voice with poignant insights from close family, friends, and an impressive roster of admirers like Bruce Springsteen, Nas, Pink, John Cougar Mellencamp, and Paul McCartney, the film doesn’t shy away from the darker corners of his life. There are honest stories of his tumultuous, challenging childhood, from family strife to early insecurities that haunted him well into adulthood.

The first part takes a deep dive into his complicated relationship with his muse, wife, and manager, Elizabeth Weber. Joel’s first wife, Weber, was a powerful, sometimes controversial figure in his early life and career. Their affair, which began while she was married to Joel’s bandmate, Jon Small, led to the end of both of their marriages. Weber would go on to manage Joel at the very moment he was fighting for fairer record deals and trying to break through. This raw examination of how deeply intertwined his personal and professional lives were during that time adds a compelling, sometimes uncomfortable honesty to the film.

From this early chaos to a devastating breakup that drove him to the brink, to predatory record deals that left him nearly penniless at the height of his initial fame, Joel’s story is presented warts and all. There’s an authenticity here that feels refreshing, reminding us that the road to becoming a rock icon is rarely paved in gold.

What truly elevates this documentary is how it thoughtfully weaves in the origin stories of some of Joel’s most legendary hits Piano Man, New York State of Mind, Just the Way You Are, Vienna, and Goodnight Saigon. These behind-the-scenes moments add an irresistible layer for fans, showing how his childhood struggles, romantic turmoil, and New York roots shaped songs that would become timeless anthems. It’s in these intimate glimpses of his songwriting process that the film finds its emotional core.

What’s most compelling is how the film frames Joel as a “bridge and tunnel†artist, the working-class kid from Long Island who didn’t just sing about New York; he was New York. The documentary shows how his greatest triumphs emerged when he embraced those roots unapologetically, transforming his knack for melodies into anthems that spoke to countless everyday dreamers. His contemporaries’ praise for his uncanny gift for crafting hooks feels richly deserved, especially as the film pulls back the curtain on the real stories behind the songs.

While the film occasionally drifts into familiar music-doc territory, another talking head here, another concert snippet there, its honesty and access to Joel’s inner circle lift it above the usual fare. It’s a reminder that behind the bright lights and sold-out arenas, the Piano Man’s greatest legacy might be how deeply personal and universal his songs remain.

Billy Joel: And So It Goes premieres on Friday, July 18, 2025, on HBO

Grade: B+