https://img.goldposter.com/2018/12/v...ster_com_4.jpg
Printable View
This lacked something, maybe even a proper ending. While the fake pop star career is convincingly crafted (by which I mean the songs and videoclips could stand on their own) the movie ending with what was basically a long filmed performance with cutaways to the reactions of the supporting characters was underwhelming for me. At least honor your red herrings and bring back the shooters. The movie as a whole lacked cohesion but it has great moments and performances as well. The kind of film I walk away from me hoping the filmmakers do another, better film.
This movie came on my radar because it features a number of original songs written by Sia, and I had heard a good bit of buzz surrounding it after learning that fact. The movie is essentially split into two, following a girl's rise to stardom and the effects this takes years later. It starts off in a shocking manner, and we see how this traumatic experience lead to a girl getting her break as a singer. Then we jump ahead about 15 years, and see what her rise to fame did to her as a person. And well, the first half of this movie I thought was pretty damn great. But the second half, which stars Natalie Portman, man, this didn't work for me at all.
In the first half of the film, the girl is really sweet, kind, and innocent. But then when we jump ahead, it's like we're following an entirely different character. She's loud, nasty, mean, over the top. And I get that the point of the movie was to show just how drastically the industry can change people, but it would've been nice to see at least some of that evolution take place. Because what we get here is just jarring, and the second half of this film honestly really sucks, and leads to a whole lot of nothing by the end of it. Which is a shame, because the first half was so promising.
They make the interesting choice of casting the same girl from the first half to then play her daughter in the second half 15 years later. This was again sorta just weird (while kids do indeed look like their parents, they aren't literal clones of them. This is some Jango Fett/Boba Fett looking shit going on here), and added to the jarring effect of the second half.
So yeah, the first half's worth checking out. But as a full package, this is a pass, which I really hate that I have to say.
I don't know who Sia is but I thought the music was one of the good parts of the film because, like I said, it sounded like it had an entity of its own outside the film.
I discovered her through The Neon Demon. Fell down a rabbit hole that lasted nearly 2 years. She’s got decades worth of work and writes the songs for tons of modern artists at that, and is just constantly pumping out new stuff all the time. Most of it is brilliant. Definitely worth looking into if you liked the music here. Once I’m in front of a computer I can link some recommendations. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Grouchy
As promised, some recommendations, including a number of my favorites, and showcasing her different styles and how it's evolved over the years:
Waving Goodbye (from The Neon Demon) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-gs_oOokTo
Alive - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2NgsJrrAyM
Day Too Soon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Kh8crkZet8
House on Fire - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMVgLulcGQA
Free Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVK83GDHeAU
Fire Meet Gasoline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvzg-w4zz3M
Move Your Body - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxrSAwtdtuQ
Eye of the Needle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kg0EdD7tzE
Electric Bird - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe5b-1neRm4
Bring Night - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0XwRmhrEos
Some collaborations with other artists:
w/ David Guetta - She Wolf - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVzljDmoPVs
w/ David Guetta - Titanium - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRfuAukYTKg
(and her tremendous solo version of Titanium) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5eNEj5Pxlg
w/ Stargate/Pink - Waterfall - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6e1TctNyw8
w/ Diplo/Labrinth - Thunderclouds - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg1BljLu9YY
and her cover of Diamonds, which she originally wrote for Rihanna - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RNmlM356aM
And this... honestly doesn't even scratch the surface. Wound up throwing a lot more on there than I even realized as I was compiling it, lol. Just dive in wherever. :p
Elastic Heart is my favorite music video from her. She might even be my favorite artist in pop music right now.
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Ivan Drago again.