[Rating: Rock Fist WAY Up]
For the past 15 or so years, I have only seen Taylor Swift through the lens of celebrity gossip channels. To me, she was just the girl who Kanye interrupted. Or somebody who made a buck singing about failed romances and then became a local celebrity to Kansas City with her new flirtmance with Travis Kelce, appearing at Chiefs games. Like so many (emphasis on the word many), I was eager to see The Eras Tour film (directed by Sam Wrench). Not being a Swiftie, this filmed performance went from me just going because a friend wanted to go, to finally having it all fall into place. I finally get Taylor Swift.
Filmed over the course of the six concerts Swift performed as part of the first half of The Eras Tour, the filmed concert takes viewers onto the stage as a clear observer of all that is happening. We get to see the stage come alive to witness something pretty historic. Swift, being only 33 has already had enough massive fame and success in her life to warrant a highlight concert experience. And what an experience it is! From a platform that raises Swift any chance it can get (I jokingly told my partner the platform deserves a supporting actress nomination), to sets that start flat, but slowly come alive into Broadway-style wonderment, there is no holding back the true epic power of the concert. My biggest highlight was hearing “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” sung with such enthusiasm. (I am a teacher and I used that song recently in a poetry unit with my class.)
As for myself, I am now converted to a Swiftie. That is not to say I was going to jump up and start singing and dancing. I was there to enjoy the experience. What clicked for me was the eras of Swift’s life. She has matured from the once-potential country star to somebody who sings about what she feels and doesn’t give two shits about what others may think. That is evident here with her voice and lyrics soaring (also thanks to Dolby and the incredible sound) off the screen. Thanks to this film, I was able to finally understand the connection to her and her lyrics.
Kudos to AMC for picking this up, along with Beyoncé’s upcoming Renaissance tour (something I got to witness in person). Maybe this will give other big-named singers and groups a chance to make their own concerts a cinematic sensation. I am too used to seeing concerts filmed for streaming or HBO, so going to a theater for this was incredible.
Christian Ramos is a classic film fan, having had the dream to host Turner Classic Movies for years now. He also has a large amount of Oscar trivia in his head, remembers dressing as Groucho Marx one Halloween, and cherishes the moment Julianne Moore liked his tweet.
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