I’m Trevor with the Sasquatch Movie Minute with a look at THE MOMENT, directed by Aidan Zamiri, starring Charlie XCX. This is a mockumentary satire of Charlie XCX playing a version of herself as she prepares for her album tour.

2.5 out of 5

A strange but undeniably ambitious film that has wildly entertaining scenes but misses the mark as a whole. This is a very stressful watch, more in the vein of STRANGE GEMS than SPINAL TAP. It makes some very cynical points about the music industry; about how any creative freedom the artist has is grinded out of them by the demands of money and fame. The camera style is strongly strobey and may make you motion sick. But the film gets long, and the last third is both too sluggish and too fast in its wrapup. The finale felt juvenile, with the most overused needle drop of all-time playing over a lengthy monologue. I did get a bitter laugh at the nihilistic final shot, yikes.

Best Scene. The overwhelming nature of the film first comes at you in an early makeup scene. Charlie is sitting in chair, besieged by assistants, publicists, and managers alike. It is crushing and dizzying and kind of breathless, the first rush of the film as silly people say ridiculous things and Charlie has to take it in and pretend this is sanity.

Best Performance. Alexanger Skarsgard slides into the film quietly and then completely takes over the back half with his pompous preening director. It’s a delightful hammy performance. And Charlie XCX, as a version of herself, does an excellent job selling the horrific pressure of a famous artist.

I’m not sure who this film is for, but there is a rush in seeing the overpowering crush of celebrity. And Skarsgard deserves to be seen!