Review of immensely successful ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ movie
YOU don’t have to be a Swiftie (which is what they call her fans) to enjoy “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” concert movie. We watched it last weekend with our two granddaughters, both Swifties, and the theatre was packed with young women who know the lyrics of Taylor’s songs and turned the moviehouse into a karaoke joint as they sing and dance with her.
Taylor started her career when she was only 14 years old and now, after two decades, she remains on top of the game as she knows how to reinvent herself as a singer-songwriter.
She started as a country singer then went into pop with her single “Love Story” soaring to the top of the charts. She then incorporated rock and electronic elements to her music and came up with her numero uno song on Billboard, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back”.
She also ventured into synth-pop and hip hop. Her discography in the ten albums she did is properly represented in the Eras tour, so it’s a real treat for her long time fans.
The film was shot during her shows at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California in August, directed by Sam Wrench, who earlier also helmed the concert movie of Billie Eilish.
The film uses so many cameras to film the whole thing, done with astonishing camera work from every vantage point and with a high tech giant screen behind Taylor.
It does not only give you the chance to watch Taylor from a front row seat, but it also captures all the joyful energy and immersive spectacle (with all the colorful light and eye-popping special effects).
It’s really much more intimate and sometimes, you get the feeling that you’re on the same stage with her, listening to her sing and banter with the live audience.
Taylor gives a vibrant and rousing performance as she displays her amazing musical dexterity from various phases of her long career. We read that the actual concert ran for 3 hours and 15 minutes.
But in the movie, they have edited out all the intervals where she changes costumes, etc. and came out with a tight and swift 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Taylor has a dynamic stage presence and the captivating charisma of today’s hottest pop star performing at the peak of her dazzling musical powers. And the stadium audience of 70,000 frenzied people really love her, responding to her energetically by dancing and swaying with their lighted cellphones looking like inebriated fireflies in the dark.
Taylor’s superb talent and delightful showmanship in being able to emotionally connect with her relatable songs and her ardent fans, really shine through. You can feel the exhilaration of the fans in the shots showing them inside the stadium, some of them even crying, feeling like Taylor is their BFF.
Taylor’s status as a musical phenomenon and superstar has reached stratospheric heights, eclipsing all the careers of all other singer-performers today with her huge critical and commercial success.
Her fans will no doubt take note of her sparkly Versace body suits and showy Christian Louboutin boots. They all pop and shimmer brightly on the big screen to make the Eras Tour a truly cinematic experience.
Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Goodbye” 2011 concert used to be regarded as the biggest concert film ever. But not anymore, with Taylor’s movie being a blockbuster success at the box office worldwide.
Now, where can we get those Swiftie friendship bracelets that they showed during the end credits?