Pop star Charli XCX was catapulted into the mainstream with the release of her spectacular 2024 album “brat”. Having worked in the industry for over a decade, Charli’s mainstream success felt like a long time coming. The London-based singer/songwriter/365 Party Girl became a household name around the world and had such an influence over pop culture, the summer of 2024 was deemed “Brat Summer”. Having been one of the more self aware and insightful pop stars in recent years, Charli’s artistic ambitions wouldn’t stop there. After nabbing parts in a handful of film projects set to release this year, her own film, of which she shares a story credit, would prove to be far from the vanity project many pop stars-turned-actors have run into. A brutally honest and prickly mockumentary poking fun at her own self image, Charli’s first starring vehicle is quite singular in its construction. Playing a version of herself amidst the “brat” phenomenon less than two full years ago, this film is a razor-sharp satire on stardom, the pop music industry’s grueling demands and a look at the mental stability of an artist on the brink.
Courtesy A24
In the wake of her smash hit album “brat”, Charli XCX (herself) is about to embark on an arena world tour. Feeling the pressure of the industry and her label to maximize the album’s success and to keep “Brat Summer” going, Charli is subjected to a barrage of promotional gigs and commercial tie-ins. As Charli and her creative director Celeste (Hailey Benton Gates) work on the finishing touches of her tour, Charli’s label, Atlantic Records, led by Rosanna Arquette’s label director, have sold a concert film to Amazon. The label brings in director Johannes (Alexander Skarsgard) to spice things up and helm the documentary. Johannes, who has worked with the likes of Coldplay and Demi Lovato, is far from the vibe that Charli and Celeste are going for, quickly attempting to insert himself into creative planning. Struggling to maintain her artistic integrity while being stuck in between a tug-of-war between creatives, surrounded by an entourage of yes men and stuck with an overwhelmed manager (Jamie Demetriou) who fails to rightfully stand up for her, Charli finds herself on the brink of a total breakdown, choosing whether to succumb to her insecurities and sell out to the industry, or stick to her laurels and remain true to her artistic vision.
Directed by Aidan Zamiri, who also helmed her now-iconic “360” music video, The Moment is an intelligent and biting mockumentary on the tense relationship between art and commerce. Despite being an exaggerated, fictionalized version of Charli and her skyrocket to mainstream success, The Moment feels authentic due to its insightful commentary and winning sense of deadpan humor. Much of the film actually plays like a workplace comedy with Charli’s creative director and Johannes having passive aggressive back-and-forths regarding stage direction and their clashes visions for the show. Celeste is Charli’s longtime creative partner who understands precisely what her goals and creative aspirations are. Johannes, in a brilliant performance from Alexander Skarsgard, is a glorified mouthpiece for the label, who hijacks the show, taming down the nightclub aesthetic and opting to make the show more “family friendly” despite songs that are explicitly about cocaine and the hard partying lifestyle. Skarsgard’s egotistical, conniving director threads a fine line between a humorous buffoon and a menacing threat of corporate power.
This version of Charli is struggling to retain her agency amidst an explosion of fame and popularity, spending much of the film on the edge of completely losing her sanity. Charli, alongside screenwriters Zamiri and Bertie Brandes, channels a palpable rage and frustration towards being an artist left to her own devices before suddenly having the industry and the world watching your every move. In a moment of exhaustion, Charli delivers a fiery monologue to her manager about the relentless demands of her newfound pop celebrity status. Zamiri does an exceptional job of making this mockumentary feel fairly claustrophobic, making the audience feel every one of Charli’s anxieties.
Courtesy A24
For as anxiety-ridden as The Moment often is, it’s also remarkably funny. Charli’s performance is more understated than expected, relying on dry comedic timing for many of the film’s best moments. A hilarious example is during an act of compromise where Johannes has a giant pyrotechnics-enabled lighter for Charli to climb into, regardless of how safe it is. The many jabs at the facade of celebrity status are equally funny and witty. Implementing several cameos from Charli’s real-life friend group, most notably Rachel Sennott and a scene-stealing Kylie Jenner, these cameos not only allow these stars to lampon their own image, but serve to showcase the film’s greater satirization of the entertainment industry. Most everyone is a fake friend and most anyone can be bought out.
Zamiri shows a great deal of talent when it comes to threading together many different tones. His film bounces back and forth between cheeky satire, dark psychological drama and laugh-out-loud comedy with ample skill. His years of experience directing music videos comes in handy for the film’s visuals. Utilizing the visual language of many of Charli’s music videos, Zamiri makes effective use of intense, Gaspar Noe-inspired strobing effects that includes title cards and splashy logos to satirize the many corporate sponsors of Charli’s tour, lampooning the materialism of the industry. Whether you want to or not, you’ll feel as though the logo for Aperol Spritz is piercing directly into your retinas. What begins as a rather ingenious bit of comedy, Charli’s label assigns a “Brat card”, a credit card designated for LGBTQ youth, is unfortunately shoehorned as a third act narrative device that considerably slows down the pacing. Thankfully, the ending picks up the slack with a finale that completely scorches audience expectations
Courtesy A24
The Moment is a dark and highly comedic satire on the nightmarish demands of fame and the facade of celebrity. Co-writer/director Aidan Zamiri mines a great deal of squirm-inducing humor and truth amidst the complexities of navigating newfound fame. Charli XCX proves to be a natural screen presence, playing a fictionalized version of herself who isn’t afraid to make herself appear unlikable. Not since Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping has a music industry satire so ruthlessly torched its subject.
The Moment is now playing in theaters.
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