AND IT’S A REVIEW ABOUT A MOVIE ABOUT BRAT AND CHARLI AND A TOUR BUT NONE OF IT HAPPENED BUT MAYBE SOME OF IT DID.
By Jesse Dixon
Based on an original idea by dance-pop partygirl sensation Charli xcx and directed by Aidan Zamiri, The Moment is a mockumentary for all who love laughing, Taylor Swift, and laughing at Taylor Swift. An impressive blend of fact and fiction, as you never quite know one from the other, this hot new release imaginatively examines what it means to be the opposite of an overnight success.
Charli xcx stars as Charli xcx, whose latest album ‘brat’ has just catapulted her into fame she has never before experienced, despite her long music career. This increased popularity equals increased pressure, as dozens of people (some with seemingly no purpose at all) are now at her heel, desperate to catch the Charli wave and not get left behind in the open sea. Among them is renowned filmmaker Johannes Godwin (Alexander Skarsgard), who is brought in by Charli’s record label to direct a concert film of her upcoming ‘brat’ tour, which will be available to stream on Amazon Music.
This all sounds very serious and tragic, but The Moment’s satirical approach combats these issues in a simultaneously expository and ‘take-the-piss’ manner. Charli takes shots at megastars who, in her opinion, sacrifice their creativity for a little more money and fame, whilst crafting a cautionary tale to herself so she may not fall into these same traps, under the manipulation of perverse studio heads and a team that’s too afraid to be genuine.
As a viewing experience, The Moment is wild! A flash warning commences the film (itself flashing), which opens the floodgates for title cards, location names, and time jumps to be communicated via red, white, blue, and green flashing letters across the screen, accompanied by a pumping score that turns the cinema into a nightclub. Cameos and celebrities are always popping up, from Rachel Sennott to Julia Fox, to Anthony Fantano, and even Kylie Jenner (who is particularly memorable and has my vote for Best Supporting Actress at next year’s Academy Awards). The camerawork is like being in a whirlpool (mostly complimentary) – you can tell cinematographer Sean Price Williams comes from the Sadfie brothers, as he’s having a very Good Time capturing these incredibly chaotic set pieces.
Honestly, I have to respect Charli. Since her Letterboxd account was leaked in December 2024, her passion for and promotion of cinema has been virtually unmatched by any of her fellow pop girlies and other musicians. And she’s also walking the walk, keeping herself busy with many upcoming film projects both as composer/songwriter (Wuthering Heights, Mother Mary) and actress (I Want Your Sex, The Gallerist, Sacrifice, Erupcja, Faces of Death, 100 Nights of Hero). An insane output! By releasing The Moment early in the year, she is setting the tone for what’s to come in 2026. And I can’t wait to see where on earth her career goes from here. It’s not too much of a stretch to suggest that an EGOT could be in her future. Now that’s BRAT.
by Jesse Dixon