Reviews
The Moment
Charli XCX’s meteoric rise from cult favourite to global phenomenon almost overnight is a fascinating example of the power of social media, savvy marketing, and a viral dance thrown in for good measure. So what better way to celebrate the success of brat, the album that catapulted Charli XCX into the mainstream, than with an A24 backed movie. Well, that’s exactly what has happened with The Moment, though it’s not your run of the mill concert film some might be expecting, with Charli’s music not even a central focus of the project.
Instead, from the mind of writer and director Aidan Zamiri, The Moment plays out as a mockumentary following Charli XCX as she desperately tries to cling to brat summer while preparing for a huge tour designed to celebrate and extend the album’s lifespan, all in the hope of staying in the limelight a little longer. It’s a tongue in cheek look at Charli’s life and the chaos behind the scenes in the lead up to what is framed as the biggest moment of her career so far, and a defining point in her transition to a fully mainstream artist.
Set just three weeks before the tour begins, the film sees Charli XCX playing herself, or at least an exaggerated version of herself, as she’s pulled from pillar to post by label executives, creative directors, and worst of all, Johannes Godwin (Alexander Skarsgård), an overzealous film director tasked with shooting a concert movie of the brat tour. It’s within this frantic mock portrayal of the push and pull between an artist and their team that The Moment is at its most engaging, even if what we’re seeing is a heavily fictionalised version of reality.
At the same time, the film tries to inject drama wherever possible to keep things moving. Occasionally this works, with early arguments between Johannes and Charli’s longtime creative Celeste (Hailey Gates) delivering some genuinely funny moments. Unfortunately, this dynamic quickly loses its bite, becoming repetitive and dull as it drags on. There’s also the subplot surrounding the brat credit card, something you’ll no doubt be seeing plastered across social media soon, which perfectly illustrates how artists are milked dry at their peak. However, the way this thread is written feels oddly disconnected from the rest of the film, with timelines that don’t quite add up.
That said, The Moment is ultimately aiming to be a satire, and for the most part it succeeds. It’s not a laugh a minute mockumentary packed with constant gags, but there’s enough humour here to keep audiences entertained. Much of that comedy does rely on viewers having at least a basic understanding of brat and the cultural moment surrounding it, otherwise some jokes may simply not land.
Taking the lead in a feature length film for the first time, Charli XCX is asked to do one of the trickiest things in Hollywood, playing a version of herself. She handles it impressively well, showing strong comedic timing throughout. Even so, it’s Alexander Skarsgård who emerges as the clear scene stealer, revelling in the role of the abrasive director every time he appears on screen.
As expected, the film is packed with cameos that fans will no doubt enjoy, with Rachel Sennott, Julia Fox, and Rosanna Arquette among the more notable appearances. The most surprising inclusion, however, is Kylie Jenner, whose extended cameo and conversation with Charli quite literally alters the course of the entire film. It’s a creative choice I struggled to get behind, feeling more shoehorned in than a natural progression of the story.
Visually, The Moment leans heavily into the classic mockumentary style, which will work for some viewers. For me, the constant zoomed in framing and ever present shaky cam often feel jarring and excessive. The same can be said for the luminous, flashing title cards that introduce each new scene. While undeniably on brand for Charli XCX, they quickly become distracting, especially when you barely have time to read them before they disappear in a blink and you’ll miss it fashion.
While The Moment isn’t quite the 365 party I was expecting and won’t be universally accessible to those unfamiliar with brat, it’s almost guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser within Charli’s core fanbase. It feels like a film made specifically for her fans, offering a funny and self aware glimpse into the rollercoaster highs of brat summer, and one that will likely live on well beyond the moment itself.