The Moment offers a unique peek behind the curtain at the pressures of fame and fortune. Charli xcx fans and those who work in the industry will enjoy it the most.
I had no idea what to expect from The Moment, and admittedly, had heard mixed things from friends and colleagues who had already seen it. That said, I came out of it very happy that I went to see it. As a mockumentary that pulls back the curtain on the ins and outs of fame and fortune, the film is a dizzying, neon-soaked descent into the pressures of the modern music industry. It’s a biting satire that feels so authentic that if I hadn’t known better, I would have walked out convinced I’d just seen a raw, unauthorized exposé.
What struck me most was the sheer believability of the production. The handheld camera work and the inclusion of real-world figures like Kylie Jenner and Rachel Sennott create a believability to it all. There is a specific kind of tension in watching Charli navigate the planning of the Brat tour while being poked and prodded by label executives. It captures that horrific corporate reality where art is treated strictly as a commodity.
We have seen the labels pushing artists through unstable mental health crises just to keep the revenue streams flowing over and over and over again. This theme felt uncomfortably resonant. Of course, the irony isn’t lost on me: no real label would ever let themselves be portrayed this poorly in a legitimate documentary, which is exactly why the mockumentary format works so well here. It tells a truth through fiction that a real PR team would never allow.
Charli xcx is a revelation here. She plays a heightened version of herself with such vulnerability that you forget you’re watching a scripted piece. She captures the waves of exhaustion and creative frustration that I imagine she actually faces, especially the struggle to maintain an original voice when the industry is trying to strip away everything that makes her unique.
However, Alexander Skarsgård is the one who steals the show. His portrayal of the creepy, intense, and profoundly selfish director tasked with filming the concert movie is a masterclass in cringe-inducing comedy. He represents every auteur who has ever prioritized their vision over the actual well-being and wants of the person they are filming. His interactions with Charli, and specifically Celeste (Hailey Benton Gates), are some of the most uncomfortable, yet awkardly funny, moments in the film.
All of this to say that as a Swiftie, I have to address the elephant in the room. There were several moments that felt like they were poking fun at Taylor Swift, specifically the scale of The Eras Tour and the polished nature of her concert film. Initially, it felt a bit pointed, but upon reflection, my perspective has shifted. I don’t think Charli was necessarily coming for Taylor; rather, The Moment uses those parallels to highlight how the industry forces female artists into a singular box.
Charli’s character is constantly compared to her peers, and the film suggests that the polished standard set by others is used as a weapon to make her feel inadequate or messy. The final moments of the movie, which really stuck with me, felt less like a parody and more like a weary realization that in the music industry, you are either a product or a person – and it’s almost impossible to be both.
While I think The Moment might be a bit niche for general audiences, it is a must-watch for Charli fans and anyone fascinated by the behind-the-scenes grit of the entertainment world. It is filled with cringe-worthy satire and genuine heart. If I had one gripe, it’s the pacing; it could have been about ten minutes shorter to hit a tight 90-minute runtime. Nevertheless, it is a bold, experimental look at what happens when the lights go up and the artist starts to break down.
About The Moment
A rising pop star navigates the complexities of fame and industry pressure while preparing for her arena tour debut.
The Moment is playing in select theaters now.
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The Moment offers a (sometimes) exaggerated look behind the curtain of fame and fortune.
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6.5
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.