By Mr. Will Wong
Already having grossed over $1 billion in ticket sales as a tour, TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS TOUR in its film form, is ready to catapult even further, these monstrous numbers. Directed by Sam Wrench (Billie Eilish Live at the O2, BTS: Permission to Dance on Stage – LA), this spectacular experience often makes you forget that you are watching a film, but front row in the fan pit!
Taped at SoFi Stadium in California, we travel through this Megastar’s catalog of smash hits. Energetic dancers and backing vocalists join her, lifting our spirits up to the skies. Though we’ve see Swift live many times, we realize here that there are actually five albums of hers which never got the tour treatment. She more than makes up for that here in this Film taylored (sorry, I had to!) down to 169 minutes as we go costume to costume without any gaps.
We begin with her “Lover” era, one of our personal favourites, kicking things off on a high note with “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince” and then “Cruel Summer” which though released in 2019, finally has found its due commercial success this year. Things amp-up to back to Swift‘s Country roots in her “Fearless” era, which had the entire audience singing along, before things slow down with her Pandemic-recorded “Evermore” era. We’re then reminded once again that we’re witnessing a stadium tour as things get big with her darker “Reputation” era, donning a on-legged snake-wrapped Roberto Cavalli catsuit. The “Speak Now” era gets a quicker treatment with her recalling that purple-coloured era in a gorgeous frothy Nicole + Felicia gown, before the energy is brought-up again in her “Red” era. We’ve forgotten how fun that era was, with bangers “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and “22“! And yes, we got the full ten-minute-long version of emotionally-impactful “All Too Well” with her donning a sparkly red Ashish cloak. We reveled in delight finally getting to experience the understated “folklore” era live with a selection of songs including “august“, in addition to “betty” and “the last great american dynasty”, which really hone-in on her maturity as a Storyteller. I’m completely biased, but “1989” is my favourite era – the moment that defined Swift as a bona fide Pop Star. Naturally, the songs in this segment resonated most with me, including “Style“, “Blank Space” and “Shake it Off“. Swift truly has come into her own and is now at her most confident. You see it in the effortless way she moves and shakes, navigating no-fuss Choreography with aplomb. In this Film, we get an Acoustic set with two songs, “Our Song” and “You’re On Your Own, Kid”. Secretly I was wishing for “Teardrops on My Guitar”! Things close off with her most recent “Midnights” era, bringing us back full circle and the crowd went wild for TikTok-boosted hit “Bejewelled“.
In all, a gorgeous, sparkly experience which is what we came for and got. While being a grand spectacle, Wrech captures the Artist in all her beauty intimately, whether she be giving flirtatious glances to the audience, laughing off the silliness of some of her lyrics, lost in the moment recalling past loves, to every bead of sweat that drips down her face, dampening her hair. We are in awe at Swift‘s endurance, sounding every bit as good in her third hour as the first number, yet still looking like she had plenty left in the tank at the end of it all.
There have been eras throughout Swift‘s legendary career that we’ve loved more than others, but it is impossible not to leave this adoring her even more… and being even more bitter about not being able to get tickets to the tour!
Cineplex Pictures release TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS TOUR, now in theatres.
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