(label)
13 October 2023 (released)
20 October 2023
Taylor Swift brings her all-conquering Eras Tour to the big screen, with very few errors.
On the face of it, the concert film experience seems antithetical to the big screen.
On one hand, a concert is filled with loud, enthusiastic fans who usually shout their adoration at every chance they get. On the other, the silver screen offers the opportunity for polite, if not outright, restrained appreciation of the latest Hollywood blockbuster or art house darling.
For instance, those who start loudly proclaiming their love for Jennifer Lawrence and her latest work are likely to be quickly escorted out of the darkened venue and asked never to return to that branch of Cineworld again. Not that we're speaking from experience, you understand.
Anyway, moving on…
Taylor Swift's all-conquering Eras Tour seeks to bridge the gap and provide the perfect salve for bereft fans who missed out in the great war, otherwise known as the Ticketmaster presale.
Directed by Sam Wrench, The Eras Tour film is a faithful rendition of the Taylor tour extravaganza. Taken from one of the American's shows in Los Angeles, almost every moment has been captured on proverbial celluloid. Yes, even the multiple F bombs.
From the jubilant crowd to the expert choreography, fans are given an up-close and personal view of Taylor Swift's commanding performance. Whether it be the poignant ballad, 'Marjorie', the good-time bop 'Shake It Off', or the 10-minute emotional epic 'All Too Well', Swift leaves no doubt as to why she is the biggest musical act today.
Astute viewers will doubtless note that at two hours and 50 minutes, the film is still shorter than the well-over-three-hour concert. This inevitably means cuts.
Please spare a moment of sympathy for fans of 'The Archer', 'Wildest Dreams', and 'Cardigan'. Those tunes fell victim to the editor's scissors.
One can only assume that these mostly slower songs were removed to ease pacing concerns.
It is particularly surprising that 'Cardigan' failed to make the grade given that it is warmly regarded by fans, formed the basis for Folklore’s music video, and was up for a Grammy or two.
Unless you're a fan of these specific songs, then you are unlikely to notice their omission, as everything comes together seamlessly and slickly.
Even so, at almost 3 hours, it feels as if they have been brushed aside in service of an arbitrary time limit. It's doubtful that Swifties and anyone else willing to pay £20 a go would have minded an extra half an hour to complete the set.
Whether the film transcends a concert recording to a truly vivid experience may well depend on the type of audience you are stuck with.
In our screening, cinema-goers went from quiet reverence to gradually coming out of their shells. By the time we had reached the 1989 era, most of the room was either on their feet or singing, if not both.
In further imitation of the concert vibe, the room was also subjected to the less fulfilling selfie flashing and random chatter from a few not quite in the spirit.
All of this would be perfectly fine in a bright, ever-buzzing stadium, but in the silent black of a cinema, dare we say, everyone can see you flash.
Ultimately, though, the bubbly atmosphere turns what would have been a good yet pale replacement for actually being there into a care-free gig.
Nothing can truly compare with seeing your favourite live, but for Taylor Swift fans who can't find a ticket or the money to buy one, The Eras Tour film is the next best thing.
