Critical MeMe

Time spent watching films, even crappy ones, is time well-spent.

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Location: Oklahoma City, OK, United States
    Post dates are when I watched, parenthetical dates are the year of US release (aka Oscar eligibility).

8/28/2019

Travis Scott: Look Mom I Can Fly (2019)

Actual text series:

  • Daughter-in-law: FAMILY. LISTEN. THIS IS IMPORTANT. THE NEW TRAVIS SCOTT DOC ON NETFLIX IS ACTUALLY 10000% THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.
  • Son: it's actually like [one of] the most inspiring interesting engaging movies I've ever watched
  • D-i-l: DROP EVERYTHING. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
  • Son: This isn't an exaggeration: it feels like an all-encompassing picture of the modern world and of what life can and should be like for everyone. So it's going to be the thing I recommend to everyone all year.
  • D-i-l: I'M WRITING IN TRAVIS SCOTT FOR PRESIDENT
  • Me: Did you join a cult? Because we will come get you right now.  
So, naturally, my husband and I thought "How can we not watch this? They obviously want to share it," and sat down together in front of the TV. Twenty minutes in my husband said "check those texts again. Is this the right movie?" Ten minutes later I said "something must happen, right? He gets in an accident and becomes a do-gooder?" Later, both of us: "wait - is that a Kardashian person?"

Am I just old? Because I did not see a life being lived to its fullest. I saw a narcissist putting people in danger because he needs affirmation. I saw a shell who couldn't face the world unaltered -- constantly high. He also seems unable to be still -- needing to be surrounded by sycophants every waking moment. He started dating a 19-year old when he was 25, clearly chosen for her looks and status rather than for substance (though vice versa applies there as well). And he had a little fit when he didn't win a grammy and couldn't stop bringing it up -- even to the mayor of his hometown. Just: yuck.

But, even if Travis were the amazing specimen that my (clearly high-at-the-time.. right???) kids thought they saw, this documentary is a shit show. There's no throughline at all. It's basically home movies from his childhood mixed with concert footage and current home movies. It's a waste of time: a boring peek inside a messy and sad life.

F

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