Brat summer may be over according to a calendar, but it isn’t actually over. In fact, it might just live on forever. The summer sensation of 2024 saw pop star Charli XCX define an entire cultural phenomenon — from fashion to music to coining the term “brat green,” so nobody can ever view the specific tone of neon green the same way again. Her latest film, The Moment, directed by her friend Aidan Zamiri, proves that it is, in fact, possible to capture lightning in a bottle and retain its magic long after it has initially struck.
In its own fresh, unique satirization of mockumentary-style movie-making, The Moment opens in bracing fashion. Mirroring the near-instantaneous arrival of Charli XCX’s album “Brat,” the film begins in a rush, with flashing strobe lights and Charli, playing an exaggerated version of herself in the film, dancing and singing for a music video. She is quickly whisked away to London to begin rehearsals. With only four weeks to go until her official Brat Stadium tour kicks off, Charli is set on a mission to figure out how to capitalize on an already world-changing album, ensuring that her true self gets through to fans.
The British pop star icon’s record label, Atlantic Records, also wants a say in how Brat can live on forever, signing a production deal with Amazon Music to make a concert film about the tour. The slimy and sinister director-for-hire Johannes, played brilliantly by Alexander Skarsgård, is enlisted to bring the vision to life. Between rehearsals, Zoom meetings in the back of limos, partying, and resting from partying, tensions rise between Charli’s creative manager, Celeste (Hailey Gates), her tour manager Tim Potts (Jamie Demetriou, who offers unparalleled comedic humor throughout), and the record manager Tammy (Rosanna Arquette), who insists co-branding a Brat themed credit card is a good idea.
Charli’s ever-shifting demands, the biggest of which revolves around her decision to head to Ibiza for a few days in the middle of rehearsals as things grow out of control, bring a party-type energy to the movie that keeps it swift and engaging from start to finish. Just being Charli XCX is stressful enough, but trying to make “the moment” of something last longer and longer is potentially too stressful. The Moment uses that thematic idea to propel the story forward in bold and unique ways.
The character Charli portrays is a hellish version of herself, acting as a stand-in for the global iconicaztion of music stars. The insatiable demands from fans and the incessant needs of creative, legal, and content teams are constantly stretched to reflect the never-ending pressure they put on them. Zamiri and Bertie Brandes’s script riffs on contemporary celebrity culture and society’s outlandish expectations across nearly every aspect of it. That, mixed with a who’s who of cameos throughout — the likes of Kate Berlant, Rachel Sennott, Julia Fox, and Kylie Jenner all show up at some point — accentuates the high-wire spirit the movie possesses.
Shit eventually hits the fan as Charli hastily posts an Instagram ad for her brat-inprised credit card (that you could actually buy until it sold out days before the movie was widely released) and breaks the terms she verbally agreed to. It’s a near-global catastrophe. The movie smartly hones in on how “brat summer” became a way of life for so many, and if that were to end, it would be, well, catastrophic. The satirization is outsized, but the movie knows that. Characters infrequently glance toward the camera, as if to remind you that you are also partaking in the addiction that is called Brat. It is self-aware.
Cinematographer Sean Price Williams, who has previously worked with other global pop sensations such as Tate McRae and Addison Rae, provides a frantic and fun visual style to the movie, although he never quite gets his own “moment” outside of the first few minutes. The occasional Charli needle drop, accompanied by a score with collaborator A.G. Cook, lends itself to a couple of Leo pointing moments, which will surely be a delight for hardcore fans.
Coming in at 103 minutes, The Moment unfortunately loses its initial punchy presence, settling in for inter-group skirmishes built on zingers. Charli delivers an impressive range as a pop-star-turned-actor, toggling between the annoying stereotypes of a famous person and the somber moments of emotion found deep within the whirlwind of party central. Even if she is just playing a version of herself, she is good at it. After all, it is Charli’s “moment” in the movie.
As Belle from Beauty and the Beast asks, “How does a moment last forever?” Well, Charli XCX has seemingly answered that question. Working its way through the many pressures posed to pop stars in order to retain cultural icon status, The Moment figures out how to delicately thread that theme with humor, grit, and energy. Charli is a standout (which should come as no surprise), the supporting cast is a riot, and the party vibes are pumping. The Moment is cognizant enough to know what a phenomenon Brat was and how it may not last forever, but when something becomes your entire personality, it’s hard not to want it to.
Review Courtesy of Ethan Simmie
Feature Image Courtesy of Sundance Institute and A24