Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ has landed into movie theaters across the country. As a non-swiftie, I wanted to report on her cinematic adventure. The movie was shot at the SoFi Stadium outside of Los Angeles. It clocked in at nearly three hours. This woman has a lot of catchy songs neatly broken down into nine of her albums. It may be a concert movie but it actually has a story. It’s Taylor’s story and how she has evolved into a pop icon. I might add the most successful popstar in the world.
As the lights dim in the opening minutes, the first words uttered to the 70,000 sold-out stadium are, “Oh, hi.” It’s one of Taylor’s signature touches that makes the crowd feel like she is talking directly to them. That’s her magic and to her credit why her fans adore her. She never takes her fan base for granted. She never acts like a diva. She tells them this is the most special tour to date because of them. She knows how to command a stage. Taylor is the consummate professional. She wastes no time giving them what they want – the opportunity to sing and dance along to her vast discography.
It doesn’t hurt that Taylor is easy on the eyes. The camera loves her. Her glittering costumes accentuate her figure. When her long legs strut the center of the stage, the camera follows along with her. She knows exactly where the next camera is located as she gives the crowd a wink. She knows how to strike a pose as the stadium goes wild. When she points to different parts of the crowd, it erupts with cheers. She jokes about having that kind of power being dangerous as she kisses her biceps. She makes light of that power but it demonstrates how loyal her fans are to her presence on stage. Her evolution is complete. This is Taylor at the top of her game.
Although some say this is just a concert, there is some movie magic taking place. She is a supersize goddess on screen. There is even a Taylor that walks through a city like Godzilla and knocks down buildings. The way her tour sold-out in major cities across the country, the analogy is palpable. I give a shout out to the Reputation era snake that literally wraps around the entire runway stage. Taylor then sashays in a sexy snake outfit. It’s interesting to watch her go through each chapter of her career. She is shy and innocent during Enchanted in her Cinderella ballgown. She is vengeful during Reputation and Victorian in her moss-grown cottage during Evermore. The energy of 1989 captures the playfulness of the moment.
Let me just say Taylor is a savvy businesswoman. She never lets the celebrity go to her head. You never see her in the gossip papers getting in trouble or having a meltdown. On stage, she is in amazing shape. There is only one time she looked out of breath on stage. Sure, her diverse group of dancers do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to the dance numbers. The jumbo screens show her mascara smudging ever so slightly. There are moments when she gets to take a break at the piano or strumming the guitar. Regardless, Taylor has stamina. The director Sam Wrench makes this concert movie an immersive experience. The cinematography for a concert movie is state of the art. You see the emotion up close in Taylor’s eyes. She really does care about her fans and wants them to enjoy her musical journey.
