‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ - A Cinematic Experience (Taylor’s Version)

In a once in a lifetime opportunity, fans of Taylor Swift will be able to experience a taste of a live performance by the megastar music sensation. The dazzling costumes, the quirky choreography, and of course, the catchiest of tunes. It’s not quite the real thing but for a show this exclusive and cost prohibitive, it’s as close as many people could hope to get.

The cinema event is a definite draw for fans, but not so much for those who aren’t. Then again, while being a Swiftie is a life choice for many, familiarity with Swift’s catalogue is hardly a voluntary act. As a chart-topping force for almost two decades, she is truly an inescapable presence. Filling the halls of supermarkets, as well as dominating music awards shows, commercials, and movie soundtracks. If you’ve been listening to music since 2006, chances are you can put together the words for a handful of singles.

The songs themselves are incredibly well performed, and it’s not hard to see why she’s garnered such unprecedented success. The show itself is broken up into segments which speak to each of Taylor’s albums, dubbed as Eras. They’re distinctly designed, with Taylor switching wardrobes, and the audience’s LED armbands changing colours to match.

Perhaps most striking is the constant shift in tone. Whether it’s the light and flowery Fearless or the attitude heavy Reputation, the selections from each era denote a mindset of an artiste constantly in the throes of reinvention. Content wise, the lyrics paint a picture. Taylor’s songs describe her tense relationship with the media, as well as her fraught personal relationships. There’s also elements of fantasy, and a wistfulness in her yearning for love. As someone who’s never truly considered Swift’s journey as an artiste, The Eras Tour is a thorough education.

There are certainly drawbacks. The film is almost three hours long, and near the end stretch, your interest will heavily depend on your investment with the soundtrack and with Taylor as an artiste. Yet as a concert experience put to film, The Eras Tour is exceptionally shot. The footage is crystal clear, and the show flows from era to era flawlessly. Fans will likely race to the cinemas, but for those who are keen on getting in on the hype, The Eras Tour will more than deliver.

Rating: Big Screen Watch

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.