The film "Melania," directed by Brett Ratner, is a vacuous and soulless portrayal of the former First Lady, Melania Trump. The movie's $75 million budget seems to have been squandered on a lackluster production that fails to capture the essence of its subject.
Ratner's own history of being accused of sexual assault has come back to haunt him in this film, as he attempts to direct "Melania" despite these allegations. The director's personal baggage seems to weigh heavily on the movie, which is now mired in controversy over his involvement.
The film itself is a tedious and uninspired look at Melania Trump's life as First Lady. The camera lingers on her outfits, her charity work, and her interactions with other public figures, but never truly delves into the complexities of her character. Instead, we're treated to shallow observations from Melania herself, which feel like they could have been generated by an AI.
The film's attempts to humanize Melania fall flat, as she comes across as a cardboard cutout with no discernible personality or motivations. Her responses to the camera are often generic and unremarkable, making it difficult to see her as anything more than a prop in Trump's narrative.
Perhaps the most egregious error is the film's complete failure to address any of the scandals surrounding Melania and her husband, Donald Trump. The Epstein case looms large over the movie, but Ratner chooses to ignore it or downplay its significance. This is a glaring oversight that betrays the director's true intentions: to whitewash the Trump brand and make "Melania" a glowing tribute to the former First Lady.
In short, "Melania" is a soulless exercise in self-promotion that fails to deliver on even the most basic level. It's a $75 million waste of money that should have been used for something more meaningful. As we move forward into an era where democracy is under threat from authoritarian forces, this film is a stark reminder of why we need journalism like The Intercept, which is fighting back against this menace with every fiber of its being.
Ratner's own history of being accused of sexual assault has come back to haunt him in this film, as he attempts to direct "Melania" despite these allegations. The director's personal baggage seems to weigh heavily on the movie, which is now mired in controversy over his involvement.
The film itself is a tedious and uninspired look at Melania Trump's life as First Lady. The camera lingers on her outfits, her charity work, and her interactions with other public figures, but never truly delves into the complexities of her character. Instead, we're treated to shallow observations from Melania herself, which feel like they could have been generated by an AI.
The film's attempts to humanize Melania fall flat, as she comes across as a cardboard cutout with no discernible personality or motivations. Her responses to the camera are often generic and unremarkable, making it difficult to see her as anything more than a prop in Trump's narrative.
Perhaps the most egregious error is the film's complete failure to address any of the scandals surrounding Melania and her husband, Donald Trump. The Epstein case looms large over the movie, but Ratner chooses to ignore it or downplay its significance. This is a glaring oversight that betrays the director's true intentions: to whitewash the Trump brand and make "Melania" a glowing tribute to the former First Lady.
In short, "Melania" is a soulless exercise in self-promotion that fails to deliver on even the most basic level. It's a $75 million waste of money that should have been used for something more meaningful. As we move forward into an era where democracy is under threat from authoritarian forces, this film is a stark reminder of why we need journalism like The Intercept, which is fighting back against this menace with every fiber of its being.