A Music Industry Cautionary Tale
Rainey Qualley delivers a standout performance as Astor Grey, a rising indie singer whose talent is undeniable, but so is her vulnerability. Between gigs and commercial work, Astor is trying to make something real. Enter Brandyn Verge, a washed-up rockstar with a slick smile and something to prove. Ryan Hansen plays him with an unnerving blend of charm and volatility, he's not a villain in the cartoon sense, which is what makes him dangerous. The relationship that unfolds is seductive, erratic, and edged with dread.
What starts as a familiar story, a younger artist lured by an older mentor, becomes something far thornier. Foe isn't interested in easy labels. She's interested in power: who has it, how it's taken, and what it costs to reclaim. And when Astor finally finds her voice, both musically and metaphorically, it's not in a triumphant anthem, but something raw, defiant, and earned.
The supporting cast adds texture. Olivia Sui brings grounded energy to the best-friend role, while Julia Campbell is quietly commanding as Astor's mother, who's seen the game and knows the rules. Rebecca De Mornay is pitch-perfect as the tough as nails manager and ally , and blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos from the likes of Billy Gibbons and Peyton Manning add sly levity.
Yes, you can spot echoes of A Star Is Born here, but Foe's film isn't a tragedy. It's a rebellion. Off the Record is about survival, self-definition, and how women are done waiting for permission to take the mic. In a post-MeToo world still wrestling with old power structures, this film doesn't just feel timely-it, feels necessary.
What starts as a familiar story, a younger artist lured by an older mentor, becomes something far thornier. Foe isn't interested in easy labels. She's interested in power: who has it, how it's taken, and what it costs to reclaim. And when Astor finally finds her voice, both musically and metaphorically, it's not in a triumphant anthem, but something raw, defiant, and earned.
The supporting cast adds texture. Olivia Sui brings grounded energy to the best-friend role, while Julia Campbell is quietly commanding as Astor's mother, who's seen the game and knows the rules. Rebecca De Mornay is pitch-perfect as the tough as nails manager and ally , and blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos from the likes of Billy Gibbons and Peyton Manning add sly levity.
Yes, you can spot echoes of A Star Is Born here, but Foe's film isn't a tragedy. It's a rebellion. Off the Record is about survival, self-definition, and how women are done waiting for permission to take the mic. In a post-MeToo world still wrestling with old power structures, this film doesn't just feel timely-it, feels necessary.
- ClarieJ
- 2 may 2025