Milli Vanilli

I really enjoyed this documentary. Milli Vanilli was part of my early teen years and I loved their music. The scandal that took them down has been one of the biggest controversies in music history. In all honesty, they were used to make a lot of wealthy people even more money and then they were used to cover and take all the heat off those same people. Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan could not have done all they did without approval from the higher ups being in on all of it.

I've always thought the ill treatment shown to Rob and Fab was a bit misplaced. We've seen how other artists have been treated by producers, managers and labels. They live to make money off of the talent of others. Their contracts, decisions and exploitation can be criminal.

I don't doubt that Rob and Fab wanted to sing their own music but the contract made with their producer was signed before it was revealed that they would be lip syncing. Breach of contract and financial debt was the threat they faced for not complying with the producers plan. I understand why they did it and I understand that the intoxicating effects of fame, adoration and money kept them from coming clean.

The powers that be did the musicians, backup singers, lead vocalists, Rob, Fab and the fans dirty.

If you think you know the story or are just interested in learning about what happened, watch this. It is so worth the time. While Rob's death was tragic, I'm glad to see that Fab is still involved in music. Very good documentary.

As "Milli Vanilli" (2023 release; 106 min) opens, we are in today's "Amsterdam", and Fabrice "Fab" Morvan digs up pictures from the good ol' days (late 80s). We then go to "1986" when Robert "Rob" Pilatus and Fab meet in Munich, pretty much the only people of color in this conservative Bavarian city. They are in their early 20s and desperate to become "stars"... At this point we are 10 minutes into the documentary.

Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from Luke Korem ("Dealt"). Here he reassesses the life and times of Rob and Fab, the front of Milli Vanilli whose lives were ostracized by the music industry and indeed the world at large when it turned out they had lip-synced all along. Thankfully Korem digs deeper and top executives of the record label Arista admit to knowing about it well before ti all came crashing down in 1990. Why is it that Rob and Fab were vilified but producer Frank Farian and label boss Clive Davis got off scot free? This documentary fills in the gaps very nicely, and it is long overdue to be honest.

"Milli Vanilli" premiered at last year's Tribeca Festival to immediate critical acclaim. It is currently rated 100% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, if you can believe it. "Milli Vanilli" started streaming on Showtime (now part of Paramount+) last Fall and I just stumbled the other day on it after watching "Thriller 40" (also on SHO). If you are a fan of Milli Vanilli, or simply interested in a footnote in the history of the Grammys, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

As a teenager in the 80s, I remember Milli Vanilli well. I was never a big fan of the duo, but I couldn't help but get the massive attention and success the group got. Also their abrupt end to their pop career.

After watching this good, insightful documentary, I am primarily saddened by their story. Two young men who wanted to be "stars" more than anything else. Producer Frank Farian immediately saw potential, but opted for a sinister formula; they mimed to their own tunes. Skilled studio musicians and singers provided all vocals.

The success was immediate and massive. But it was all a ticking bomb and as this documentary shows; Milli Vanilli became the scapegoat of the whole world.

This documentary has similarities to many other films and documentaries about the pop industry; money rules everything.

The documentary is painful to watch, the boys' rise ended in total disaster for them, both professionally and on a personal level. The people behind it, the producer and the record company escaped without a single scratch in the paintwork. The boys became the sinners who were put to the slaughter.

Nevertheless, it is also a historical victory. It is possible to get back up even after being torn apart in public.

I have the impression that their story is unfortunately not unique. How many pretty faces that we've dug the music for over the years are tricksters?

The documentary at least corrects some of my impression of the duo. They were not without fault themselves, but paid an incredibly high price for a fraud that many powerful players were part of.

This is an absolutely riveting study into the fickle nature of fame as well as the price that must ultimately be paid for lies. It's also a peek behind the curtain of the music industry and the money that fuels it. Along the way lives are destroyed as two young and naive men get caught up in the whirlwind of fame and get put on a vicious trajectory with doom by forces out of their control. As a person watching this as it occurred in 1990 it is an interesting reminder, but viewers of all ages will enjoy this. It's also an emotional story of redemption for a man who was put under extraordinary international scorn in a no-win situation. Must see viewing for rock/pop aficionados and anyone.

I am NOT referring to Rob or Fab!!!

Honestly who cares if they were lip syncing??? I was in my 20's when the scandal happened and I still bought their music! They weren't the best entertainers out there but they were unique, eye catching and had sex appeal.

These record studios, execs, song writers etc knew exactly what was happening. If they didn't know in the beginning, they knew at some point. Everyone was about the money!! Just be honest! I guess they have their reputations to maintain but everyone knows record studios are vultures!!!

Ingrid pissed me off. She was so dishonest and disrespectful towards Rob and Fab. All that laughing and dismissive hand gestures spoke volumes. Of course she needed alcohol to get through the interview...I wish Rob never trusted her!!!! I just have no sympathy for her. She contributed to Rob and Fab's demise with her boyfriend/boss.

If you look closely at Fab's face during the Grammy picture taking portion of the documentary you can tell he did not look happy at all. Rob was just so happy to be loved and admired. But you could see the nervousness on Fab's face.

Also the fake outrage of the media at that conference was ridiculous!!! I thought Rob and Fab handled it very well!!! No one can deny the racial undertones (or overtones) of this scandal.

What this documentary did not say was that they only sold 2000 albums because the company that took a chance on them was already going out of business. So no one knows if they would have sold more records had they had a bigger machine behind them.

Charles Shaw is bitter to say the least but you really cant blame him.

Frank is somewhere living his best life with his millions. Hope it was all worth it....