Mainstream

I can see why people gave this film a 4/10 but I feel it's driven based upon how the emotion of the film switched so quickly and didn't end the way they wanted it. The film is based upon how glued we are to the internet with instagram, youtube, facebook, et cetera. I don't want to spoil this movie, I just want people to watch this film rather than pass it over because of such a low rating it's given at the time of my review. The topic gives you something to think about and this shows the good side, the bad side, and the weird side that Andrew Garfield plays so well. If you've only seen him in, "Spiderman", then you need to watch him in, "Under the Silver Lake." Watch this movie and form your own opinion.

This movie caught my attention because of Andrew Garfield, who pour his everything in this somewhat of a mediocre movie. Though it had an interesting premise, the execution was just...bad. If you have one and a half hours to kill, you could check it out, but you'll surely get frustrated by the end of it.

It's honestly impressive how a movie can be so weird, yet very predictable. It all started of so simple and honestly pretty interesting. Garfield plays an outsider who is just so fascinating and entertaining to look and listen to. He is by far the best thing to come out of this as he gives more than 110%. He shows the light and fun side, but also the dark places that an internet star can go to. On the other hand, the rest of this movie is just not on his level at all. I know Maya Hawke is a very good actress, but this just wasn't it for her. Her chemistry with Garfield just wasn't there and in general her character was just very of to me. But the main problem with this movie is definitely the story. I like the message that it's trying to tell us that we should all just put our phones down and be ourselves, but it's just the execution of that message that is so wrong. The exaggeration and unrealistic moments are so bad in this movie. This is not how the internet works, and we all know that. It's kinda like are writer went on YouTube for the first time, clicked on a couple of channels, and made a movie about it. It's just too much for me. It kept me entertained enough all the way through, but it's just not that good.

"Are you prepared to let the world see the real you?"

In this cautionary tale by Gia Coppola, a young woman finds a path to internet stardom when she starts making videos with a charismatic stranger. While bathing in their success, they struggle to preserve their identities as they form an eccentric love triangle within the fast-moving internet age. Undoubtedly, Mainstream has so much potential. When exploring the internet and how culture reacts to it these days, so much can be said and create meaningful messages. And that's what the movie tries to do. Unfortunately, that's where it loses potential. It would be fine if there was something greater to be said, but all that is said has been known for years now and we get nothing new out of the story. With its introduction, the movie isn't bad. Most of the beginning is just built on a promising setup. Our three main characters are all interesting and could lead somewhere. Andrew Garfield is electric in his overly obnoxious role. Honestly, it might be one of his best performances. Sometimes he goes a little too off the rails, but that is the point. Maya Hawke is good and so is Nat Wolff. I will say Nat Wolff is incredibly underutilized. He is one of the better characters and has a powerful voice in the story. Of course, the focus is more on Garfield.

Gia Coppola has a visual voice rather than story. The movie is shot incredibly well and has some very good visuals. That might be the best part of the movie. And the score is good as well. Other technicals fall flat. The editing has some really bad moments. On film Twitter, a clip of the movie was going around of an atrocious mistake left in the movie where the audio and video doesn't lineup and it randomly restarts. Other times, the editing just doesn't serve it well. But mainly, the story is just disappointing. You can watch it and be entertained, but it takes a certain person. Plot lines are dropped when they should be important. The whole third act just doesn't work well at all because of this. It wants to say how sometimes people can get extreme and it affects the lives of others detrimentally. That mainly falls with a short cameo from Alexa Demie. But the end says something a little different about it from Garfield's point of view and I'm not sure it was supposed to be taken seriously. Like, what happens is serious but the movie doesn't take it seriously like it should. Mainstream just falls short with each chance it has. I can see this gaining a cult following in the future. There is a good chunk of people who did really like it, and it's a battle between them and those who just hate it. I'm more in the middle. I don't exactly hate it and I did find myself entertained, but it's just not that great. Gia Coppola has yet to find her voice, but there is potential with upcoming work.

'Mainstream' was a very strange experience for me. It's one of the more unique films I've ever seen, however unique certainly doesn't always equal good. The main problem I found with the film were the characters. The type of people being portrayed - fame-seeking, do anything for money, selfish, entitled scum - aren't a lot of fun to watch, even when they are being portrayed by Andrew Garfield giving everything he has to a role.

Garfield is probably the one redeeming factor this movie has going for it. It was a strange performance to watch because I could tell he was putting it all out there and doing a great job of it, but his character was so strange and unlikeable that it almost all went to waste. Maya Hawke (daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke) on the other hand didn't have to do a whole lot for her role, but because she was the one mildly likeable character her performance came across quite well. It was a weird dynamic.

I don't think I can recommend this one. There's a world where I could see people enjoying this here and there, but for the most part people just aren't going to have a good time with this one. If you like unique and bizarre movies though then this one could be right up your alley. Otherwise stay away.