Whether you attend Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour or watch it on screen in Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie, it’s a remarkably unforgettable experience. She is, in every way, a mastermind—a performer and a producer whose work gorgeously exhibits her passions.
Now, attending an Eras concert, at least at the Sofi stadium, merits a solid experience no matter where you’re sitting. But it’s understandably a different venture for those up close because side screens only show so much. This is precisely why Sam Wrench’s directing choices in Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie are what contribute to making the film brilliant. It starts from the first shot of the ticking clock and carries on expertly until the final curtain call after “Karma.” And everything in between that Wrench highlights showcases not only Swift’s chops beautifully, but it highlights the strengths of her backup dancers, the backing vocalists, and her band.
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Movie Is a Joy Ride Through and Through
The riveting truth about Taylor Swift is that it’s impossible to watch her on stage without being wholly fascinated by everything she accomplishes with her heart alone. It’s about her gleeful means of performing and the care she puts into storytelling that matters. Her adorably awkward moves make the performances even more dazzling, allowing character and soul to the narrative the song presents. If you walk into a Taylor Swift concert as a casual fan, chances are you will walk out of it bursting with respect and pride for her.
Still, more than that, in the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie, Wrench ensures that viewers will get the absolute best parts of her performances. It’s indeed a little sad that some fan-favorite songs are cut, but including “Our Song” and “You’re on Your Own, Kid” as surprise songs make the film a profoundly memorable treat. Both these songs in one show exhibit a plethora of Swift’s growth as a performer and a lyricist. They connect her to the audience in almost indescribable ways, unique to everyone’s experiences, tethering them to the words.
It’s all in the details—the moss-covered grand piano, the entrancing folklore cabin, and the spellbinding introduction. It’s impossible to write about The Eras Tour movie without singling out the colorful array of Lover’s soft pink hues luring us into a moment in time that’ll encapsulate decades of craftsmanship. Something about that moment makes it too effortless to choke out a little cry—how she appears, the beautifully bedazzled Versace bodysuit and Swift’s transcendently joyous glow are a true marvel to witness. It’s the one moment during the entire live concert I would’ve given anything to see from the right angle, and Wrench’s direction perfectly captures it. It is a technical achievement in every way, grounding viewers right from the start into an intimate spectacle brimming with heart, soul, and gorgeously compelling performances.
Every single one of her smiles, the soulful rage during “All Too Well,” the immense longing in “tolerate it,” the wisdom and heart of “marjorie”— there’s something genuinely enamoring in each move and melody. The sheer brilliance of “champagne problems” that received an eighteen-minute standing ovation (in a crowd I proudly got to cheer from on August 8). The magic and nostalgia brimming in “august.” The Eras Tour is no small feat as a sharp showcase of prodigious talent, and The Eras Tour movie goes hand in hand with thoughtful cuts and combinations to showcase a concert all about growth, compassion, and community.
Taylor Swift’s shows are a community affair—a dazzling array of screams and cries and cathartic healing brought on by lyrics that make listeners feel less alone. She’s an astounding performer, worth every bit of her salt, but even more than that, she’s a star worth the adoration.
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie is now playing in theaters.