The cultural phenomenon surrounding the simultaneous theatrical release of Barbie and Oppenheimer on the same day was famously nicknamed “Barbenheimer.” Since then, the box office of the second half of 2023 has been notably blessed with two separate documentaries starring the biggest names in music. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour was a massive success when it was released in October. Now on the heels of TayTay’s movie comes Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, which opened with $21 million at the domestic weekend box office. The cinematic event begs for a catchy nickname too. Perhaps something like “BETAYONCELOR.” Oh that’s terrible, but I’m open to suggestions.
The latest release is a documentary that centers on Beyonce’s 5-month world tour that began in May of this year and ended on October 1st. It not only presents a plethora of songs but also goes behind the scenes to feature the work and preparation that went into making it happen. Carefully selected vignettes of her private life are likewise on display.
The show is named after her seventh album, released in July 2022. Full disclosure: I thought it was one of last year’s best albums. I even attended in person when it came to the Bay Area at Levi’s Stadium in August. I loved it, so it was with great anticipation that I greeted this picture as well. I was already predisposed to enjoy it.
So here’s what I admired: it is fantastic as a record of Beyonce’s performances on the tour. This lavish production is an extravaganza of set design, videos, dancers, and choreography. When she sings “Look around, everybody on mute” during “Energy,” the crowd is completely silent. See the diva emerge from a giant scallop shell during “Virgo’s Groove” in a nod to Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus.” It is one jaw-dropping spectacle after another. This account does a great job of capturing that excitement.
I was less enthused by the constant cutaways to other things. There is a lot of focus on the adoring fans in the audience, rapturously worshipping her presence. Also, it is common for the movie to break away from the production to present the crew putting the sets together or witness her daughter, Blue Ivy, learning choreography for a special appearance. The 11 year old even weighs in on a decision to cut a song from the setlist. Any time the momentum of the exhilarating spectacle gets going, it’s halted to focus on some extraneous detail.
Beyoncé is more than just the star. She directed, wrote the narration, and produced. The apparent purpose of these interludes is to thank her followers and the many people responsible for the show. That’s commendable, but the movie lasts 2 hours and 48 minutes. It is a bit of an endurance test for the merely curious. I wish she had edited this into a pure concert film and then released the behind-the-scenes stuff as an independent 1 hour special for television. The most dedicated devotee will undoubtedly be in heaven. I’m still a huge fan, but I would only recommend this movie to audiences who are as well.
11-30-23
2 Responses
I agree completely. I was absolutely mesmerized by the performances that I wanted that to keep going. I enjoyed some behind the scenes footage, but it removed my excitement at times. I went to the concert and enjoyed it. This view took it up a notch. 4 ⭐️ for the concert, voice and wardrobes. 3 ⭐️ for the behind the scenes.
A 2-hour edit would have gotten four stars.