'The Moment' Review: Charli xcx’s Electrifying Metaphysical Farce is a Stroke of Genius
When something becomes a cultural phenomenon, it’s instantly mauled by commercialism. There’s a reason why trades try to impose “the next Barbenheimer” stamp on every two movies that share a release date, or why they initially barely promoted KPop Demon Hunters, which is now touted with belated merchandise. But what does it look like for Charli xcx, whose bright-green album Brat became a cultural phenomenon? Her inescapable “Brat Summer” had people doing poppers for the first time. It also had every brand showing out on social media harder than they do during Pride Month. That’s two sides of the Brat effect coin. But also a sad, inconvenient truth is that in a field where ownership of your art form is never really yours when it leaves a cultural footprint.
Within the surreal farce that is The Moment – directed by “360” music video director Aidan Zamiri (who also co-wrote alongside Bertie Brandes) and starring xcx, who crafted the story – the prolific artist hypothesizes what would happen if “Brat Summer” went on indefinitely, losing the artistic freedom to end her career-high cycle.
Image copyright (©) Courtesy of A24
MPA Rating: R (for language throughout and some drug material.)
Runtime: 1 Hour and 43 Minutes
Language: English
Production Companies: Studio365, 2AM, Good World
Distributor: A24
Director: Aidan Zamiri
Writers: Aidan Zamiri and Bertie Brandes
Cast: Charli xcx, Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Arielle Dombasle, Hailey Benton Gates, Kylie Jenner, Trew Mullen, Mel Ottenberg, Isaac Powell, Rachel Sennott, Rish Shah, Alexander Skarsgård, Michael Workéyè
U.S Release Date: January 30, 2026
A fictionalized Charli xcx experiences a career high with Brat. But as “Brat Summer” ends, she becomes the cow to the music industry's farmer, with everyone wanting to milk the album dry. The artist's immediate team, which includes her assistant (Trew Mullen) and social media manager (Isaac Powell), is no help as they are more concerned with the label's shaping of Charli’s image than Charli herself. Meanwhile, her vapid manager, Tim (Jamie Demetriou), acts as a middleman while her record label head, Tammy (Rosanna Arquette), looks for ways to prolong the “Brat Summer” craze. Charli is strung along with too many brand deals that are out of her orbit and image at Tammy's behest, particularly a Brat credit card and Amazon Music financing a BTS arena tour concert film.
Set a month before her Brat arena tour, Charli and her creative director, Celeste (Hailey Benton Gates), clash with renowned documentarian filmmaker Johannes (Alexander Skarsgård), who tries to sanitize Charli's brand for general audiences by micromanaging her appearance and persona during the rehearsal process. Charli, on the brink of a nervous breakdown as the tour approaches, attempts to find control in Brat’s exodus and in the face of corporate drones.
The Moment is a lively and witty romp.
(L-R) Mel Ottenberg, Charli xcx in 'The Moment' | Credit: Courtesy of A24
Whatever water Zamiri and xcx held during Brat’s impact and aftermath is spilled in a cathartic release. The film gives its middle finger to the music industry’s commercialism and the restraints it places on artists. Her distinctive underground electropop persona gets even cheekier in this narrative translation. In the vein of Spice World and A Hard Day’s Night, the film feels like a blend of dry wit in the way of workplace sitcoms and Josie and the Pussycats, particularly with getting clearance to use brands to frame her anti-commercialist portrait.
The styles clash a bit, and the film struggles to find its footing, scaling back its absurdism, and letting its attempt at awkward cringe humor in comedic bits overstay their welcome. That said, the workplace comedy elements are executed well when Brandes and Zamiri focus on the power dichotomy during the concert production. Charli faces the impasse of her own repression and relationship with catapulting to superstardom and esteem under the guise of capitalism. Celeste and Johannes are an artist’s angel and devil, as the former wants to help fulfill her artistic freedom and expression. The latter wants to reshape her image for broad appeal, seeping into conservatism. I find this so brilliant, especially when the in-film’s concert film is done at the behest of Jeff Bezos’s bitch ass company.
Alexander Skarsgård continues to astound; he perfectly embodies the film's commentary as Johannes. He’s an amalgamation of the director type whose initial toxic positivity masks his self-serving intent. His condescending micromanager persona and poser hipster attire are strong layers for this devilish deception.
When those two are at war, as the subject faces an inner turmoil of her self-image and insecurities, who will win: the artist or the soulless husks appeasing corporate demands? It’s well-realized as the focal point, and the writers and star strongly channel that throughout.
I also need to emphasize Hailey Benton Gates, as she shares a strong chemistry with xcx. As the stern, level-headed Celeste, she grounds xcx – the character and actress – amid the spiraling madness surrounding them.
Charli xcx’s sardonic wit translates to on-screen star-power.
(L-R) Charli xcx, Alexander Skarsgård in 'The Moment' | Credit: Courtesy of A24
Charli, who is already a music superstar, bears the inklings of a comedic star. Many will draw comparisons to The Office. I got a lot of Arrested Development vibes, even down to xcx’s sardonic wit and dry line deliveries evoking “Jason Bateman if he were a popstar.” DP Sean Price Williams shoots it like an Arrested Development episode, exuding the film's sardonic dry wit through Charli being the reactive center of a spiraling circle of commercialist cronies. Although there is room for improvement in xcx’s dramatic work, she exhibits a clever self-awareness, vulnerability, modesty, and charm akin to Jennifer Lawrence in her outbursts and sulky moments.
Keenly aware of her self-image and her work, Charli is not afraid to poke fun at herself through her occasional bratty behavior and weak-willed esteem when succumbing to pressure. It feels far from “a woe is me” illustration but a self-reflection that lets those warts show. I do fear fans will consume this in the same manner as Lena Dunham's Girls, its satirical beats going over their heads.
For all the indulgence, at the core is a girl from Essex whose music is a form of personal liberation and reflection. Under capitalism, we were advised to take the easy route with a concert movie, seeing the commercialized glitz and glam. In a way, it’s a middle finger to the artists and industry bots who churn one's image into a mass-appealing tour movie. It’s a long way of saying, “Fuck you, I ain’t making an Eras Tour film.”
Final Statement
The Moment is a sharp metaphysical satire, thoroughly funny and resonating for any creative fighting to maintain their uniqueness and integrity under contemporary commercialism.
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