Limelight

Wow this movie is amazing I don't want to give too much away so I'm just gonna say hashtag #trentsetter.

Everyone needs to watch this especially if you think you ready for the ET Biz.

A lot of stereotypes here, nothing new. Unlikable characters and looked very amateurish. Pretty much a waste of time. I'm not sure how this movie got made, but ugh.

For me, the film is a statement about about vanity and ego in the Hollywood industry. The traps aspiring young people fall into through their own naive entitlement and cravings for validation. Especially with this new wave of social media influencer like "Miles" who have flooded the Hollywood scene since this movie was made. Being that it was actually shot back in the Summer of 2015, probably written in 2014, it was a bit ahead of it's time and correctly predicted what was just around the corner - which is unqualified social media influencers getting direct offers and being rolled into projects that in the past would've gone to the more experienced and better actors. There was also a message that whether you're a straight white male producer like the antagonist "Sergio", a closeted gay agent like "Jim", or a female publicist like "Scarlett", everyone is in it for themselves, nobody is entirely innocent, and everyone is working their own angle. For an indie made for under 100k, they effectively hit their message and I enjoy the sarcasm and in-your-face arrogance.

The start of the film strongly implies that this naïve, talentless straight guy thinks he's going to be a "movie star" but will end up in gay porn. However, this incredibly confusing, muddled mess of a script has him making some odd film for 6+ months (????) however, we never actually get to see any scenes shot and there is lots and lots of discussion about social media and competing producers. Also, he's immediately provided (free of charge!) a very nice apartment and presumably all expenses are taken care of. OMG, this is such a train wreck. I kept thinking there is going to be some sort of twist, but no, it just gets worse and worse and worse. The acting is about as good as the script. How did this ever get made and exactly in what alternate universe do guys with no experience or talent from small towns get offered staring roles in legit films?

Ok, I just watched this movie for all the wrong reasons. But it is a really great movie. If you don't watch it you don't know what you're missing. It pretty much sums up a lot of lifestyle including surviving fame. I laughed but cried too. Beautifully written and directed movie.