A predictable scandal in Cannes
Even before the presentation of first two episodes of The idol at the 76th Cannes Film Festivalthe HBO series had offered a nasty buzz after a Rolling Stone article. The American magazine had made disturbing revelations on the set, pointing to the alleged toxicity of Sam Levinson and Abel Tesfaye (artist known as The Weeknd).
The article mentioned the firing of director Amy Seimetz after filming most of the show following artistic differences, alleged additions shocking scenes and the change of direction to make The Idol”a fantasized vision of rapeHBO had made a denial, assuring that filming had taken place in good conditions. Before Lily-Rose Depp does the same at a press conference.
Despite everything, even before the screening of the episodes, the series had this label of “anti-feminist show”. It is finally no surprise that after the broadcast we have seen on social networks virulent returns.
We were able to discover these first two episodes of The idol. And if everyone can interpret the series as they want, it seems good to us to clarify some things about what the show really shows. The idol follows Jocelyn, a pop singer who lost his balance following the death of his mother. A year later, her comeback is imminent with new success and a tour approaching.
Clearly the young lady is not at her best and its managers do everything to keep it. Not that they really care about her. But because it would be very damaging if her tour was cancelled after spending millions.
What it really shows and says The idol ?
The long first sequence of episode 1 sets the tone for this entourage of Jocelyn (managers, assistants, art directors or otherwise) who must handle a crisis from the beginning. A photo of their star with a cum on her face leaked on the internet. No one will really think about Jocelyn’s feelings, but rather about her image problems. “Which 14-year-old girl would like to see her in concert next?” thought Chaim one of the managers (perfectly played by Hank Azaria).
Another, Nikki, (Jane Adams is also excellent) proves even more horrific, declaring that in his day such an act was proof of a date which went well.
Of course, it’s not about supporting this world. AND the insult”sperm sock“ that Jocelyn receives on Twitter is there to indicate one countless problems in this environment. Sex sells, and even mental illness can be hijacked to be sexy. At least that’s the ruthless Nikki’s opinion. But again, The idol denounce all of this. Whole system around.
There is just to see the fate reserved for an intimacy coordinator during a photo shoot in which Jocelyn has to be hotter and hotter while offering deliberately ridiculous emotions. When she fully shows her breasts, the coordinator intervenes. Not because the singer might be uncomfortable. But only because she’s not part of the contract. And even if Jocelyn wants to get naked, at home to pose for her album, you’ll have to wait 48 hours before doing so. Chaim’s hilarious solution will be lock him in the bathroom for 3 hours.
The sexy turns out to be ugly and vulgar
Later, Jocelyn finds herself repeating a choreography for filming her clip in very little clothes. The fact that Sam Levinson films Lily-Rose Depp in lascivious positions has been criticized. male gauze or the choice of staging to contrast more and more with the words of Jocelyn’s managers (and a journalist from Vanity Fair who also takes him for his rank), who observe him from afar with a big smile, and thus make people react? However, these tiny dresses that Jocelyn constantly wears testifya certain alienation from the singertransformed into an object of desire probably for years.
Also, this sequence is to be compared with the shooting of the clip in episode 2 where the “sexy” disappears. Jocelyn is exhausted, she paces back and forth in stage clothes between set and camera to see the rushes and film the same scene over and over again until you reach perfection. Will end up with bleeding feet, swollen face from tears and blackened by her runny mascara.
After this first part, which in our opinion was very successful, The idol involves Tedros (Abel Tesfaye), the head of a club who will charm Jocelyn. A manipulator who, behind the scenes, will reveal a trickster and a vulgar man. Like his dialogues typical of a porn before acting with Jocelyn.
Even if we may regret it an editing sometimes too clipesco by Sam Levinson, and the overly tense discussions between the two characters, the interest lies in the the hold Tedros develops on Jocelyn potentially compete The idol to the thriller. Man is eminently toxic and a narcissistic pervert. The series does not hide it. We’ll have to wait and see where the following episodes take us. But this start still has potential, even if we can already see some limitations emerging.
The idol will be discovered on Prime Video’s Warner Pass on June 4.
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
