As acclaimed writer/director Paul Scharder once said, “About Taylor Swift, let there be no doubt… she is the light that gives meaning to each to all our lives, the godhead who makes existence possible and without whom we would wander forever in bleak unimaginable darkness.” While this quote is somewhat overstating things, it is true that Taylor Swift, whether one likes her or hates her, has an immense amount of staying power in 21st century pop culture. This has only become more true in the past few years, as she has made headlines again and again; not only for her music but also for voicing her stance against Marsha Blackburn in the 2018 Tennessee Senate race, her support of the Equality Act, and most recently, her battle for control over her masters. Regardless of one’s opinion of her, Swift appears to be here to stay.
Miss Americana, much like Swift’s music, aims to provide a look inside the private life of one of America’s most famous pop stars. This contrast between public image and private life is at the core of pop music, which is essentially personal experience made into universally relatable and easy to consume art. This tension is eloquently presented in 2018’s Vox Lux, but it is quite another thing to see in documentary filmmaking. To her credit, Lana Wilson does an excellent job capturing Swift’s vulnerability. She looks genuinely comfortable discussing deeply personal issues in front of the camera. Wilson further accentuates this vulnerability by contrasting loud moments of Swift’s performances on stage with the much quieter private interactions she has behind the scenes with friends and family. The audience learns that Taylor Swift, in front of as well as behind the camera, is funny, thoughtful, and reflective. Indeed, in Miss Americana Swift spends a great deal of time discussing her relationship with her need for validation and public approval. It’s nice to see Swift going from talking about how these bad habits have shaped her life and career to joking about them while filming a music video. She truly seems to have a more healthy grasp on public opinion and how it affects her than she used to. Another virtue of Miss Americana is the way it captures the real joy that Swift takes to her songwriting. In this modern age, the production of a song is so rarely something seen publicly, and the way it is portrayed in this documentary highlights how much work, energy, and love goes into the process.
One subject neither the documentary nor Swift shy away from is her political beliefs and her desire to express them. Miss Americana spends a large amount of time on Swift’s struggle to voice her political opinions and the fallout of that expression. In terms of politics, one could be tempted to call Swift’s attempts at activism “too little too late”, but Wilson goes out of her way to portray the reasons for Swift’s silence, or lack thereof, in a clear, understandable, and sympathetic light. In one scene, when discussing her stance against Marsha Blackburn, Swift talks about how she doesn’t feel right standing on stage wishing her audience a happy Pride Month if she won’t actually take a stand when LGBT+ rights are on the line. This was interesting to hear, as it is a critique of Swift that has often been heard from LGBT+ activists, as well as, anecdotally, other LGBT+ people in my own life. This comment ties into an overarching pattern of Swift showing a truly impressive level of self-awareness when it comes to her own faults and shortcomings, but also her strengths as an artist. At one point in Miss Americana, she comments on how every artist in the industry has a specialty, and she states with confidence that hers is her storytelling abilities. It’s this level of confidence and self-knowledge that is so fascinating to see from a celebrity, especially one that has spent so long in the public eye like Swift.
From a filmmaking perspective, Miss Americana isn’t anything really new or innovative. Wilson lets her subject speak for herself and take the spotlight over filmic technique, which really works for the type of personal story being told. That being said, the structure of the film is somewhat meandering, and its lack of order makes it hard to follow at times. There were some visually interesting sequences, especially the one that accompanies Swift’s reflection on her testimony during her sexual assault countersuit. Other than that, it was fairly standard in terms of the actual footage being presented. The one thing notably missing from the documentary is any discussion of the controversy surrounding Swift’s masters, but that could be explained by certain legal guidelines which are, quite frankly, above this writer’s pay grade. Overall, Wilson’s documentary feels open and genuine. While it may be lacking in directorial or editorial flare, that isn’t something that is really needed for such a deeply grounded story and portrayal. In fact, the use of such a style might actually distract from the story being told.
Miss Americana is an interesting and unique look at one of the biggest pop culture figures of the past decade. That being said, ones opinion on Swift will most likely factor into their enjoyment of the documentary. If you’re a fan of Taylor Swift, this is a can’t-miss treat. If you’re not, it’s still a humanizing and fascinating character study. It maybe isn’t as critical as it could have been, but that most likely wasn’t something the director was attempting to bring to the documentary. Overall, Miss Americana is a captivating documentary and a solid start to the filmic year.
4/5 STARS