Movie Review: Glitter

Glitter…at the mention of the name, a look of disgust appears on a face or an out burst of laughter. This full length movie debut for the songstress, Mariah Carey, was dumped on when it was first released and it carries that reputation with it at present. It seemed like everyone slammed Glitter and its star as she sled into a personal breakdown. But Mariah can’t be all the blame for this movie. Glitter is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

Glitter is a good film, unless you just don’t like movies about singers with a history of problems like a mother who is an alcoholic and a father who doesn’t want to remember that you are their daughter. If that is not your thing then Glitter is not for you. Even if the movie is bad (which will be discussed in just a moment) there is still the music. Mariah’s singing in this movie is not bad. The songs are classics that have been over looked and condemned right along with the movie, but back to the statement, “Glitter is a good film,” it is good until the audience is introduced to Max Beesley who plays, “Julian ‘Dice’ Black”, the DJ that discovers Carey’s character “Billie Frank.” “Dice” brings the movie down. The supporting cast, Da Brat and Tia Texado, were great interacting with Carey. The idea of these three growing up together in an orphanage and becoming friends is believable and in the scene where Carey interacts with them, it seems natural. It is when Beesley and Carey come together that it all seems over-acted and fake.

It is a shame that Carey was blamed for all of the problems. When I watched the movie again really analyzing I found mistakes that couldn’t have been Carey’s fault. Such as costume design. The movie is set in the eighties, yet most costumes lacked the flash and flare of the eighties. The stripe of silver painted on Carey that was supposed to represent Glitter was as close as it got to eighties flashy make-up. Good examples of eighties styling can be seen on “The Cosby Show” with Lisa Bonet’s character; Denise Huxtable was the epitome of eighties style. She always had some wacked out eye shadow on. As for hair Carey donned a Farrah Fawcett feathered look in some scenes but for the most part one could wonder, “Where’s the eighties?” Also why not blame the cinematographer and editor. There were some spots in which one wonders what just happened. Another thing in the movie it is difficult to note time change. Glitter takes us through the stardom of singer, but there is no feeling of a lapse of time. It appears that Bille Frank becomes a success overnight, which is not realistic. Of course everyone sees that the star who is Mariah Carey and looks at all the mistakes and blames her immediately.

Overall, Glitter is a fun film. Even with bad reviews the movie still exists so why not enjoy it. At some point in history it is sure to become a cult classic like some many other movies that are considered the worst.