TAKE 1: One Man’s Opinion
…because
film is largely subjective
by Frederick William Springer
III
Katy Perry: Part of Me
Release Date: 5 July 2012 Runtime: 93 Minutes
Review Date: 12 August 2012 Rating: 4.5 (of 6)
Evaluated as a
documentary, an inside look at the person behind the musician, Part of Me delivers, though that isn't
to say it still isn't a publicity, marketing tool to package her
"live" music to fans as well.
This isn't on par with a more in depth look provided by 45 minute
biographies done by cable networks that usually do this kind of thing, so if
that's what you're looking for you should look elsewhere.
Going in, I
didn’t know very much about Katy at all other than that I liked her songs,
thought she had a fun personality (conveyed in music videos and interviews) and
that she was cute. Based off that,
though I may have learned more about her, it still can be summed up in a
paragraph:
Though she
seemingly exploded onto the scene, there were many years that Katy was working
hard before that first firework was finally set off. She was raised by preachers (her first album
was actually gospel music) and maintains close contact with her family--her
sister even working for her, accompanying her every step of the way. She loves her Grandma and I can only imagine
the feelings of joy Katy must have when her Grandma is in the audience
observing the success she has achieved and what she has grown up to
become. Katy works hard to achieve the
goals she sets for herself in all aspects of her life. And she is best friends with The Riches actress Shannon Woodward.
Now, do you have
to see the movie to learn all this? No,
obviously I was able to convey it to you in a matter of less than a minute
(depending on the speed you read). I'm
sure her mega-fans and cyber-stalkers already knew this as well.
What I can say is
that the fun personality shines through but she is humanized too. She has bad days but doesn't pull any diva
moves--she still goes to work like any other mere mortal. She's shown stripped of the wigs, costumes
and make up, how she'd look as an ordinary woman rather than superstar (and you
just might not recognize her on the street).
However, other than her cover of "I Wanna Be Somebody," her
"live" music isn't as pleasing to my ear as the versions I know and
love.
And, it being
produced by her own company, one does wonder how slanted the perspective
presented potentially is. My own account
of Katy backstage at an award show where she was a presenter--pretty in person,
striking eyes as she looked into my own.
But I also happen to know, minutes before the show was set to film, she
sent in last minute changes of her dialogue that had to be rushed to all
appropriate parties (no other presenter pulled that). So how much of that goes on not shown is
anyone's guess here.
I'd say,
ultimately, it's a movie for fans because she cherishes them and it shows. Anyone with a remote curiosity or interest in
her, there are worse ways to spend 90 minutes.
[On a side note,
I love how her assistant on tour says it's her first job in the music
industry. So many people vying for
positions in the entertainment realm, including those with experience in their
respective industries and/or position, something--mind you--that is normally
required to be an assistant to a celebrity, and here she is her first job in
the industry. It makes me wonder who
she's related to or dating. Can you
sense bitterness? Haha. But that's a
tangent for a whole other editorial…]
