296. Infamous; movie review

INFAMOUS
Cert 15
103 mins
BBFC advice: Contains very strong language, strong violence, drug misuse, domestic abuse

"She doesn't want to live off-camera, much less talk. There's nothing to say off-camera. Why would you say something if it's off-camera? What point is there existing?"

In 1991, Warren Beatty was referring to the uniqueness of Madonna. Now her baton has been picked up by millions.

His comments were made a decade before the arrival of social media and 20 years before it became instrumental in daily lives.

But Madonna knew what she was doing because her validations came in record and box office sales. She believed making herself public was a route to money.

Nowadays, public acknowledgement is a goal in itself, regardless of financial gain.

This is borne out by Joshua Caldwell's Infamous whose central character, Arielle (Bella Thorne), sees public approval as her life priority.

Indeed, she cannot understand why anyone would consider its importance to be below financial security, love or even health.

Consequently, she streams every part of her life - much to the annoyance of her former jail inmate lover (Jake Manley).

Arielle's social media obsession is sparked when a drunken fight is recorded at a party and prompts more than 100 new followers on social media.

Her behaviour becomes progressively more extreme as she seeks to extend what she perceives as a fan base.

Meanwhile, she is oblivious to the fact that live streams of law-breaking is going to put her on collision course with law enforcement.

Thorne is the key to this film being more alluring than others of this developing genre. She is sassy and sexy but she is also bewilderingly uncompromising in her search for fame.

But is her character credible? Frighteningly, I get the impression that she is.

Today I heard a radio interview with a serious psychologist who warned of the mental health of young people if their social media postings weren't 'liked'.

That is where we are now - if this trend continues the logical conclusion would be behaviour like Arielle's.

Reasons to watch: A caustic take on modern-day celebrity culture
Reasons to avoid: A tad too simplistic

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 6/10

Did you know? In real life, Bella Thorne has launched her own brand of cannabis called Forbidden Flowers. She also plans to release a new brand of cannabidiol as well as a hemp line.

The final word. Joshua Caldwell: "I was interested in the intersection of social media celebrity (and the currency of likes and follows) with violence and crime. America is fascinated by crime and always has been. The local news is full of it, it's what sells, and so that felt like a natural, if not inevitable, fit with the pursuit of fame at all costs." Borrowing Tape

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