Miss Americana
Starring: Taylor Swift
Directed by: Lana Wilson

I have been a Taylor Swift fan for 12 years. Her music has been a soundtrack accompanying significant moments of my life. Yes, I was an awkward 12-year-old choreographing dances to “Picture to Burn.” I may have played “Enchanted” every time I met a guy that I thought would end up being my boyfriend. Of course, “22” blared through the entirety of my 22nd birthday. With each passing album, Taylor has evolved as an artist while still providing a world her fans can get lost in. 1989 transported me to Taylor’s world of magic, mystery, and pop wonder. Reputation signaled a major image shift towards a darker and mature era after being in hiding due to media backlash. All fans know where they were and what they were doing the moment they heard the infamous bridge from “Look What You Made Me Do,” “The Old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now…Why? Oh, because she’s dead!” Three years later and it’s clear that the “Old Taylor” is not dead. The same person who wrote “Tim McGraw” and “Teardrops on My Guitar” is still there spending countless hours on songwriting and the creative process. She has not died but evolved to become a music titan in a ruthless industry that is so demanding of its subjects.

Miss Americana is a brand new documentary that looks to go behind the curtain and show audiences a personal look at Taylor Swift. Lana Wilson is clearly up to the task of telling this story, considering she directed the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet From Stardom just a few years ago. Wilson has a way of drawing you into her documentaries and making it feel like you are right there in the room with the subjects. There are moments in this documentary that feel a bit choppy like they wander from one subject to the next without exploring the subject matter entirely. However, as a documentary about Taylor Swift and her journey to the person she is today, it works well enough. Obviously, Taylor Swift is a megastar who I’ve looked up to for 12 years, but there is something so humanizing about the style of this documentary. Just as easily as she sells out an arena show, she deals with the everyday occurrences of transitioning into adulthood and confronting her thirties.

We get to see a lot of behind-the-scenes footage of Taylor in the studio. As a fan, I love to see what goes into the process behind some of my favorite songs. Even if you’re not a fan of her work, it will interest you to understand what events inspired the making of Reputation and Lover. It’s impressive to see how quickly she can put a song together in the studio.

It’s no secret that Taylor Swift has been at the center of media attention her whole career, but Miss Americana sheds light on the many ways it has affected her since teenage hood. Dubbed “The Good Girl” from her country debut, Taylor has strived to live up to everyone’s perfect image of her. She aims to please and doesn’t intend to let people down, but along the way living up to those expectations has dramatically affected every aspect of her life. There’s no way to live up to everyone’s sky-high expectations, and Taylor has to confront that reality to find peace.

There are intensely personal revelations throughout the documentary. In unflinching moments of honesty, she opens up that she struggled with an eating disorder due to the pressures of fame and looking perfect. It’s a heartbreaking revelation that is all too common these days. Hopefully, her voice can help other people who are struggling. The documentary also details her mother, Andrea’s cancer diagnosis, Taylor’s sexual assault trial, and the decision to endorse Democratic candidates in the 2018 primaries. One of the central themes throughout Miss Americana is finding one’s voice after letting others dictate how you live for most of your life. Taylor Swift is living on her terms, unafraid to Speak Now (true fans get the reference), and it’s good to see her entirely in control of her narrative.

Fame is a double edged sword. Miss Americana illustrates that fact through the narrative of Taylor Swift’s career path. She has some of the most loyal fans and intense detractors in the world. Whether you’re a fan or simply a casual viewer, Miss Americana will keep your attention. It’s an engaging documentary about fame, creativity, and the double standards of the entertainment industry.
My Rating: 8/10