Plot: What’s it about?
This is the inspiring, moving, heartwarming tale of a young woman who rises above the odds to succeed and of course, that woman is Mariah Carey…er…I mean Billie Frank (Mariah Carey). Her life has not been a serene, wonderful one by any means, but she continues to look to the future and work toward her goals, like a good little trooper. In the hard streets of New York City, she tries to crack into the music business, but even with a good voice, it seems like she will never be able to take her artistic visions to the next levels. But when she meets oily bohunk deejay Julian “Dice” Black (Max Beesley), her life takes some new turns and for the first time in a long while, there’s more positive than negative elements. The two form a partnership to enhance & elevate Billie’s musical talents, but of course, work soon turns into romance. Even as she gains popularity and gets closer to her dreams, Billie knows there is more she needs and must maintain what she already has, or risk losing all that is important to her…
One of the biggest bombs of 2001, Glitter never even had a chance with audiences and in truth, was doomed before it ever reached the cineplexes. I mean, Mariah Carey is simply not the draw she used to be and as far as her first cinematic leading role goes, I don’t think the crowds were waiting with bated breath, to say the least. But for those of you who love Mariah or just want to see a pop diva picture, you shouldn’t be too disappointed here. I never expected to like Glitter for even a second, but it was not as bad as everyone insisted. Yes, it is rather thin and never pushes the real issues at hand, but as far as light, brisk material is concerned, Glitter is no more transparent than most. It has no real message and is a vehicle for Mariah to sing & shake her ass, but if you don’t ask much from your flicks, you might not regret seeing this one. I found it to be slow and often dull, but had Mariah shook her ass a little more, I might have been more entertained. Even so, it is fun to watch Glitter and laugh at Mariah, as well as question who in the world thought this kind of picture would be a good idea.
This movie is a one woman show and Mariah Carey is that woman, but she simply lacks the tools to make it all fall into place. She looks damn good and sing her ass off, but once the cameras roll here, Mariah is not the diva she needs to be. Of course, the performance sequences work well and it is fun to look at her, but Mariah fails to command the screen as she should, since this is HER movie and all, right? I think if she had dropped the linens and played more on her sexuality, this would have panned out better, but she took a different approach. Carey and the filmmakers aimed this one at the ladies, who quickly turned the other direction and ignored Glitter. Mariah, learn from this mistake and next time (God forbid) you decide to make a motion picture, use your looks, body, and voice, instead of your acting talents. The cast of Glitter also includes Max Beesley (The Match, The Last Minute), Terrence Howard (The Player’s Club, Big Momma’s House), and of course, Da Brat (Kazaam, Rhyme & Reason).
Video: How does it look?
Glitter is presented in a 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with a full frame edition included on the disc’s flip side. This is a movie titled Glitter and as the name would imply, there’s a lot of glitter, sparkle, and shine to be seen here. Columbia is known for superb visual transfers and that reputation is upheld here, with a close to flawless presentation. The print is crystal clear and shows no flaws, which is to expected, since this made a quick leap from theaters to home video. The colors stream across the screen and never falter, while contrast is stark and right on the mark, a very impressive effort from Columbia here. A few small flaws keep the score from being maxed, but I doubt anyone will be let down with this transfer.
Audio: How does it sound?
This movie has a ton of musical content and as such, the included Dolby Digital 5.1 track is given a lot to work with. The music is very well presented, with expansive presence and a nice overall texture, never thin in the least. The non musical scenes have less punch of course, but are by no means bad, just more relaxed, as they should be handled. In the end, this mix never hits as well as some of the elite audio tracks, but it is a sizable cut above average, without a doubt. This disc also includes a French audio option, as well as English & French subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
I am pleased to see Columbia tack on some bonus materials, as it will enhance the experience for both of Glitter’s fans, I am sure. You’ll find two of Mariah’s music videos, some talent files, and the film’s theatrical trailer, but the fun doesn’t end there. An audio commentary track with director Vondie Curtis Hall is also found on this disc, but I have to wonder, why didn’t Miss Mariah record a session of her own? Hall provides a solid, more than acceptable commentary and remains on tact, but doesn’t touch on the more controversial topics, as I had expected.
