Melania Trump Documentary Flops in Sydney Debut,Draws Sparse Crowds
Amazon’s $75 million film on Melania Trump opened to a virtually empty cinema in Sydney,Australia,signaling a possibly disastrous reception for the highly anticipated – and already controversial – project.
The atmosphere at Hoyts on Sydney’s northern beaches was described as “horrific” on Friday afternoon, with the screening relegated to the back corner of the theatre, resembling a “weird leftover table at a wedding.” Just eight people attended the showing, a stark contrast to the cinema’s 150-person capacity. Attendees included a couple, an elderly woman, several middle-aged men, and the author of this report.
initial screenings slated for 11 a.m. were unexpectedly canceled due to a miscommunication regarding Amazon MGM Studios’ worldwide embargo, delaying any viewings until 4 p.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time. This meant that fewer than 100 people in the city of Sydney,po
The author admitted to initially disliking Melania Trump,confessing to having “laughed about her weird,oversized hats and periodically indulged in conspiracy theories that she has been replaced by a lookalike.” Despite this, the author acknowledged that personal feelings shouldn’t preclude viewing a documentary, drawing a parallel to enjoying the Tiger King series despite a lack of admiration for its central figure.
Though, the film’s direction by Brett Ratner, who has faced multiple accusations of sexual misconduct (which he denies), raised concerns about potential bias. The project was described as “hard to view as anything othre than a propaganda exercise: the president’s Battleship Potemkin.”
The viewing experience itself proved underwhelming. The author instantly regretted not purchasing popcorn, hoping for at least one form of entertainment. The first ten minutes were described as “excruciatingly slow,” consisting primarily of Melania Trump entering vehicles,boarding planes,and offering monotone greetings.
The film then featured a voiceover from the former First Lady: “Everyone wants to know, so hear it is indeed, 20 days in my life, family, business, philanthropy and becoming first lady of the United States again.” Subsequent scenes depicted Melania trump trying on outfits, reviewing an inauguration dinner menu, and consulting with an interior designer about White House furnishings. The film, according to the author, bordered on being “the ultimate trad wife film,” albeit one in which Melania Trump did not perform any domestic tasks herself, instead directing others.
Interactions between Melania and Donald Trump were described as notably strange. In one scene, she responded robotically to her husband’s excited discussion of his Electoral College vote count, saying, “That’s a good one,” followed by a curt, “bye, congrats.” Another scene featured a brief discussion about their son,Baron,with Melania stating poetically,”I love him,he has an amazing mind.”
The author admitted to leaving the cinema twice to use the restroom and repeatedly checking the time, finding it difficult to beleive how little of the film had passed. The final portion of the documentary focused on the inauguration itself, prompting a cinema-goer to remark, “That’s the hat,” referencing Melania Trump’s distinctive outfit. The most animated she appeared was during a performance of “YMCA” at the final ball, displaying a rare moment of genuine delight. Otherwise, her demeanor was described as either “robotic or furious.”
Upon exiting the cinema, the author felt a sense of having “not only learned nothing but lost brain cells.” When asked for her opinion, the elderly woman exclaimed, “I loved it, wow!”
Further conversation with the couple who attended revealed a mixed reaction. While fans of both Trump and Melania, they found the film to be overly promotional.”It’s not as insightful as I thought it would be,” one said. The other added, “I’ve loved Melania for 15 years … and I feel like it was made to make Trump look better. As much as it was for her, it was for him.”
Isn’t everything.
