Mainstream (2021)

There is not many good things to say about this misguided film so let me start with this. Andrew Garfield's performance may be the best thing about this experience. Maybe, too bad his character is as shallow as he is underdeveloped. I don't think there was one likeable character in this somehow overly long movie. Nat Wolff's Jake possibly the only nice person but we don't really know enough about him to pass a judgement. We know he's a pushover! Most aggravating is Maya Hawke's uselessness. This film could have erased her character and the same message would have got across; INTERNET = BAD. Her character is supposed to be an artist who's aspiring to greatness and after crossing this enigmatic cutie (Garfield), decides his mindless ranting will take center stage of her YouTube channel. The online world this film presents is dominated by YouTube and major players Tic Tok and Twitch don't make one appearance. Considering this film was made in 2019 and not released until today, it's commentary already feels dated. Once she discovers the real him the revelation simultaneously occurs that she's no longer an artist but part of the money-machine... Something like that. I was too distracted by the bad editing and writing. Though, the cinematography was solid. I'll give Autumn Durald kudos for her neon soaked vision of LA.

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