The Melania documentary has received mixed reviews upon its release. Here is a look inside the production and reception of this project.
The First Lady of the United States released her documentary, “Melania: Twenty Days to History,” in January. While having strong numbers at the box office in its opening weekend, the film hasn’t been a favorite among critics. This is because this so-called documentary isn’t even a documentary at all. The project is much more focused on aesthetics and cinematography than on worthwhile substance.
Producing propaganda
From the beginning, there were warning signs about the project’s lack of narrative. When the film was announced, it was revealed that the documentary was being produced by Muse Films– Mrs. Trump’s own production company. Melania Trump having control over the production meant that no actual investigative journalism would be taking place in this documentary.
In addition to the film’s production being entirely controlled by the Trump family, the project was also directed by Brett Ratner. This was Ratner’s first major project since 2017, when he was accused of sexual assault and rape by multiple women. Just this year, Ratner appeared in the Epstein files, cuddling with young women. This makes him a perfect addition to the Trump circle. Thankfully, Ratner was able to take some time off from harassing women to direct this documentary.
Bought by billionaires
Keeping it in the corrupt family, the film was bought and released by Amazon MGM Studios, a company that falls under the control of Jeff Bezos, who has become a recent welcome addition to the Trump sphere. Any hopes of this film containing a less-than-stellar portrait of any of the Trump family were out the window before the film even hit theaters.
Leading up to its release, the film benefited from a $35 million marketing campaign. This is practically unheard of for a documentary. With the massive amounts of money being poured into the project, critics accused the film of being a corporate bid for the president’s affection rather than for the project itself.
Let’s ask the audience
When Melania was finally released, the reaction was admittedly confusing. Some fans praised the film for its elegance, while critics argued that the film lacked substance. The film currently boasts a 98% audience score, with an 11% critic score.
The film opened with $7.2 million at the box office; this was quite an impressive opening for a documentary. Trump supporters celebrated the film’s success, pointing to its success as a testament to the Trump administration’s popularity. Right-wing outlets such as FOX News gloated about these opening numbers as proof that critics were wrong.
However, the film’s earnings quickly fell, earning a total of around $16 million– less than half the amount that was paid for the marketing alone. This suggests that the strong first-week sales were not a result of popularity but a result of the heavy-handed promotion. Because of the large amount of money spent to produce and promote the project, this movie is objectively a financial flop.
A peak behind the curtain
While the monetary failures of the film are obvious, the true failures of the project are not with ticket sales, but with the actual material presented within the ‘documentary’.
Melania follows the first lady’s preparation throughout the 20 days before her husband’s inauguration. With a beautiful, cinematic trailer, the project promises a peek behind the big golden curtain of the Trump family. However, the film devolves into shallow portrayals of the first lady choosing what outfits she would like to wear.
While admittedly shot well, the film suffers from this lack of substance. Rather than questioning the decisions and motives of the subject, the film makes Melania appear polished and poised, almost otherworldly in her elegance.
The non-documentary
Melania offers a perfect excuse for avid Trump fans to continue supporting the administration. However, for those who have yet to be brainwashed by the reigning administration, the film will be met with an eye roll and sigh.
The issue with this documentary isn’t due to its lack of audience intrigue. In fact, with the current state of American media, any access to the current administration will spark curiosity. However, the film suffers from the same problem as the Trump empire: style with no substance. The film acts less as an artful investigation into the Trump family and more as an ATM to accept bribes from billionaires hoping to buy favor within the administration.
Marketing a project as a documentary promises the audience a certain level of investigation. Instead, Melania: Twenty Days To History operates as a carefully curated campaign for the Trump Administration. This project is not a documentary; it is government propaganda, created and paid for by Trump’s inner circle of abusive and powerful individuals. If you are looking for a film entirely devoid of substance, Melania is for you.
