Mainstream
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Maya Hawke, Nat Wolff
Directed By: Gia Coppola
Rated: R
“You want to make art or chase affirmation from faceless strangers?”
Director Gia Coppola’s latest film, Mainstream, is a candy-coated takedown of influencer culture. The film follows Frankie (Maya Hawke), a young bartender hoping to make meaningful art that speaks to people. When she crosses paths with a street performer in L.A. dressed in a bear costume and making a scene, she films him and posts it online. She finds that his performance gets double the number of views than her usual posts. The man is Link (Andrew Garfield), an eccentric street performer who has a personal vendetta against cell phones. Link and Frankie team up to create art together, diving headfirst into the dark world of internet fame.
Mainstream has a lot to say about fame in today’s world. We live in an age where you can go viral, skyrocket to fame, and lose it all in an instant. Youtube has a million of these stories from Jake Paul to Tana Mongeau to Gabbie Hannah and Shane Dawson. The list goes on and on. At times, I think director Gia Coppola’s approach to the subject of internet fame is a bit simplistic and predictable. The film basically looks at the societal impact of influencer culture while yelling, “THIS IS BAD,” with a million emojis popping up along the way. However, for a movie that gets caught up in condemning influencer culture, I cannot understand the choice to cast Jake Paul in a cameo. For anyone who doesn’t follow Youtube drama (something that I sadly do), Jake Paul is essentially who the film is critiquing. I get that Link and Frankie are supposed to be surrounded by YouTube personalities to immerse the audience in the story but it’s a puzzling casting decision. (Let’s not give him any cameos in movies.)
Andrew Garfield carries Mainstream with a brash and bold performance that is unforgettable. Garfield has always had the ability to transform himself completely into a character from Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network to Sam in Under the Silver Lake. That’s the case yet again in Mainstream with his performance as Link. Link is eccentric and unpredictable. He has no filter, which leads to several embarrassing moments. He’s perfectly fit for an epic YouTuber meltdown that will lead to an apology for views. Garfield does it all here: dress up in animal costumes, host Youtube game shows, choreograph dances. My fellow Andrew Garfield fans, get ready for a crazy performance.
Maya Hawke is great as Frankie, a character desperately hoping to make art that speaks to people. Or is she just hoping to get more clicks? Hawke plays Frankie with a vulnerability that is raw and honest. As she gets caught up with Link, it’s easy to see how she gets swept into the world of fame.
Nat Wolff is the most grounded character in Mainstream as Jake, Frankie’s friend/fellow bartender. He doesn’t get caught up in Link’s wild world. I think they could’ve given his character a lot more to do throughout the film. As it is, he’s the “good guy” who rounds out the Link/Frankie/Jake love triangle. Nat Wolff is talented and could’ve been utilized more for the story.
This will undoubtedly be a divisive movie, but I have to give Gia Coppola props for stylistic choices. The musical cues fit the tone perfectly. Anytime a film can find a place for Grimes’ “Kill V. Maim” in a montage, I’m impressed. The score is equally electric. The visuals are also quite impressive. Cinematographer Autumn Durald makes L.A. the dreamy neon backdrop for Link and Frankie’s artistic dreams.
Mainstream is far from a perfect movie. It has editing and script issues that can’t be overlooked. However, this is an intriguing satire of influencer culture with an unforgettable lead performance. Also, if you’ve ever wanted to see Andrew Garfield do some choreographed dances, now is your chance.
My Rating: 6/10