I love a good movie star gossip column as much as the next person, but let’s face facts: There’s usually a lot of exaggeration, a lot of unnecessary slut-shaming, and a complete lack of research involved. While we all love to gossip about our favorite actors and actresses, let’s try to keep things a little more realistic, shall we?
Last week, the in-demand acting collective HAIM dropped their new album for #allwomen to enjoy and the accompanying movie premiered in theaters across the country. I’m sure many of you have already seen it. If you haven’t, you can still enjoy the movie (or watch it again on YouTube), which follows the adventures of four young women as they navigate friendships, love, and life in San Francisco.
While I certainly didn’t expect the album or the movie to be perfect, I was extremely impressed by how realistic they were being. From the way they presented female friendships to the way they navigated romantic entanglements to the struggles of being an independent woman, I felt like they captured the essence of what it means to be a millennial woman and exactly what attracted me to the album and movie in the first place.
Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
The Film
While it’s impossible to talk about the movie without giving away some dramatic plot twists, let’s just say that the trailer doesn’t do the movie justice. If the trailer is any indication of what’s to come, then you’re in for a real treat. Suffering from writer’s block, struggling with her feelings for a boy she met online, and finding her way in a city that seems to be populated by quirky, independent women who don’t take relationships or friendships lightly, Sofia, Annabelle, Ramona, and Alice (played by Hadley Holmes, Sibylla MacLaughlin, Olivia Taylor Dudley, and Kate Hudson, respectively) are going to have plenty to deal with. The cast, which also includes James Macavoy, Jessica Szewczyk, and Chris Parson, is headed by four fantastic young actresses who are going to bring their A-game, and I mean that literally. While they might not always be successful, they’re certainly going to try.
The Album
As I said, it’s impossible to discuss the album without revealing some major plot twists, but let’s just say that it doesn’t get any more real than that. Following suit with her usual A-game, director Raphael Bob-Ross takes a realistic approach to the music industry and gives us an inside look at how it really is. We’re not just talking about the craziness of superstitions, we’re talking about the down-to-earth realities. In keeping with the theme of the album and movie, the vocals are raw, the production is minimal, and there’s a real sense of intimacy and humor throughout. It’s an album that any woman—regardless of her place in the industry—could get lost in. If you haven’t already, go listen to it now. I know I’ve been singing along for the past several days.
The Overall Impression
If you’re looking for a podcast to listen to or a YouTube video to watch, you’d better hit the jackpot with this one. Not only do you get a great story and some incredible voices, but you also get an accurate portrayal of what it’s like to be a young woman today. From the way they present female friendships to the way they navigate romantic entanglements to the struggles of being an independent woman, I felt like they captured the essence of what it means to be a millennial woman.
While there will always be something magical about listening to an ensemble of talented young women harmonizing, I think that overall, this album and this story are going to be remembered as a real milestone in women’s music. If you’re looking for an album to help get you through these last few months of 2018 and into the new year, I don’t think there’s any question that this is the one to listen to. There aren’t many perfect albums coming out this year, but this one pretty much nails it.