Miley Cyrus is on a mission.
That much is clear after watching the MTV documentary that followed her through the recording of her Bangerz album, from the day “We Can’t Stop” debuted on radio, to the night of her much-discussed VMA performance and beyond. Needless to say, it’s a pretty remarkable journey; one that’s even more amazing considering Miley is making all the calls … and continuing to get them right.
At every point along the way, Cyrus makes it clear that Bangerz is more than a mere album; it’s her declaration of independence, her attempt at pushing pop music forward, not to mention the opening salvo in her bid to conquer the world. Most artists would shy away from those kind of sentiments; then again, most artists aren’t her.
“It’s an army, moving at once, pushing the boundaries, being new and creative,” she tells the camera. “It’s bigger than just a record, it represents taking over the world.”
It’s little wonder, then, to learn that she came up with the title of the film. To her, this really is a Movement, and she’s prepared to work overtime to make it happen. That ambition is one of the most revealing aspects of the film; Miley is an avowed perfectionist, an artist who rarely takes the easy route and never settles for second-best (“If you’re not first, you’re last,” is how she puts it). She battles sickness and sleepless nights, criss-crosses the country to perform on television programs, takes a hands-on approach to just about everything involved in the production of Bangerz, from Mike WiLL’s beats to the artwork inside the liner notes. If she relinquishes any creative control, you certainly don’t see it in the film.
And here’s the thing: You get the she wouldn’t have it any other way. Sure, she’s got a team around her, but this is her mission, her movement. She’s calling all the shots, and she’s not about to let anyone else raise their voice. “Miley: The Movement” is less of a behind-the-scenes expose as it is a portrait of a supremely driven artist on a quest to change the world. Or, as Miley puts it:
“I was born to become who I am right now. … I’m at a point in my career where I can be exactly what I want to be, who I want to be. I have this freedom to do whatever I want.”
And who’s going to tell her otherwise?
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