Welcome to another edition of the “The Valero Verdict” movie review. In this I will give you a quick movie review with a couple of bullet points of which I either liked or disliked. I will end the review with rating of the movie and a short overall thoughts.

On the docket today, the Netflix documentary about Taylor Swift, Americana.

Plot: A look at iconic pop artist Taylor Swift during a transformational time in her life as she embraces her role as a singer/songwriter and harnesses the full power of her voice.

I am a huge Taylor Swift fan. I had the opportunity to see her live and it was one of the best concerts I have ever been to. I was excited when I heard this documentary was going to happen because although we see a lot of Tay Tay, we’ve seen this side of her before.

Swift rise to the top was a fast one and life as she knew it was changed forever. As we see the growth, we see that the trouble that entails of being a star. We saw the Kayne West debacle and how that affected her. We also see how as her stardom rises and she conforms to what everyone else wanted her to be.

When you are a young woman growing within this massive industry, you have to walk around on egg shells with an understanding that you are one wrong answer away from disappearing. So as she walked on those egg shells, so many people wanted to put her in a specific box and she let them do just that. We saw version of Taylor, that Taylor herself wasn’t proud of. The versions that she had succumbed to society and pressure from the ever changing world.

The pain in her eyes when she finds out she wasn’t nominated in the big categories for the Grammy’s, that ripped me in two.

We all want acceptance, from everyone. Swift shows she’s just like the rest of us, human. Once we get to that point in life when we aren’t the cool kid anymore, it stings.

I believe that moment on the couch, hearing the words that she wasn’t nominated was one the best moments of her life. She jumped straight out of that box everyone had put her in and slowly starts to become the woman she was meant to be.

Watching the comeback transpire in this film was beautiful. The behind the scenes of watching the album be made and watching her in her element of creation was inspirational.

Within this transition we see a side of Taylor that had been hidden by so many for a lot of years. The political side of her. She stood her ground against those who didn’t want her to speak out and it was one of those moments that all little girls (and boys) could watch and truly be inspired.

When she hit post, you saw a glow on her face that I don’t think we have ever seen from her before. It was a freeing feeling (I know what that feels like, it’s amazing).

I think this is only the beginning of what is to come for Taylor Swift and I think like the rest of you, I am here for it.

Awards Potential: Best Documentary.

The Verdict:

**** 1/2 out of ***** stars

This was a raw inside look into how often times young woman can be controlled by the system within music.



I for one am very glad that Swift broke free of the box she was put in.



Between talking eating disorder, boys, and keeping her mouth shut. Taylor Swift is helping pave the next generation of little girls to have a voice.



This documentary is phenomenal.

Should You See It?: Yes. This truly needs to be watched by all. It’s an inspirational look at how the music business could’ve killed a little girl but instead unleashed an amazing woman.

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