Watching Hollywood stare at itself in Screen Snapshots, Series 10, No. 10

Is it worth your time?

If you're the type who gets a kick out of seeing 1930s icons eating sandwiches in the grass, then yes. This isn't a narrative film; it’s a series of candid-ish shots of people who were famous before the internet existed. If you want a plot, you’ll be bored in thirty seconds. Go watch Roaring Rails instead if you need something moving.

Honestly, it feels like watching someone's home movies, but the people in the background are faces you’ve seen on old posters. There’s a specific stillness to these clips that you just don't get with modern paparazzi footage. It’s almost unnerving.

The vibe is... strange.

The whole thing has this grainy, flickering texture that makes everyone look like they’re being beamed in from a dream. You keep waiting for a line of dialogue, but you just get soft, upbeat music and the occasional awkward wave at the camera. It’s like the stars are being forced to smile at their own fans, and you can see the effort.

There’s this one moment where an actor—I couldn't even tell you who—trips over a picnic blanket. It’s not funny, but it’s so human. The camera doesn't cut away. It just keeps rolling like it's waiting for them to get back into character.

• The lighting is pure, harsh California sun.
• The fashion is confusingly beige.
• Nobody seems to know what to do with their hands.

It’s not as dramatic as the schemes in The Stranglers of Paris, obviously. But there’s a low-key tension here. It’s the tension of seeing people act like 'normal' people, which is the one thing they were clearly terrible at.

I found myself wondering if they were happy or just waiting for the lunch break to end. The movie doesn't tell you. It just shows you a hat, a smile, and then a quick fade to black. Maybe it’s better that way. Sometimes, I think about this stuff more than actual movies with real budgets. It’s messy, unpolished, and completely pointless. Exactly how it should be. 🎞️