Billie Eilish's new concert film, Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), delivers an immersive 3D experience that transforms the concert-going experience. Co-directed by Eilish and three-time Academy Award winner James Cameron, the film captures her performance at Manchester's Co-op Live arena, where she appears to levitate above a cube of LED screens. The 3D magic begins with the midtempo track 'Chihiro,' a house-influenced song from her latest album.
A Unique Collaboration
Cameron, known for his work on the Avatar franchise, proposed the idea after contacting Eilish's mother, Maggie Baird, through a shared interest in plant-based diets and environmentalism. While Cameron's production company has produced concert films before, this marks his first time directing one. The technical challenges of 3D concert filming appealed to Cameron, and the partnership with Eilish, a fellow industry outlier, proves successful.
Eilish's Film Background
Eilish is no stranger to film, having been the subject of the 2021 documentary Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry and the concert film Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles. However, this is her first time co-directing a feature. Unlike her earlier documentary, which chronicled her rise, Hit Me Hard and Soft focuses on the concert film format while pushing its boundaries.
Immersive Experience
While no film can fully replicate a live concert, this one works an immersive magic. Every seat feels like the best in the house, with common concert film issues resolved. Audience members are celebrated as characters, their voices heard clearly—sniffling, screams, cheers, and off-key sing-alongs sometimes overshadow Eilish's vocals, mimicking the crowd experience. In 3D, the minimalist set gains tangibility. Fans see Eilish jump through trap doors, hook into safety harnesses, chug water, dance off-screen, become teary-eyed, and embrace her band mates. At nearly two hours, the runtime passes quickly, like a thrilling ride that feels too short.
Behind-the-Scenes Insights
The film offers new insights for fans, with cameras taking them backstage and underneath the stage. Early on, viewers see the tour's opening scene, then experience it again from Eilish's perspective. In other moments, Cameron appears on screen with Eilish as she co-directs, giving the film the intimacy of a behind-the-scenes DVD extra. This compelling approach demonstrates an understanding of a dedicated pop music audience, where accessibility is key.
'You're like a tuning fork,' Cameron tells Eilish in one scene. 'And they're hitting the same beats.'
Minimal Narrativizing
The film avoids excessive narrativizing, which often ruins fine films. Eilish is shown backstage strengthening her ankle after a sprain, highlighting the physicality of her performance. In another scene, she plays with puppies, a brief reminder of her animal rights activism. These are welcome breaks but not totally memorable. The film's strength lies in Eilish on stage, not in interview interludes.
Performance Style
Eilish has long performed solo on stage, and the film reveals her desire to mimic a hip-hop performance, where a rapper commands a stage with just a microphone, songs, and charisma. 'I just wanted the freedom of being a guy running around,' she tells Cameron. The subsequent performance of 'Bury a Friend' from her first record, a song with hip-hop-influenced production, showcases how influence creates innovation.
Minor Flaws
The only faltering moment is a candid conversation about desirability and femininity followed by the Oscar-winning Barbie theme 'What Was I Made For?' Other songs in Eilish's discography might have driven the point home with more subtlety. However, the moment passes, leaving big songs and bigger emotions. When a fan in the front row wails, 'Billie! Billie! Billie,' with tears and a handmade sign asking for a hug, the viewer hopes Eilish makes eye contact and offers a healing moment. 'I understand that need and that desperation,' Eilish says, describing herself as a superfan. 'I want to be the artist I would want to be a fan of.'
Conclusion
Concert films are made for loyal listeners: to relive the night, experience it for the first time, or revel in being a face in the crowd. That goes for Eilish as well. 'To get to see these close up, beautiful, 3D shots of these fans who I would never have gotten to see have that emotional reaction,' she told the Associated Press, 'I feel really grateful for that gift.' Spoken like a true fan.
Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), a Paramount Pictures release in theaters Friday, is rated PG-13 for strong language and suggestive references. Running time: 114 minutes. Three stars out of four.
