Milli Vanilli (2023)
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Robert Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan became fast friends during their youth in Germany. With Rob coming from a broken home and Fab having left an abusive household, they shared a similar upbringing, as well as a future goal: to become famous superstars. In a few short years, their dreams came true. Their first album, "Girl You Know It's True", went platinum six times in 1989 and sold over 30 million singles worldwide. Rob and Fab, better known as Milli Vanilli, became the most popular pop duo in the late 1980s. However, their ascension to success came with a devastating price that ultimately brought their undoing. Featuring exclusive interviews with Rob and Fab, plus the real singers, record executives, and producer mastermind behind the con, this documentary pulls back the curtain on the story that we thought we knew, but didn't, and delivers a compelling look at the price of fame and the opportunistic commodification of artists. - Actors:
- Rob Pilatus, Fabrice Morvan, Carmen Pilatus, Frank Farian, Rob Sheffield, Gil Kaufman, Toby Gad, Ingrid Segieth, Brad Howell, Charles Shaw, Linda Rocco, Jodie Rocco, Thomas Stein, Downtown Julie Brown, Tim Mosley, Stephen Hill, John Davis, Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib, Ken Levy, Mitchell Cohen
- Directors:
- Luke Korem
- Producers:
- Rafael Britto, Bradley Jackson, Luke Korem, Alexandre Martin
- Aka:
- o
- Genres:
- Documentary, Music & Musicals, Special Interest
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Reviews (1) of Milli Vanilli
Fascinating documentary on Milli Vanilli and the manipulative, exploitative music business - Milli Vanilli review by PV
I do not usually watch documentary movies. I do watch some on the music business because I have had connections with it.
We all know the music biz is a shark-infested ocean, and new artists have to sign contracts which are often pretty exploitative - the alternative is walking away and going back to working in MaccyD's or whatever. So you sign. Then later, if successful, you regret it. Some try to make it good and fail (George Michael). Contracts are contracts.
Frank Farian is a fascinating character. Born 1941 (died 2024) his father was killed in the war. He was a small-time pop star in Germany in 1960s THEN blossomed as a svengali figure, the brains behind Boney M in 1970s who sang on several of their massive hits (I have a soft spot for Ra ra Rasputin). he created the band from dancers who did not sing on the records. I hear reports a couple of the women sang but here it says they did not, so not sure.
Anyway, amazing no-one wondered re Milli Vanilli lip-synching considering the Boney M history. This cautionary tale is tragic indeed for some (though how much they were damaged anyway before joining one will never know) though I liked the end of this film and story, which was full of hope.
Some great old film and TV clips here. And this is ALL pre internet in late 80s of course - kids now think life without it is impossible, but there was TV and MTV, and magazines. so no need for smartphones or the internet to create hype. This made me research the story and characters further, the 2 band members and Frank Farian and Boney M.
One sore point: some here make the claim it is black artists who are exploited by white record companies and producers. That is a typical race-fixated American take on things. The fact is EVERYBODY is exploited and manipulated by record companies and producers - the skin colour does not matter (and more a socio-economic class issue anyway).
4 stars.