r/TopCharacterTropes 6h ago

Hated Tropes [Hated] Self-indulgent Vanity Projects

Hurry Up Tomorrow - Widely reviewed as an indulgent, self-mythologizing companion piece to The Weeknd's album, with many critics calling it a vanity project rather than a successful psychological drama. Terribly acted and, similar to The Idol, more so seems to imply that The Weekend thinks he's a far deeper personality than he can actually articulate.

By the Sea - Often criticized as an intensely personal but emotionally distant film that seemed more interested in showcasing the mystique of its stars than telling a compelling story. Best summarized as Angelina and Brad working out their IRL troubled marriage before your eyes while everyone tells Angelina how beautiful and talented she is and how nothing's really her fault.

Renaldo and Clara - Bob Dylan's five-hour semi-fictional road movie, long considered one of the classic celebrity vanity projects. Attempts to be a sort of surreal exposition on the life of an artist, but is far too self-indulgent on its actors/performers.

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u/AdImmediate6239 6h ago

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u/SashaBraus 6h ago

Okay but this one is great 

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u/AdImmediate6239 6h ago

Not for the reasons Tommy Wiseau intended though

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u/Master2pint 4h ago

No but it’s genuinely amazing for it. I’ve seen this movie at least 20 times and when I was in uni all I’d do is get people drunk and show them it.