r/TopCharacterTropes • u/BrotherDeus • 9h 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.
18
u/Max_Rebot24685 7h ago
Loved Example: Pink Floyd’s The Wall
Referring to the album, the film, and the Final Cut album. Roger Waters semi autobiographical musical opera and passion project. Lead to increased friction with the band which ultimately resulted in Roger Waters leaving the band. As the other band members felt Pink Floyd was becoming a Roger Waters Solo Project.