Nearly two years after it was recorded, Lady Gaga's Chromatica Ball film is finally here -- and it was worth the wait.
Filmed at the Los Angeles stop of her 2022 tour supporting her 2020 album Chromatica, Gaga is still on fire -- not just due to the extensive pyrotechnics present throughout the show.
As the Gaga: Chromatica Ball special opens, it is noted that Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium is flooded with "52,344 Monsters," all present to witness the "Poker Face" singer in all her glory. The visuals that are animated over aerial shots of the stadium almost resemble an alien force taking over the venue, which Gaga does accomplish in her own, unique way.
When the Grammy winner officially takes the stage, she is a great distance from the audience. Looming above her dancers on her brutalist-inspired set for the 2022 tour, audiences now have a close-up view of Mother Monster performing her greatest hits.
Lady Gaga has proven she can excell in any medium. Throughout her various performances on tour, film, television, and in the recording studio, she can blend into any task she faces. The Chromatica Ball's translation from 20-city mega-tour to HBO concert special is no exception.
The new film, out Saturday on HBO and Max, was announced nearly two years after the tour took place and four years after the original album dropped. Amid writing her new album and filming the upcoming Joker sequel, the "Edge of Glory" songstress meticulously directed, produced, and created the special herself.
The result is a thrilling two-hour spectacle, where Gaga infuses her award-winning film skills with her signature live performance expertise. Fifteen years into touring, it truly does not get old seeing Lady Gaga perform new and old hits. Even songs like "Bad Romance" and "Just Dance," which open the concert, feel as fresh as ever as Gaga takes them to exciting new heights.
While comparisons to fellow pop queens Taylor Swift and Beyoncé feel unnecessary, the new movie stands tall with the blockbuster concert films that have recently been released. The film provides audiences with the full experience of what 2022 attendees were fortunate enough to witness, with no songs cut from the setlist.
As evidenced in the new special, Lady Gaga's presence is truly like no other. The "Applause" singer barely breaks a sweat as she shreds open her heart for the audience. Her hyper-focused mindset while taking the stage is truly a marvel to witness up close in the special.
The lack of an intricate set should not go unnoticed. The stage, a harsh landscape of gray architecture, leaves it up to Gaga and her dancers to keep their audience enthralled for 30 songs, each split up into six acts. The visual interludes between acts, directed by Daniel Sannwald and Nick Knight, are also a treat to see in high definition.
Among the performances, "Always Remember Us This Way" shows itself as a huge highlight in the live capture. The song has long been overshadowed by A Star Is Born's "Shallow," but Gaga's ability to make an oversized stadium feel like her living room during the piano ballad is an awe-inspiring wonder here.
Songs like "Born This Way" and "Angel Down" still feel particularly poignant two years later, featuring the singer and activist fearlessly calling out government mandates on women's bodies, race issues, and prejudice against the LGBTQIA+ community.
As the concert ends with Gaga's Top Gun: Maverick song "Hold My Hand," Little Monsters in the crowd are displayed, overcome with emotion. Cameras pan over a sea of fans, all coming together after the shared experience of seeing the musical icon live. You could say they felt Gaga reaching out her hand for them to hold onto, an emotion that is perfectly encapsulated in the HBO special.
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