The A-Listers Talk About Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (2023)

From the couple who see a lot of movies because they have AMC A-List.

Patrick: Taylor, we should not be covering this movie in this column. First of all, it's spooky season on FeaturePresentationVideo.com! Second, we couldn't see this film as A-Listers because it's the smash hit of the year and is, obviously, excluded from A-List. So we sat there like any other schmuck. How embarrassing! Don't they know who we are!

Taylor: There are a few things there I want to speak on. First, you say it isn't spooky, but have you even seen the ritualistic Midsommar recreation that happened during an Eras Tour screening? I have chills just thinking about it. Second, while it did hurt to be just like every other plebian there, I have to give credit where credit is due. The manager of our local AMC must have instilled the fear of God into their employees in preparation for this weekend because they were as stocked, prepared, and helpful as ever! I could not believe it! 

Patrick: I even saw people cleaning a theater! We had a really nice experience overall. Everyone was there to have a good time, but no one needed to bother anyone else to make that happen. Friendship bracelets were exchanged, plenty of screaming was screamed, and plenty of singing was sung, but it was either chill or drowned out by the IMAX speakers.

Taylor: I have to say that I was very nervous about this screening. I don't think saying I was dreading it would be accurate, but it was certainly weighing on my mind. 

Patrick: Why is that?

Taylor: You see, Taylor (Swift) and I have a lot in common. First of all, our names. Second, we share the same lucky number of 13, (mine came from a myriad of softball jerseys being that number, if you care). And third, we're both a little boy crazy, (I say with love and respect). I really loved her so much growing up and she was truly an essential part of my life's soundtrack for many, many years. That said, my relationship with her music has changed, and my fandom has changed. I don't consider myself a "Swiftie" - just a person who finds her old music nostalgic and her new music catchy. Because the fandom has become so passionate, I felt nervous that I would be an outsider or that I would be sitting smack in the middle (seat 13, can you believe it?) of the theater not singing along to half the music and someone would confront me about being a fake fan. That's a little dramatic, admittedly, but I have anxiety, okay? But it was actually SO pleasant. Our entire row seemed to be semi-fans just like me, hoping to relive a little childhood, and the die-hards enjoyed their time differently, but separately. It really just exceeded every expectation. 

Patrick: Yeah, I'm not entirely sure how we ended up in the only completely chill row. I mean from aisle to aisle, not a single person got up the entire time. (Not even to go to the bathroom! It's long!) We definitely had our fair share of Swifties in our Friday night screening. The little girls in the front row realized that everyone was also looking at them if they were looking at the screen, so they put on a little performance. A group a few rows ahead of us knew all the beats and had clearly been to the show, or had at least studied the hell out of it on TikTok. And when a boyfriend behind us did have to go the bathroom, his girlfriend literally made him run back and forth. 

Taylor: When this tour was announced, I casually floated the idea of going with you. We soon realized that it just simply wasn't realistic. Not only was it insanely expensive, but we would have also had to travel a decent way. Considering the amount of tour merch I saw, it's safe to assume this wasn't everyone's first rodeo with the Eras tour, but for someone like me who wanted to go and couldn't, it was perfect. 

Patrick: Yeah, we were pretty much the only people merchless. I don't really have much of a relationship with Taylor Swift (though I did realize there are a few of her albums I think are really fun), so I bought these tickets so you could see the Eras Tour on the biggest screen possible. Did it live up to a year's worth of hype? 

Taylor: It did! It especially made me happy that you seemed to be enjoying yourself. You were always engaged and bopping along (to be fair, I did a good bit of just bobbing along as well, especially with her newer albums). The thing that really, really soured me though...was the fact that she only played ONE SONG from Speak Now! I mean, WHAT THE HELL IS THAT ABOUT? I like "Enchanted" as much as the next gal, but where is my "Mine" or "Back to December" or Mean" or "The Story of Us" or "Better Than Revenge"? "LAST KISS?" "LONG LIVE?!?!" Just horrendous. Really they should be ashamed. That album is my favorite - it's so GOOD!

Patrick: I did enjoy myself! Somewhat. I would like to give you my rankings of the Eras...

Taylor: Oooooh, let's hear it!

Patrick: 1989, Red, Fearless, Reputation, Lover, Midnights, Speak Now, Folklore, Evermore. 

Taylor: Now, to clarify, did you rank these based on her performance of each on this tour or the holistic albums themselves?

Patrick: I don't know anything about her! I like 1989 and Red because those songs are fun and I knew them already. You're right, Speak Now didn't get a fair shot. And that woodsy shit sucks! (Sorry!)

Taylor: I have to admit, I was not a fan of Folklore or Evermore when they came out. That said, watching this movie made me realize that Folklore isn't actually half bad. I might listen to it again and see if it still resonates without the visual. But I still really don't like Evermore. Sue me!

Patrick: I honestly thought it was a shame because those two sets dragged it down so much for me. I just don't get it. Which is weird, because I was otherwise totally convinced watching the film. It's pretty fun! I’ll never really “like” it, but I didn’t even “get” it before. I get it now. It’s dope. And very impressive.

Taylor: I'm really glad to hear that. Now, to address the elephant in the room... Everyone is dying to know your thoughts on Tay and Trav. Would you say that "Sparks Fly" between them? Are they connected by an "Invisible String?" Could he really be her lifelong "Lover?"

Patrick: I still don't understand what Jake Gyllenhaal did wrong!

Taylor: .......