Melania, the new documentary about the U.S. First Lady Melania Trump that premiered Thursday, is drawing sharply contrasting reactions. Professional critics have slammed the film, giving it a 8% on Rotten Tomatoes, while ordinary viewers have embraced it, with audience ratings currently at 99%.
Directed by Brett Ratner, who previously worked on the Rush Hour franchise, the film chronicles Melania Trump’s life in the 20 days leading up to her husband’s 2025 inauguration.
It offers a glimpse into her routines, from attending public events and reviewing White House décor to consulting with her long-time stylist Hervé Pierre. The documentary also touches on personal struggles, including her grief over her mother’s death in January 2024.
Donald Trump appears sparingly, largely praising his wife in brief private moments.
Instead, the focus remains on Melania’s small circle of confidants, including France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron, with whom she discusses youth anxiety and social media, and other advisers who help plan the family’s move into the White House.
Critics have dismissed the film as overly staged and slow.
Variety called it “so orchestrated and airbrushed that it barely rises to the level of a shameless infomercial,” while The Guardian described it as “pure, endless hell.”
The Atlantic criticised the pacing, noting that Ratner “seems desperate to find action, but there is none.”
By contrast, viewers have praised the film’s quieter moments.
Many described it as thoughtful and inspiring, highlighting Melania’s composure, attention to detail, and reflections on balancing her public duties with family life.
The documentary’s release has not been without controversy.
Critics questioned the timing, coinciding with nationwide protests following fatal federal agent shootings in Minneapolis, and scrutinised Amazon’s investment, reportedly $75 million for rights and marketing.
Some advertisements were vandalised, and review-bombing appeared on social media.
Despite the backlash, many viewers note that 'Melania' provides an unusual window into the First Lady’s private life and her navigation of the public spotlight.
“As First Lady, the real nobility is becoming stronger than the person I was yesterday,” she reflects in the film, offering a personal perspective that viewers, rather than critics, appear to value most.
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The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday made public more than three million pages of documents on Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender, including investigative records referencing U.S. President Donald Trump, tech mogul Elon Musk and Britain’s former Duke of York.
Catherine O’Hara, the celebrated Canadian actress and comedy legend, has died at the age of 71, her publicist confirmed on Friday. She passed away at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.
The Kremlin said on Friday (30 January) that Russian President had received a personal request from his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump. The request was to halt strikes on Kyiv until 1 February to create a favourable environment for peace negotiations.
Bangladesh and Pakistan on Thursday (29 January) resumed direct flight services after 14 years, marking a milestone in the revival of relations between the two Muslim-majority nations.
Iran’s armed forces are prepared to “immediately and powerfully” respond to any U.S. attack, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said, as American military assets arrived in the Middle East amid renewed tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.
“The decision is made that the Qamishli air base is not needed anymore,” political analyst Dmitry Bridzhe said, as Russia begins withdrawing forces from its facility in northeastern Syria amid shifts in the country’s political and security landscape.
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American rapper Ye, formerly Kanye West, has apologised for his past antisemitic remarks in a full-page Wall Street Journal ad, attributing his behaviour to an undiagnosed brain injury and bipolar disorder.
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Hermès menswear designer Véronique Nichanian presented her final collection on Saturday at Paris Fashion Week, ending nearly four decades in the role as she prepares to hand it over to British designer Grace Wales Bonner.
The Zigong International Lantern Festival has opened in southwest China, drawing large crowds to hundreds of illuminated handmade displays ahead of the Lunar New Year on 17 February and the start of the Year of the Horse.
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