Starsuckers (2009)

Starsuckers Poster

Starsuckers is the most controversial documentary of the year, and was released in British cinemas in November 2009 to critical acclaim. It's a darkly humourous and shocking exposé of the celebrity obsessed media, that uncovers the real reasons behind our addiction to fame and blows the lid on the corporations and individuals who profit from it.

Introduction
"Starsuckers" is a 2009 British documentary directed by Chris Atkins that takes a deep, important look at society's increasing fascination with celebs. The documentary challenges the hegemony of celeb culture by exposing how it is built, managed, and commodified.

Overview
The documentary opens by portraying the omnipresence of stars in the modern world, followed by an exploration of how star infatuation starts from a young age. Atkins points out that kids are exposed to celebs at an early age, which is often a deliberate technique by corporations to cultivate consumerism.

The Celebrity Industry
"Starsuckers" critically analyses the celeb market, exposing how tabloid papers and public relations firms often make stories to maintain and increase the general public presence of stars. The documentary exposes that frequently, these stories lack credibility and compound, but are popular since they interest the general public's voyeuristic tendencies.

Exploration of the Influence of Celebrities
The succeeding areas of the film divulges how celebrities, through their enormous impact, often sidetrack the population from serious societal issues. Atkins submits that celebrity culture buries journalism under the weight of trivialities and draws spotlight away from political and social discussions that really matter. It illustrates the disproportionate coverage offered to celebrities compared to important social problems, suggesting adjustment by traditional media.

The Consequences of Fame
"Starsuckers" also highlights the dark side of fame, detailing how celebrities are frequently victims of media invasion and public scrutiny, which can cause the wear and tear of their mental health. It argues that despite the perceived glamour and advantages of fame, the costs to personal privacy, and subsequently mental wellness, are high.

Scam Stories and Public Response
In an adventurous experiment, the documentary team feed incorrect star stories to tabloid papers, positioning a question on journalistic principles. Astoundingly, a few of these stories are published without fact-checking, echoing the documentary's claim about the lack of authenticity in much of celebrity news.

Conclusion
"Starsuckers" concludes with an impassioned plea for a shift in social focus far from celebs towards more important problems, advising the audience to critique the dominance of celeb culture critically. The documentary ends with a moral indictment of the business entities that considerably benefit from the relatively unending public interest in celebs.

Analysis and Reception
"Starsuckers" has actually been hailed as a thought-provoking documentary that challenges the modern worship of stars. Although it has actually been slammed for its uncompromising method, it has actually gotten appreciation for its efforts to notify and enlighten the general public about the realities of celeb culture.

In conclusion, "Starsuckers" is a powerful documentary that examines the fabrication of celebrity culture and its impacts on society. It astutely asks its audience to concern and challenge the culture of pervasive celebrity praise, welcoming them to focus their attention on considerable societal problems.

Top Cast

  • Rupert Degas (small)
    Rupert Degas
    Narrator (voice)
  • Ellis Cashmore
    Self - Professor - Staffordshire University
  • Max Clifford
    Self
  • Richard Curtis (small)
    Richard Curtis
    Self (archive footage)
  • Josef d'Bache-Kane
    Self
  • Nick Davies
    Self - Author
  • Charlotte de Barker
    Self - Staffordshire University
  • Park Dietz (small)
    Park Dietz
    Self - Forensic Psychiatrist
  • Emma Freud
    Self (archive footage)
  • Robert Galinsky
    Self
  • Bob Geldof (small)
    Bob Geldof
    Self (archive footage)