I love Jennifer Lopez. And after watching the documentary Halftime, I love her even more. But I also have a whole new level of respect for her. Not just as a performer, but as a woman. Because Halftime shows us just how passionate she is. Again, not just as a performer, but as someone who has a platform and wants to use that platform for good. And I admire the heck out of her for being so open about it.
Halftime is partly a retrospective look at Jennifer Lopez’s career. But it’s also a behind the scenes look at the lead up to her co-headlining performance at the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show. It documents the announcement of Jennifer Lopez and Shakira as co-headliners, because god forbid a Latina woman be judged worthy of headlining on her own. It shows the intense rehearsal process, from initial concepts to the final rehearsal the day before the big game. And it shows the final triumphant performance itself and the much deserved celebratory aftermath, with headlines that shouted that Jennifer Lopez had “just won the Super Bowl.” Can’t say I disagree.
And all of this was happening against the lead up to the 2020 Oscars, where Jennifer Lopez was infamously snubbed for the Oscar nomination she so clearly deserved for her work in Hustlers. For the record, that headline in full was, “Jennifer Lopez Doesn’t Need an Oscar, She Just Won the Super Bowl.” While I agree with the enthusiasm behind that headline, I also think she needs an Oscar, stat. Her work in Hustlers was incredible.
There was a lot that I loved about this documentary. But what I will always vividly remember is the scene where she is presenting her ideas for the halftime show to a room full of NFL reps. She just sat there looking absolutely radiant, said I’m going to tell you our ideas for what we want to do and then you’re going to tell me how we’re going to do it, and then stared down a room full of middle aged white man like she was daring them to defy her. What an absolute boss. From now on, whenever I need to be tough at work, I’m just going to remind myself to be like Jennifer Lopez.
Suggestions for artists I should check out? Please contact me with your ideas. I hope you enjoyed your daily helping of art!
