Jennifer Lopez is all about getting loud.
The documentary “Halftime,” which was premiered at Tribeca Film Festival last Wednesday, has much to offer the artist. It will be available on Netflix starting Tuesday.
The film examines Lopez’s professional life, which includes the making and promotion of “Hustlers” as well as behind-the scenes of the Super Bowl Halftime Show that she hosted with Shakira. The film also gives a glimpse into Lopez’s personal life, with a brief appearance by Ben Affleck. Her ex-fiance Alex Rodriguez is not mentioned in the documentary. They split in April 2021.
Lopez and Shakira split their time for the halftime show 2020, performing a 14-minute set of major hits.
While Lopez was thrilled to share the national stage with Shakira’s, she was also frustrated by the time constraints.
Lopez and Shakira chat on the phone about the Super Bowl. Lopez tells Shakira that if it was going to have a double headliner, they should give us 20 minutes. They should have —— done that.
Lopez can be seen frustrated by the limitations of time when preparing the show with her music manager. She says, “This was the worst idea ever to have two people perform the Super Bowl.”
She is also caught on camera talking on the phone to Ricky Kirshner (an NFL producer) at one point before the show. Kirshner said that the finale “cannot be just one minute.”
“We are trying to keep this as minimal as possible. It’s difficult because it’s a huge stage and an important show. It’s something that all of us had hoped to do. It’s been a nightmare ever since we started.”
Lopez responded to Kirshner’s challenge by saying, “I’m trying give you something of substance… I want to make a statement.
Lopez and other documentary-makers claimed that the NFL “didn’t want the cages on the show”.
Lopez states in the documentary that “To remove the cages and to sacrifice what I believe would be like being absent at all” Lopez says that she has stood firm and said, “The Super Bowl will be tomorrow. We’re not changing anything.”
The political message was not lost on the show. Many interpreted the glowing spheres as a reference for immigrant youth and children being held in U.S. detention centres. Emme Lopez, Lopez’s little girl, joined her mother on stage. She sang a few bars from Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA”, while Lopez unfolded a feathery flag with the American and Puerto Rican flags.
Lopez shared a photo on Instagram one day after the Super Bowl. In the caption she wrote, “Others can try to build walls or keep us out or place us in cages.” We are proud that we all recognize that this beautiful country is what makes it truly great.
Lopez mentions that she is not interested in politics during the documentary.
She says, “I’m not that person.” “But I was living somewhere I didn’t know.” I was worried about my children’s future.
It was the images and footage of children in cages at border that made her feel “unbelieveable”. As part of Trump’s “zero tolerance”, policy, hundreds of children were separated from their parents at U.S. borders in 2018.
She says, “You don’t rip a parent from their child.” “There are certain things that you as a human being don’t do.”
She adds, “It made it clear that I had a duty to not be silent.” “To not leave politics to everyone else.”
Lopez, who was preparing for her Super Bowl show with Shakira is seen talking about making a statement and defying Trump’s narrative that “everybody is an immigrant trying sneak into the country” and “everybody is a criminal”.
She says, “Some of us are here for years.” “A lot of those people are just decent people looking for the American dream. They want it all.
Lopez admits that she had low self-esteem during the height of her career.
She says that no matter how much I accomplished, she said in the documentary. “Their [the media] desire to cover my personal lives overshadowed everything.”
She says, “I believed a lot what they said. Which is that I wasn’t really good.”
This documentary features clips from late-night shows mocking Lopez’s relationship with Affleck. From 2002 to 2004, the couple known as “Bennifer”, were among Hollywood’s most popular couples. They called off their wedding day in advance and then broke up.
Both then married another person. Lopez married Marc Anthony, a singer with whom she divorced seven years later. After 10 years of marriage, Affleck and Jennifer Garner were divorced.
They reconnected last year but kept their romance secret at first. The couple announced their engagement in April 2022.
Affleck is interviewed briefly for the documentary. He is asked about Lopez’s early days and the scrutiny he received.
“I told her once, doesn’t this bother? He says this in the documentary. “And she said, She’s Latina, I expected that.” It’s not unreasonable to expect it. You expect fair treatment.”
Lopez was impacted by the jabs.
She says, “There were many occasions when I felt like I’m going to give up.” “I had to figure out who and what I believed in order to believe that, and not anything else.”
Also, the documentary shows clips of industry workers mocking Lopez in different segments that aired on-air.
She says that when she started her career, the ideal beauty was thin, blonde and tall with a few curves. It was difficult when people thought you were a joke. You’re like a punchline. However, I ended up affecting them in ways I had never intended.”
The documentary gives viewers a glimpse at Lopez’s hard work, including his pole dancing lessons.
She says, “It is super painful because it’s like a crash program,” and points out bruises on her legs that she has gotten from learning.
She said that the film was particularly exciting because it had substance.
She says, “That’s something that I fought for in the course of my career.” “This film is about women who were faced with difficult choices and limited options. These characters reminds me of the Bronx women I grew up with.
The documentary shows all of the awards season buzz Lopez created for her role in Ramona’s senior dancer at a New York Strip joint.
Lopez was nominated for the Golden Globes role in December 2019. Lopez joked that it only took 20 years to get the nomination.
Lopez is followed by the cameras until the ceremony. She didn’t win.
She reflected on her loss and said to the camera: “I really thought that I had a chance; it felt like everyone was missing me.”
Lopez was also hurt by the Oscars nomination snub.
One point in the documentary she can be seen reading positive reviews, and then getting emotional over the overwhelming support.
She is often seen attending events and juggling rehearsals for Super Bowl.
Lopez was not nominated for the Academy Awards in February 2020 when the nominations for the 92nd Academy Awards were made public.
She says that she thought she would be nominated. “I was so hopeful because so many people told me that I would be. It didn’t happen. That made me wonder what that meant. This is not for an award. This is my passion. I do it to tell stories, to make people feel good and to influence change. It’s why I do it.
Lopez stated that it took her time to “find her way” in the industry.
After her divorce from Marc Anthony, her husband and father of her children she said that she had taken a lot time to reflect on her career.
She said that she had lost some of her identity as an artist in trying to build a perfect family life and a perfect life. “And when my children were three, I was divorced. At 42, I was a single mother with two children. Movie roles weren’t coming knocking on my door. “I felt lost as I returned to work, and I wasn’t sure what my value was.”
She “found her purpose” by being a judge on American Idol.
She said that she had learned a lot about herself, and that she needed to be “better in all aspects.”
“You know that you have moments in your business when you wonder, “What’s next?” What’s next? In the documentary, she said this. “I believe that every entertainer, creative person, and artist lives with this fear.”
Lopez now says, “I’m not afraid to be loud and use my voice the best I can.”
Lopez stated that she is “thriving” at this stage in her career and she has never imagined it. The documentary ends with footage of Lopez performing at President Joe Biden’s Inauguration.
