Framing Britney Spears

Directed by Samantha Stark, Framing Britney Spears explores the various controversies involving the title pop star – with a specific focus on her decidedly infamous battles over conservatorship. Filmmaker Stark generally does an effective job of documenting the ups and downs of Spears’ career, including her undeniable mistreatment at the hands of the press and paparazzi, and it’s clear, certainly, that this context goes a long way towards explaining the origins of the so-called “Free Britney” movement. And while the movie is packed with interesting, intriguing tidbits (eg the media’s less-than-respectful treatment of the singer), Framing Britney Spears progresses into a repetitive midsection and second half that isn’t quite as fascinating or engrossing as Stark has obviously intended. (She essentially makes her point early on and then continues to make it over and over and over again.) The 75 minute running time does, as a result, feel a little on the long and padded-out side, ultimately, and it’s finally apparent that Free Britney Spears would probably have worked better as a segment on 60 Minutes or its like-minded ilk.

**1/2 out of ****