Justine Bateman’s new #SocialMediaVideoCritique series is hands down the funniest way to handle the endless stream of social media meltdowns from Hollywood and left-wing politicians over Trump’s election win. The 58-year-old actress and filmmaker has taken the art of trolling to a whole new level, breaking down these dramatic videos not by laughing at the hysterics themselves but by critiquing the amateur production choices, lighting errors, and cinematic mishaps on full display.
In her latest installment, Bateman zeroed in on a new video from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who, true to form, took to social media to bemoan the outcome of the election. But Bateman doesn’t give AOC the satisfaction of debating her points. Instead, she dives right into the film techniques, playfully nitpicking everything from the shaky camera movements to AOC’s wardrobe and choice of lighting. Bateman described the shot as “hand-held and uneasy, telegraphing uncertainty and confusion,” suggesting it felt more like a poorly directed indie flick than a political statement.
Justine Bateman
“The director delivers a piece full of subliminal messages,” Bateman wrote. “The camera is hand-held and uneasy, telegraphing uncertainty and confusion.”
She even had a laugh at AOC’s repetitive hand gestures, commenting that the congresswoman’s hand to her chin was a subconscious “desire for a beard, a covering.” And the background? According to Bateman, the chaotic blacks and grays were practically screaming Guernica, Picasso’s famous anti-war painting. Her analysis was tongue-in-cheek gold, suggesting that the “modern red accent” at the side of the frame made the “Guernica reference unmistakably modern.”
“The actress’ left hand comes up and cups the chin repeatedly, indicating the character’s deep desire for a beard, a covering,” she added of AOC. “The dialogue is almost inconsequential, serving merely as a means to showcase the visual clues in the piece.”
#SocialMediaVideoCritique
– The director delivers a piece full of subliminal messages.
– The camera is hand-held and uneasy, telegraphing uncertainty and confusion.
– The actress’ left hand comes up and cups the chin repeatedly, indicating the characters deep desire for a beard,… https://t.co/2P6yw6k84A— Justine Bateman (@JustineBateman) November 12, 2024
Bateman’s critiques don’t stop with AOC, either. She previously picked apart another AOC video, where the lighting was “vague and overhead,” flattening her face and killing any sense of depth. Bateman suggested a rewrite could tighten up the dialogue, saying AOC’s long, winding sentences didn’t “suit the short duration of the video.” And Bateman wasn’t about to let the wardrobe go unmentioned, observing that AOC’s plain white shirt didn’t “give us much … information about the character.”
In another clip from her #SocialMediaVideoCritique series, Bateman hilariously dissected a meltdown video from an anonymous woman sobbing over Trump’s win, calling out the “unpredictable” camera movements and the lack of “authenticity” that came from what she guessed was the third or fourth take. In Bateman’s expert opinion, a locked-off camera would’ve done wonders to let the emotions speak for themselves instead of the constant jiggling—a directorial faux pas that doubled down on the theatrics to the point of overkill.
Bateman’s dry wit and film expertise bring a fresh, humorous perspective to the endless outpouring of post-election “panic” videos. Instead of fueling the fire, Bateman cleverly flips the narrative, making each video less about the emotional message and more about the DIY production value. At a time when social media is flooded with over-the-top reactions, Bateman’s critiques remind us that a little technical polish might just elevate these meltdowns—because if you’re going to lose it on camera, at least make sure the lighting’s on point.
