"If you remember Milli Vanilli at all," said Anita Singh in The Daily Telegraph, "it will be for their ignominious end." They were the French-German R&B duo (Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan) who had a run of hits at the end of the 1980s, before causing a sensation when they were forced to admit that they'd not sung on any of their own records. They became the first act ever to have their Grammy revoked, and went down in history as frauds – but do they deserve their reputation?
"Milli Vanilli", a new feature-length documentary on Paramount+, uses talking heads and archival material to argue that the "hatred and blame" that were piled on Morvan and Pilatus (who died of an overdose in 1998) should have been directed at Frank Farian, the producer who masterminded the hoax. Ridiculous though Milli Vanilli may seem now, with their "bandannas and shoulder pads", the pair come across as deeply sympathetic, in a film that skilfully blends the tragic and the comic.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Making a police state out of the liberal university'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
8 looming climate tipping points that imperil our planetThe Explainer New reports detail the thresholds we may be close to crossing
-
Try 6 free issues of The Week JuniorSpark your child's curiosity with The Week Junior - the award-winning current affairs magazine for 8-14s.
-
Daniel Wallace's 5 favorite books that should not be forgottenFeature The author recommends works by Italo Calvino, Evan S. Connell, and more
-
6 picturesque homes in ArizonaFeature Featuring a glass elevator in Sedona and a grotto waterfall in Paradise Valley
-
Silversea cruise review: a Central and North American adventureThe Week Recommends An incredible journey featuring cultural exploration, cooking classes, comfort and more
-
Baffin Island: looking for narwhal in Arctic CanadaThe Week Recommends An exploration of this island between mainland Canada and Greenland is ideal for the adventurous at heart
-
Knife: Salman Rushdie's 'mesmeric memoir' of brutal attackThe Week Recommends The author's account of ordeal which cost him his eye is both 'scary and heartwarming'
-
Sarah Langan recommends 6 women-centric horror booksFeature The horror novelist recommends works by Stephen King, Gillian Flynn, and more
-
6 spacious homes for car loversFeature Featuring a 14-car showroom in Oregon and a Bentley-style apartment in Florida
-
6 serene homes in VermontFeatures Featuring a four-level Shaker barn in Hartland and a Scandinavian-inspired home in Stowe
