Circus Maximus (2023) review

This is a feature-length musical film by Houston-based rapper Travis Scott that was made to accompany the release of his fourth studio album Utopia: the first part consists of a series of music videos broken up by a conversation with producer/Zen Master Rick Rubin, while the last section is a concert shot at the Amphitheatre of Pompeii, complete with a drone, burned-out speakers, cheerleaders, guest artists (including Teezo Touchdown, Yung Lean and James Blake), a lot of smoke and a backup band consisting of robots.  Although it's hardly cohesive and Scott isn't exactly the most verbose guy (his blood is at least 25% indica), I wish more musicians would take on experimental projects like this: Refn and Noé show off their respective styles on the nocturnal "Delresto (Echoes)" and the epileptic "Modern Jam," and performing 21st century rap in ancient ruins where gladiators fought is a fun way of revitalizing the past.  I have mixed feelings about the record itself, but there's no doubting the man's (sometimes tragically reckless) audacity.