Capitol Barbie (2020– ) User Reviews

A surprising work of Art!

[neilantonio77 · 8/10 · 25 October 2021]

Hats off to the Director, the Cinematographer, the Lead Actress, and the rest of the crew and cast!

This true story is shot with an intense passion that can be seen through the colorful tone and character development of the lead actress! I was left both captivated and sorrowful for the lead. When you sit back and watch the world we live in, you tend to ask yourself every now and again, "Can we be anymore spiteful, evil, towards one another?" The answer is a surprising but expected... yes. I watched until the end, and was left simply yearning to know more of what was going to transpire and if Dolly will ever find the strength, courage and will, to stand back up and face her oppressor's?

Very Interesting Voice and Poignant Story

[stevenblacksmith · 8/10 · 26 October 2021]

Capitol Barbie is an admirable debut episode from director Riley Del Rey. The pilot is full of conviction and a fiery vigor that shows it isn't here to mess around or not convey a meaningful message. Don't get me wrong - there is plenty of fun to be had. That much is evident by the chemistry that the actors have and demonstrates that this is a project they believe in.

Elese Jones is fantastic and plays the lead, Dolly, with a tenacious spirit who never loses our attention onscreen. Other notable actors include Ivan Hernandez who portrays an interesting depth to his character, David's, transphobia, and Riley Del Rey herself who plays a meta, deus ex machina character that provides a reflective lens to supplement the events of this series and its inspiration.

The cinematography is very interesting between the world of the interns and the sanitized facade of Capitol Hill. The shots and the edit are also pretty slick, and never lets our eyes get complacent with a certain stylistic choice or visual aesthetic. Check it out!

a unique voice

[aiminator · 8/10 · 25 October 2021]

Capitol Barbie is a story that has yet to be told, which is really saying something Hollywood remakes, reboots, sequels and prequels literally everything. I love that the voice I'm hearing is a unique one. Obviously, right away you get a sense of Dolly and her big dreams, despite things that are working against her. You want to root for her. Not only that, it makes you wonder how many "Dollys" there are in business, politics, etc. It will really open your eyes to the discrimination and small minds of people who lead this country.

Another notable plus- the music choices are both authentic to New Mexican culture and millennial taste. Loved that!

Of course, with self-produced work, there can be some technical challenges that you might notice in comparison to big-budget projects. There were some sound bites that I felt could be blended better, and took me out of the scene. It's full of interesting visual shots, but would've preferred that tightened up to get more of the story. In a pilot, every second should inform us of something we don't know.

Heartfelt and intriguing

[feliciammasias · 10/10 · 27 October 2021]

Great pilot for a story that needs to be heard! This story sheds light on an experience that happens to people all over the world. An injustice has happened and needs to be talked about it and Riley does a great job at showing the world her story!

An honest, striking look into the triumph of one woman whose story must not go untold

[Nickkasparian · 29 October 2021]

In a world, a western society, a patriarchy, a media - a world that which continues to flaunt a desire for progression, inclusion and fairness, seems to get routinely fail to sympathize with the needs of trans people. That, letting alone the relentless societal dismissal of the mere existence or concern for trans people. There is a shocking, in some clans universal, lack of respect for the humanity and experience of gender fluid people abroad. So much so that involving your attention to even a bit of this rhetoric feels as though you are witnessing an exile. It is heartbreaking that such little is devoted to empathizing or understanding this community - which makes this film a relevant and sincere trope as well as reflection of the experiences through a trans woman's eyes.

Dolly plays an intern working for a congresswoman looking to run for governor of New Mexico.

Every character other than Dolly (especially the congresswoman) feel like stock gremlins. They exude ego, are conniving, even greedy and archaic in values, hypocritical, are frankly devoid of anything beyond sheer vanity. Watching, I truly feel like I'm in a hopeless villain world - a nightmare place where merely existing is a crime and offense. As Dolly is chewed up and spit out by mostly everyone and ultimately wrongly terminated, I feel a sense of what it's like. The feeling to exist, constantly and hopelessly dismissed. It almost reads like a tragedy, parodying the demons of the real world capitol meat grinder, and painting an accountable look on American politics and gender relations. Yet through a traceable optimism and strong sense of pride prevailing through the character's battles. An angel of the creator's embodiment plays a touching guardian role offering third-life elder's advice in an otherwise despairing bathroom scene. Truly evoking feeling and spirit of triumph.

While some dialogue scenes come off a bit cluttered and other dramatic reactionary bits would benefit in sentiment from stronger willed acting, the film in roughly 30 minutes touches beautifully on the perspective of the grotesque treatments of trans individuals through a lens of captivating American political prattling, based on a true story.

Thoroughly entertaining and thought provoking

[shadowpancake · 10/10 · 31 January 2022]

Capital Barbie made me laugh, cry and as always question the government and it's decisions. It was beautiful shot with stunning costumes and gorgeous sets that really throw you into the world of Capitol Hill. I cannot wait to see the continued series. Thank you for sharing your story Riley.

Gives you a lot to think about...watch and learn.

[billythekidridesagain · 9/10 · 23 October 2021]

Capitol Barbie is the brainchild of creator Riley del Ray and is based upon actual events. The pilot lays out the path from New Mexico to Capitol Hill for the lead character Dolly. As with any pilot, you've got to get the story told and the "hook" in so that viewers will come back for subsequent episodes. There is a lot to digest in this episode as Dolly lands her dream job, only to be fired soon after when it is discovered that she is transgender. You're left wondering if this kind of thing happens often nowadays, and of course..it surely does. The cinematography was quite nice and in a nod to its mostly pre covid filming, there were a lot of background actors that really made the episode come to life. There are a few technical limitations that are common on pilots and lower budget projects, but overall the impact of the story is apparent. In a rapidly changing world with (hopefully) more equality and acceptance of transgender people you're left wondering....am I part of the problem or part of the solution? My recommendation is to watch and put yourself in the latter category.