“Can you try smiling just once? It’s embarrassing, you look like a fool!”
This is the opening line to Brit Brit’s new music video for Criminal. She’s first seen looking all prim and proper like Audrey Hepburn but with the saddest look on her face. We’re used to seeing Britney smiling from ear to ear, swinging from hip to hip in her other music videos. This is a whole new look for her but she’s definitely not a fool, contrary to what the male lead says in the beginning.
The video, directed by Chris Marrs Piliero – the same dude that made the Black Keys’ vid for Tighten Up – kicks up a notch a few minutes later once the song begins. A mysterious man (played by her real life boyfriend Jason Trawick) rescues her from her abusive lover and they run off via motorcycle nto a whole new world of crime.
Like Womanizer and Slave 4 U she gets down and dirty (and naked!) pretty quick. Half way through the video it’s looking more like a soft core flick you’d see on Showtime on a Friday night. Kudos to Britney for looking smokin’ and the director gets a nod for making the vid look visually stunning. The only downside is Britney’s cheesy dance moves with her hands. Less hands, more, well, you know what.
Check out the Criminal video below.
