The most culturally enduring moment of Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers belongs to a drugged-out James Franco cooing “Spraaaang break forever,” but the film’s thesis statement arrives at its mid-point to the tune of Britney Spears. As Franco’s gangster-slash-rapper-slash-party-impresario Alien sits at a baby grand piano overlooking the Florida coast, three gun-toting girls in neon ski masks, bikini tops, and sweatpants flock to his side like dancers shuffling into line at a barre. When they ask Alien to “Play something fucking inspiring,” he trills the opening notes of Spears’ yearning ballad, “Everytime.”
