Marsha Coupé – Google

As a fan of Kate Winslet and photographer/photojournalist Lee Miller, I was looking forward to seeing this film. It did not disappoint. Winslet had me believing she was the indomitable Miller from start to finish. As actor and producer, Winslet's World War II biopic took nearly a decade to make. We see a good many of Miller's photographs, including stunningly heartbreaking photos from the Holocaust. 'Lee' is an absolute triumph.

Highly recommend this engaging 10-part series on PBS. One of the best series of 2024. Viola Davis plays Michelle Obama beautifully. Michelle Pfeiffer plays Betty Ford pitch perfect. Gillian Anderson plays an impressive Eleanor Roosevelt. Watching this series while America elects our first woman president is surreal. Strong, brilliant, accomplished women playing second fiddle to powerful men is nothing new, but this excellent series manages to tell each woman's individual story with the care and attention required.

I will watch Cate Blanchette in anything, as 'Disclaimer' proves. The story is awkwardly told in a series of flashbacks that eventually make sense - but are initially confusing and distracting. Cate plays a successful documentary filmmaker with a dark, twenty-year secret. The series revolves around a bitter, elderly retired teacher smoking her out and destroying her carefully constructed life. Billed as a 'thriller,' it's surprisingly pornographic, especially the thespian who plays Cate as a young woman. It's gratuitous. I dislike all the characters. All of them except Cate's cat. But it's so bad it's good.

With Kamala Harris soon to become America’s 47th President, I found myself wanting to learn more about her life; more about how she became the remarkable woman we see today. As a double treat, I listened to Kamala read her autobiography, available for free on the excellent Libby App. By now nearly everyone knows Kamala was born in California to two highly accomplished immigrants. Through hard work and discipline, as well as the support of her family, especially her mother, Kamala becomes a prosecutor; California’s Attorney General; Senator; candidate for US President ; Vice President; candidate for President again. Her autobiography, published in 2019, covers everything before she ran for President. She has remained true to herself throughout her career. Clearly she is a keenly focused; optimistic; wise and brilliant warrior who is also compassionate and empathetic. It’s hard to imagine a better qualified President.

I will watch Lily Gladstone in anything. She is the antithesis of the Hollywood actors we see in most American films. She says more with a look than the finest dialog might convey. When she's not in a scene, you feel it. Fancy Dance is a solid, serious film about an important subject, missing Native American women and poverty. While the acting is first class, the soundtrack was often jarring and did nothing to enhance the story. The lighting, like so many films these days was often too dark, and the editing could have been smoother. No doubt all issues a bigger budget might have addressed.

Screened THE NEST on Mubi last night having never heard of it. The acting by Carrie Coon and Jude Law, as a married American/British couple, is 5-star. Their passionate, complicated relationship is believable. The film sets, costumes and props are equally brilliant. The film is set in the 1980's, but it's subtle. There's a lot of suspense. Watching Coon and Law live dangerously, making one bad decision after another, it feels like the film might turn from suspense to horror at any moment. The ending was the only letdown. It felt like both the couple and the story had run out of steam. And maybe they did.

No question Celine Dion is an enormously accomplished woman, who like millions of other women is struggling with a seriously debilitating, career derailing disease. This disjointed documentary could have been many things, including providing a better understanding of Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), the neurological disease preventing Celaine from performing professionally. Unfortunately, what we get is an extremely wealthy artist, with all the healthcare money can buy, who is so attached to her old life of fame and adoration, she cannot embrace the life she has now. As this sad documentary illustrates, attachment is the cause of all misery. Detaching from fame; the warehouses of artefacts; the mansions packed with shoes; clothes; stuff ... would possibly free her to create space for the life she has NOW.

It's rare for me to watch, let alone enjoy, an all male film. Okay, there were women in this film but very much on the periphery. This is definitely about 'The Boys in The Boat'. And what a story it is. The year is 1936. Against all odds, during the height of the depression, eight American boys row their way to Olympic Gold in Germany. Everything from the writing and acting, to the stunning cinematography and costume, is 5-star in this mesmerising film based on a true story.