Reviews of movies and TV focused on women
The Electric Horseman is streaming on Netflix. This 1979 film stars Jane Fonda and Robert Redford. Since I just watched them in a 2017 film called Our Souls at Night, it seemed like the perfect time to reacquaint myself with the younger Fonda and Redford in a movie I remember fondly. Continue reading “Review: The Electric Horseman”
Our Souls at Night stars Jane Fonda and Robert Redford in a quiet story about a pair of elders who have been neighbors for years. They finally get to know each other. It expands them both. Continue reading “Review: Our Souls at Night”
Our Souls at Night brings Jane Fonda and Robert Redford together again in a romance about a couple who’ve been neighbors for a long time. Continue reading “Watch This: Teaser for Our Souls at Night”
I watched 2005’s An Unfinished Life years ago and remember liking it. When I saw it on Netflix, I thought Why not give it another try? It’s crazy hard to find anything with a good lead female character on Netflix, and here was An Unfinished Life with Jennifer Lopez just waiting. Continue reading “Review: An Unfinished Life”
A Walk in the Woods stars Robert Redford as the writer Bill Bryson. His hiking buddy Katz is played by Nick Nolte. Also featured in the film are Emma Thompson, Mary Steenburgen, Nick Offerman and Kristen Schaal. Continue reading “Review: A Walk in the Woods”
Truth is based on the real newsroom drama detailing the 2004 CBS 60 Minutes report investigating then-President George W. Bush’s military service. The subsequent firestorm of criticism cost anchor Dan Rather and producer Mary Mapes their careers. The film is based on Mary Mapes memoir, “Truth and Duty: The Press, the President, and the Privilege of Power.” She was one of the screenwriters.
Cate Blanchett plays Mapes, with Robert Redford playing Dan Rather. Other actors appearing in the film include Bruce Greenwood, Elisabeth Moss, Topher Grace, John Benjamin Hickey, Stacy Keach, and Dennis Quaid.
Dan Rather had worked at CBS since 1962 when this story broke. At TIFF, Rather appeared after the film screened and gave his full endorsement of Truth.
Release date for the film is October 16, 2015. The first-time director is James Vanderbilt.
I remember this event clearly and I’m sure many others do too. It’s fairly recent history to already be the subject of a movie. Of course, from our side of the camera, the story we heard was only the news as first presented and the ensuring controversy. The behind-the-scenes story this film tells was not part of what I knew about. It should be a fascinating movie.
I noticed the enthusiastic reception the film got at TIFF, including this endorsement from Christine Horne. She was there for her own film Hyena Road, but found time to watch Truth.
Cate Blanchett Cate Blanchett Cate Blanchett. TRUTH. #TIFF15
— Christine Horne (@christinejhorne) September 13, 2015
To be fair, maybe we should add a couple of cheers for Robert Redford in there, too. I’ll let you know about that after I see the film.
The Guardian tells us that Diane Keaton plans US remake of BBC’s Last Tango in Halifax. It will air on HBO. Sally Wainwright, the creator of the show, says she will be a producer of the American version but will not have a huge role in the production.
I know I have lots of feelings about this news, and I’m sure the dedicated Last Tango fans do, too.
First, where would it be set? I just made up the part about Santa Fe. It’s a cool place, there are ranches surrounding it, and a lot of films get made in New Mexico. It might be a sensible location for a series that needs both urban and rural settings along with great scenery. Diane Keaton has not asked for my opinion in this matter, however.
Who would be in it? Would Diane Keaton play Celia? She’s 67. What American actresses are in their 70s? Shirley MacLaine, Barbra Streisand, Faye Dunaway, Jane Fonda, Ellen Burstyn, Olympia Dukakis, Julie Christie, Candice Bergen are a few possible names. So we have talent in that age category, but American women don’t look their age. That’s a bit of a problem. Do we want to see anyone who doesn’t look as genuine Anne Reid in the role?
There are simply tons of older men to choose from for Alan. Robert DeNiro, Robert Redford, Harrison Ford, Peter Coyote and dozens more. But I so like Derek Jacobi’s sweet and loving Alan. Some swaggering American who is used to waving a gun around just doesn’t feel right. And 70 year-old American men still fancy themselves leading men who should be snaring women 30 and 40 years younger than themselves. That’s a bit of a problem, too. As for the feckless John, Tony Gardner was perfection in this part. Who could equal that?
What about Caroline and Gillian and Kate? Remember my dream actress pairing of Ashley Judd and Jennifer Beals? Think they’d make a good Caroline and Kate? Other actresses in their 40s abound, include Sandra Bullock, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Renée Zellweger and lots more. But I’m sort of convinced that Sarah Lancashire is irreplaceable as Caroline. Nicola Walker in her jeans and Converse sneakers brings such nuance and subtlety to Gillian.
Casting is a challenge. Adapting the dialog and locations will be a challenge as well. Diane Keaton has taken on a huge task to make this wonderful story American. I wish her well, and I wish her great luck finding the right people to do the writing and casting and create the sets.
I’m really attached to Last Tango in Halifax. Even so, Diane Keaton is trustworthy, in my opinion. If anyone can make a love story about older adults shine, it should be Diane Keaton. Who knows, I may love the American version of this tale of second chances as much as I do the British one.
When I get attached to a show, like the Millennium series in Swedish (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest) I feel a vague dread at the arrival of American versions. Then I go see it (of course) and I like it on it’s own merit. It isn’t the same as the original, but it still has the characters and the story and I end up enjoying both versions. I’m ready to see what happens to this lovely British tale of second chances. Go, Diane!
One extra good piece of good news from The Guardian post is,
The second series of Last Tango In Halifax, one of BBC1’s biggest-rating new shows of 2012, launches next month and a third is planned.
A big hurrah for season 3.
Diane Keaton image © 2003 Columbia Pictures
