Moviefone Editorial

Tag: Roadside Attractions

  • ‘Tow’ Interview: Rose Byrne and Dominic Sessa

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    Opening in theaters on March 20th is the new drama ‘Tow’, which was based on a true story and directed by Stephanie Laing (‘Physical’).

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    The film stars Academy Award nominees Rose Byrne (‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’) and Dominic Sessa (‘The Holdovers’), Demi Lovato (‘Smurfs: The Lost Village’), Simon Rex (‘Operation Taco Gary’s’), Corbin Bernsen (‘Major League’), and Academy Award winners Ariana DeBose (‘West Side Story’) and Octavia Spencer (‘The Help’).

    (L to R) Dominic Sessa and Rose Byrne star in 'Tow.'
    (L to R) Dominic Sessa and Rose Byrne star in ‘Tow.’

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Rose Byrne and Dominic Sessa about their work on ‘Tow’, the true story it is based on, their characters, the film’s unique tone, and working with director Stephanie Laing.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Byrne and Sessa, and director Stephanie Laing.

    Related Article: Simon Rex Talks Sci-Fi Comedy ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’ and Drama ‘Tow’

    Rose Byrne in 'Tow.' Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Rose Byrne in ‘Tow.’ Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Rose, can you talk about your first reaction to learning of Amanda Ogle’s true story and why you wanted to play her and bring her story to the screen?

    Rose Byrne: I mean, I was so intrigued. It really confronted my own prejudices of what someone is who’s unhoused, what they typically behave like or look like or sound like and where they’re from. She really turned all those things on its head in that sense. That’s something that really speaks to Amanda about how people have so many prejudices around that. It’s a systemic problem in the country and how that can happen to anybody through a series of bad choices and bad luck. She also hates authority. She’s very hostile. She’s suspicious of people. She’s a fun character to play and to hopefully have the audience root for her as well because she’s going up against this horrendous company, this monolithic company who couldn’t care less about her and her situation. In the end, she’s not really fighting for the car. She’s fighting for something inside. She’s fighting for her own dignity and respect. Then this very unlikely lawyer, this double act that becomes Kevin and Amanda. That was also really appealing to me and a fun part of the story. That was so true. It really happened. It’s so funny to see them together because they’re such an unlikely pair.

    (L to R) Dominic Sessa and Rose Byrne in 'Tow.' Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    (L to R) Dominic Sessa and Rose Byrne in ‘Tow.’ Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    MF: Dominic, can you talk about why Kevin decides to help Amanda, and what it was like creating that relationship on screen with Rose?

    Dominic Sessa: It’s hard to understand. On paper, why would he commit himself to this journey? I mean, this huge commitment that it ended up becoming. But I think it does have a lot to do with his age. I’m close to that age that he was at the time now. I feel that sense of you wanting to prove things, especially for this character right out of law school, you have something to prove. This maybe initially presented itself as an opportunity to be like, “Oh, I graduated. I know what I can do. I passed the bar,” all of that. Then I think beautifully just turned into this very caring relationship where it didn’t become about himself. He really was doing it just for this other person to the point where he was making mistakes and felt bad about them and nervous to present that to her because he had felt such an obligation to her and this car.

    'Tow' director Stephanie Laing.
    ‘Tow’ director Stephanie Laing.

    MF: Rose, what was it like working with Stephanie again after ‘Physical’ and really collaborating with her to tell this specific story?

    RB: It was wonderful. We’ve done so many episodes of TV together and you just clock those hours, you really have a shorthand, which is wonderful. This film was made in 19 days. So, it was like an episode of TV. It was so fast and furious, and we had one take, maybe two. Stephanie is incredible that she keeps everything on track. There’s no drama. She’s very organized and she has wonderful visual instincts. She casts so well. It’s not everybody can do that, particularly in these circumstances. She’s a wonderful leader and there’s no ego to it. She’s very driven by material, by performance, and it just reflects on the set. So, it was very well run considering how tight it was.

    (L to R) Rose Byrne and Octavia Spencer star in 'Tow.' Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    (L to R) Rose Byrne and Octavia Spencer star in ‘Tow.’ Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    MF: Finally, Dominic, can you talk about the unusual tone of the movie and was Stephanie helpful with balancing the comedy and the drama on set?

    DS: I think that was what attracted me to the movie. A large part was the tone of it and how it has this parabolic trajectory where you are laughing and then something devastating can happen. I think Stephanie’s really had a good sense of the tone and that’s what she wanted the movie to be. I think those are the movies I like the most personally and to act in as well. So, the first time we met, I understood what she was trying to do, and I think it’s the perfect tone for this story.

    'Tow' opens in theaters on March 20th.
    ‘Tow’ opens in theaters on March 20th.

    What is the plot of ‘Tow’?

    Amanda Ogle (Rose Byrne), a homeless Seattle woman, fights her way out of tow-company hell to reclaim her life and the car that held it all together after receiving a tow bill for $21,634.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Tow’?

    • Rose Byrne as Amanda Ogle
    • Dominic Sessa as Kevin
    • Demi Lovato as Nova
    • Ariana DeBose as Denise
    • Octavia Spencer as Barb
    • Simon Rex as Cliff
    • Elsie Fisher as Avery
    • Lea DeLaria as Jocelyn
    • Corbin Bernsen as Martin La Rosa
    • Bree Elrod as Lorraine
    • Becky Ann Baker as Debbie
    Rose Byrne in 'Tow.' Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Rose Byrne in ‘Tow.’ Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    List of Rose Byrne Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Tow’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Rose Byrne Movies on Amazon

     

  • ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’ Interview: Simon Rex

    Simon Rex as “Danny” in the comedy, 'Operation Taco Gary's', a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.
    Simon Rex as “Danny” in the comedy, ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’, a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.

    Opening in theaters on February 27th is the new science fiction comedy ‘Operation Taco Gary’s‘, which marks the directorial debut of Michael Kvamme, and stars Simon Rex (‘Red Rocket’), Dustin Milligan (‘Schitt’s Creek’), Brenda Song (‘The Social Network’), Tony Cavalero (‘The Righteous Gemstones’), Arturo Castro (‘Road House’), Jason Biggs (‘American Pie’), and Doug Jones (‘The Shape of Water’).

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    Moviefone recently had an opportunity to attend Smorgasburg LA in downtown Los Angeles, where actor Simon Rex was handing out food at the Tacos 1986 truck in promotion of ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’.

    Simon Rex attends Smorgasburg LA in downtown Los Angeles at the Tacos 1986 truck for 'Operation Taco Gary's'. Photo: Michelle Felix.
    Simon Rex attends Smorgasburg LA in downtown Los Angeles at the Tacos 1986 truck for ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’. Photo: Michelle Felix.

    We had a chance to speak with the actor about his new film, his first reaction to the screenplay, working with Dustin Milligan and Jason Biggs, crazy conspiracy theories, and collaborating with director Michael Kvamme on set, as well as working with Oscar nominee Rose Byrne and director Stephanie Laing on their upcoming film ‘Tow’, which opens in theaters on March 20th.

    Related Article: Jason Biggs and Meaghan Rath Talk ‘Untitled Home Invasion Romance’

    Simon Rex attends Smorgasburg LA in downtown Los Angeles at the Tacos 1986 truck for 'Operation Taco Gary's'. Photo: Courtesy of Jami Philbrick.
    Simon Rex attends Smorgasburg LA in downtown Los Angeles at the Tacos 1986 truck for ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’. Photo: Courtesy of Jami Philbrick.

    Moviefone: To begin with, this is a wild movie, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and why did you want to be part of this project both as an actor and a producer?

    Simon Rex: Well, I laughed out loud every page, which was a good sign. Me and my agent and my manager, after reading it, were like, “This is the funniest script we’ve read in a long time.” There’s not a lot of comedies being made. If they are being made, they’re not that funny lately. I feel like that genre is gone and we need it back. So, when I read this, I knew I had to do it, and my agent and manager were like, “We have to roll the dice and go for it on this one.” Sometimes working with a first-time director, you don’t know what you’re getting into, but I trusted Michael because I knew how smart he was from the script and his background at ‘Funny or Die’ and working with Will Ferrell. He’s just gets it, and I knew he could pull it off. I was happy that he did, obviously.

    (L to R) Simon Rex as “Danny” and Dustin Milligan as “Luke” in the comedy, 'Operation Taco Gary's', a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.
    (L to R) Simon Rex as “Danny” and Dustin Milligan as “Luke” in the comedy, ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’, a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.

    MF: Can you talk about the brotherly relationship between Danny and Luke and creating that relationship on screen with Dustin Milligan?

    SR: So, in the casting process, which was new for me, I usually am the one who’s coming in for what they call a chemistry read to see if you are of the essence of the other actor’s brother or friend or partner. So, we had it down to like five actors, and Dustin was one of them, and when he came in and read, it was just obvious that it worked. He was very grounded and pragmatic. I’m very over the top, and insane, and that’s the odd couple chemistry that you need for it to work. I’ve seen him in ‘Schitt’s Creek’ and I saw him in another movie, the name escapes me right now, but I was a fan of his. I’m like, this dude’s great, you know? He gets comedy, he nailed it, and that’s how we got him. We just cast him old school, in the room, which doesn’t happen anymore, usually it’s self-tapes.

    Jason Biggs as “self” in the comedy 'Operation Taco Gary's', a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.
    Jason Biggs as “self” in the comedy ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’, a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.

    MF: Jason Biggs plays a crazy and exaggerated version of himself, was he a good sport about doing that?

    SR: Well, that takes a lot of courage and a lot of self-deprecating, self-awareness, and a lot of actors won’t do that. I love that he would because he’s the perfect chef’s kiss for this role, because he’s sort of a throwback to the era of what this movie feels like. It’s like the ‘American Pie’ era. It’s, ‘Dude, Where’s My Car?’, ‘Harold & Kumar’, and those fun, lighthearted, wholesome comedies that we don’t make any more in this town. He was perfect in that universe to be synonymous with that era. He’s hilarious, and he’s Jason Biggs. Everyone knows him. He’s a familiar name, so it was perfect. We’re very happy with him. There was a lot of people we were exploring, and some actors wouldn’t be willing to laugh at themselves. I’m just glad he did.

    Doug Jones as “Elder” in the comedy, 'Operation Taco Gary's', a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.
    Doug Jones as “Elder” in the comedy, ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’, a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.

    MF: Your character in the movie is a conspiracy theorist. What is your favorite conspiracy theory, not necessarily one you believe in, but one you think is interesting like Stanley Kubrick shooting the Moon landing?

    SR: That’s a good one. There are some very strange parallels there. It’s that thing where I got friends who are conspiracy theorists and they’re like, “There are no coincidences.” I don’t agree with that, but there are some things lately that have been coming to light that have proved me wrong. But my favorite one to answer your question is the “flat Earth” theory because I love how those guys go so crazy. They’ll fly to Antarctica, and they’ll do the measurements, and they’ll be proven wrong, and they’ll still be like, “No, it’s flat.” They just can’t accept the science. That one’s very entertaining, so that’s my favorite one.

    (L to R) Dustin Milligan and director/writer Mikey K on the set of the comedy, 'Operation Taco Gary's', a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.
    (L to R) Dustin Milligan and director/writer Mikey K on the set of the comedy, ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’, a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.

    MF: What was it like collaborating with director Michael Kvamme on set to find the right tone for the movie?

    SR: I mean, again, he just gets it. I think people who are that funny are usually very smart in my experience, the funniest people that I’ve worked with are usually intelligent. I think that humor is also a part of being smart and I just knew because of his background, who he’s worked with, and the script that he wrote that his instinct was really on point. That’s a lot of it too, his instinct. It’s just one of those things that you go with your gut. When I met with him and I read the script, it just felt right, and then I’m happy to say that while we were filming, that he knew exactly what he wanted. He showed up prepared, and when you have a director that knows what they want, it makes everything else fall into place. I’ve done jobs where the director is sort of lost. You’re like, “Uh oh, the captain of the ship doesn’t know what’s going on.” This was the opposite. He was extremely on point with everything he wanted and how it would look, and he did all the preparation and he nailed it.

    (L to R) Simon Rex and Rose Byrne in 'Tow.' Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    (L to R) Simon Rex and Rose Byrne in ‘Tow.’ Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    MF: Finally, you also have the movie ‘Tow’ opening in March with Rose Byrne, which is based on a real story. What was it like working with Rose and director Stephanie Laing to bring Amanda Ogle’s story to the big screen?

    SR: It was cool. It’s a great wholesome heartwarming movie. I got to meet Amanda. She was on set with her daughter and working with Rose, she might be the most down to earth, normal, big female actor I’ve ever worked with. She was just extremely sweet and generous and I’m happy for this moment she’s having. I’m rooting for her to win the Oscar. I mean, she won the Golden Globe. She could walk away at this point a winner, but I want her to win it all. Obviously, it helps ‘Tow’ if she does. Working with Stephanie Laing, she’s so calm and I’ve never worked with a director that was this mellow, but in a good way where she was so chill. We shot that movie in 19 days, which is insane and ambitious to shoot a whole movie in 19 days with that cast. We got it, and the movie came out great, and it was a great experience. I want to work with Stephanie more and hopefully I will.

    'Operation Taco Gary's' opens in theaters February 27th.
    ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’ opens in theaters February 27th.

    What is the plot of ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’?

    Two brothers uncover an alien invasion hidden inside a fast-food chain and must save Earth.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’?

    • Simon Rex as Danny
    • Dustin Milligan as Luke
    • Brenda Song as Allison
    • Tony Cavalero as Kyle
    • Jason Biggs as himself
    • Doug Jones as Elder
    • Arturo Castro as Tiago
    Simon Rex attends Smorgasburg LA in downtown Los Angeles at the Tacos 1986 truck for 'Operation Taco Gary's'. Photo: Michelle Felix.
    Simon Rex attends Smorgasburg LA in downtown Los Angeles at the Tacos 1986 truck for ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’. Photo: Michelle Felix.

    List of Simon Rex Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Simon Rex Movies on Amazon

  • Movie Review: ‘H Is For Hawk’

    Claire Foy in 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Claire Foy in ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Opening in theaters on January 23rd is the new biographical drama ‘H Is for Hawk’, directed by Philippa Lowthorpe and starring Claire Foy, Denise Gough, Lindsay Duncan, and Oscar nominee Brendan Gleeson.

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    Related Article: ‘The Crown’s Claire Foy Added to Danny Boyle’s UK Newspaper Drama ‘Ink’

    Initial Thoughts

    Claire Foy in 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Claire Foy in ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Based on a memoir of the same name by Helen Macdonald, ‘H Is For Hawk’ tells the story of a woman whose devastating grief over the death of her father is channeled through her training of a goshawk, a predatory bird that’s notoriously difficult to wrangle – with the bird becoming a metaphor for the woman’s own struggles with anguish and depression.

    While the film has simplified the book’s narrative, ‘H Is For Hawk’ is both unsentimental and moving as it charts a journey that takes Helen down some dark paths. Claire Foy (‘The Crown’) is excellent in the lead role, and her interactions with her hawk, named Mabel (and played by two real-life Goshawks), are the most captivating sequences in a quietly powerful story of finding oneself again.

    Story and Direction

    Philippa Lowthorpe behind the scenes of 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Philippa Lowthorpe behind the scenes of ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Helen Macdonald is a research scholar and teacher at Cambridge’s Jesus College who’s shattered by the news that her beloved father – renowned photojournalist Alisdair Macdonald (Brendan Gleeson,  ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’) – has suddenly passed away. Endlessly curious about the world and always seeking knowledge, Helen’s dad has been a guiding light for her. Trying to contain her grief, Helen decides to again take up falconry – which she practiced for years when she was younger – and train one of the most difficult birds to master, a European Goshawk.

    After purchasing a Goshawk from a Scottish breeder, Helen devotes all of her time and life to training the bird, which she names Mabel. Their relationship is difficult at first, but even as she successfully earns the hawk’s trust and trains it, Helen’s own life falls into deep disrepair: she grows distant from her family and friends, her house – which she’s expected to leave when her current term with Cambridge ends – becomes unkempt and untidy, and she ignores her work and even the writing of a eulogy for her father’s memorial service.

    'H Is for Hawk' director Philippa Lowthorpe.
    ‘H Is for Hawk’ director Philippa Lowthorpe.

    With a screenplay co-written by director Philippa Lowthorpe and novelist Emma Donoghue (‘Room’), ‘H Is For Hawk’ focuses on the central narrative of Macdonald and Mabel while stripping out elements like a biographical look at author T.H. White’s own Goshawk experience as well as Macdonald’s insights into nature. Some of the latter is retained through the sequences of Helen and Mabel getting to know each other and the bird’s first attempts at hunting and flying – which are fascinating in their own right and directed by Lowthorpe with a kind of restrained mystery and grandeur (not to mention gorgeous work from cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christensen).

    Those scenes are part of the larger narrative of Helen’s grappling with not just her loss but her own sense of identity and self-worth in the wake of her father’s passing. Her bond with Mabel leads her to become more feral herself, threatening to overwhelm the rest of her life. Her eventual reclamation is not overly melodramatic, and if anything, the film’s final scenes resolve the protagonist’s main conflict perhaps a little too quickly. But at the same time, ‘H Is For Hawk’ is a deeply affecting look at the texture of grief and memory, the mystery of nature, and the finality of death itself.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Claire Foy and Brendan Gleeson in 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    (L to R) Claire Foy and Brendan Gleeson in ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Best known for playing the young Queen Elizabeth II in ‘The Crown,’ Claire Foy is excellent here as the headstrong, initially outgoing Helen (the real person is non-binary, while the film’s Helen uses ‘she/her’), portraying both the character’s strength and vulnerability with subtlety and empathy. She’s extraordinary in her interaction with the two birds playing Mabel, who themselves are a fantastic presence onscreen. Foy is wholly believable as a person who is experienced with falconry yet is relearning it through one of its most difficult subjects, projecting both confidence and anxiety.

    The supporting cast – including the Mabels – is noteworthy as well, with living legend Brendan Gleeson providing Alisdair with a twinkle in the eye, plenty of good humor, and a rich sense of openness to the world around him in his too-brief flashback scenes. Denise Gough is strong and sensitive as well, as Helen’s best friend Christina, and Lindsay Duncan effectively portrays both the sadness and growing concern of Helen’s mum.

    Final Thoughts

    Brendan Gleeson in 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Brendan Gleeson in ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Gently told even in its scenes of the Goshawk hunting and Helen at one point sleeping on the floor of her filthy home like an animal herself, ‘H Is For Hawk’ is a captivating film that draws you in with Foy and Gleeson’s remarkably humane performances and the arresting presence of Mabel herself, whose indifferent face mirrors the unemotional state that Helen craves but cannot truly achieve.

    As an adaptation of a book that relies heavily on interior monologue and exposition, ‘H Is For Hawk’ may not completely capture the source material’s complexity. But as a look at the power of love and memory — and the denial of sorrow when the former is taken away and leaves only the latter — the film truly takes flight.

    ‘H Is For Hawk’ receives a score of 85 out of 100.

    (L to R) Lindsay Duncan and Claire Foy in 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    (L to R) Lindsay Duncan and Claire Foy in ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    What is the plot of ‘H Is for Hawk’?

    After losing her beloved father (Brendan Gleeson), Helen (Claire Foy) finds herself saved by an unlikely friendship with a stubborn hawk named Mabel. Through the bond, Helen rediscovers the beauty of being alive.

    Who is in the cast of ‘H Is for Hawk’?

    'H Is for Hawk' opens in theaters on January 23rd.
    ‘H Is for Hawk’ opens in theaters on January 23rd.

    List of Movies & TV Shows Featuring Claire Foy:

    Buy Tickets: ‘H Is for Hawk’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Claire Foy Movies and TV on Amazon

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  • ‘H Is for Hawk’ Exclusive Interview: Claire Foy

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    Opening in theaters on January 23rd is the new biographical drama ‘H Is for Hawk’, which was based on the memoir of the same name by Helen Macdonald and directed by Philippa Lowthorpe (‘The Crown’). The film stars Claire Foy (‘Woman Talking’), Denise Gough (‘Andor’), and Oscar nominee Brendan Gleeson (‘The Banshees of Inisherin’).

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    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Claire Foy about her work on ‘H Is for Hawk’, her first reaction to the screenplay, her approach to playing Helen Macdonald, her Falconry training, working with Brendan Gleeson, and reuniting with her ‘Crown’ director Philippa Lowthorpe.

    Claire Foy stars in 'H Is for Hawk'.
    Claire Foy stars in ‘H Is for Hawk’.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Foy, director Philippa Lowthorpe and author Helen MacDonald.

    Related Article: Claire Foy Talks ‘Women Talking’ and Working with Director Sarah Polley

    Claire Foy in 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Claire Foy in ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and why you wanted to tell Helen’s story?

    Claire Foy: My first knowledge of Helen’s story was the memoir, so that was my first way in, and I read that, and then I read the script. I found the experience of reading the memoir overwhelming and very moving and powerful. I knew that the memoir had meant a lot to a lot of people. I could see the importance of the story continuing and the film being made and Helen’s honesty and generosity I found so staggering. It was a challenge to take on, but I was really excited about it.

    MF: Can you talk about your approach to playing Helen, and were they available during production and how was that helpful to you?

    CF: So, I only spoke to Helen once before we started shooting, and that wasn’t necessarily a deep dive into their psychological process because they’d already offered that in the book. It felt like all that work had already been done and anything that Helen wanted to say was in the memoir. So, it certainly wasn’t going over any of that because that was so clear to me. They’d been so honest about that. So, I wanted to pay my respects to them and say, thanks for letting me do this, and what would be the worst thing I could possibly do so that was clear, so I knew what to try and avoid doing. That was it really, and then we were left to our own devices to make the film that that we wanted to make.

    Claire Foy in 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Claire Foy in ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    MF: Can you talk about your falconry training and what are the challenges of acting opposite a hawk?

    CF: I mean, it’s probably as difficult as you imagine it is to do. I think that I had two weeks of training immediately before we started shooting. That was incredible. I don’t think anyone really knew if it was going to work. There were lots of chats about the realities of what we were trying to do and the realities of how it may not work because Goshawks are notoriously not reticent birds, but they aren’t like the showy members of the birds of prey family. They’re quite isolated and they aren’t performative. I’d never done any falconry in my whole life, and I was playing someone who was an expert falconer. So, I had to learn fast. For me anyway, I always looked at it as an absolute privilege to be doing it, because people would be paying very good money to have that experience and to be able to spend that much time with these incredible creatures. So, I always approached it as I was incredibly lucky to be doing it, and I think that probably was the right move.

    MF: Can you talk about reuniting with ‘The Crown’ director Philippa Lowthorpe to make this movie?

    CF: So, I only worked with Philippa briefly on ‘The Crown’. We only did one episode together, and as far as I remember, I wasn’t I wasn’t in it all the time. But I remember her energy and her approach to it, and we always stayed in touch after that. Dede Gardner, who produced the film, said that she wanted Philippa to make the movie. I thought that was such a beautiful choice because Philippa approaches everything with total dignity and with absolute truthfulness and honestness and an ability to step back and allow the story to guide you. She’s got such confidence as a director, and she just knows absolutely what she’s doing. So, I was really honored to be in her film.

    Philippa Lowthorpe behind the scenes of 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Philippa Lowthorpe behind the scenes of ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    MF: Finally, what was it like shooting your scenes with actor Brendan Gleeson?

    CF: Oh, a dream. I already thought he was the most incredible actor, so I was fully prepped to love him, and I did. He is just a generous and open hearted, soulful human being. That all comes across on the screen and he’s integral to the film. You miss him when he’s not there and that’s exactly what the film needed, which is this huge presence of this incredible man, and that’s what Brendan is.

    Brendan Gleeson in 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Brendan Gleeson in ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    What is the plot of ‘H Is for Hawk’?

    After losing her beloved father (Brendan Gleeson), Helen (Claire Foy) finds herself saved by an unlikely friendship with a stubborn hawk named Mabel. Through the bond, Helen rediscovers the beauty of being alive.

    Who is in the cast of ‘H Is for Hawk’?

    'H Is for Hawk' opens in theaters on January 23rd.
    ‘H Is for Hawk’ opens in theaters on January 23rd.

    List of Movies & TV Shows Featuring Claire Foy:

    Buy Tickets: ‘H Is for Hawk’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Claire Foy Movies and TV on Amazon

  • ‘Riff Raff’ Exclusive Interview: Jennifer Coolidge

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    The new crime comedy ‘Riff Raff’, which was directed by Dito Montiel (‘The Son of No One’) and stars Jennifer Coolidge (‘The White Lotus’), Ed Harris (‘State of Grace’), Lewis Pullman (‘Top Gun: Maverick’), Gabrielle Union (‘Strange World’), Pete Davidson (‘The Suicide Squad’), and Bill Murray (‘Lost in Translation’), opens in theaters nationwide on February 28th.

    Related Article: Jennifer Coolidge and Cheech Marin Talk Prime Video’s ‘Shotgun Wedding’

    Jennifer Coolidge stars in 'Riff Raff'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Jennifer Coolidge stars in ‘Riff Raff’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer Coolidge about her work on ‘Riff Raff’, her first reaction to the screenplay, working with the cast, and how Bill Murray made her laugh.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Coolidge and Gabrielle Union.

    Jennifer Coolidge in 'Riff Raff'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Jennifer Coolidge in ‘Riff Raff’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and why did you want to be part of this project?

    Jennifer Coolidge: You know, you get a call and people are like, “I’m sending a script over. I want you in this and you I think you’d be great for this character.” Then you get it, open it up and you read it and you’re like, “I don’t see it.” Occasionally, I’ll have doubts about something and I’m able to overcome the doubts and I’ll go do it. The minute I read it; I knew that John Pollono wrote an incredible script. I have to say, it was such a good script that even if I wasn’t right for Ruth, I might have just taken the job. It was so satisfying when I went to the Toronto Film Festival and got to see it. There was a huge screening of it in this beautiful movie theater I couldn’t have been happier with the results of that. You know, just how they took John Pollono’s writing and then did Ditto’s direction, I felt like it was just an A plus. Everyone did such a good job and especially, Ditto did such a good job of telling that story. I have a feeling John Pollono is going to be employed for the next 50 years straight. He must just be booked solid. I thought that was just a brilliant script.

    (L to R) Jennifer Coolidge and Lewis Pullman in 'Riff Raff'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    (L to R) Jennifer Coolidge and Lewis Pullman in ‘Riff Raff’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    MF: Finally, there is one scene in the movie that features the entire cast together including yourself, Ed Harris, Lewis Pullman, Gabrielle Union, Pete Davidson, and Bill Murray. What was it like shooting that sequence and having the whole cast together in one scene?

    JC: Well, it took a long time to shoot that that night and it was freezing out. We were all there and I think there was maybe some technical things they had to overcome so it was an extra-long night. But a weird thing happened. I get some really bad news in that scene and there is something about Bill Murray. I don’t know if he was trying to mess me up, but I could not keep it together. I mean, I’m getting some very serious news and Bill would just do something and I would lose it and it was very unprofessional of me, but I couldn’t help it. I mean, he has that thing that makes you laugh. I could tell that people were losing respect for me. Like why couldn’t I keep it together? But that’s the hardest I’ve ever laughed on a job. It was a serious scene and Bill would just look at me like you know like, “You loser,” and it was even funnier to me. He’s a great bad guy.

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    What is the plot of ‘Riff Raff’?

    The life of a former criminal (Ed Harris) is thrown into turmoil when his old family (Jennifer Coolidge and Lewis Pullman) appear for a long-awaited reckoning.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Riff Raff’?

    Jennifer Coolidge stars in 'Riff Raff'.
    Jennifer Coolidge stars in ‘Riff Raff’.

    Jennifer Coolidge Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Riff Raff’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Jennifer Coolidge Movies on Amazon

     

  • ‘Riff Raff’ Exclusive Interview: Gabrielle Union

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    Opening in theaters nationwide on February 28th is the new crime comedy ‘Riff Raff’, which was directed by Dito Montiel (‘The Son of No One’), and stars Ed Harris (‘State of Grace’), Lewis Pullman (‘Top Gun: Maverick’), Gabrielle Union (‘Strange World’), Jennifer Coolidge (‘The White Lotus’), Pete Davidson (‘The Suicide Squad’), and Bill Murray (‘Lost in Translation’).

    Related Article: Jake Gyllenhaal and Gabrielle Union Talk Disney’s ‘Strange World’

    Gabrielle Union stars in 'Riff Raff'.
    Gabrielle Union stars in ‘Riff Raff’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Gabrielle Union about her work in ‘Riff Raff’, her first reaction to the script and the character, how the project changed her life, and working with the all-star cast.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Union, and Jennifer Coolidge.

    Gabrielle Union in 'Riff Raff'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Gabrielle Union in ‘Riff Raff’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to this screenplay and how did you approach playing your character?

    Gabrielle Union: Well, thankfully I was offered the role of Sandy. They sent the script, and I was like, “Are you kidding me? This is a dream.” They were like, “Jennifer Coolidge is starring in this, she’s executive producing. Ed Harris would be your husband.” I’m like, “Sign me up. I will pay to be in this.” The script was so fantastic, and I knew that this could be a role that change my life and change my career. So, I was excited and very honored to even be considered much less a straight offer. So that was exciting.

    MF: To follow up on something you just said, how do you think that this project has changed your life and career?

    GU: Not everything made it, but what we shot was some of the toughest material I’d ever worked with, and some of the most meaningful material I’d ever worked with. It forced me to touch places in my life and in my psyche that I’d never really drawn from before. It forced me to be a different kind of vulnerable than I’ve ever played. I loved that challenge, so I was a little disappointed when some of that didn’t make it. But yeah, that’s why I took the role, because I knew that I would be challenged. It scared me a little bit, so if it scares me, I know I should absolutely take it.

    (L to R) Miles J. Harvey and Ed Harris in 'Riff Raff'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    (L to R) Miles J. Harvey and Ed Harris in ‘Riff Raff’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    MF: Finally, there is a long scene in the film that features the entire cast. How many days did it take to shoot that sequence, and what was it like being on set with legendary performers like Ed Harris, Bill Murray and Jennifer Coolidge?

    GU: I mean, because pretty much everything took place in that house, so the set is in that house. There are two tiny holding rooms for the whole cast. So, there’s a group of us that are piled into some small child’s room, and then some are in the bigger bedroom. We had the director and video village also, and there’s not a lot of space. There’s zero privacy, there’s one bathroom. It was tight and everyone prepares in a different way, so we had to be very focused and respectful of everybody’s processes. It was very serious and professional. Everyone was kind of ready to go when it was time. So, everyone had to really be on point, and I think it might’ve been two days. It felt more like one, but yeah, about two days or a day and a half. The whole movie was like three weeks. We didn’t have a ton of time, so you had to be on point. You better be ready for your close-up, because we just didn’t have the time to probably give everyone all the coverage that we would’ve normally had if we had a longer shooting schedule.

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    What is the plot of ‘Riff Raff’?

    The life of a former criminal (Ed Harris) is thrown into turmoil when his old family (Jennifer Coolidge and Lewis Pullman) appear for a long-awaited reckoning.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Riff Raff’?

    (L to R) Jennifer Coolidge and Lewis Pullman in 'Riff Raff'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    (L to R) Jennifer Coolidge and Lewis Pullman in ‘Riff Raff’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Gabrielle Union Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Riff Raff’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Gabrielle Union Movies on Amazon

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  • ‘The Last Showgirl’s Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis

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    Opening in theaters in wide release on January 10th is the new film from director Gia Coppola (‘Palo Alto’) entitled ‘The Last Showgirl’, which stars Golden Globe nominee Pamela Anderson (‘Baywatch’), Dave Bautista (‘Guardians of the Galaxy’), Brenda Song (‘The Social Network’), Kiernan Shipka (‘Red One’), Billie Lourd (‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’), and Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis (‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’).

    Related Article: 20 Best Jamie Lee Curtis Movies

    (L to R) Jamie Lee Curtis and Pamela Anderson star in 'The Last Showgirl'.
    (L to R) Jamie Lee Curtis and Pamela Anderson star in ‘The Last Showgirl’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis about their work on ‘The Last Showgirl’, Anderson’s first reaction to the screenplay, how she related to her character, why Curtis wanted to work with Anderson and their characters’ friendship, and working with director Gia Coppola.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Anderson, Curtis, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka and director Gia Coppola.

    Pamela Anderson in 'The Last Showgirl'. Photo: Roadside Attractions.
    Pamela Anderson in ‘The Last Showgirl’. Photo: Roadside Attractions.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Pamela, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and your approach to playing Shelly? Did you relate to the character right away?

    Pamela Anderson: Well, once the script finally found me through a few obstacles, I just fell in love with it. When I read it, I could hear the voice already, I could see it so clearly, I just couldn’t wait to get started. I had happy feet. I was just like; I must get started. I got to get that first scene done, what do you call it, “in the can”. Once it was there, we hit the ground running and everyone jumped in headfirst. But I was so appreciative because I’ve always dreamt of, I always wanted to do something good. I want my legacy to be something I’m proud of and I’ve always wanted to make my family and my kids proud. I remember seeing my kid’s front row when I played Roxie in ‘Chicago’ on Broadway on the opening night and when the lights came up and they were there, it was so amazing to see them proud of me. So same thing with this movie.

    Jamie Lee Curtis in 'The Last Showgirl'. Photo: Roadside Attractions.
    Jamie Lee Curtis in ‘The Last Showgirl’. Photo: Roadside Attractions.

    MF: Jamie Lee, can you talk about the friendship between Annette and Shelly, and what it was like for you creating that relationship with Pamela on screen?

    Jamie Lee Curtis: Instantaneous. I signed up to do the movie because Pamela was going to be in it. We’ve never met, we don’t know each other, but I knew who she was. My female friendships are incredibly important to me, and so this is just a beautiful extension of a female friendship. This is that ride-or-die bestie that have been through everything together and we don’t need to have known each other because we know each other because women know each other because we’ve all been there, we’ve all done it. So, I’m just thrilled to have been able to meet her and fall in love with her the way that we have done so on film.

    Pamela Anderson in 'The Last Showgirl'. Photo: Roadside Attractions.
    Pamela Anderson in ‘The Last Showgirl’. Photo: Roadside Attractions.

    MF: Jamie Lee, has the friendship between you and Pamela that you created for this movie continued after filming was completed?

    JLC: Oh, absolutely. Are you kidding? That’s not fake. We may not see each other a lot. Pamela lives in Vancouver. I live in Los Angeles. We’re both working all the time now. Chances are we aren’t going to be having sleepovers, but we will now forever be in each other’s hearts for sure.

    'The Last Showgirl' director Gia Coppola.
    ‘The Last Showgirl’ director Gia Coppola.

    MF: Pamela, what was it like collaborating with director Gia Coppola on set?

    PA: Oh, she’s a wonderful director. She’s very soft-spoken, but very decisive. You feel completely safe with her. Like I said, this is a new world for me, these are all new feelings that I’m savoring, and she’s such a big part of that. But she’s sneaky because she’s very kind and sweet but then when she’s on set, she has her own video monitor, and she doesn’t have everybody chiming in.

    Pamela Anderson in 'The Last Showgirl'. Photo: Roadside Attractions.
    Pamela Anderson in ‘The Last Showgirl’. Photo: Roadside Attractions.

    MF: Finally, Pamela, can you talk about the challenges of shooting this movie in only 18 days in Las Vegas?

    PA: It was challenging, fun and exciting, and that’s how you want it. You want it to break you down and find things that you never knew existed, and it takes a challenge like that. The whole thing was just 18 days, I know movies take longer than that, but I don’t really have that experience, so I just shot eight or nine scenes a day. I needed to be ready when I got there.

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    What is the plot of ‘The Last Showgirl’?

    After a successful thirty-year run, a seasoned showgirl (Pamela Anderson) must plan her future after the show closes abruptly.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Last Showgirl’?

    • Pamela Anderson as Shelly
    • Jamie Lee Curtis as Annette
    • Dave Bautista as Eddie
    • Brenda Song as Mary-Anne
    • Kiernan Shipka as Jodie
    • Billie Lourd as Hannah
    • Jason Schwartzman as a director
    Pamela Anderson in 'The Last Showgirl'. Photo: Roadside Attractions.
    Pamela Anderson in ‘The Last Showgirl’. Photo: Roadside Attractions.

    Movies Directed By Gia Coppola:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Last Showgirl’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Pamela Anderson Movies on Amazon

     

  • ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’ Exclusive Interview: Andra Day

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    Opening in theaters on October 18th is the new family drama ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’, which marks the directorial debut of painter and artist Titus Kaphar. The film stars André Holland (‘Moonlight’), Andra Day (‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’), John Earl Jelks (‘Miracle at St. Anna’), and Oscar-nominee Aunjanue Ellis- Taylor (‘King Richard’).

    Related Article: Director Ava DuVernay and Actress Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Talk ‘Origin’

    Andra Day stars in 'Exhibiting Forgiveness'.
    Andra Day stars in ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Andra Day about her work on ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’, her first reaction the screenplay, why she wanted to be part of the project, working with first time filmmaker Titus Kaphar, and how her character supports her husband through his emotional journey.

    You can watch the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Day, André Holland, John Earl Jelks, and director Titus Kaphar.

    (L to R) André Holland and Andra Day in 'Exhibiting Forgiveness'. Photo: Roadside Attractions.
    (L to R) André Holland and Andra Day in ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’. Photo: Roadside Attractions.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction the screenplay and why you personally wanted to be a part of this project?

    Andra Day: I mean, my first reaction was that I knew this was going to be a beautiful story. Before even going into details with him, I could tell by reading it, that it was a personal story. You know what I mean? I think you always want to be very careful with subject matter. I wanted to be a part of this project because of Titus Kaphar. I was a huge fan of his painting. So, I remember he was like, “Oh, I can’t believe you agreed to do this.” I was like, “If you would’ve cast me as the janitor for seven seconds, I would have agreed to do this movie.” I knew I wanted to be a part of this project, just because the story is so important. I think it doesn’t necessarily even have to be your family dynamic for you to relate to it. The beauty of it, the way he was going to paint and tell this story, I just thought, “This seems groundbreaking and beautiful, and I want to be a part of that.” The cast that he put with this was unbelievable. So, everything was a factor for me, for sure.

    'Exhibiting Forgiveness' writer and director Titus Kaphar.
    ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’ writer and director Titus Kaphar.

    MF: What was it like working with artist Titus Kaphar on his directorial debut and watching him execute his vision for this film on set?

    AD: I think Titus was finding his way through the space, maybe the first two or three days. By the second week, he was in the space. By the second week, he had learned the process and he landed on it very quickly. He also learned in ways where he would take more time, certain things that he needed to get done. So, he settled into it. I watched him settle into the role of director very quickly. You know what I mean? But I think what it was like was like watching a visionary. When people go, “Oh, it’s your first time directing.” I’m like, “It’s his directorial debut. It is not his first time directing in life.” So, when it comes to his artwork, when it comes to the content that he puts out, when it comes to how he puts out the art, the schools that he puts together, anytime he does that, he’s directing things. So, I think that this is just his first foray into traditional film. But he’s a visionary. I think people like him, if they are passionate about what they’re doing, if they care about what they’re doing, it will always be great. Because if you have the vision, I think everything else falls into place.

    (L to R) André Holland and Andra Day in 'Exhibiting Forgiveness'. Photo: Roadside Attractions.
    (L to R) André Holland and Andra Day in ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’. Photo: Roadside Attractions.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about Aisha and Tarrell’s relationship and how she supports her husband through his journey to overcome his past?

    AD: It’s very interesting. I think Aisha loves her husband and I think that she also comes from a family of trauma. I don’t think this is unfamiliar to her. I think we decided that was also her life and that her and Tarrell have decided together to have a peaceful environment for their son. So, I think they are healing together, which I think you can do with love. But I think there’s also parts of trauma that do not involve a partner and that deal with forgiveness of the person that you need forgiveness from, or you need to forgive. So, I think that she supports him in a very interesting way. She supports him by trying to encourage him to reconcile and to heal. She supports him, also, by protecting him because she sees how this affects him. But I think she also supports him by standing her ground in her own life and making sure they keep the promises they made to each other. Those promises weren’t just, “Hey, I’ll be a great mother to our child, and you’ll be a great father to our child. We’ll be a great husband and wife.” I will give you the space and support you in your career in painting and in the art world, but you must give me the space and support me in my career in the music world. So, I think that she also supports him and helps him through this process by being an anchor point and keeping them adhering to the promises that they made to each other. Which can be very uncomfortable and can be contentious at times but is necessary.

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    What is the plot of ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’?

    Utilizing his paintings to find freedom from his past, a Black artist (André Holland) on the path to success is derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father (John Earl Jelks), a recovering addict desperate to reconcile. Together, they learn that forgetting might be a greater challenge than forgiving.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’?

    • André Holland as Tarrell
    • Andra Day as Aisha
    • Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Joyce
    • John Earl Jelks as La’Ron
    • Ian Foreman as Young Tarrell
    • Daniel Michael Barriere as Jermaine
    • Matthew Elam as Quentin
    • Jaime Ray Newman as Janine
    (L to R) Andra Day and André Holland in 'Exhibiting Forgiveness'. Photo: Roadside Attractions.
    (L to R) Andra Day and André Holland in ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’. Photo: Roadside Attractions.

    Other Andra Day Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness‘ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Andra Day Movies on Amazon

     

  • Movie Review: ‘Lee’

    Kate Winslet 'Lee'. Photo: Roadside Attractions & Vertical.
    Kate Winslet ‘Lee’. Photo: Roadside Attractions & Vertical.

    Opening in theaters September 27th is ‘Lee,’ directed by Ellen Kuras and starring Kate Winslet, Josh O’Connor, Andrea Riseborough, Andy Samberg, Alexander Skarsgård, and Marion Cotillard.

    Related Article: Kate Winslet Talks ‘Lee’

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Marion Cotillard and Noemie Merlant in 'Lee'. Photo: Kimberley French.
    (L to R) Marion Cotillard and Noemie Merlant in ‘Lee’. Photo: Kimberley French.

    Lee Miller is considered one of the greatest and most important war photographers of the 20th (or any) century, with her images from World War II – the horrors inside a concentration camp, the unspeakable contents of an abandoned train on its way to one of the camps, the haunted faces of both soldiers and survivors – not only indelible but crucial to documenting the defining cataclysm of modern human civilization.

    And while ‘Lee,’ the new film from first-time director Ellen Kuras, doesn’t skimp on the visual side either, it follows a very predictable path that is the curse of all biopics these days: the film bounces from incident to incident, bound to a repetitive show-and-tell structure that recounts a lot of Miller’s adult life yet never delves deeply into their meaning or emotional aspects. The result is more museum piece than motion picture.

    Story and Direction

    (L to R) Andy Samberg and Kate Winslet in 'Lee'. Photo: Kimberley French.
    (L to R) Andy Samberg and Kate Winslet in ‘Lee’. Photo: Kimberley French.

    Like most biopics these days, ‘Lee’ begins in the middle of the story – in this case, Miller’s first time shooting photos on a battlefield – and then flashes back to tell us how she got there. Or rather, it flashes both back and forward: the movie then sets up a future timeline in which an aged Miller (Kate Winslet) grudgingly tells her story to an interviewer (Josh O’Connor from ‘Challengers’) who apparently has no idea of her life’s work.

    This intrusive narrative device (which it took four credited writers to decide upon) recurs throughout the film, as does a gravelly voiceover from Winslet, both of which signal than the film is going to lead us gently by the hand through the narrative instead of letting it unfold on its own terms.

    Even with that, by the time the main thrust of the story gets going, we meet Miller when she has already abandoned her early career as a fashion model in the 1920s and ‘30s and struck out as a photographer in her own right. She’s first seen hanging out topless (along with other women) at a picnic in France, but we have little context for this or the bohemian group of friends she’s with. “I was good at drinking, having sex, and taking pictures, and did all three as much as I could,” says Miller in what’s supposed to be character development.

    ‘Lee’ is the kind of biopic that expects us to have done our homework beforehand – when Miller meets the love her life, Roland Penrose (Alexander Skarsgård), their almost perfunctory tumble into bed mere hours later seems more baffling than erotic. But Winslet and Skarsgård never quite have the time to develop any real chemistry onscreen after that.

    Alexander Skarsgard in 'Lee'. Photo: Kimberley French.
    Alexander Skarsgard in ‘Lee’. Photo: Kimberley French.

    Miller keeps fighting for the chance to go to Europe to shoot the escalating war, but the U.K.’s patriarchal rules of the day forbid it, until she goes around her British editors at Vogue and appeals to her American ones. “It happened so slowly, yet kind of overnight,” says Miller in her voiceover about Hitler’s conquest of Europe, which plays out offscreen during a montage of Miller’s days at Vogue before she finally gets the nod to go to Europe and catch up to the movie’s opening scene.

    The bulk of the film is set during Miller’s time near or on the front, where she heads out with fellow photojournalist David Scherman (Andy Samberg) — who may or may not be in love with her but who remains a strictly platonic friend and colleague — to chronicle the war. From there, the movie takes us episodically through the staging of a handful of Miller’s most famous photos, while touching tangentially on sexism, Miller’s own alcoholism (although she seems to conquer both with relative ease), and the fraying of her marriage to Penrose.

    The film’s third act is saddled with not one, not two, but three reveals, all of which come far too late in the game. One is a scene between Miller and her Vogue editor, Audrey Withers (Andrea Riseborough), in which Miller confides a devastating episode from her childhood but seems here almost like an afterthought. The other two depend on the film withholding information in a way that makes them seem like cheap tricks rather than important twists.

    Ellen Kuras, a longtime cinematographer making her feature directorial debut here, shoots ‘Lee’ beautifully as one might expect, with the early sun-drenched vistas of France giving way to the darker grays, browns, and blues of a war-devastated Europe. But Kuras, like the cast, can’t get around the checklist nature of the script to make us truly feel or understand anything that happens in the film.

    The Cast

    (L to R) Noemie Merlant, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, and Alexander Skarsgard in 'Lee'. Photo: Kimberley French.
    (L to R) Noemie Merlant, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, and Alexander Skarsgard in ‘Lee’. Photo: Kimberley French.

    If you’re not already in the camp that regards Kate Winslet as one of the greatest actors of her generation, then ‘Lee’ is not the place to start (we’d go with ‘Mare of Easttown,’ ‘Little Children,’ or ‘Mildred Pierce,’ for starters). It’s not that Winslet isn’t as terrific as always here – she is. Her Lee is a fighter all the way, but only has a couple of scenes in which to fully showcase the scope of both her humanity and her own motivations. The Lee Miller we see in the film only comes to life sporadically, and is seemingly driven only by the needs of the narrative.

    The rest of the cast falls prey to another typical biopic convention: cast enough well-known actors as people we’re supposed to know, and let their star wattage do the work. Everyone is good as far as it goes, but the film has this air of pre-supposing that you’ll know who Marion Cotillard’s Solange d’Ayen is and fill in the blanks yourself. Only the chameleonic Riseborough makes somewhat of a lasting impression as British Vogue editor Audrey Withers. There is also the token “comic actor taking on a serious role that will surprise you” – in this case it’s Andy Samberg as David Scherman, who again has no real life save that he follows Lee around like a puppy.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Andrea Riseborough and Kate Winslet in 'Lee'. Photo: Kimberley French.
    (L to R) Andrea Riseborough and Kate Winslet in ‘Lee’. Photo: Kimberley French.

    The problem with telling the story of someone’s life is that life itself is an often-rambling journey, full of highs and lows and rarely imbued with the kind of dramatic turns or climactic moments that are necessary for a film. As a result, most biopics run the risk of seeming shapeless and haphazard even as they follow a formulaic structure that tries to whip the events of the subject’s life into shape (this is why, say, Steven Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’ is more successful, in that it focuses on one crucial episode in the subject’s life rather than encompassing them all).

    As fascinating and complicated as Lee Miller apparently was, and as important as her work was to understanding an event that nearly brought civilization to its knees and realigned the world order for the foreseeable future, ‘Lee’ doesn’t have the narrative real estate to give us anymore than a snapshot of either the woman or her exploits. The result is a staid, self-important “and then this happened, and then we went here” approach that will leave most viewers, ironically enough, without a clear image of who Lee Miller was.

    ‘Lee’ receives 5.5 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the plot of ‘Lee’?

    Lee Miller (Kate Winslet) goes from a career as a model to enlisting as a photographer to chronicle the events of World War II for Vogue magazine.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Lee’?

    • Kate Winslet as Lee Miller
    • Marion Cotillard as Solange d’Ayen
    • Andrea Riseborough as Audrey Withers
    • Andy Samberg as David Scherman
    • Noémie Merlant as Nusch Éluard
    • Josh O’Connor as Antony Penrose
    • Alexander Skarsgård as Roland Penrose
    Kate Winslet stars in 'Lee'.
    Kate Winslet stars in ‘Lee’.

    Kate Winslet Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Lee’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Kate Winslet Movies On Amazon

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  • ‘Lee’ Exclusive Interview: Kate Winslet

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    Opening in theaters on September 27th is the new biopic ‘Lee’, which chronicles the life of celebrated WWII photojournalist Lee Miller.

    Directed by cinematographer Ellen Kuras (‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’), the film stars Academy Award winner Kate Winslet (‘Titanic’, ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’) as Miller, as well as Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard (‘The Dark Knight Rises’), Oscar-nominee Andrea Riseborough (‘To Leslie’), Andy Samberg (‘Palm Springs’), Josh O’Connor (‘Challengers’), and Alexander Skarsgård (‘The Northman’).

    Kate Winslet stars in 'Lee'.
    Kate Winslet stars in ‘Lee’.

    Related Article: Director James Cameron and Kate Winslet Talk ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kate Winslet about her work on ‘Lee’, her passion to get the movie made and tell this story, as well as Miller’s incredible determination and what Winslet admires most about her.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Winslet, Andy Samberg and Andrea Riseborough.

    Kate Winslet 'Lee'. Photo: Roadside Attractions & Vertical.
    Kate Winslet ‘Lee’. Photo: Roadside Attractions & Vertical.

    Moviefone: To begin with, as both an actress and a producer, why you were so passionate about this project and why did you want to get Lee’s story told?

    Kate Winslet: I started developing the film in 2015, and I knew who Lee Miller was, I was familiar with her photography. But I did not know what she had gone through and how unbelievably determined she was to get permission to go to the front line and to document the war and the atrocities of the Nazi regime for female readers of British Vogue. I could see very clearly that history was in danger of pigeonholing her and defining her through the male gaze. She was described as the former muse and ex-lover of Man Ray, and she was an ex-cover girl, all this former stuff, like the interesting bits of her life had been and gone. But these kind of infantilizing descriptions of who she was, which really bothered me because Lee was a woman who lived many lives within her life, even beyond the war. But for me, this decade of history that we depict in our film was really when Lee became Lee. This was a flawed, middle-aged woman who had the compassion and determination to go and reveal the truth. She wasn’t prepared to take no for an answer. She never took her foot off the gas, and I just had to become like that in trying to get the film made, and in playing her. It has been just an extraordinary privilege to have played this character, honestly.

    (L to R) Andy Samberg and Kate Winslet in 'Lee'. Photo: Kimberley French.
    (L to R) Andy Samberg and Kate Winslet in ‘Lee’. Photo: Kimberley French.

    MF: Finally, you mentioned Lee’s incredible determination, where do you think that came from and is that what you admired most about her?

    KW: I mean, yes, it was one of many things that I admired about her, but in general, how Lee Miller walked through the world. I think she was born determined, and she carried herself with incredible grace and compassion. She was redefining femininity 80 years ago to mean resilience, strength, courage and power, all those things that we now as women are doing and we’re raising our daughters that way, and that’s how we are in our friendships. That was Lee. She was already doing that, so (she was an) incredibly contemporary person of her time. But Lee had suffered the most extraordinary, unimaginable trauma as a child, and she was told to never speak of it, and she didn’t. She never told anyone. Consequently, she had a very powerful streak of injustice in her, and that meant whether it was, consciously or subconsciously, that she carried that injustice into her work and had a way of seeing the world that was different. She could see evil. She could see people in a way that meant her photography was unique. She was able to look down into that Rolleiflex camera at her image, but look up and meet people’s gaze head on, and she was unafraid of doing that. That is what sets her work apart, and that is what war correspondents do. They take risks and they put themselves in terrifying situations, but they do it because they want to reveal the truth, and they want to make sure that nothing is hidden. Lee did that for the female readers of British Vogue at a time when not many other women were doing that at all.

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    What is the plot of ‘Lee’?

    Lee Miller (Kate Winslet) goes from a career as a model to enlisting as a photographer to chronicle the events of World War II for Vogue magazine.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Lee’?

    • Kate Winslet as Lee Miller
    • Marion Cotillard as Solange d’Ayen
    • Andrea Riseborough as Audrey Withers
    • Andy Samberg as David Scherman
    • Noémie Merlant as Nusch Éluard
    • Josh O’Connor as Antony Penrose
    • Alexander Skarsgård as Roland Penrose
    (L to R) Noemie Merlant, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, and Alexander Skarsgard in 'Lee'. Photo: Kimberley French.
    (L to R) Noemie Merlant, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, and Alexander Skarsgard in ‘Lee’. Photo: Kimberley French.

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