Moviefone Editorial

Tag: women-history-month

  • ‘The Gray House’ Interviews: Daisy Head and Amethyst Davis

    XFRwIXEX

    Premiering on Prime Video February 26th is the new historical drama ‘The Gray House’, which was produced by Morgan Freeman (‘Glory’) and Kevin Costner (‘Dances with Wolves’), co-written by John Sayles (‘Eight Men Out’), and directed by Roland Joffé (‘The Killing Fields’).

    LKGqnBoqo9Q4Mb4vC5JNH1

    The series stars Mary-Louise Parker (‘RED’), Daisy Head (‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’), Amethyst Davis (‘Kindred’), Ben Vereen (‘Tenspeed and Brown Shoe’), Robert Knepper (‘Prison Break’), Rob Morrow (‘Quiz Show’), Sam Trammell (‘True Blood’), Christopher McDonald (‘Happy Gilmore’), and Keith David (‘They Live’).

    (Left) Daisy Head stars in 'The Gray House'. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca. (Right) Amethyst Davis stars in 'The Gray House'. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
    (Left) Daisy Head stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca. (Right) Amethyst Davis stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Daisy Head and Amethyst Davis about their work on ‘The Gray House’, the true story it is based on, their characters’ relationship, working with Mary-Louise Parker, and collaborating on set with director Roland Joffé.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Head, Davis, and Keith David.

    Related Article: Every Kevin Costner Movie and TV Western, Ranked

    Daisy Head stars in 'The Gray House'. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
    Daisy Head stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Daisy, can you talk about the alliance that Elizabeth and her mother make with Mary Jane and the incredible work they do together against all odds?

    Daisy Head: It was a remarkable trio, a very tenacious group of women. Obviously, Mary Jane had suffered so much adversity and just had such an extraordinarily harrowing experience for any human to have endured. To be able to unite and rely on each other’s bravery, courage, and strength in their quest for freedom and to preserve American democracy was really humbling to experience as a human being and portraying that character in that role within that story. I was in awe of these three women and everything that they sacrificed. Being able to play against Mary-Louise and Amethyst in the scenes was just an absolute privilege, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.

    MF: Amethyst, in the series your character explains that she has lost her faith in God and that it is rage that keeps her going. Can you talk about that and how her rage gave her an advantage against the Confederates?

    Amethyst Davis: I think that’s a turning point of the whole series. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to when something traumatic and devastating happens, and you start to lose your faith a little bit and you get reunited with something else. But it’s something that the journey of feeling trauma and dealing with it and seeing it with your own eyes, with your own family can really give you ammo to get ready to do things that you never thought you would do.

    Amethyst Davis stars in 'The Gray House'. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
    Amethyst Davis stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.

    MF: Amethyst, as an actor and as a human being, what was it like to act out some of the horrible situations in this series? Did it feel real at times, and how did that help inform your performance?

    AD: I think sometimes, but no, it didn’t feel real. The more prepared I was, the more removed from it I could be. There was one scene that was a real small scene, no lines, and I really didn’t prepare that much because I just thought, “Oh, it was going to be a quick scene.” It was not a quick scene. I was not prepared, so then therefore, I’m in it. It’s me in this scene, and now we’re traumatized. No, we weren’t traumatized. We shook it off and we were all a close cast, so we were able to help each other out and hang out with each other. So, we were able to shake that off.

    MF: Daisy, can you talk about the relationship between Elizabeth and her mother and what it was like working with Mary-Louise Parker?

    DH: I mean, Mary-Louise, testament to her, she is such a remarkably talented actor. To be able to have a relationship on screen, but develop it off-screen as well was a true joy because it I felt like we had our own chemistry and our own bond off-screen. I was able to, in scenes just feel very comfortable and safe in her company. She is an extraordinary talent, and I’m so fond of her as a human being. So, it really helped strengthen the narrative of the story, because there was an incredibly tight bond between us as people. Which just made it easier, and I was able to generate that kind of strength of relationship much faster than if it was someone else. So, it was a great privilege.

    Mary-Louise Parker stars in 'The Gray House'. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
    Mary-Louise Parker stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.

    MF: Daisy, what was it like working with director Roland Joffé and watching him execute his vision for this project?

    DH: I mean, he’s just remarkable. He is so talented, and his eye and attention to detail is literally unparalleled. I just felt so honored to have the opportunity to work alongside him for such a long project and fully trust in his vision and concept. Because even in some scenes, I would be concerned about how something was being portrayed and about whether I needed to do it. He was just like, “No, trust me, in the bigger scheme of things, don’t worry too much about this little thing.” I put my full faith in him. I mean, the finished product, the work speaks for itself. He is an incredibly, extraordinarily talented human.

    MF: Finally, Amethyst, what was your experience like working with Roland?

    AD: I was just so surprised at how much he respected my voice and my opinion as being a newer actor. Anytime I had a suggestion or sometimes they would even ask me things. They never made me feel like, “Oh, you’re just an actor,” or “Oh, you’re just a new actor,” or anything like that. They were very respectful and open, and I know that doesn’t always happen.

    Mary-Louise Parker stars in 'The Gray House'. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
    Mary-Louise Parker stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.

    What is the plot of ‘The Gray House’?

    Based on a true story, the series is about the secret work carried out by Union spies during the American Civil War.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Gray House’?

    • Mary-Louise Parker as Eliza Baker Van Lew
    • Amethyst Davis as Mary Jane Richards
    • Daisy Head as Elizabeth Van Lew
    • Ben Vereen as Isham Worthy
    • Paul Anderson as Stokely Reeves
    • Robert Knepper as Bully Lumpkin
    • Sam Trammell as Jefferson Davis
    • Colin Morgan as Hamton Arsenault
    • Hannah James as Clara Parish
    • Keith David as Rev. Henry H. Varnett
    'The Gray House' Premieres on Prime Video February 26th.
    ‘The Gray House’ Premieres on Prime Video February 26th.

    List of Daisy Head Movies:

    Buy Daisy Head 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.

    LFbEzHhemrDhDIov2lYTm6

    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

    vmUwynBq

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

    nFDXpIaC

    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’).

    LFbEzHhemrDhDIov2lYTm6

    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

  • Movie Review: ‘Rosemead’

    Lucy Liu stars in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    Lucy Liu stars in ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    In theaters expanding its release on December 9 is ‘Rosemead,’ a taught, powerful new drama that spotlights the troubles of Asian American parents struggling to deal with mental health issues among their teenage children.

    xvAm1g29CKjjlS025b85z2

    Directed by Eric Lin (the ‘Hearts Beat Loud’ cinematographer makes his directorial debut here), the ‘Rosemead’ cast is led by Lucy Liu (‘Kill Bill’), Lawrence Shou and Madison Hu (‘The Brothers Sun’).

    Related Article: Lucy Liu Talks ‘Rosemead’ and the Tragic True Story It Is Based On

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Lucy Liu and Lawrence Shou star in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Lucy Liu and Lawrence Shou star in ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    Given that the true story it is based upon is full of tragedy and pain, you should certainly go into ‘Rosemead’ expecting some downbeat developments.

    But don’t let that deter you from a powerful and thoughtful movie that boasts a typically great performance from Lucy Liu, here fully taking the chance to shine in a difficult, nuanced role.

    Script and Direction

    Director Eric Lin on the set of 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    Director Eric Lin on the set of ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    With a script from Marilyn Fu (‘The Sisterhood of Night’) which also features additional writing from director Eric Lin, ‘Rosemead’ has its roots in an L.A. Times article by Frank Shyong about a Laotian mother living in the US who discovered her teen son’s disturbing fascination with school shootings even as he lived with schizophrenia.

    Director Lin finds the sensitivity in the story, focusing on an aspect of Asian American life not often touched upon, and bringing it to screens with the plenty care and thoughtfulness.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Lucy Liu and Lawrence Shou star in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Lucy Liu and Lawrence Shou star in ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    Lucy Liu is the clear standout here; given the chance to really show what she can do as an actor, she proves she’s more than capable of filling out a character and bringing real heart and depth to a complicated person.

    She’s well supported by Lawrence Shou, who makes his feature film acting debut, and has the equally tough job of portraying her son, Joe, who grapples with his own demons.

    Final Thoughts

    Lucy Liu stars in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    Lucy Liu stars in ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    ‘Rosemead’ is a painfully sad story, but also a vital one, and has urgent things to say about the lack of communication between different generations of families, but particularly in the Asian American communities where silence can be as dangerous as fraught emotion.

    ‘Rosemead’ receives 72 out of 100.

    (L to R) Lawrence Shou and Lucy Liu star in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Lawrence Shou and Lucy Liu star in ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    What’s the story of ‘Rosemead’?

    Lucy Liu stars as Irene, who takes drastic measures to protect her troubled teenage son (Lawrence Shou).

    As his dark obsessions grow and time runs out, she is forced to make impossible choices: how far will she go and what is she willing to sacrifice?

    Who is in the cast of ‘Rosemead’?

    'Rosemead' opens in theaters on December 5th.
    ‘Rosemead’ opens in theaters on December 5th.

    List of Lucy Liu Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Rosemead’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Lucy Liu Movies on Amazon

  • ‘The Chronology of Water’ Director and Cast Interview

    sQlDvxgN

    Opening in theaters on January 9th is the new film ‘The Chronology of Water‘, which was written and directed by Kristen Stewart (‘Spencer’) and is based on the book of the same name by Lidia Yuknavitch. The film stars Imogen Poots (‘All of You’), Thora Birch (‘Ghost World’), and Jim Belushi (‘Song Sung Blue’).

    O1KPMKbz5hm1NCEu5ybzl6

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kristen Stewart and Imogen Poots about their work on ‘The Chronology of Water’, the process of adapting the book into a screenplay, the themes Stewart wanted to explore, and Poots’ approach to playing her character.

    (L to R) Imogen Poots and director Kristen Stewart discuss 'The Chronology of Water'.
    (L to R) Imogen Poots and director Kristen Stewart discuss ‘The Chronology of Water’.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Stewart, Poots, Thora Birch and Jim Belushi.

    Related Article: Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun Talk Sam and Andy Zuchero’s ‘Love Me’

    (L to R) Director Kristen Stewart and Imogen Poots on the set of 'The Chronology of Water'. Photo: The Forge .
    (L to R) Director Kristen Stewart and Imogen Poots on the set of ‘The Chronology of Water’. Photo: The Forge .

    Moviefone: To begin with, Kristen, can you talk about the process of developing the book into a screenplay, and the themes that you wanted to explore as a filmmaker?

    Kristen Stewart: The reason that I loved the book so much is because it does unearth your own relationship to figuring out how to define yourself on your own terms and something about buried voice. Whether or not you have this specific kind of oppressive forces on your back the way that she did. There’s a line in the book like, “You have to break the back of a word to actually make it yours.” I thought the whole non-linear style, it just felt like it really lent itself to the cinematic form. It just felt like it could be everyone’s story, even though it is a memoir about one person. I wrote it over an eight-year period. At some point, every page of that book has been adapted, but the whole thing was like clay, just like your life is like clay. It’s yours to shape and form, and the movie felt like flying a kite. It was just like we were caught up in this hurricane of intuition. Ultimately, I think I could edit this movie forever. I would like to go back and re-shoot it. I would like to go back and re-edit it. But at the same time, I find it to be absolutely itself. It has this snowflake fingerprint thing going on, and it’s because we only have our instincts to go on, and we really followed them truthfully, because the book gives you that permission. I don’t know, it was like the book allowed me to break it. It almost encouraged me to change the things that happened to her into things that happen to us all.

    Imogen Poots in 'The Chronology of Water'. Photo: The Forge .
    Imogen Poots in ‘The Chronology of Water’. Photo: The Forge .

    MF: Finally, Imogen, can you talk about your approach to playing Lydia and what was the biggest challenge for you and how did you overcome it?

    Imogen Poots: I suppose my approach is, it’s always the same, it’s just to do the work and turn up and then you’re just reacting, you’re just present with the character you’re playing and the people you’re with in the scene. I think in terms of the preparation for it physically was interesting. I’ve never done that before. I’ve heard of people going on diets and lifting weights and being superheroes, but I wanted a triangle back. I wanted to look like I had the body of a swimmer, rather than, to use Kristen’s term, “A dinky little actress.” So, that was really empowering. That was cool because my body changed, and so I did feel different going into the project. I felt like I had this strength, I could crush a can, but I didn’t really know what to do with that. It’s quite an interesting state to be in, and really cool when dealing with stuff in Lydia’s life that was incredibly vulnerable, or the fragility of her juxtaposed with that body. That’s kind of interesting stuff to grapple with. But in terms of what was challenging, every day you just want to get as close as you can to the truth of something, and I didn’t want to let down Kristen. Kristen had been very loyal with me as her actress and waiting to do this film together, and the stakes of that are high. It mattered a lot to me that we could try our best to wrangle this beast that felt like it was slipping away from us every day, and that’s the nature of making independent films. But this one especially, there was a lot to shoot. I think the pressure of that can get to you and there’s some importance to that too. We were shooting on film and that delivers an urgency and that costs a lot of money to shoot on film. We had a great DP in Corey Waters, but sometimes there’s a nonchalance that can occur on a film set where it’s like, “We’ll go again.” We just didn’t have that luxury, and it’s probably a good thing because it felt vital and it felt like if that’s the way it is, that’s the way it is. It’s like paint. It’s just on there now and that’s what you’re going to work with.

    Imogen Poots in 'The Chronology of Water'. Photo: The Forge .
    Imogen Poots in ‘The Chronology of Water’. Photo: The Forge .

    What is the plot of ‘The Chronology of Water’?

    A young woman (Imogen Poots) finds her voice through the written word and her salvation as a swimmer – ultimately becoming a triumphant teacher, mother and a singular modern writer.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Chronology of Water’?

    'The Chronology of Water' opens in theaters on January 9th.
    ‘The Chronology of Water’ opens in theaters on January 9th.

    List of Kristen Stewart Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Chronology of Water’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Kristen Stewart Movies on Amazon

     

  • Movie Review: ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’

    Amanda Seyfried in 'The Testament of Ann Lee'. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Amanda Seyfried in ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Opening in theaters on December 25 is ‘The Testament of Ann Lee,’ directed and co-written by Mona Fastvold and starring Amanda Seyfried, Lewis Pullman, Thomasin McKenzie, Christopher Abbott, Stacy Martin, Scott Handy, Matthew Beard, Viola Prettejohn and Tim Blake Nelson.

    YhDPthnzD4n5NVnUMkoNr5

    Related Article: Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried Starring in Novel Adaptation ‘The Housemaid’

    Initial Thoughts

    Amanda Seyfried in 'The Testament of Ann Lee'. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Amanda Seyfried in ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    You probably won’t see another movie like ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ this awards season or even this year. It’s a strange, often surreal, and numinous historical drama that’s frequently harrowing yet at times extremely moving. It’s also a musical of sorts, although many of the numbers are based on religious hymns and wouldn’t sound out of place in a folk horror film.

    Directed by Mona Fastvold and co-written by Fastvold with her longtime partner Brady Corbet – who directed 2024’s ‘The Brutalist,’ which the couple also co-wrote – ‘Ann Lee’ is, like that film, eerily immersive in its historical period and driven by a singular performance from its star. You simply cannot take your eyes off Amanda Seyfried in this film, even if other actors are somewhat sidelined and the film itself raises questions about its subject that are never really answered.

    Story and Direction

    (L to R) Mona Fastvold and Amanda Seyfried on the set of 'The Testament of Ann Lee'. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Mona Fastvold and Amanda Seyfried on the set of ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Born in Manchester, England in 1736, Ann Lee (Amanda Seyfried) is brought up in a strict religious household, one of eight children, and sent to work at an early age in a cotton factory. In her 20s, she joins a religious sect known as the Shakers – literally the ‘Shaking Quakers,’ an offshoot of the Quaker faith that expiates sin and expresses devotion to God through ecstatic shaking, dancing, and singing.

    After marrying an iron worker named Abraham (Christopher Abbott), being initiated into sex, and giving birth to four children who all die in infancy, Ann is committed to an asylum. These experiences, combined with a stint in prison for public evangelizing, trigger visions which result in her being deemed the second coming of Christ in female form.

    Now known as Mother Ann Lee, Ann establishes a doctrine for the Shakers that renounces all sexual activity, which does not sit well with Abraham. Yet the Shakers also believe in gender equality, pacifism, human rights (they are appalled by slavery), and community sharing. Increasingly persecuted in England, Ann, her devoted brother William (Lewis Pullman), and a small band of followers journey to the American colonies and settle in upstate New York – but their persecution doesn’t end there.

    Mona Fastvold with cast and crew on the set of 'The Testament of Ann Lee'. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Mona Fastvold with cast and crew on the set of ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Mona Fastvold presents all this in linear, straightforward fashion, adding surreal imagery and some showy camera moves to accentuate the more spiritual moments of Ann Lee’s life. The songs – a mix of chants, Shaker hymns, and folk melodies – are haunting enough to not clash with the film’s tone and esthetic, which veers from the pastoral to the brutal – the latter especially in the scenes where Ann gives birth, as well as a later, harrowing sequence of persecution and torture.

    Where Fastvold loses focus is the story’s meaning. The Shakers espoused some truly progressive ideals, and their dancing and shaking were indeed rapturous, even bordering (at least onscreen) on the erotic. That brings Ann’s whole rigid adherence to celibacy for her flock into question, along with her own mental state and the frankly cult-like piety of her followers.

    Was she channeling the divine, or was she suffering from trauma brought on by sexual dysfunction and the horrific loss of her children? How did her anti-sex mandate coexist with ‘be fruitful and multiply’? The film doesn’t make a strong case either way, and while it’s visually powerful and often dramatically moving, there’s a bit of an empty feeling at the end (especially when the closing credits reveal that there are only three Shakers left in the world today).

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Amanda Seyfried and Lewis Pullman in 'The Testament of Ann Lee'. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Amanda Seyfried and Lewis Pullman in ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Amanda Seyfried has always been an exceptional actor, but she pushes herself to new heights in ‘Ann Lee.’ In a year full of raw performances by women like Rose Byrne, Jessie Buckley, and Jennifer Lawrence, Seyfried not only fearlessly embraces the extremes that are brought upon Ann – including graphically disastrous childbirths, beatings, and torture – but fully inhabits the spirituality and determination of the women.

    While whatever drove Ann Lee – whether it was a connection to the divine or the throes of mental illness – is open to debate, Seyfried never leaves any doubt of what Ann herself believes. Her subtle physical transformation and beautiful singing voice only add to what is nothing less than an epic performance.

    It’s a shame that many of the other characters and performers struggle to stand out in the shadow of Seyfried’s work, but Thomasin McKenzie makes an impression as her devoted assistant Mary and Lewis Pullman broadens his range as well with his portrayal of Ann’s fiercely loyal and devout brother William. Also notable is Christopher Abbott, whose face tells the story of a man who is slowly checking out of what he found so compelling about Ann and the Shaker beliefs – it’s too bad that he more or less disappears from the story halfway through.

    Final Thoughts

    Amanda Seyfried in 'The Testament of Ann Lee'. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Amanda Seyfried in ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Despite its thematic murkiness – and lapses in character development for everyone but its central figure – ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ is still a unique cinematic experience. We can’t say enough about Seyfried’s performance, and the film as a whole is a gripping, evocative experience.

    And setting aside the question of Ann’s convictions and the Shakers’ dedication to them, ‘Ann Lee’ is also a portrait of a woman trying to espouse and extend bold ideals and, of course, meeting resistance every step of the way. That she manages to create at least the beginnings of a truly egalitarian society, despite the odds and its own strange attributes, is akin in a way to the creation of such a challenging film itself.

    ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ receives a score of 85 out of 100.

    A scene from 'The Testament of Ann Lee'. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    A scene from ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    What is the plot of ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’?

    Visionary spiritual leader Ann Lee rises from obscurity in 18th century England to forge the radical religious movement that will become the Shakers. Driven by her beliefs and persecuted in two countries, Ann gathers devoted followers who come to see her as the female embodiment of Christ.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’?

    • Amanda Seyfried as Ann Lee
    • Lewis Pullman as William Lee
    • Thomasin McKenzie as Mary Partington
    • Christopher Abbott as Abraham Standerin
    • Stacy Martin as Jane Wardley
    • Scott Handy as James Wardley
    • Matthew Beard as James Whittaker
    • Viola Prettejohn as Nancy Lee
    • Tim Blake Nelson as Pastor Reuben Wright
    'The Testament of Ann Lee' opens in theaters on December 25th.
    ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ opens in theaters on December 25th.

    List of Amanda Seyfried Movies and TV Shows

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Amanda Seyfried Movies on Amazon

    oRVZpUmu

  • Movie Review: ‘Song Sung Blue’

    (L to R) Kate Hudson as Claire Sardina and Hugh Jackman as Mike Sardina in director Craig Brewer's 'Song Sung Blue', a Focus Features release. Credit: Sarah Shatz/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Kate Hudson as Claire Sardina and Hugh Jackman as Mike Sardina in director Craig Brewer’s ‘Song Sung Blue’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Sarah Shatz/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    In Theaters via Focus Features on December 25 is ‘Song Sung Blue’, which sounds like it should be a Neil Diamond biopic, but is in fact the adaptation of a documentary about a couple who covered his tracks while dealing with difficult moments in life.

    zL1GEPSppLvmXmqH81Z073

    Writer/director Craig Brewer‘s new movie stars Hugh Jackman (‘Deadpool & Wolverine’), Kate Hudson (‘Almost Famous’), Ella Anderson (‘Suncoast’), King Princess (‘Bottoms’), Jim Belushi (‘The Whole Truth’) and Fisher Stevens (‘Motherless Brooklyn’).

    Related Article: ‘Hustle & Flow’ Director Craig Brewer Will Make a Snoop Dogg Biopic

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Jim Belushi as Tom D'Amato, Ella Anderson as Rachel, Michael Imperioli as Mark Shurilla, King Princess as Angelina, Kate Hudson as Claire Stengl, and Hugh Jackman as Mike Sardina in director Craig Brewer's 'Song Sung Blue', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Jim Belushi as Tom D’Amato, Ella Anderson as Rachel, Michael Imperioli as Mark Shurilla, King Princess as Angelina, Kate Hudson as Claire Stengl, and Hugh Jackman as Mike Sardina in director Craig Brewer’s ‘Song Sung Blue’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    We have had such a glut of music biopics in recent years, unleashed by the success of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ that you might roll your eyes at the idea that ‘Song Sung Blue’ delves into some aspect of crooner Neil Diamond’s life.

    Instead, writer/director/producer Craig Brewer has unearthed Greg Kohs’ underappreciated 2008 documentary about a real-life couple who formed a Diamond tribute act, chronicling the highs and lows in their own family.

    Script and Direction

    Director Craig Brewer during the production of 'Song Sung Blue', a Focus Features release. Credit: Sarah Shatz/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    Director Craig Brewer during the production of ‘Song Sung Blue’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Sarah Shatz/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    Brewer certainly knows how to bring music to screens, and in ‘Dolemite Is My Name,’ he took an effective, funny look at a real-life person. With ‘Song Sung Blue,’ he combines those to largely winning effect, though it is sometimes hampered by what is invented (coincidence and convenience in the service of heartstring plucking) and suffers from what’s best described as ‘Return of the King’ syndrome –– multiple moments where there could be a natural ending, but the movie keeps going.

    Still, Brewer has found a fantastic story here –– one that the trailer doesn’t fully address, and this is best enjoyed without knowing too much –– and draws superb performances from the whole cast, including Jackman and particularly Hudson.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Hugh Jackman as Mike Sardina and Kate Hudson as Claire Stengl in director Craig Brewer's 'Song Sung Blue',, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Hugh Jackman as Mike Sardina and Kate Hudson as Claire Stengl in director Craig Brewer’s ‘Song Sung Blue’,, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    While it might seem to be Jackson’s film as Mike Sardina initially, it evolves to become much more of a two-hander, Hudson enjoying her best role in years.

    Around them, the supporting cast work well without slipping too often into expected beats (tough when it’s a true story on display).

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Hugh Jackman as Mike Sardina and Kate Hudson as Claire Stengl in director Craig Brewer's 'Song Sung Blue', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Hugh Jackman as Mike Sardina and Kate Hudson as Claire Stengl in director Craig Brewer’s ‘Song Sung Blue’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Song Sung Blue’ should entertain even those who don’t know their Neil Diamond from their ‘Diamond Jim’, proving to be a welcome dose of real sentiment in an awards season that has been in need of it.

    ‘Song Sung Blue’ receives 70 out of 100.

    Kate Hudson as Claire Sardina in director Craig Brewer's 'Song Sung Blue', a Focus Features release. Credit: Sarah Shatz/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    Kate Hudson as Claire Sardina in director Craig Brewer’s ‘Song Sung Blue’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Sarah Shatz/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    What’s the story of ‘Song Sung Blue’?

    Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it’s never too late to find love and follow your dreams.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Song Sung Blue’?

    • Hugh Jackman as Mike Sardina
    • Kate Hudson as Claire Sardina
    • Ella Anderson as Rachel Cartwright
    • King Princess as Angelina Sardina
    • Michael Imperioli as Mark Shurilla
    • Fisher Stevens as Dave Watson
    • Jim Belushi as Tom D’Amato
    'Song Sung Blue' is in theaters on December 25th. Photo: Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    ‘Song Sung Blue’ is in theaters on December 25th. Photo: Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    Movies Directed by Craig Brewer:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Song Sung Blue’ Movie Showtimes 

    Buy Craig Brewer Movies and TV on Amazon

    owguPxXV

     

  • ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ Interview: Amanda Seyfried

    h8QFrfiu

    Opening in theaters in limited release on December 25th is the new historical musical ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’, which was directed by Mona Fastvold (‘The World to Come’), based on a script she co-wrote with Brady Corbet (‘The Brutalist’).

    YhDPthnzD4n5NVnUMkoNr5

    The film stars Amanda Seyfried (‘Mamma Mia!’) in the title role, along with Lewis Pullman (‘Thunderbolts*‘), Thomasin McKenzie (‘Last Night in Soho’), Christopher Abbott (‘Kraven the Hunter’), and Tim Blake Nelson (‘Captain America: Brave New World’).

    Amanda Seyfried stars in 'The Testament of Ann Lee'.
    Amanda Seyfried stars in ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Amanda Seyfried about her work on ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’, her first reaction to the screenplay, why she wanted to take on the role, and how she prepared for the musical sequences.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Seyfried, Lewis Pullman, Thomasin McKenzie, and Mona Fastvold.

    Related Article: Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried Starring in Novel Adaptation ‘The Housemaid’

    Amanda Seyfried in 'The Testament of Ann Lee'. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Amanda Seyfried in ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to reading the screenplay and why you wanted to take on this role?

    Amanda Seyfried: I was very confused by the script because a lot of the hymns were just written out as bookmark. Because we weren’t sure which of the hymns we were going to use. There was a lot of moments of movement and worship that I couldn’t envision. So, I was very confused, and I told her. I was very honest about it, but I was also so curious because I couldn’t envision it, and I knew Mona could. I was like, I need to know what this is. I think I took on the role because I needed a challenge. I found it very hard to envision myself as this prominent feminist leader in the 18th century. I really admire Mona’s clarity as a director, and I just had to trust that she knew what she was doing when she cast me.

    Amanda Seyfried in 'The Testament of Ann Lee'. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Amanda Seyfried in ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about preparing for the musical sequences? Did you have rehearsal time and were you singing live on set?

    AS: It was a lot of live singing, for sure. A lot of the movie is just me in that moment, which is very effective, especially when you’re singing softly or you’re in grief and you can you make certain noises on set that you might not make in the studio. We pre-recorded all the songs, many times in different ways. But then when you’re on set, things could really shift and evolve into something a little different and a little bit truer. So, that was a wonderful luxury, but also, I was a part of this for a year prior, so I dove in immediately with Daniel Blumberg, the composer. He was taking all these Shaker hymns and turning them on their heads and creating this incredible composition of minor chords and different rhythms. Things that I’ve never experienced before, he’s a magician and working with Celia Rowlson-Hall, who’s the choreographer, I worked with her for months and months, like hours and hours at the studio. Between jobs, we would do workshops with William Rexer, the DP, and Sam Ellison, our camera operator back in January of 2024. Just practicing and working with all these dancers and trying different ways of shooting and different lighting techniques and it was so much pre-production, constantly coming back together, even when we were working. I mean, Sam Ellison, the camera operator and I had shot with Will Rexer an entire television show last year. We were constantly coming back with Mona, and Mona directed one of the episodes. So, we were all together on another show being able to discuss things. On the weekends, we would get together and they would keep writing. It was just so much space and time and energy and passion underneath it all. So, by the time we got to Budapest, we were ready because we didn’t have that much time or money.

    'The Testament of Ann Lee' opens in theaters on December 25th.
    ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ opens in theaters on December 25th.

    What is the plot of ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’?

    Spanning 18th-century England and America, visionary spiritual leader Ann Lee (Amanda Seyfried) rises from obscurity to forge the radical religious movement that will become the Shakers. Haunted by personal tragedy yet driven by an unshakable belief in gender equality, communal living and ecstatic devotion, she gathers devoted followers who come to see her as the female embodiment of Christ. As persecution intensifies, Ann fights to protect both her followers and the incipient utopia they have begun to create.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’?

    Amanda Seyfried in 'The Testament of Ann Lee'. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Amanda Seyfried in ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Movies and TV Shows Featuring Amanda Seyfried:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Testament of Ann Lee‘ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Amanda Seyfried Movies & TV on Amazon

     

  • ‘Rosemead’ Exclusive Interview: Lucy Liu

    aUnG3Twq

    Opening in theaters on December 5th is the new drama ‘Rosemead’, which is based on a true story and directed by Eric Lin and starring Lucy Liu (‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1’) and Lawrence Shou.

    xvAm1g29CKjjlS025b85z2

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Lucy Liu about her work on ‘Rosemead’, her first reaction to the screenplay and the true story it is based on, her approach to her character, her character’s relationship with her son, and working with director Eric Lin.

    Lucy Liu stars in 'Rosemead'.
    Lucy Liu stars in ‘Rosemead’.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Liu, Lawrence Shou and director Eric Lin.

    Related Article: Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan Talk Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’

    Lucy Liu stars in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    Lucy Liu stars in ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    MF: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and true story that it is based on and as a producer and actress why you wanted to tell this story?

    Lucy Liu: This project was just heartbreaking when I read it. The fact that it was based on a true story crushed me. I signed on for many different reasons. I think one of them was that this is a movie that is just not in the lexicon for our community, and I think it’s a universal message behind it. For that reason alone, it was crucial because I think that there’s so many other movies that are made about women or about families, but not for our community.

    MF: Can you talk about how you prepared both emotionally and physically for this role?

    LL: I think the preparation beforehand with the language was the most taxing part of it. But it also brought me into the performance because I was able to tether the performance to my own lineage and my history of my family, of where they came from, where their parents came from, and the struggle and the trauma of coming over to this country. Also then having to deal with racism and stigmatism and the separation of what this woman felt from her own community, I think was what was so devastating to me.

    (L to R) Lucy Liu and Lawrence Shou star in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Lucy Liu and Lawrence Shou star in ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    MF: Can you talk about the relationship between Joe and his mother and what it was like creating that on screen with Lawrence Shou?

    LL: Lawrence did an unbelievable job. This is his first foray into feature films. He’s incredibly talented and just a wonderful person. He’s all new and he’s just open and receives anything around him. I think for me, working together on this project, most of the people in it were from the Asian community and most of the people spoke the language. It was just a really nice place to be after being in the business for over 30 years and seeing how intimate and how special it could be. It also opened conversations within our own crew about our own personal stories of things that we’ve experienced, whether it was mental health or otherwise. So, I haven’t had that very often because normally you’re busy running around, kicking down a wall or whatever it is, or climbing a wall. So, it’s nice to have a nice connection with people in a different way, in a more intimate way.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about your experience collaborating with director Eric Lin on set both as a producer and actress?

    LL: Eric was able to really start from page one, and he came on very early and he was able to really digest it, and he has his own personal stories about why he wanted to do this movie. So, I think understanding that everyone had a struggle from somewhere, he was able to weave that into this movie and make it authentic and make it something that was able to be received in a way, and to gently bring that performance out of all of us without forcing it. He really understood the ability to generate what he needed in a kind and beautiful way.

    Director Eric Lin on the set of 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    Director Eric Lin on the set of ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    What is the plot of ‘Rosemead’?

    In a race against time, an ailing woman (Lucy Liu) is stricken by the discovery of her teenage son’s (Lawrence Shou) violent obsessions and must go to great lengths to protect him, and possibly others, in this portrait of a Chinese American family.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Rosemead’?

    'Rosemead' opens in theaters on December 5th.
    ‘Rosemead’ opens in theaters on December 5th.

    List of Lucy Liu Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Rosemead’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Lucy Liu Movies on Amazon

  • Movie Review: ‘Hamnet’

    (L to R) Jessie Buckley stars as Agnes and Joe Alwyn as Bartholomew in director Chloé Zhao’s 'Hamnet', a Focus Features release. Credit: Agata Grzybowska / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
    (L to R) Jessie Buckley stars as Agnes and Joe Alwyn as Bartholomew in director Chloé Zhao’s ‘Hamnet’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Agata Grzybowska / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

    Now in limited release and expanding on December 5 is ‘Hamnet,’ directed by Chloe Zhao and starring Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, David Wilmot, Olivia Lynes, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, and Jacobi Jupe.

    pIAc3CyjkTkLx27o3pgJ87

    Related Article: Ridley Scott to Reunite with ‘Gladiator II’ Star Paul Mescal for Post-Apocalyptic Adventure ‘The Dog Stars’

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Jessie Buckley stars as Agnes and Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare in director Chloé Zhao’s 'Hamnet', a Focus Features release. Credit: Agata Grzybowska / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
    (L to R) Jessie Buckley stars as Agnes and Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare in director Chloé Zhao’s ‘Hamnet’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Agata Grzybowska / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

    Every frame of ‘Hamnet’ is beautifully designed and captured by director Chloe Zhao (‘Eternals’) and her team, rendering England during the life and times of William Shakespeare in both ethereal and grimy terms. Life is hard, but also mysterious, and those who still connect with the forces of nature are an increasingly rare breed – like Anne ‘Agnes’ Hathaway (Jessie Buckley), who becomes the Bard’s wife and is the true center of ‘Hamnet.’

    Agnes, the daughter of an alleged ‘forest witch,’ is both luminously beautiful and slightly feral, which makes her all-intoxicating for Shakespeare himself (Paul Mescal). ‘Hamnet’ chronicles that passion, their deep love, and the creation of their family in poignantly simple terms – until tragedy rips at their very core. But that tragedy also manifests itself in a way that reverberates through history, and it’s only when that happens that ‘Hamnet’ wobbles, with the film not providing enough time for that aspect of the story to breathe and take root in the same way that its first part does.

    Story and Direction

    (L to R) Actors Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal with director Chloé Zhao on the set of their film 'Hamnet', a Focus Features release. Credit: Agata Grzybowska / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
    (L to R) Actors Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal with director Chloé Zhao on the set of their film ‘Hamnet’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Agata Grzybowska / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

    A young William Shakespeare is drawn to the magnetic Agnes (pronounced ANN-yes) in 16th century Stratford, and after a quick courtship they’re going at it hot and heavy in a stable. That leaves Agnes pregnant with the first of their three children, initiating a marriage that is frowned upon by Shakespeare’s brutish father (David Wilmot) and stern mother (Emily Watson). But William, Agnes, and their children – Susanna, and the twins Judith and Hamnet – find happiness in their existence, even if William has to travel frequently to London to write and produce his plays.

    It’s only when the unimaginable (at least for us; it was much more common then) hits the clan, resulting in the death of perhaps the most precocious family member, that the clan’s entire dynamic is in danger of disintegrating – particularly as a shattered Agnes begins to bitterly resent her husband for not being there for that child’s last moments, and for throwing himself into his work instead of sharing in her grief. But William has his own method for dealing with the loss and his unspeakable anguish – and it expresses itself through the creation of one of his greatest plays (at least according to this movie, and the Maggie O’Farrell novel it was based on; the truth, as with many aspects of the real Shakespeare’s life, remains elusive).

    (L to R) Jacobi Jupe stars as Hamnet, Bodhi Rae Breathnach as Susanna and Olivia Lynes as Judith in director Chloé Zhao’s 'Hamnet', a Focus Features release. Credit: Agata Grzybowska / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
    (L to R) Jacobi Jupe stars as Hamnet, Bodhi Rae Breathnach as Susanna and Olivia Lynes as Judith in director Chloé Zhao’s ‘Hamnet’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Agata Grzybowska / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

    For its first two-thirds, ‘Hamnet’ builds a magnificent edifice of love, emotion, and empathy that borders on the mystical, primarily through the force of nature that is Jessie Buckley’s Agnes. Her love for William – and his reciprocation – is the core of the movie’s first act, with their endearing family life the center of its second. It all comes crashing down during an extended, agonizing sequence in which Agnes’ feral, soul-crushing response is a heartbreaking howl of loss that could reverberate through the soul of every parent.

    After reaching that height of sorrow, Zhao doesn’t completely find a way to balance the scales, or at least give the rest of the narrative the weight it deserves. Agnes’ fury toward William doesn’t seem earned – even if he becomes a distant figure during the middle of the film — and her journey during the closing sequences, both physical as she travels to London to see what the hell her husband is doing there and psychological as she sees his latest play and realizes where it’s coming from, seems rushed. Where ‘Hamnet’ should reach a powerful crescendo of forgiveness and acceptance, it never quite brings down the house, leaving one feeling like something’s missing.

    Cast and Performances

    Jessie Buckley stars as Agnes in director Chloé Zhao’s 'Hamnet', a Focus Features release. Credit: Agata Grzybowska / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
    Jessie Buckley stars as Agnes in director Chloé Zhao’s ‘Hamnet’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Agata Grzybowska / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

    Whatever the flaws in narrative structure, there are none whatsoever in Jessie Buckley’s performance. She has been cited as the favorite to take home an Oscar this year and there’s no question about it. We meet Agnes curled at the base of a tree; she returns to that tree to give birth to her first child. The woman is connected to nature in ways both beautiful and enigmatic, and Buckley captures every aspect of her – her mystical nature, her undeniable charisma, her fierce love, and her excruciating grief – just right. It’s a powerhouse piece of work, and although it’s one of several delivered by women this year, it will be hard to top.

    We were somewhat soured on Paul Mescal after his miscasting in ‘Gladiator II,’ but he’s returned to our good graces here. Mescal’s Shakespeare, while not nearly as present onscreen as Agnes, is nevertheless a complex presence, a man torn between his love for his family and the work that takes him away from them, both physically and mentally. Mescal’s portrayal here is soulful and empathetic, giving us a glimpse into the beating heart of one of literature’s greatest geniuses (there’s only one scene, in which he spouts some of his most famous lines while considering the end of his own life, that doesn’t ring true).

    Attention must be paid as well to Emily Watson’s Mary Shakespeare, whose relationship with Agnes evolves from dour disapproval to love and understanding, and especially Jacobi Jupe as Hamnet Shakespeare, about whom we’ll say little but who also rips one’s heart out during several key scenes.

    Final Thoughts

    Paul Mescal stars as William Shakespeare in director Chloé Zhao’s 'Hamnet', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
    Paul Mescal stars as William Shakespeare in director Chloé Zhao’s ‘Hamnet’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

    Chloe Zhao seems most comfortable as a director in exploring the human psyche, the depths of our emotion and empathy, and the intimacy of our connection to both other people and the world around us. Perhaps that’s why her sole attempt to date at spectacle, ‘Eternals,’ didn’t quite work, while films like ‘Nomadland’ are so powerful.

    She re-centers herself here with ‘Hamnet,’ finding all the elements of her best work while adding a powerful message about the ways in which we process grief and how the creation of art can channel the deepest and most intense of human emotions. Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ is not a recreation of events in the Bard’s life (which may or may not have happened as they do in this film), and neither is Chloe Zhao’s ‘Hamnet.’ But both take on a single, universal query: can art can provide empathy, understanding, and even healing? That is the question indeed.

    ‘Hamnet’ receives a score of 85 out of 100.

    Paul Mescal stars as William Shakespeare in director Chloé Zhao’s 'Hamnet', a Focus Features release. Credit: Agata Grzybowska / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
    Paul Mescal stars as William Shakespeare in director Chloé Zhao’s ‘Hamnet’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Agata Grzybowska / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

    What is the plot of ‘Hamnet’?

    William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and Anne ‘Agnes’ Hathaway (Jessie Buckley) marry and have three children, until the family is shattered by an unthinkable tragedy that leads to the writing of one of the Bard’s greatest plays.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Hamnet’?

    • Jessie Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare
    • Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare
    • Emily Watson as Mary Shakespeare
    • Joe Alwyn as Bartholomew Hathaway
    • Jacobi Jupe as Hamnet Shakespeare
    • David Wilmot as John Shakespeare
    • Olivia Lynes as Judith Shakespeare
    • Bodhi Rae Breathnach as Susanna Shakespeare
    'Hamnet' opens in theaters on November 26th.
    ‘Hamnet’ opens in theaters on November 26th.

    List of Jessie Buckley Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Hamnet’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Jessie Buckley Movies on Amazon

    yj3aW8OE