By Anne Brodie
By Anne Brodie
Kate Winslett’s powerful screen presence finds the right vehicle in Lee, the directorial feature from award-winning cinematographer Ellen Kuras. Winslett’s Lee Miller, a former New York model, discovered when New York publishing magnate Condé Nast saved her from an oncoming car, appeared as “the modern girl” on the cover of Vogue in 1927. She was fascinated by the photography process. She moved to Paris in 1929 and studied under surrealist artist/photographer Man Ray, her work partner and lover. By 1937 she was keenly aware that Nazism was a danger to Europe, so when WWII began, Vogue hired to to photograph it. Miller travelled to conflict centres in Paris and, disgusied as a man at times, to battlegrounds. The film is her conversation with a reporter (Anthony Penrose) with whom she has a surprising connection. She shows him her collection of published and unpublished photos including images from liberated Nazi concentration camps. And a photo, taken by a colleague (Andy Samberg) of her bathing in Hitler’s private tub – her rebuke and insult to the Reich. Alexander Skarsgård plays her on-again off-again lover and confidante who she frequently frustrated because her work meant more to her than he did. Winslett looks like Miller, gaining weight and eschewing grooming! A standard biopic raised by Winslett’s extraordinary onscreen power. In theatres Sept. 27
Beatle fans won’t want to miss Daytime Revolution, a documentary a week in 1972 when John Lennon and Yoko Ono guest hosted The Mike Douglas Show. Arguably the most famous celebrity couple in the world at the time, a Beatle and his “wicked” new lady on a daytime chat show? For five days? And “The Mike Douglas Show” no less, singer of smarmy songs and tepid conversation. It boggles the mind, but both sides had agendas. John and Yoko wanted to spread the message of peace and love – they handpicked their own guests – while Douglas drank in astronomical ratings – 40M viewers tuned in five afternoons in a row. In partnership with Ono Sean Lennon, Filmmaker Erik Nelson presents amazing archival footage of the three hosts, kibbitzing and merry-making, gently taking down the establishment. Guests included new-age specialists, women’s lib proponents, a macrobiotic chef, a biofeedback engineer, Yippie founder Jerry Rubin (who scared Douglas), Black Panther Chair Bobby Seale, alarm sounder Ralph Nader and radical comic George Carlin. There was a charming ordinariness to it, no big woo that a Beatle had landed, a vibe he orchestrated. John was endlessly amusing, affable, normal for someone who’d been famous most of his life; and he seemed careful not to be outrageous. Ono was less comfortable but made sure she was heard when they performed live on the show with Chuck Berry. It’s enjoyable, a time capsule, a hint of things coming in the US, and portrait of a beloved artist. The Richard Nixon White House went to war with the couple two weeks later. Don’t miss this one. Playhouse Cinemas in Hamilton and Waterloo Oct. 9.
Fans of the Modernist design movement of the post-war era, rejoice, a new documentary from Jason Cohn, Modernism, Inc. follows its development through one of its greatest pioneers, Eliot Noyes, and the ways he changed corporate and private design for all time. The Boston native and Harvard architecture student dreamed of a new design reality, eschewing the current fad for Eurocentric classicism and the Beaux Arts movement. He attended a lecture by La Corbusier and he knew he would explore his radical “Modernism”. He was soon in demand and partnered with IBM to create a boundary-breaking, simple and effective logo and a corporate suite of designs still in use. He created programmes to suit America’s increasingly corporate character and, inspired by the comic strip Terry and the Pirates, designed gliders that made no sound, didn’t require much fuel, that the government developed for service in World War II; they were effective, especially in Japan and in France on D-Day. The post-war economy boomed and people were looking for new ways of living. Noyes’ philosophy of unfailing utility, beauty and newness still sets the bar for today. He aimed to demystify design, to make it work for corporations and private citizens equally and to be of benefit, and as useful, pared down and functional as possible. Noyes moved to New Canaan, Connecticut with his family and other renowned artists, designers and architects followed, including Philip Johnson where he built his revolutionary Glass House. (Residents complained about the newness of their work. “Cantilever Heaven” they cried!) Then Noyce redesigned quaint gas stations to look “new”, working with Mobil Oil on their corporate design, then came computing design, adopted today by Apple. Great doc that excites with its radicalism, its take on a changing America and the influence of one man on what we see and crave today. September 28 at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) and on TVOD October 15.
Kathy Bates’ version of Matlock, the 1986 series starring Andy Griffith follows his path as a canny, eccentric and gifted lawyer who moonlights as an unofficial detective. This time, the series is set in the big city, Matlock appears, as Griffith did, older, maybe over the hill, sweet and caring, maybe someone to be fooled, but appearance is not reality. We expect and find a woman who is nobody’s fool. She’s brilliant but doesn’t make scenes with it, and has a solid grasp on human nature – 70-some years of observation – vital in her capacity as a crime solver. She shows up at a law firm, acts sweet, and then goes for the jugular – she wants a job and a certain pay rate. They’re taken aback but when she casually solves one lawyer’s dilemma only through conjecture, she’s hired. Of course, people have agendas and Madeleine Matlock has hers. The issues at hand – Big Pharma and addiction – drive her, and we root hard for her. The show’s balance of realism and TV values doesn’t interfere with the series’ comfort viewing potential – and Bates (Misery aside). She brings unusual complexity, humour and that winning persona to the series along with her “other life”. Good solid fun that honours older women, the hapless victims of addiction and the idea that life is good. Griffith’s legal series is in excellent hands. Thursday nights on Global and CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
The CBC, CBC News streaming platforms and CBC Gem recognise National Day of Truth and Reconciliation with a full schedule of Indigenous programming on September 30th and through the week
CBC Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a live special on CBC TV and streaming on Gem.
CBC Indigenous’ F I R S T featuring leaders First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders on CBC Gem and CBC News streaming.
Indigenous-led celebration of creativity, brilliance, culture and community, Reclaimed Presents: ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl Come Toward The Fire, returning for a third year on CBC Radio, CBC Music and CBC Listen
The Knowing, Tanya Talaga on the legacy of Canada’s Indian Residential School system, now on CBC Gem
Q with Tom Power 10 a.m. (10:30 NT) on CBC Radio and CBC Listen Dr. Shirley Cheechoo, one of Canada’s most prominent voices in Indigenous film and theatre. Actor, producer and director Devery Jacobs on her journey.
Commotion With Elamin Abdelmahmoud 11 a.m. (11:30 NT) on CBC Radio and CBC Listen Indigenous cultural creators on Indigenous Futurism and self-determination.
The Next Chapter 1 p.m. (1:30 NT) on CBC Radio and CBC ListenAn ll-Indigenous episode with remembrances of the late Darrel J. McLeod.
To celebrate Prime Video’s documentary The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal, Stoney Ridge Estate Wines offers its Tragically Hip special editions, including 2023 Flamenco Rosé – LCBO Strike Release, 2021 The Tragically Hip 50 Mission Cab, 2023 Fireworks Sparkling, and 2021 Ahead by a Century Chardonnay, available at Niagara Custom Crush Studio located at 3201 King St, Vineland, ON. https://www.stoneyridge.com/collections/frontpage
Also, the coffee table book This Is Our Life by the Tragically Hip, a wonderfully interesting photo-loaded memento treasure chest will be published Oct 1. Featuring in their own words from hundreds of hours of interviews, Rob Baker, Gord Downie, Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair and fellow musicians, producers and crew reminisce and salute Gord Downie. A special run of signed limited edition copies is available to pre-order from Genesis Publications. www.thetragicallyhipbook.com
