YNMS: The Glorias
Friday, September 18, 2020 at 6:58PM From guest contributor Matt St Clair...
Oscar Winner Julianne Moore stars in the latest entry of what’s suddenly become the Gloria Cinematic Universe. Mrs America starring Rose Byrne as Gloria Steinem is still fresh in the memory (and competing at the Emmys on Sunday). And after playing the titular heroine in Gloria Bell, Moore now plays the iconic Gloria Steinem in the upcoming biopic The Glorias, which once again has Moore playing a Gloria in glasses, and has a “glorious” new trailer. Let’s give this preview the Yes No Maybe So treatment and see whether you think it’s bound for “glory.” (Sorry)
The official IMDB synopsis:
The story of feminist icon Gloria Steinem's itinerant childhood's influence on her life as a writer, activist and organizer for women's rights worldwide.”
YES
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Oscar winners Julianne Moore and Alicia Vikander sharing the role of Gloria Steinem. High selling point.
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As the trailer itself points out, director Julie Taymor is quite the visionary. Also, given her involvement, it might get an obligatory Oscar nomination for Best Costume Design like all of her other films (Titus, Frida, Across the Universe, The Tempest).
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Speaking of which, the costumes!!!! Agh! Then again, the one and only Sandy Powell is the costume designer. So, of course, they’re stunning.
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A pleasure seeing the perpetually unsung Lorraine Toussaint in a prominent supporting role.
NO
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Although the film follows Gloria Steinem at four stages of her life with four actresses playing her, both Moore and Vikander are clear leads. Something that this writer can confirm having seen it at Sundance. Inevitably, they’ll push one Lead and one Supporting and anyone who follows the site knows that Nathaniel and co. are vocal against category fraud.
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In her Sundance review for this site, writer Ren Jender wasn’t big on the picture, discussing how it offers a softened take on second-wave feminism. Ironic given that it's about, a famed feminist!
MAYBE SO
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Hopefully, viewers won’t get deja vu after watching the brilliant miniseries Mrs. America which also follows her role in the women’s liberation movement and also features such prominent figures as Flo Kennedy and Bella Abzug. Then again, this is strictly a biopic on the life of Gloria Steinem whereas Mrs. America explores the narratives of various figures in the fight over the ratification of the ERA.
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While it is agreeable that Julie Taymor is a visionary whose directorial style can make a biopic like this less dry, will viewers find it to be style over substance?
Do the two lead actresses make this an automatic “Yes” or more like a “Maybe So?” The Glorias hits Prime Video in 12 days on September 30th.
Reader Comments (6)
I wish I were excited for this one: SANDY. JULIANNE. WHATHAPPENEDTOVIKANDER. etcetera... but I'm afraid it's timing arriving on the heels of Mrs America probably couldn't be worse.
Byrne is a hard act to top,such versatility that lady and i'm a complete no on Vikander,her career seems to have Sorvinoed itself..
Nathaniel, since 2020 keeps getting worse, and RBG has just passed away, the timing might actually not be so bad. I for one am desperate to see something inspirational to get me through this nightmare.
I am hoping that Gloria Steinem who has led an amazing life could at least inspire a better than average movie. Julianne Moore can get me to watch most things. (Vikander is one of my least favourite actresses.)
Hope is important these days.
This film is fine but it's infinitely less memorable than Mrs. America. Taymor's direction feels more distracting than anything. But worth a watch for Steinem fans - it does have its merits.
SORVINO4EVA
Yes: I love Julie Taymor. She is an original thinker and a brilliant artist. We won’t be getting a by the numbers biopic here. And like Lady Edith posted above, this is time for more discussion and thought.
It’s a good thing that there was already a miniseries, because that gives us more viewpoints, more to discuss, and a little background familiarity.
Maybe so: Julianne Moore is charming and talented. Alicia Vikander also, despite some career dullness. But neither of them (to me) have the fire and implacable will of Gloria Steinem.
I remember reading how Jack Nicholson described Jessica Lange after working with her in The Postman Always Rings Twice, as “a deer crossed with a Buick”. That sounds more Steinem-like. Moore and Vikander don’t have that Buick-ness. That continuing unrelenting will. Who does have that? Maybe Jessica Chastain and Brie Larson.
No: There are no no’s. The more depictions, the more discussions, the more this seeps into our consciousness, the better.