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.