LEE : Monday 28th October 2024

I saw the M Rated 'LEE' earlier this week, and this British biographical drama film is Directed by Ellen Kuras in her feature film making debut, and is based on the 1985 biography 'The Lives of Lee Miller' written by Antony Penrose. It saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September 2023, was released in the UK in mid-September this year, in the US at the end of September, has so far grossed US$15.5M and has garnered generally positive reviews. The film was a passion project for lead Actress and Co-Producer Kate Winslet, who started developing the film, and in October 2015, the project was officially announced with Ellen Kuras on board to Direct from mid-2020.

The film opens up during the late 1930's, as Hitler rises to power in Germany. Elizabeth 'Lee' Miller (Kate Winslet) leaves her artistic circle of friends and life behind in France, including Solange d'Ayen (Marion Cotillard), Paul Eluard (Vincent Colombe) and Nusch Eluard (Noemie Merlant), and travels to London after falling madly, and very quickly, in love with the artist Roland Penrose (Alexander Skarsgard), to whom she describes herself as being done 'living a life as the model, the muse, the ingenue, and only good at drinking, having sex, and taking pictures'.

The two embark on a passionate relationship, just as war breaks out in Europe. Already a well regarded photographer, Lee lands a job completing assignments for British Vogue magazine, where she takes photographs of the London Blitz by bringing the chaos and urgency of those air raids to the pages of a popular and well regarded fashion publication. However, she is shocked by the restrictions placed on female photographers, and the attitude of Cecil Beaton (Samuel Barnett) a British fashion, portrait and war photographer also working for British Vogue magazine at the same time. 

As Hitler’s regime takes over large swathes of Europe, Lee becomes increasingly frustrated that her work is constrained by rules dictated by men. Determined to be where the action is, she defiantly pushes back against the establishment and, with the blessing of her friend and Vogue Editor Audrey Withers (Andrea Riseborough), Lee overcomes enormous obstacles to get herself to the frontline of World War II, by using the excuse that as an American citizen she is not governed by stuffy British rules about what women should and shouldn't do. 

And so sent over to Normandy following the D-Day invasion of 1944, Miller was tasked with reporting on what she was told was the newly-liberated town of Saint-Malo. She traveled there only to find that the town was still being heavily fought over. Miller's military accreditation as a female war correspondent did not allow her to enter an active combat zone, but rather than leave she decided to stay, and spent five days on the front lines photographing as much of the Battle of Saint-Malo as she could. Her photographs included the first recorded use of napalm. 

Compelled to document the truth, she turns her lens in the direction of suffering, and slowly begins to reveal the horrific loss of life due to Hitler’s diabolical crimes against the innocent victims of his regime. Miller teamed up with American photojournalist David Scherman (Andy Samberg), a Life magazine correspondent, on many assignments, including the liberation of Paris, the Battle of Alsace, and the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps at Buchenwald and Dachau. 

Scherman's iconic photograph of Miller sitting in the bathtub in Adolf Hitler's private apartment in Munich, with the dried mud of that morning's visit to Dachau on her boots deliberately dirtying Hitler's bathmat was taken in the evening on 30th April 1945, coincidentally the same day that Hitler committed suicide with his wife Eva Braun in his bunker in Berlin. 

Upon returning to London after the end of the war, her husband returns home bearing the latest edition of Vogue magazine in which she expected to see her photographic account and accompanying article on the horrors of what she witnessed in Germany, but there are none. She hurries across to the Vogue offices to see Audrey Withers for an explanation but she is not there, and so tears through a filing cabinet seeking out the negatives of all the images she sent back, and promptly sets about ripping them up and cutting them up with scissors. Audrey appears and explains that she was not allowed to go to print with her images as they were way too graphic. Miller breaks down, and storms out. A short time later sat on the steps outside the Vogue offices Miller speaks of a profoundly traumatic experience when she was just seven years old when she was left home alone with an adult male friend of her family. She says that she has had to live with that shame, fear, and fury, for all of these years and has never told anyone as she was raised to keep secrets. 

Throughout the film we return to 1977 and Miller's home at Farley Farm House, in Chiddingly, East Sussex where she is being interviewed by Antony Penrose (Josh O'Connor) about her time as a WWII photojournalist and recounting the stories behind some of the most influential photographs of that era. Miller is somewhat distant of Penrose only opening up when he agrees to tell her something about his life. At the end Miller says it's your turn and it's then that we realise that Antony Penrose is in fact her son, who tells her that growing up she always was distant, disconnected from him, and almost an obstacle to her life. Miller remarks 'that's disappointing'. She pulls out a box containing a lock of his hair from his very first hair cut, the first book she ever read to him, and the first picture he ever painted. As the camera pulls away, Miller is not there, but spread all over the floor are Lee's photographs that Penrose only discovered after her mothers death in 1977, when he came across them in the attic of Farley Farm House by chance. 

Lee Miller carried out this dangerous work for the sake of the female readers of Vogue magazine, from whom the reality of war was largely kept hidden, and in the process yielded an indelible series of photographs which to this day continue to shape how we view these events.

'Lee' is a fairly detailed character study of this icon of WWII photojournalism that charts her story from the late 1930's through until just after the end of the war. It is at times harrowing, emotional, thought provoking and funny, and Kate Winslet shines in the role of the conflicted, yet thoroughly determined Lee Miller, and appears in almost every scene. Ellen Kuras as former Cinematographer turned Director has crafted a biopic of a woman you may not have previously heard of, but through this film her enduring legacy is granted a new life which she so rightly deserves. Alexander Skarsgard is miscast as Roland Penrose and his dialogue comes across as stilted and barely interested, and Josh O'Connor comes across as the floundering Prince Charles - the role he played in 'The Crown'. Andrea Riseborough, Marion Cotillard and Andy Samberg are all first rate in their roles. 

'Lee' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 24th October 2024.

The 37th Tokyo International Film Festival takes place this year from Monday 28th October through until Wednesday 6th November in the capital city of Japan, Tokyo. Established in 1985, this event was held biennially from 1985 to 1991 and annually thereafter. According to the FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations), it is one of Asia's competitive film festivals and the second largest film festival in Asia behind the Shanghai International Film Festival, as well as the only Japanese festival accredited by the FIAPF. 

The awards bestowed during the festival have changed over time, but the Tokyo Grand Prix, handed to the best film, has stayed as the top award. Other awards that have been given regularly include the Special Jury Award and awards for best Actor, best Actress and best Director.

This years Opening Night Film presentation is '11 Rebels' from Japan, is Directed by Shiraishi Kazuya and tells the story of the 11-member suicide squad who take on a hopeless fortress defence mission. When the interests of the Shibata domain, the old shogunate and the new government collide, their heroic battle begins! World Premiere screening. The Closing Film is 'Mercello Mio' from France and Written and Directed by Christophe Honore, and charts an actress, the daughter of Marcello Mastroianni and Catherine Deneuve, who during a summer that sees her reality fall into disarray, Chiara decides to live as her father. She dresses like him, speaks like him and even breathes like him. Chiara's impersonation is so convincing that people around her begin to believe. They call her 'Marcello'. Japanese Premiere.

The Centrepiece film is 'Gladiator II' from the USA and the UK and Directed by Ridley Scott, and after his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now lead Rome, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum and must look to his past to find strength to return the glory of Rome to its people. 

There are fifteen films in Official Competition for the Tokyo Grand Prix Winning Film, these being :-

* 'Adios Amigo' - from Colombia and Written and Directed by Ivan D. Gaona. Asian Premiere.

* 'Big World' - from China and Directed by Yang Lina. World Premiere.

* 'Bury Your Dead' - from Brazil and Written, Directed and scored by Marco Dutra. Asian Premiere.

* 'Cadet' - from Kazakhstan and Written and Directed by Adilkhan Yerzhanov. World Premiere.

* 'Daughter's Daughter' - from Taiwan and Directed by Huang Xi. Asian Premiere.

* 'The Englishman's Papers' - from Portugal and Directed by Sergio Graciano. World Premiere.

* 'In His Own Image' - from France and Written and Directed by Thierry de Peretti. Asian Premiere.

* 'Lust in the Rain' - from Japan and Taiwan and Directed by Katayama Shinzo. World Premiere.

* 'My Friend An Delie' - from China and Written, Directed and starring Dong Zijian. World Premiere.

* 'Papa' - from Hong Kong and Written and Directed by Philip Yung. World Premiere.

* 'Promise, I'll Be Fine' - from Slovakia and the Czech Republic and Written, Directed and Edited by Katarina Gramatova. World Premiere.

* 'She Taught Me Serendipity' - from Japan and Written and Directed by Ohku Akiko. World Premiere.

* 'Teki Cometh' - from Japan and Written and Directed by Yoshida Daihachi. World Premiere.

* 'Traffic' - from Romania, Belgium and the Netherlands and Directed by Teodora Ana Mihai. Asian Premiere.

* 'The Unseen Sister' - from China and Written, Directed and Edited by Midi Z. International Premiere.

For the full synopsis of the above mentioned films, plus the other film strands being showcased and a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https://2024.tiff-jp.net/

This week we have five new releases gracing a big screen Odeon near you, kicking off with the third and possibly final instalment in this successful Superhero action film that sees this pair of Marvel Comics characters go on the run from both of their worlds. Next we have a biographical drama film about the life and times of a photographic journalist during WWII for Vogue magazine. This is followed by a dark comedy psychological thriller offering about a man, who after undergoing facial-reconstructive surgery, becomes fixated on an Actor in a stage production based on his former life. Then we turn to a documentary about eight childhood sexual abuse survivors in a groundbreaking programme combining boxing and creative writing for healing; before closing out the week with a family animated adventure film that tells the story of when an evil wizard threatens this near thirteen year old girls family, she will leave on a quest to discover the powers she already has.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the five latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'VENOM : THE LAST DANCE' (Rated M) - this American Superhero film features the Marvel Comics character Venom, is the sequel to 2018's 'Venom' and 2022's 'Venom : Let There Be Carnage' and is the fifth film in Sony's Spider-Man Universe. Those first two instalments grossed a combined US$1.36B off the back of a total production budgets of US$220M, with the first film in the franchise being Directed by Ruben Fleischer and the second by Andy Serkis. This third and seemingly final offering is Written and Directed by Kelly Marcel in her feature film making debut. The film is released in the US this week too, and cost in the region of US$110M to produce.

Here then, Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy once again reprising his role and also taking a Writer and a Co-Producer credit) and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie's last dance. Also starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Stephen Graham, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans and Peggy Lu. 

'LEE' (Rated M) - is a British biographical drama film Directed by Ellen Kuras in her feature film making debut, and is based on the 1985 biography 'The Lives of Lee Miller' written by Antony Penrose. The film stars Kate Winslet (who also Co-Produces here) as WWII journalist Lee Miller who goes from a career as a model to enlisting as a photographer to chronicle the events of World War II for Vogue magazine, covering events such as the London Blitz, the liberation of Paris, and the concentration camps at Buchenwald and Dachau. The film also stars Marion Cotillard, Andrea Riseborough, Andy Samberg, Noemie Merlant, Josh O'Connor and Alexander Skarsgard. It saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September 2023, was released in the UK in mid-September this year, in the US at the end of September, has so far grossed US$12.5M and has garnered generally positive reviews. 

'A DIFFERENT MAN' (Rated MA15+) - this American dark comedy psychological thriller film is Written and Directed by Aaron Schimberg in only his third feature film outing following 'Go Down Death' in 2013 and 'Chained for Life' in 2018. Here, Edward Lemuel (Sebastian Stan) is a struggling Actor with neurofibromatosis that manifests itself as a disfiguring facial condition. He undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance, but his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare, as he loses out on the role he was born to play and becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost. Also starring Renate Reinsve and Adam Pearson, the film saw its World Premiere screening at this years Sundance Film Festival at the end of January, was released Stateside at the end of September, in the UK earlier this month, has so far grossed US$991K and has generated largely favourable reviews.

'LEFT WRITE HOOK' (Rated MA15+) - is an Australian documentary film Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Shannon Owen. The film follows the journey of eight female and gender diverse survivors of childhood sexual abuse, who participate in an innovative recovery programme combining the physicality of boxing with the emotional power of creative writing. Gaining a space to release their memories, reclaim their bodies and imagine new lives for themselves, while guided by coach and academic Donna Lyon, participants Nikki, Dove, Pixie, Gabrielle, Claire, Julie and Lauren learn not just to box but also to recast the darkest chapters of their pasts into poetry, a powerfully cathartic exercise in reclaiming their life narratives. What begins as an eight-week commitment expands into a relationship of eighteen months as the women deepen their bonds and decide to present their work to the wider world – ultimately in hopes of puncturing the shroud of silence and shame, and reassuring others like them that they’re not alone.

'MY FREAKY FAMILY' (Rated PG) - this family animated adventure film is a German, Irish and Australian Co-Production that is Directed by Mark Gravas, and is based on the children's books 'The Floods' by Colin Thompson. Here, on the eve of her 13th birthday Betty Flood (voiced by Evanna Lynch), budding musician and magical being, just wants to be like the rest of her fabulous, but very different family, so why is her magical Mum so against it? As Betty wrestles with this, she also learns the amazing truth about her family and discovers that the not so normal, the magical and the musical are all a part of her fabulously freaky family. 

With five new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-