Picks of the Week offers Women and Hollywood’s top recommendations — women-driven and women-made movies, series, VOD releases, and more — and tells you why they are worth your time and money.
The Morning Show (Series)
With a star-studded cast, hefty price tag, and timely plot, expectations for “The Morning Show” are high. The most anticipated Apple TV+ series falters out of the gate, but finds its footing as the narrative evolves.
Set in the world of daytime TV, the drama kicks off with a crisis — Mitch Kessler (Steve Carell), beloved co-host of “The Morning Show,” has been accused of sexual misconduct, leaving viewers and the network reeling. His “work wife” and co-host, Alex Levy (Jennifer Aniston), feels personally betrayed — Mitch has abandoned her, jeopardizing the future of the show and her place within it. She knows that chemistry is integral to “The Morning Show’s” success, and with her contract negotiations still underway, Alex senses that she’s in a precarious position — though she’s about to discover that it’s far more uncertain than she believes.
We’re introduced to Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon) as she hears the news about Mitch’s firing. As far as she’s concerned, the predator is just another example of a phony media personality who cheapens the news. The Southern journalist is working for a conservative network, and has made a habit of leaving jobs, partially because of complications resulting from her brother’s drug addiction. She finds herself in the spotlight after footage of her ranting at a coal protest goes viral. Now a national news story, Bradley is invited to “The Morning Show” to speak about the clip. She makes a major impression on a network bigwig, and her life is forever changed.
Despite confident, slick directing from Mimi Leder, the drama’s pilot feels stilted. “The Morning Show” gathers steam in its second and third episodes (a total of three were provided to critics), and really sparkles when Alex and Bradley are in the same room. The series is grappling with the #MeToo movement, “fake” news, and sexism in the media, and it’ll be interesting to see how Alex and Bradley reckon with these issues on-air and behind the scenes — and whether the characters will stand side by side or find themselves squaring off. So far, their relationship is, thankfully, both complicated and nuanced, and I’m hoping it remains so. (Laura Berger)
“The Morning Show” begins streaming November 1 on Apple TV+.
Harriet – Directed by Kasi Lemmons; Written by Kasi Lemmons and Gregory Allen Howard
“Harriet”: Focus Features
I seriously can’t believe that it has taken this long to tell the story of this true American hero, Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery and then went back to liberate others. Cynthia Erivo embodies Tubman in Kasi Lemmons’ biopic. Freeing slaves is a calling for Harriet. She made it out and she will help the rest of her family be free. She is hunted, but she keeps going.
“Harriet” makes no bones about it: slavery is the foundation of America and we as citizens must keep reckoning with it each and every day. Not only is the biopic the “first theatrical film” about Tubman, it chronicles how one courageous woman refused to be marginalized and changed the course of history. Too often women — particularly women of color — are erased from history. Films like “Harriet” help us remember that white men are not the only ones with stories worth telling. (Melissa Silverstein)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Kasi Lemmons.
“Harriet” hits theaters November 1. Find screening info here.
Terminator: Dark Fate
“Terminator: Dark Fate”: Kerry Brown/Paramount Pictures
I’m not a person who particularly enjoys movies about people shooting each other. But I minded “Terminator: Dark Fate” less because it’s pretty much the women who are kicking ass and saving the planet.
Linda Hamilton, who escaped Hollywood, is back as Sarah Connor. She spends her days tracking Terminators and eliminating them. She’s got a bit of a god complex, but she’s also got a handheld missile shooter, so that tracks. Mackenzie Davis plays an enhanced human sent from the future to protect Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes), who is key to the future of humanity.
The fact that humanity must be saved by women in “Dark Fate” is very satisfying. Just know that there is a lot of violence, but if you can take that, the payoff — which I won’t spoil — is worth it. (MS)
“Terminator: Dark Fate” is now playing internationally. It hits U.S. theaters November 1.
New and Returning TV Shows On Our Radar
Atypical – Created by Robia Rashid (Netflix, November 1)
Dickinson – Created by Alena Smith (Apple TV+, November 1)
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