Something to watch tonight: Thursday 20 November
Mrs. America (Waller, 2020)
The other day, reader DD (temporarily) of Silverstream asked whether I had seen the 2020 documentary about Taylor Swift, Miss Americana1 and I thought he was talking about the 2020 limited series Mrs. America which stars Cate Blanchett as the 1970s enemy of feminism, Phyllis Schlafly.
Which as good a reason to go back to my November 2020 review of the thought-provoking series as any.
By the late ‘60s other civil rights and equality causes were gaining much traction and feminist politicians and activists believed that the time had come for an amendment enshrining female equality (and downright emancipation – married women couldn’t open their own bank accounts without their husband’s permission). Schlafly’s political gift was to energise conservative women to oppose the idea through fear – they might be forced to go to work if they didn’t want, they might lose the protection of their husbands and their daughters might be drafted to go and fight in Vietnam.
While Blanchett’s Schlafly is the central figure in the series, most episodes focus on a different woman from each side of the multi-decade conflict. Rose Byrne plays conflictedly glamorous Gloria Steinem, editor of Ms. Magazine and well-known thought leader for the feminist movement. Tracey Ullman – always a pleasure to watch – is Betty Friedan, author of the iconic text The Feminine Mystique, with a weakness for wine and the company of men.
…
One of many insightful political observations in the series is that the left comes together and campaigns in groups, seeking consensus (or at least offering a big tent to include differing degrees of activism) despite the fact that often slows the process down, while the right prefers to align themselves behind a single charismatic figurehead. But when followers of that figurehead waiver or dissent, there’s no room for them.
Mrs. America has a cinematic look and feel thanks to a set of directors with big screen credits including Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck (Captain Marvel), Amma Asante (Where Hands Touch). It is intelligent, thoughtful and astute and – when it comes drawing any conclusions about our current political situation – it plays its cards close to its chest, but you can still tell what it’s thinking.
Recent comments
Reader NF also liked Shetland:
The atmoshere in Shetland is unmatched for Nordic noir style storytelling. Douglas Henshall brought such warmth to Perez while maintaning that quiet intensity needed for the role. Its facinating how the landscape itself becomes a character in the series, especally when you consider the real Shetland connection. The transition to Ashley Jensen must have been interesting for long-time viewers.
Reader TH is a fan of the new life that Dan Trachtenberg has breathed into the Predator franchise:
I loved Prey so much that I’d definitely be down for Badlands, even if it didn’t star a Kiwi (and one who’s repping for the film so charmingly in all the media). Might wait till it hits streaming though so I can watch it at home with the lights on...
Reader M heard me talking about Pluribus on the radio last Friday:
Heard tell that you were missing Albuquerque on RNZ. This triggered memories: apart from being both beautiful and home to the least skilled / coherent driving you might ever experience, ABQ is also the setting for Track of the Moon Beast (even worse than it sounds), done up here by Mystery Science Theater 3000, which no one has time for and possibly has never heard of in Aotearoa. Quite goofy, in a 90s kind of way.
Where to watch Mrs. America
Worldwide (except where noted): Streaming on Disney+
India: Not currently available
USA: Streaming on Hulu
I haven’t, in fact, seen Miss Americana. At the time I didn’t know anything about Taylor Swift but I am much more curious now.
Miss Americana is on Netflix. I know this because I'm a Swiftie who can't afford Netflix, and it makes me hate Netflix even more than I usually do.