Roevivium

So this seems to be a story about a drug addict (Kate Hudson) trying to get sober. Then the writers tacked on a few extra bits: she has an autistic half-sister (Maddie Ziegler performs a cringeworthy parody of a person with autism here), she's starting a romance with a guy from next door (Leslie Odom) who mentions that he has a dead autistic brother (which is then never spoken about again).

There's also a subplot about a young boy with a difficult home life, but it feels like the film is already trying to do too much to be able to handle the portrayal of domestic abuse with any complexity or care. The end implies that this boy is murdered by his father, but suddenly we're surrounded by rainbows and joy while the protagonists laugh? This story deserves more time and attention but instead it seems like a discarded prop intended to say 'violence bad' or something.

Another point that I found really uncomfortable was Sia's own appearance. She's buying drugs illegally, apparently she's 'doing charity now' and is going to send the drugs she buys (all strong painkillers) to Haiti 'because there's been an earthquake'. If that wasn't bad enough, she mumbles something about 'Popstars without Borders'. I wish I was making this stuff up. Nope, Sia finds time in this movie to make a joke out of the victims of natural disasters.

This patchy story is compounded with randomly interjected songs and an absolute mess of a costume department. The levity and absurdity of these interludes doesn't mesh well with the overall sombre feel of the film, in my opinion.

I'm well aware of the controversy around the film. I'd like to think that there were (some) good intentions behind it, but when so many people from the community you want to 'include' are telling you you're doing it wrong, perhaps take a step back and rethink? I honestly had my hands over my face at some points when I found Ziegler's performance impossible to watch. I wonder how she will look back on this in 10 years' time?

Hudson's character says she 'just keeps messing up and messing up and messing up'. That just about sums this whole film: mistakes on mistakes.

This film is an interesting take on a biopic, blending elements of realism with more fantastical sequences set in Gloria's imagination. With references to The Handmaid's Tale, Wizard of Oz and more, these metaphorical inserts may not be for everyone but I felt they enriched the story. It features stellar performances from Julianne Moore and Alicia Vikander, with appearances from Janelle Monae and Bette Middler. I almost didn't watch this because I saw what a low score it had, and yet it seems this is perhaps to do with political leanings. Regardless of where your political views lie, this is an interesting look at an influential woman, and a beautifully made, entertaining film with a brilliant cast. The appearance of Gloria Steinem herself at the end was a particularly moving way to complete this intimate look at her life.