Lacy Thibodeaux Fields, lead plaintiff in A Woman s Work: The NFL s Cheerleader Problem. Photo courtesy of
Lacy Thibodeaux Fields, lead plaintiff in “A Woman’s Work: The NFL’s Cheerleader Problem.” Photo courtesy of 1091.
“A Woman’s Work: The NFL’s Cheerleader Problem” is a fine documentary directed by Yu Gu and written by Elizabeth Ai. Following the progress of lawsuits filed by two NFL cheerleaders from different teams, Gu and Ai clearly lay out the issues of illegal employment practices and sexual harassment that are rampant in this corner of the professional sports world. This is not to say that similar issues don’t occur in the other sports fielding cheerleading squads, just that a spotlight has been focused on this one.
“Flack” – Incoming [MOVIE REVIEW]
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Anna Paquin as Robyn in “Flack.” Photo courtesy of Amazon Prime.
“Flack,” the new dramedy on Amazon Prime, created by Oliver Lansley, nails the nasty, creative and thankless profession of the celebrity publicist. Lansley, a playwright and television writer, is also an established British actor with many episodic credits. He has, no doubt, over the years observed variations on the behaviors portrayed on the show, as outrageous as they may seem to the casual observer. Having worked for many years in television, I sadly report that what you will see in the six episodes of Season One are representative of what is often asked of a well-paid publicist or “flack.” The rich, entitled, and famous are often in dire need of “crisis management” for crises of their own making.
“Spiral” – The Maelstrom [MOVIE REVIEW]
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Caroline Proust (Laure Berthaud) in “Spiral.” Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of Caroline Dubois / Son et Lumière /
Canal+
Still atop the
New York Times list of must-see TV, “Spiral” (“Engrenages”), the police drama from France, launches its eighth and final season on January 5 on MHz Choice, with a release of a new episode each week. Marine Francou supervised the writing staff on what was her plotline for this season. She doesn’t disappoint.
As explained in the review of Season 7, “Spiral” is an intense look at the French justice system from all the intermeshed points of view. Beloved and complicated judge advocate Roban is no longer part of the team. His forced retirement has removed him from the central role he played in years past when adjudicating the solution of the crimes the police of the Second District were tasked with solving.
“Louis van Beethoven” – A symphony [MOVIE REVIEW]
SHARE Sabin Tambrea as Pfeiffer and Colin Pütz as young Beethoven in Louis von Beethoven. Photo courtesy of Eikon Media and Film Movement.
Sabin Tambrea as Pfeiffer, an early teacher, and Colin Pütz as young Beethoven in “Louis von Beethoven.” Photo courtesy of Eikon Media and Film Movement.
“Louis van Beethoven,” written and directed by Niki Stein, is film biography of the composer better known as Ludwig. Made for German television, “Louis van Beethoven” has all the production values of a fine film. And a fine film it is, indeed.
Stein has chosen to frame the history of one of the greatest composers ever to live (if not the greatest, depending on where you rank Bach and Mozart) by juxtaposing the last months of his life against his early story. If this sounds like the interminable use of flashbacks, it is not; it’s much more complex and interesting. Although much is commonly known about the man
“The Art of Political Murder” – Well crafted [MOVIE REVIEW]
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Protestors march against the assassination of Bishop Gerardi. Photo courtesy of HBO
“The Art of Political Murder,” directed by Paul Taylor, based on Francisco Goldman’s book of the same name, is filmmaking in its highest form. This documentary will leave you breathless from the breadth and depth of its storytelling. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is life-changing, revealing unheard of cruelty as well as unbelievable bravery.
Guatemala endured a civil war from 1960 until 1996 led by its right wing military dictatorship against various leftist rebel groups supported by Mayan and Ladino peasants. Most of the military aggression was centered on the indigenous people and over 200,000 were killed or “disappeared.” Worth noting, although not mentioned in the film, the fervent anti-communism of the military government was supported financially by the United States throughout the war. It was a U.