NETFLIX
Yesterday, Netflix released their First Trailer for Pieces of a Woman, yet another Oscar contender from the streaming giant. Picked up after it made an impact on the Film Festival circuit, the movie is a drama with amazing performances from Vanessa Kirby, Ellen Burstyn, and Shia LaBeouf. The Academy is almost certainly going to fall for the acting on display here, as it’s of the first order. At the same time, the flick is going to be challenging for some, so how it does will partly depend on how Netflix is able to position the title during the season. Having someone like Martin Scorsese on as an executive producer certainly doesn’t hurt, though. The Trailer can be seen at the bottom of the post, as always…
The film is a wrenching drama, with the simple synopsis from Netflix as follows: “From award-winning director Kornél Mundruczó (WHITE GOD) and executive producer Martin Scorsese, PIECES OF A WOMAN is a deeply personal, searing, and ultimately transcendent story of a woman (Vanessa Kirby – Best Actress Winner, Venice Film Festival 2020) learning to live alongside her loss.” Kirby stars alongside Ellen Burstyn and Shia LaBeouf, with supporting turns here from Molly Parker, Benny Safdie, Iliza Shlesinger, and Sarah Snook. Mundruczó directs a screenplay by Kata Wéber, with cinematography from Benjamin Loeb, as well as a score from Howard Shore.
Having seen the movie at a special screening last week, I can vouch for Burstyn, Kirby, and LaBeouf giving three of the year’s best performances. Each deserves to be in the Oscar conversation, with Burstyn and Kirby legitimate threats to win Academy Awards. The Trailer showcases them, for sure, but only hints at the power of their parts. It’s a tough sit, to say the least, but it’s well worth seeing when Netflix drops it in select theaters on December 30th, as well as when it streams on their platform on January 7th.
