Vanessa Kirby’s Oscar-worthy performance on Netflix’s ‘Pieces of a Woman’ could be ruined by Shia LaBeouf

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This week:

The opening sequence for Pieces of woman, which launched on Netflix on Thursday, is devastating, to the point that there is a track of your potential audience that you may not be able to watch. It is really so disturbing.

That said, it is also surprising, directed by Kornél Mundruczó and with impressive performance by Vanessa Kirby (the former Princess Margaret in The crown) and Shia LaBeouf. It is a take that lasts 30 minutes, capturing the birth at home of a couple played by Kirby and LaBeouf. Something goes wrong and they lose the baby.

It is absolutely devastating, of course, but almost transformative because of the length and intimacy of that one jaw-dropping take, moving from excitement to panic to horror while you watch, unable to escape the tragedy of what is happening.

What stands out about Pieces of woman, which I hope will be a divisive film, is that what might look like a cinematic feat does not suck in the air of the larger story that follows. It is a film about how this couple navigates this loss, a loss that no one knows how to speak, rationalize or regret properly. This breaks the couple. Her pain paralyzes her and leads to depression, which no one in her life knows how to navigate.

She is pressured by her family to sue the midwife, an assumption that blaming her will heal. But what Kirby masterfully captures is that healing cannot be achieved, achieved, or fabricated. She plays a woman whose feet are stuck in the mud, who can’t get her spirit out of her sadness, but who must still try to live her days. Despite all the brilliance of that opening scene and the growing peaks of excitement and after anguish, the stagnation of his malaise leaves it in clear relief.

It’s an incredibly difficult performance, and a performance for which Kirby should run for all acting awards. After her debut on the (virtual) autumn festival circuit, she even emerged as the winner of Best Actress. But now she is in a familiar position that plagues female performers in Hollywood: overshadowed by shit from her co-star.

LaBeouf was swept away by all FYC announcements of Netflix awards and recent press material for the film following accusations made against him of a cycle of abuse by his former romantic partners, including musician FKA Twigs. This puts Netflix and Kirby in a difficult situation.

The discussion around LaBeouf threatens to overwhelm praise for the film. And a typical press tour that a promising prize like Kirby would happen would be hampered by the media’s interest in his thoughts on LaBeouf. It is the typical narrative that we have seen since the beginning of the #MeToo movement, that women who are in movies with bad men are peppered with questions about them, in some cases even asked to speak for them. It is a terrible pattern.

I bring this up because I hope it is not the case with Kirby. I can’t ask you to watch Pieces of woman because, again, it’s very disturbing. But if you do, even if you’re not a fan of narrative in general, I guarantee you will find her work exceptional.

According to Twitter, “Britney Spears’ ex-fiance for 55 hours was one of the rebels who invaded the United States Capitol on Wednesday.” You can see their evidence below.

I would be lying if I said I have any idea what to say about that information. But it’s information. I sighed “oh my gosh!” when I saw it, and now here we are with the knowledge that, apparently, Britney Spears’ ex-fiance for 55 hours was one of the rebels who invaded the United States Capitol on Wednesday.

Something good happened this week! It really did.

Ratatouille: the musical TikTok raised more than $ 1 million for the Actors Fund in its three days of streaming. “Which is Ratatouille: the musical TikTok? ”You may ask, like i did when my friends were all talking about it. Me, a person who hears the word “TikTok” and then shouts “get off my lawn!” and runs away, he was woefully ignorant.

The simple explanation is that it is an original musical adaptation of the beloved Pixar film that started as seeds of an idea on the social media platform and ended up involving so many people and became so popular that creative artists from all over the country came together to compose and film a recorded version, featuring original songs played remotely by its cast.

I watched! It was nice! That was a brief and pleasant feeling.

Taylor Swift released more songs from the deluxe edition of her second quarantine album, ever, this week – you know, if you want to be sadder. Here’s the link!

Pieces of a woman: It is not an easy watch or for everyone. But I found it excellent. (Now on Netflix)

Tiger: Tiger Woods gets it The last dance treatment … and it’s juicy. (Sunday on HBO)

Dickinson: Second season of the Horny Emily Dickinson series. If this is for you, you will know by reading this description. (Friday on Apple TV +)

Call your mother: I have no pleasure in reporting that Chief Brenda Johnson, The closestKyra Sedwick, is now in a sitcom with several ABC cameras called Call your mother. (Wednesday at ABC)

The Daily Beast’s Obsessed

Everything we can’t help but love, hate and think about this week in pop culture.