Rev your BAFTA-appealing engines, the first teaser for “Suffragette” is here. Is this Oscar-bait from U.K. giants Pathé and Film4 Productions? It sure sounds like it. About the British women’s suffrage feminist movement of the late 19th and early 20th century, the drama boasts an all-star cast of British heavyweights. Carey Mulligan stars, and the movie also features Helena Bonham Carter, Meryl Streep, Ben Whishaw, Brendan Gleeson, Romola Garai, Anne-Marie Duff, and Samuel West.
The script was penned by Abi Morgan — “Shame,” “The Iron Lady” and the BBC miniseries “The Hour” — and while she’s never been nominated for an Oscar yet, she’s been awarded up to the hilt, including a Primetime Emmy win for "The Hour," and two BAFTA wins from six nominations. Here’s the official long-form synopsis.
SUFFRAGETTE is an intense drama that tracks the story of the foot soldiers of the early feminist movement as they fought for the right to vote, women who were forced underground to pursue a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an increasingly brutal State. These women were not primarily from the genteel educated classes, they were working women who had seen peaceful protest achieve nothing. Radicalised and turning to violence as the only route to change, they were willing to lose everything in their fight for equality – their jobs, their homes, their children and their lives. The character of Maud, played by Carey Mulligan, is one such foot soldier. The story of her fight for dignity is both heart-breaking and inspirational.
Carey Mulligan plays Maud and Meryl Streep stars as noted British political activist Emmeline Pankhurst. “Suffragette” is directed by Sarah Gavron, and it’s her first film since “Brick Lane” in 2007. "Suffragette" already has a U.K. release date of October 30th, and will open in the U.S. on October 23rd. TIFF debut maybe? Watch the first teaser trailer below and weigh in with what you think.
Ben Whitshaw has had several leading roles, and he\’s never broken out because he\’s not a leading man. He\’s a character actor who doesn\’t have what it takes to carry a film. As for the Oscar-baitiness, get over it. There are Oscar quality films for a reason, no point in carping about it, Jared. Weinstein isn\’t to blame for anything. You are responsible for your own attitude, not him. Stop looking for people to blame and take responsibility for your own issues.
Will someone please give the incredibly talented Ben Whishaw a LEADING role.To see his talent wasted is truly a shame.
Jared, Why on earth should it matter if this film has such a remarkable, Oscar-attracting cast? Surely watching something that will have such good acting adds immernsely to the pleasure. It\’s long time since Carey Mulligan had a batch of Oscars, and Ben Whishaw deserves one too. If the film isd as good as it is llikely to be, it will deserve an Oscar too. What\’s wrong with that? The on ly competition will come from Mulligan\’s role in \’Far From the Madding Crowd\’ in May.
It\’s sad. This very well might be an excellent movie, and tells a story that needs to be told – but I just can\’t help but watch the trailer and roll my eyes at the Oscar-bait-ness of the whole thing. I\’ll blame Harvey Weinstein for ruining "important" movies for me.
um, this has been confirmed for a while now to be limited release October 23 in the US