Friday 4 August
The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe
8:35PM, SBS
M
United States, 2015
Genre: Drama, TV Movie
Language: English
Director: Laurie Collyer
Starring: Kelli Garner, Susan Sarandon, Emily Watson, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Eva Amurri Martino, Embeth Davidtz
What's it about?
Brave and funny, smart and ambitious, Marilyn Monroe conquered a lonely, loveless childhood as Norma Jeane Mortenson, re-inventing herself to become an American icon. She was the personification of sex whose frigidity caused her first marriage to collapse; and a sensitive artist equally capable of narcissistic cruelty. At the height of her fame Marilyn was fighting the mental illness she inherited from her mother Gladys.
Friday 11 August
Blue Jasmine
8:35PM, SBS
M
United States, 2013
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Language: English
Director: Woody Allen
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Sally Hawkins, Bobby Cannavale, Alec Baldwin, Andrew Dice Clay, Peter Sarsgaard
What's it about?
After her marriage to a wealthy businessman collapses, New York socialite Jasmine flees to San Francisco and the modest apartment of her sister, Ginger. Although she's in a fragile emotional state and lacks job skills, Jasmine still manages to voice her disapproval of Ginger's boyfriend, Chili. Jasmine begrudgingly takes a job in a dentist's office, while Ginger begins dating a man who's a step up from Chili.
[link title="Blue Jasmine: Alec Baldwin interview" url="node/1721"]
[link title="Cate Blanchett wins best actress Oscar for 'Blue Jasmine'" url="node/14670"]
[link title="Blue Jasmine Review" url="node/6288"]
Friday 18 August
Philomena
8:35PM, SBS
M
United Kingdom, 2013
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Stephen Frears
Starring: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan
What's it about?
In Ireland in the 1950s, unmarried teenage Philomena finds out that she is pregnant and is sent to Roscrea convent for 'fallen women' where she gives birth to a boy, who is given up for adoption. Philomena (Judi Dench) has spent fifty years searching for her child but finally asks for help from unemployed journalist, Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan). The convent is no help - all they can find are damaged documents and nuns who won't say a word. Finally Martin gets a lucky break when chatting with a local pub owner who informs him that the convent sold babies to childless Catholic American couples, starting Philomena and Martin's journey to the United States.
[link title="Philomena: Stephen Frears interview" url="node/1839"]
[link title="Philomena interview: Steve Coogan" url="node/1875"]
[link title="Philomena Review" url="node/6400"]
Friday 25 August
Notes On a Scandal
8:35PM, SBS
MA15+
United States, 2006
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Richard Eyre
Starring: Bill Nighy, Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett
What's it about?
Barbara Covett (Judi Dench) is a veteran history teacher at a comprehensive school in London. When a younger art teacher, Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett) joins the school, Barbara sees in her a potential new friend, even more. Until she learns that Shebba is having an affair with one of her 15-year-old students.
