By Spencer Coile
Fresh off the heels of an Oscar victory, stone-facing Casey Affleck, and battling Kong, it appears Brie Larson is coming back stronger than ever-- ready to test her political prowess.
Amazon Studios has obtained rights to Victoria Woodhull, aptly named after the first female to ever run for the U.S. presidency. Larson, not only serving as a producer for the film, will jump into the title role of Victoria. Although very little is known about the upcoming project thus far, below are some initial thoughts and predictions about this latest venture from Larson and company.
Biopics are always a gamble... ironically, because they are carried out traditionally, plodding through life events like they are destinations on a Monopoly board. Will the story live up to its namesake? After all, not many people know Woodhull's journey-- myself included. Perhaps even in the 21st century, a story such as this one is worth exploring. Although Victoria Woodhull, notorious suffragette-turned-politician, achieved household name status in the late 1800's, her legacy is still one that can be felt by millions today. In such a troubling time, both politically and socially, an historical account about one woman's rise to notoriety could not be more timely. Hopefully Victoria Woodhull takes into account the political climate of 1872 and deconstructs it in a way that explores femininity and identity politics that ultimately parallels today's landscape.
Miss Woodhull, if you're nasty
What's more, after her stint as freckled photographer extraordinaire with roughly two facial expressions in Kong, I am itching to see Larson step out of her comfort zone and step into the skin of such an incredibly fascinating and under-discussed woman. Short Term 12's Grace and Room's Ma were both stunning and fully realized portrayals of fragile womanhood, but Woodhull is another challenge altogether-- a challenge that Larson has undoubtedly proven to be ready for.
What do you all think? Is there potential in Larson's latest endeavor? And is Amazon the right home for it?