The story of Texas newswoman Christine Chubbuck has suddenly been thrust into the Hollywood spotlight, with two movies on her life and unfortunate, very public, death arriving at about the same time. Debuting at Sundance were the meta drama Kate Plays Christine, starring Kate Lyn Sheil. That film was released into theaters just weeks ago, and now the other movie, Christine, is on the verge of doing the same because the first trailer for it is here.
Iron Man 3's Rebecca Hall plays Christine in the film directed by Antonio Campos (Simon Killer) and co-starring Michael C. Hall, Timothy Simons, Tracy Letts, and Maria Dizzia. In the summer of '74 Chubbuck's depression was beginning to interfere with her job at WXLT-TV, leading up to a shocking act committed on live on-air. Here's the synopsis:
Rebecca Hall stars in director Antonio Campos’ third feature film, CHRISTINE, the story of a woman who finds herself caught in the crosshairs of a spiraling personal life and career crisis. Christine, always the smartest person in the room at her local Sarasota, Florida news station, feels like she is destined for bigger things and is relentless in her pursuit of an on-air position in a larger market. As an aspiring newswoman with an eye for nuance and an interest in social justice, she finds herself constantly butting heads with her boss (Tracy Letts), who pushes for juicier stories that will drive up ratings. Plagued by self-doubt and a tumultuous home life, Christine’s diminishing hope begins to rise when an on-air co-worker (Michael C. Hall) initiates a friendship which ultimately becomes yet another unrequited love. Disillusioned as her world continues to close in on her, Christine takes a dark and surprising turn.
Both +Mae Abdulbaki and I saw it in Park City and neither of us were very impressed, but that's not a commentary on Hall's performance which is dark and haunting. Think the people you see on TV every night have it easy? You won't think so after this. Christine opens October 14th.
