To Be

Authors: Brian
Location: Arizona

"To Be"

Directed by Ang Lee
Written by Tony Kushner and Eric Roth
Produced by John Calley and Brian Grazer
Music by Thomas Newman

Principal Cast:

Samantha Morton (Vera Allen)
Ethan Hawke (Rory Chambers)
Emma Thompson (Linda Hamilton)
Terrence Howard (Alan Walters)
Helen Mirren (Martha Allen)

Tagline: "Bundles Aren’t Always of Joy"

Synopsis: There’s a new job craze for women. Only once every few months does it require any hard work, and most of the time is spent simply socializing with other women and doing wholesome recreational activities. These women are birth mothers. After 4 or 5 months of pregnancy by artificial insemination, the women receive abortions and scientists use the stem cells to cure diseases. Though controversial at first, people learned to accept what was happening, and decided it was worthwhile as long as it would help more people than it would hurt. But, what goes on there is the subject of American filmmaker Rory Chambers’ upcoming documentary. He examines the gestation period of one British birth mother: Vera Allen. Vera is graceful and full of empty class. Naive, but comes on wise. Rory is sharp as a whip, but his radical opinions (which include both right and left wing ones) make him look insane. Rory and his cameraman, Alan Walters, go on with the film, but the stubborn and secretive owner, Linda Hamilton, is determined to keep the truth about the scandals and financial cheating in her institute from leaking out. She even attempts seducing Rory to keep him from filming. We also get a brief but powerful visit from Vera’s mother, Martha, who disapproves of everything Vera has done. Most of the film chronicles the bitter relationship between Rory and Vera, and ends with Vera getting a typical abortion, Rory’s leaving, and Vera continuing her life now more aware of what kind of job and world she has.

What the press would say:

Ang Lee has created something amazing: A controversial, ripped-from-the-headlines film with no political bias. Samantha Morton gives the greatest, most Oscar friendly performance in ages as the naïve and unorthodox birth mother Vera Allen. She speaks beautiful monologues, fierce arguments and an emotional climax. Emma Thompson and Ethan Hawke are equally amazing; Thompson with her subtle and brilliant character choices and Hawke with his frankness and perseverance that make Rory Chambers one of greatest characters in modern cinema. Helen Mirren also has a short appearance, and we all know how much the Academy loves small but impacting performances. Tony Kushner and Eric Roth, experts at tackling difficult subjects, write a rich, indulgent and lean screenplay that makes two hours of thrills, tears and emotion unmatched in any other film this year. “To Be” is one of the best movies of recent history, and will sweep the Oscars with a strong campaign in the following categories…

Best Picture (John Calley and Brian Grazer)
Best Director (Ang Lee)
Best Actor (Ethan Hawke)
Best Actress (Samantha Morton)
Best Supporting Actress (Emma Thompson & Helen Mirren)
Best Original Screenplay (Tony Kushner & Eric Roth)
Best Film Editing
Best Cinematography
Best Original Score (Thomas Newman)
Best Original Song (“And it Was” by Norah Jones)