COLD COPY
US, 2023, 91 minutes, Colour.
Bel Powley, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jacob Tremblay, Nesta Cooper, Ekaterina Baker, James Tupper.
Directed by Roxine Helberg.
There are indications of journalistic ruthlessness in this title. And, reminders of that archetypal story about a star, career, decline and fall at the hands of an ambitious next-generation, All about Eve.
British actress, bel Powley, plays Mia Scott, a young journalism student who has had no other ambition than journalistic success since the death of her mother when she was eight. She goes to classes, study is the lecturer, harshly demanding successful journalist, Diane Higa, played to the arrogant hilt by Tracee Ellis Ross. Mia rehearses for an interview, is treated harshly, is resentful, declares that she is only after the truth but is seen to be betraying her friends, chosen by Diane who seems to see something of herself and the young Mia, and is usually demanding on.
By chance, Mia encounters a teenager, played by Jacob Tremblay (Room, Wonder) who has a sad story, a busy father, a mother dead by suicide, himself an artist, erratic in his behaviour. He then becomes the focus of Mia’s video project.
Mia is in no way sympathetic, any moments of sympathy are always for her own ends. And I and sees something of herself in the past in Mia.
There are ultimate betrayal is, Diane taking over me is peace. Mia getting revenge on Diane and humiliating her in public – the film ending with Diane’s knowing look at what Mia has done and Mia looking complacently. But, the audience knows, that in some years a new Mia will do the same to her.
- The title? Journalism? Commitment? Old and relentless?
- The background of American journalism, education of journalists, television programming and meetings, printed video, radio?
- The story of Mia Scott, her age, in college, ambitions, classes, him, her roommate, pollution for presentations, interviews, her rehearsing, attitudes towards Diane eager, the friend asking to present material, and not presenting it, the interview, the tough stances, Diane even tougher, hard, harsh, humiliating? Her throwing her presentation away?
- Diane, age and experience, seeing her in action, on screen, with executives and staff, her lectures, the demands? Later the background of the wine gift, her ex-husband, signing the house away, personal life and attitudes?
- Mia, number 20 on the list, accepted, Kim and her excitement, her contact at the politician’s office, information? Mia later using this, the anonymous phone call, the contact being sacked, sabotaging Kim’s career? And her later vengeance on Diane, taping her, giving the material to Kim, its being broadcast, the consequences for Diane, Mia watching her being interviewed and attacked by journalists?
- Mia, the meetings with Diane, Diane seeing something of herself in Mia, demanding, continually questioning expressions, getting near to say what she meant, her project, the critiques, further demands, Mia finally editing, Diane taking her in as an assistant, menial with the coffee, it also present – and the disillusionment that Diane presented her investigation has her own? Mia is violent response?
- Kim setting me up with the man, their walk, his approach, is violent matching reaction, Igor and coming to her rescue, first impressions, his age, his house, luxury, the absent father was business, the dead mother, the discovery of her reputation as a writer, a suicide?
- Igor, as a character, the effect of the suicide, the demands of his father, going to school spasmodically, taking Mia to the factory, the flour, his art?
- Mia taking him on this project, the news story, his wanting the story about himself, not about his mother, the family and their not revealing anything about the mother to the media? Mia and the interviews, filming him, even filming him attacked by the bullies? At home with him, his father’s arrival in ousting her? Her taking the key, going to the apartment, finding his mother’s final letter to him, “perfect boy”?
- , Editing it, her commentary? As a piece for television? Her excitement at its being presented, Diane taking it has her own?
- Memories of story like All about Eve, the ruthless star, career, memories of the past, fostering the up-and-coming potential star, then being undermined and betrayed? And the audience realising, while Mia doesn’t, that this same betrayal what happened to her in years to come?
