Particle.news
Download on the App Store
9 ARTICLES
·
4d ago

‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ Opens Wide After Surprise Oscars Snub

Critics praise Mona Fastvold’s movement-driven biopic for its Shaker hymn-based musical form, highlighting Amanda Seyfried’s performance.

Amanda Seyfried in “The Testament of Ann Lee.” 
Amanda Seyfried, left, and Lewis Pullman in “The Testament of Ann Lee.” 
Director Mona Fastvold with cast and crew on the set of “The Testament of Ann Lee.”
Director Mona Fastvold, center, with star Amanda Seyfried, right, and cast and crew members on the set of “The Testament of Ann Lee.”

Overview

  • The Academy’s Jan. 22 nominations excluded the film across all categories, including a widely expected Best Actress nod for Amanda Seyfried.
  • The movie expands to theaters nationwide on Jan. 23 with an R rating and a 2-hour, 17-minute runtime.
  • Seyfried stars as 18th-century Shaker leader Ann Lee, earning strong reviews and a Golden Globe nomination noted by multiple outlets.
  • Fastvold directs and co-writes with Brady Corbet, staging Shaker worship through refurbished hymns by composer Daniel Blumberg and choreography by Celia Rowlson-Hall.
  • The biopic traces Lee’s journey from hardship in Manchester through persecution and a transatlantic passage to establish a Shaker community in upstate New York.