The Reel Review
Lee Miller was a very unique individual who clearly was way ahead of her time – a former Vogue magazine fashion model who became one of the world’s first female photojournalists and war correspondents – one of only four – during World War II. Kate Winslet stars in this biopic about her life.
As biopics go, Lee is a pretty dry, box ticking affair – its framework, an older Miller sharing milestones about her war correspondent career via flashbacks to her interviewer. As expected, Oscar-winner Winslet (The Reader) nails it as Miller, with a big-name supporting cast that includes Alexander Skarsgård, Marion Cotillard, Andrea Riseborough, Andy Samberg and Josh O’Connor. The main issue, however, is a story that never reveals very much about Miller the person. All we know is that she is surly and headstrong and had never revealed that she was a war photojournalist to her son when she died in 1977 at the age of 70.
First time director Ellen Kuras taps into her background as a cinematographer to showcase visuals that frankly are far more compelling than this dry, mechanical screenplay. The film gets the job done, but frustratingly is far less interesting than its subject.
REEL FACTS
• Lee was a years-long passion project for Kate Winslet, who also served as a hands-on producer, responsible for everything from finances to script, casting, camera angles and finding new locations. Winslet personally called many of her co-stars asking them to star in the film.
• Lee Miller is referenced in the 2024 war film Civil War, its main character Lee played by Kirsten Dunst who in that film says she was named after Miller.
• Lee director Ellen Kuras previously worked as cinematographer on two Winslet films – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and A Little Chaos.
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