When Hollywood's A-listers try their hand at directing, it often ends in a catastrophic failure. While some actors are content with simply playing characters and leave the directing to others, a select few attempt to bring their own vision to life behind the camera.
Take the case of Scarlett Johansson, who recently premiered her directorial debut "Eleanor the Great" at Cannes. The film was accompanied by a series of promotional events, including a chat with actress Jenna Bush Hager on TV. Similarly, Kristen Stewart and Harris Dickinson also made their directorial debuts this year, both of which garnered critical acclaim.
However, not everyone is cut out to direct a film. Kate Winslet's debut feature "Goodbye June," about a family dealing with terminal illness, was instead given a low-key release on Netflix. The reason behind this decision remains unclear, but it can be attributed to the lack of compelling material in the story.
Winslet plays Julia, the eldest sibling who takes charge of her family during their mother's decline. While Mirren and Toni Collette shine in supporting roles, Winslet struggles to bring any real depth to her character. The film's narrative is predictable and lacks any real tension or conflict, making it hard to remember after the credits roll.
In contrast, Kristen Stewart's directorial debut "The Chronology of Water" is a stark departure from this mediocrity. Based on Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir, the film explores themes of abuse, identity, and artistic expression. Imogen Poots shines in the lead role as the author recounts her experiences.
Stewart's approach to directing is bold and unapologetic, refusing to shy away from the harsh realities depicted in the story. The result is a visceral and emotional experience that stays with you long after the credits roll.
The difference between "Goodbye June" and "The Chronology of Water" lies not only in the quality of material but also in Stewart's willingness to take risks as a director. While Winslet has always been known for her dramatic performances, directing requires a different skill set altogether.
Winslet will undoubtedly direct again, but her debut feature is a misstep that leaves much to be desired. For an actress with such a commanding presence on screen, it's surprising that she couldn't translate that force into her directorial debut.
Take the case of Scarlett Johansson, who recently premiered her directorial debut "Eleanor the Great" at Cannes. The film was accompanied by a series of promotional events, including a chat with actress Jenna Bush Hager on TV. Similarly, Kristen Stewart and Harris Dickinson also made their directorial debuts this year, both of which garnered critical acclaim.
However, not everyone is cut out to direct a film. Kate Winslet's debut feature "Goodbye June," about a family dealing with terminal illness, was instead given a low-key release on Netflix. The reason behind this decision remains unclear, but it can be attributed to the lack of compelling material in the story.
Winslet plays Julia, the eldest sibling who takes charge of her family during their mother's decline. While Mirren and Toni Collette shine in supporting roles, Winslet struggles to bring any real depth to her character. The film's narrative is predictable and lacks any real tension or conflict, making it hard to remember after the credits roll.
In contrast, Kristen Stewart's directorial debut "The Chronology of Water" is a stark departure from this mediocrity. Based on Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir, the film explores themes of abuse, identity, and artistic expression. Imogen Poots shines in the lead role as the author recounts her experiences.
Stewart's approach to directing is bold and unapologetic, refusing to shy away from the harsh realities depicted in the story. The result is a visceral and emotional experience that stays with you long after the credits roll.
The difference between "Goodbye June" and "The Chronology of Water" lies not only in the quality of material but also in Stewart's willingness to take risks as a director. While Winslet has always been known for her dramatic performances, directing requires a different skill set altogether.
Winslet will undoubtedly direct again, but her debut feature is a misstep that leaves much to be desired. For an actress with such a commanding presence on screen, it's surprising that she couldn't translate that force into her directorial debut.
i mean scarlett jo is lovely and all but have you seen the trailers for "Eleanor the Great"? they just seem so... bland 
compared to kristen stewart's directorial debut, that film is like a whole different story 
i love how bold and unapologetic she was with it too 
and imogen poots as the lead? 
winslet on the other hand just seems like she was phoning it in 
i mean i know we've all seen her shine in dramatic roles, but directing is a whole different beast 
. I mean, have you seen her performances in films like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "The Reader"? She's got serious acting chops 
. The fact that her film was released on Netflix with little fanfare just screams "content with mediocrity" 
. And don't even get me started on how predictable and formulaic the story is... come on, Kate, you can do better than this 
. I'd love to see some behind-the-scenes footage or interviews that give us a glimpse into her thought process as a director 
. I mean, we all know she's amazing at acting, but directing is a whole different beast. It's like trying to juggle too many balls at once - you're used to playing one character and bringing depth to that role, but when it's your own film, you gotta be the producer, writer, and director too! 
It's not like we've seen any other A-listers mess up their directing debut as badly... well, maybe Scarlett Johansson 
. Anyway, I'm curious to see what Kate does next - hopefully she'll take some risks and try something new! 
. Meanwhile, Kristen Stewart is over here taking risks and pushing boundaries with her film, and we're still waiting for Kate Winslet to figure out what went wrong 
. If you've got a platform like Netflix, do you really want to put your name behind a mediocre project? Or should they be holding their actresses accountable for putting out quality content? 
. It's clear she took some serious risks behind the camera, but hey, it paid off for her debut! 
I mean, I love her in movies like "Titanic", but directing just isn't her thing, sadly. Still, you've got to give her props for trying, right? 
I mean, some folks got game, like Kristen Stewart in "The Chronology of Water" 
- she's all about takin' risks and bringin' that emotional heat 
. Still, you've gotta respect the attempt, 'n' we'll see what she does next! 
. So yeah, let's give credit where credit is due - Stewart's the real deal 
But at the same time, I get why "Goodbye June" didn't quite hit the mark... maybe Kate was trying to tackle something too big for her debut feature? 
Still, I'm rooting for Winslet, she'll get it next time, I'm sure! 
! I mean, I love Kate as an actress, but as a director? Not my fave 
. The story was just so predictable and boring, and Julia's character was like, super flat 
. But hey, at least Imogen Poots shined in her lead role as Lidia Yuknavitch! 
Kristen Stewart's "The Chronology of Water" is like, a WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY 
Only 15% of viewers polled said they'd watch a sequel 
That's what happens when you take risks as a director! 
Most films lose money... 
Stewart's debut is like a shot of adrenaline - it's bold and unapologetic!