Lee Grant is the eighth wonder of the world.

She’s 97 years young and will turn as astounding 98 in November. But the two time Oscar winner and double Emmy Award winner whose life was temporarily wrecked by the blacklist in the 1950s and early 60s, stole the show last night at the New York Film Festival.

The occasion was the screening of two films she directed, a hit feature called “Tell Me a Riddle,” based on Tillie Olsen’s bestseller, and a short called “The Stronger.”

Lee’s Oscars came for acting in Warren Beatty’s “Shampoo” and a decade later for directing the documentary, “Down and Out in America.” She’s published a best selling memoir, has dozens of other acting nominations, and so on. She is a survivor in the truest sense because Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his evil associate, Roy Cohn, upended her life in 1952 when she was accused of being a Communist.
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Lee looks and acts much, much younger than whatever her numerical age is. She’s full of energy. Bravo, Lee!

It was such a thrill to see these films again. After so long, with all of you. It truly truly meant so much to all of us who made them. Thank you thank you thank you! https://t.co/6kkaxoDVZX

— Lee Grant (@TheLeeGrant) October 1, 2023

The SAG strike is starting to kill the box office.

Last night the top three movies had middling to poor openings simply because no one in their casts can promote them.

“Saw X,” which got good reviews, “PAW Patrol,” a family film, and “The Creator,” top notch sci fi that looks amazing — all of them landed with a thud.

Why? Ordinarily, for example,”The Creator” star John David Washington would have been on every talk show. Allison Janney would have been everywhere, getting great reviews. The little girl from the movie would have been in People. There would have been premieres in New York and Los Angeles to generate excitement.

But with the SAG strike, everyone is immobilized. Millions and millions of dollars are being flushed away.

Luckily, the studios and the union will begin on Monday to resolve their conflicts. If it takes more than week, the business is sunk. The conventional wisdom now is that the studios, if they want to save the fall and holidays, will have to make concessions quickly and bring this to an end.

Meantime, go see “The Creator.” It’s excellent. Washington ably carries the brilliant looking, smart film. If you liked “Rogue Nation,” you’ll love Gareth Davis’s sensational film.

“Fair Play” is the edgiest, coolest, sexiest and most provocative film of the year.  This Netflix film is directed and written by Chloe Domont and is her first feature.  Domont has directed TV shows including “Billions,” “Ballers,” and “Suits” and she hits a grand slam with this edge of your seat erotic thriller.

Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) are two co-workers at the Once Crest Capital hedge-fund.  The lovebirds are involved in a clandestine relationship which is a violation of company policy.  But the pair are passionately besotted; , the film begins at a family wedding where they can’t keep their hands off each other which results in an offbeat in oh so many ways marriage proposal. 

But then the harsh reality sets in; there’s the job that they both covet, that of Portfolio Manager along with all the bells and whistles and money that go with it.  Both are surprised when Emily gets the job, and that’s where this film really starts its’ intense engines.  Luke starts to undermine her, Emily does the same to him.  The ping pong of gender politics, discrimination,  emasculated masculinity and Emily’s struggle to prove she’s earned her promotion are all in play. 

Can their relationship survive the upheaval?  The filmmaker pulls no punches, and has no favorites.  Both Dynevor and Ehrenreich have never been better; she plays her role with grit and steeliness and compassion, he is equally all over the map and becomes diminished before our eyes.  The always terrific Eddie Marsan plays the boss. “Fair Play”  doesn’t waste a second, every scene, every word matters.  Definitely one of the best films of the year.   

“Fair Play” is in select theaters starting September 29^th and streams on Netflix October 6^th.

Watch the trailer here; https://youtu.be/vICUPlr3EEI?si=VN2puJ6WjUvDLtSL