First of all I’d like to commend Lifetime for even attempting a movie about the water scandal in Flint, Michigan. I applaud their efforts 100%. But what’s the first thing you think of when you think of Lifetime? You think of cheesy movies about relationships and the scandals surrounding them. The channel is riddled with love stories, mockumentaries of celebrities (Britney Spears anyone?), and endless soap opera drama. And now according to Deadline:
Queen Latifah, Betsy Brandt, Jill Scott and Marin Ireland are set to headline Flint, Lifetime’s original movie about the water-contamination crisis in Flint, MI, from Sony Pictures TV. Directed by Bruce Beresford from a script by Barbara Stepansky, Flint was inspired by the Time magazine cover story, “The Toxic Tap,” by Josh Sanburn. It follows the true story of three women from Flint who sought justice following the wrongdoing committed against the residents of the city who were unknowingly drinking and using lead-laden water.
This synopsis does remind you of a Lifetime movie given the plot surrounds three women. I just hope it doesn’t turn into a typical Lifetime film which is plagued with terrible dialogue, over the top acting and terrible music. The Flint story is a very serious one and in my eyes it deserves one of two things or both: An American Crime Story feature on FX or a featured film with some heavy hitters directing and acting.
Lifetime is certainly taking a step in the right direction by making a movie out of what’s easily one of the worst situations a city in the United States has ever faced without enough people really knowing about it. Fictional movies like Michael Clayton have explored the nasty repercussions of big corporations meddling with people’s lives, and they’ve been successful. This is a story of Government meddling which is more of less the same thing. A story, ANY story from Flint (and I’m sure there are thousands) is material for what could be a phenomenal film.
In the meantime, I might have to pass on the Lifetime adaptation. Sorry ladies.
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