We’re coming up on the two-decade mark sinceBarbra Streisand, the grand multi-hyphenate, helmed a feature film, having last trained her cinema eye on 1996’sThe Mirror Has Two Faces, which co-starredJeff Bridgesas her love interest. Truth be told, Streisand has never been a particularly interesting filmmaker, despite showing some ability as a director of actors, which is evident in her work withPierce Brosnan,George Segal,Lauren Bacall, andMimi Rogersin that film. There’s similar traces of competency in her first two films,YentlandThe Prince of Tides, the latter of which features excellent work byNick NolteandGeorge Carlin, but she’s never been the kind of filmmaker you race out to see what she does with the big screen. You go to the movie to see her, presumably.
We last saw Streisand alongsideSeth Rogenin the deeply forgettable comedyGuilt Trip, but now she’s taking a turn towards historical drama in her first directorial effort sinceThe Mirror Has Two Faces. As THR reports, Streisand will next helmCatherine the Great, a take on the Russian ruler who reigned over the Russian people from the mid-to-late 18th century and is often considered one of the greatest leaders the country ever had, and, naturally, an icon of female empowerment. As history buffs will note, Russia was modernizes extensively under Catherine’s rule and she was the reason that several major institutions, towns, and communities were founded in Russia.
Streisand will be working from a script by first-timerKristina Lauren Anderson, and has yet to cast anyone in the project, though her clout will certainly call for major talent to take up the project. (I know it sounds crazy, but this is the kind of role that Alison Tolman, who made huge impressions inFargoSeason 1 andKrampus, would absolutely kill.) We’ll have to wait and see where this project goes, but I will say that the required period production design will likely help deter focus on Streisand’s standard-issue visual rhythms and pacing.
