Amanda Seyfried to play religious leader Ann Lee in New original movie musical from team behind THE BRUTALIST

"Brutalist" co-writer Mona Fastvold to write and direct with original music by "Brutalist" composer Daniel Blumberg;.Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott co-starring

The Brutalist was a masterpiece, and part of that was the music, which I think is one of the best and most iconic film scores in years. I'll be first in line to see this when it comes out.

Acquired by Searchlight - release planned for later this year

I heard this is really good but not awards-y. Which makes it sound even better to be honest,

We saw a screening a week ago-- what a strange brew!

On the plus side, the soundtrack and sound editing is absolutely glorious-- a thrilling blend of singing voices and nature soundscape that envelops you in wonder! I have to applaud the staging and choreography as well-- truly borne of real musical theater understanding in how movement and dance can tell a story. Bravo to all responsible for making a musical film that really respected the musical arts!

But oh, this story.... To understand that the Shaker movement in America was sprung from the soul of this badly abused and deeply disturbed young woman was a shock to the system that the script could never overcome to our satisfaction. How can you root for a cause led by a woman for whom any form of sex is such a mortal sin that she banned all relations between her followers throughout all the Shaker communities in the country!?!? Yikes, what a twisted basis for religious fervor! And how on earth did such deprivation of the soul lead to such aesthetic glories in music and interior design for which the Shakers are rightly renown? If only the movie had taken time to explain that conundrum-- now THAT would have been a film I could have rallied around.