Since coming out of quasi-retirement in 2016, Steven Soderbergh has arguably been at his most daring at exploring the possibilities of creative freedom in filmmaking. The director has never shied away from projects that buck the traditional mores of studio distribution and navigate the uncharted territory of new platforms and camera technology. He’s been at this game a long time, since 1989’s Palme d’Or winner “Sex, Lies, and Videotape.” Since then, his varied filmography documents a tireless work ethic matched with a desire to experiment with any facet of making movies both within and beyond the studio format.
READ MORE: Steven Soderbergh Says Hbo Max’s ‘Let Them All Talk’ Will Come Out In December
Soderbergh’s recent output has been the most innovative in financial and formal approaches and how each project reaches audiences. His return to filmmaking in 2017’s “Logan’s Lucky” was produced on his own and co-released the movie through Fingerprint Releasing, a company he created to distribute films independent from studio involvement. 2018’s “Unsane” was shot in secret and entirely on an iPhone 7. 2018’s “Mosaic” was released as both a limited series on HBO and a mobile app on iOS/Android that works as an interactive movie where app users choose the plot’s direction.
A deal with Netflix produced two films exclusive to the streaming platform in 2019, “High Flying Bird,” this time shot on an iPhone 8, and “The Laundromat.” He also served as executive producer this year for the Quibi-exclusive show “Wireless,” another project that explores the creative possibilities of short-form video content and mobile-phone technology.
His new film, “Let Them All Talk,” follows the same trend of exclusive releases. This movie is part of a 3-year overall Soderbergh struck with HBO/HBO Max last year. Soderbergh and HBO have a long, successful history working together. Recent projects include “Mosaic,” 2013’s “Behind the Candelabra,” and the TV series “The Knick.”
“Let Them All Talk” marks a reunion for Soderbergh with one of the stars of last year’s “Laundromat,” Meryl Streep. Streep stars as a novelist who embarks on the ocean liner Queen Mary II after receiving a literary award in the U.K. She invites two old friends and her nephew to tag along for the cruise, where old wounds inevitably resurface amid the non-stop repartee. Diane Wiest, Candice Bergen, and Lucas Hedges round out the cast.
READ MORE: Steven Soderbergh Signs Exclusive Deal With HBO/HBO Max
The movie’s production was unconventional, even by Soderbergh’s standards. Filming lasted only two weeks, with minimal equipment and crew. Actors improvised dialogue without an official script, with only basic outlines for scenarios drawn up by short-story writer Deborah Eisenberg to guide their performances. Soderbergh also shot the film on the new RED Komodo Dragon camera, a prototype at the time.
What’s the result of such an innovative production? Audiences find out in December, when “Let Them All Talk” premieres exclusively on HBO Max. Meanwhile, Soderbergh’s prolific output continues elsewhere. His next film, “No Sudden Move,” is in pre-production and will be released through HBO Max on December 10. Watch the first trailer below.
