"Lady in the Lake" is a new seven-part thriller drama mystery series streaming on Apple TV+, starring Oscar-winner Natalie Portman as investigative reporter Maddie Schwartz in 1960s Baltimore.
The series weaves a tale of disappearances, murders, corruption, and racial tensions, following the intersecting lives of Cleo Johnson, a Black woman facing societal challenges, and Schwartz, a reporter investigating Cleo's murder from beyond the grave.
The confident direction by Alma Har'el and standout performances by Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram (praised for her portrayal of Cleo) blend surreal, stylish moments with a twisty mystery.
The series is based on Laura Lippman's 2019 novel of the same name, which draws inspiration from two real disappearances in 1969 Baltimore – Shirley Parker and Esther Lebowitz, reimagined as Cleo Johnson and Tessie Durst in the show.
The show explores racial tension, and gender discrimination in the 1960s, following a Jewish housewife dreaming of being a reporter and Cleo Johnson's story.
The cast, including David Corenswet, Dylan Arnold, Noah Jupe, and Moses Ingram, delivers strong performances, and the show excels in recreating the look and feel of the 1960s with detailed costumes, and set design.
"Lady in the Lake" has received mostly positive reviews, earning a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 12 reviews, with praise for Portman's performance, the story, and stylish direction. It is available exclusively on Apple TV+ with a weekly release format until August 23, 2024.
Sources: I Get Talk, Joe.ie, The Economic Times, Digital Trends, Empire Online, MSN
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
