Continuing our series of writers highlighting unfairly criticised films is a defence of Lee Daniels’ starry and steamy noir
February 2021
Mark Kermode's film of the week
The United States vs Billie Holiday review – Andra Day's film all the way
As the blues singer, Day is magnetic in Lee Daniels’s often chaotic biopic, built around a speculative romance between Holiday and a government agent
Lee Daniels: ‘Studios will give you about $10 to make a black movie’
The maverick director makes the films no one else would dare to – persuading Oprah to break her acting drought, and Nicole Kidman to pee on Zac Efron. What’s his next coup?
Peter Bradshaw's film of the week
The United States vs Billie Holiday review – Lee Daniels' misguided biopic
Lee Daniels’ bizarre decision to root this account of the singer’s late years in supposition about her romance with a federal agent cheapens her courage
October 2017
Empire’s Lee Daniels: ‘I always see myself as one step away from a flop’
He made his name with Monster’s Ball and Precious but, as Empire begins a new season, the writer-director-producer insists his work isn’t just for black audiences
February 2017
Oprah Winfrey to star in Lee Daniels' Terms of Endearment remake
The Butler director to reunite with talk show host for role which won Shirley MacLaine an Oscar in 1983
December 2016
Lee Daniels on 'whiny' #OscarsSoWhite controversy: 'Stop complaining'
Is Lee Daniels' rags-to-riches R&B drama Star better than Empire?
October 2016
Lee Daniels back on board to direct Richard Pryor biopic produced by Jay Z
Mike Epps, Oprah Winfrey, Eddie Murphy and Kate Hudson to star in the film, which Daniels initially dropped out of directing due to scheduling conflicts
September 2016
Lee Daniels to make movie musical based on his own life
The director of Precious, The Butler and the TV series Empire is at work on a film with original songs about his turbulent past
February 2016
The black Oscar wins that got away
The shadow of possible Academy prejudice has loomed large over this year’s awards. So which black actors were unjustly snubbed? Whose great performance went unrewarded? The Guardian’s chief film critic on the ones that got away
November 2015
Lee Daniels to make true story of 'welfare queen' criminal
Precious director developing drama based on a 2013 article about a Mr Ripley-esque woman called out by Ronald Reagan for cheating welfare system
September 2015
State dinner for Xi Jinping draws VIPs from business leaders to Ne-Yo
Top brass from Apple, Facebook, and Disney join ballerina Misty Copeland and NBA owner Mark Cuban at 200-guest event for Chinese president
Empire's season two sound needs to look beyond industry cliche
The Fox drama has followed in Glee’s footsteps by creating a ratings hit that also climbs the charts, but as it embraces mainstream sounds and artists in season two will it dilute a winning formula?
Sean Penn sues Empire creator Lee Daniels over domestic abuse comments
The actor has filed a $10m defamation lawsuit against Daniels over an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, in which he accused Penn of domestic violence
July 2015
Empire strikes back: Lee Daniels posts fiery response to Emmy snub
Daniels posts expletive-laden outburst on Instagram after his hugely successful show only garners three Emmy nominations
April 2015
Empire: behind TV's biggest drama in a decade
Lee Daniels hip-hop drama Empire heading to E4
March 2015
Film blog
Like Leviathan? You'll love The Leviathan!
Mo'Nique says she was 'blackballed' by Lee Daniels after Oscar win for Precious
