Elizabeth Holmes: "Bad Blood"

Maybe my favorite from Chloe Fineman's gallery of lunatics is Elizabeth Holmes. Ms. Holmes invented the "nanotainer," the thing meant to revolutionize medical care, then drove her own business into the ground and set herself up for (maybe) years and years in prison.

Meet Ms. Holmes:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvPtEAoHigS/?hl=en

She's wearing her Steve Jobs uniform (so much easier than having to make sartorial choices in the morning! Who has time, who among the busy geniuses?) Ms. Holmes is speaking in her creepy baritone, and her non-blinking eyes are on display.

"Anytime you create something new," Holmes says, "there should be questions. What higher purpose is there than changing the world?" She allows silence to grow, so we can dwell in this place of profundity.

Next, Holmes shows us a DayQuil capsule. "This is my nanotainer," she explains. "I invented it when I was fourteen years old, working with the Bunsen burner in my school's lab. I was on two hours of sleep but....I really want to live in a world where people don't have to say goodbye....too soon...."

A grand summation, as in something from a Churchill speech: "First they call you crazy. Then they laugh at you. Then you go on and change the world."

Fineman nails the faux-messianic quality Holmes could apparently show off in an interview. When Holmes nods at us, it's as if she were coaching *us* to nod. The false humility--the tight-lipped smile--is spell-binding. The way Holmes's voice cracks a little bit on "crazy"--"They call you crazy...."--suggests that there is hidden depth here....

Kate McKinnon seems slated--still--to play Holmes, though I can't find evidence that Jennifer Lawrence remains (also) attached to the character. I'd really rather see Fineman in this role.

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