Search Results for: Stallone

‘Taken 1, 2, and 3’: Modern Masculinity Meets Modern Fatherhood

When looked at as a trilogy, the ‘Taken’ films are all about Bryan’s relationship with his daughter as she becomes a woman and he is no longer sure how to relate to her. It’s a common real life situation writ large, and a wholly unexpected through-line for an action franchise.

The Unfinished Legacy of Pam Grier

Grier’s legacy has lasted over four decades, but there’s something about her career that leaves me feeling unsettled, as if her filmography is indicative of larger (backward) social trends. She started out headlining action films–an amazing feat for a woman, much less a black woman in the early 1970s. A glance at a few of these films show feminist themes that are incredibly rare 40 years later. Her early films were groundbreaking, but nothing much was built after that ground was broken.

Women in Sports Week: A Review of ‘The Fighter’

Movie poster for The Fighter This guest post by Jessica Freeman-Slade previously appeared at Bitch Flicks on February 2, 2011. The adage of “Behind every good man is a great woman” is worn out, particularly in the realm of boxing movies. You can reduce the entirety of Rocky to the battered Stallone’s anguished cry of … Continue reading “Women in Sports Week: A Review of ‘The Fighter’”

The Unfinished Legacy of Pam Grier

Pam Grier was the first black woman to be on the cover of Ms. Magazine (August 1975). Jamaica Kincaid wrote the article, “Pam Grier: The Mocha Mogul of Hollywood.”  Written by Leigh Kolb[Warning: spoilers ahead!] The first time I saw Pam Grier in a film, I blurted out, “Why isn’t she in everything?” I first saw Grier … Continue reading “The Unfinished Legacy of Pam Grier”

The Neeson Identity: What the Release of ‘The Grey’ Got Wrong About Men

This is a guest post by Margaret Howie. With the release of Taken 2, Liam Neeson impersonations are all over the internet again. You’d think that we had all been starved of Neeson material, but it was only back in January that his Man vs. the Wild movie, The Grey was released. Along with it … Continue reading “The Neeson Identity: What the Release of ‘The Grey’ Got Wrong About Men”

‘The Expendables 2’: Masculinity Porn

Still from The Expendables 2 [source] “You want to man up? I’ll man you up.” – Sylvester Stallone in The Expendables 2 It’s a good thing The Expendables 2 was released after the Olympics ended, or a lot of innocent athletes might have tested positive for testosterone doping.  Where 2010’s The Expendables set out to … Continue reading “‘The Expendables 2’: Masculinity Porn”

Best Picture Nominee Review Series: The Fighter

The Fighter (2010) This is a guest review from Jessica Freeman-Slade. The adage of “Behind every good man is a great woman” is worn out, particularly in the realm of boxing movies. You can reduce the entirety of Rocky to the battered Stallone’s anguished cry of “Adrian!” as he wraps up a brutal fight. We’re … Continue reading “Best Picture Nominee Review Series: The Fighter”