July 2009 – Bitch Flicks

Movie Preview: Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire

Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire. Starring Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, and Lenny Kravitz. Written by Sapphire (novel), Geoffrey Fletcher, and Ramona Lofton. Directed by Lee Daniels.

I can’t wait to see this film. The Sundance Film Festival honored it with several awards, including the Grand Jury Prize, the Audience Award, and a Special Jury Prize for Acting for Mo’Nique’s performance. You can read an interview with Mo’Nique here, where she discusses her role as Precious’s mother, Mary.

Eric D. Snider summarizes the film as follows:

“The premise of Push: Based on a Novel by Sapphire is so unsettling and bleak that no one would blame you if you didn’t want to see it: It’s the story of an obese 16-year-old illiterate Harlem girl who’s pregnant (for the second time) by her own father, lives with her monstrously abusive mother, and has almost given up on life. But if you do see it, you’ll find that it’s compelling and artistic, punctuated with warm humor and masterful performances, and ultimately triumphant and hopeful.”

And Paul Moore writes the following: “During the Q&A after the screening I attended, a girl stood up and said, ‘I’m from Harlem and I know people like that, but I’ve never seen it on a screen before.’ She then thanked director Lee Daniels through her tears and sat down.”

Since it doesn’t release until November, I haven’t found too many reviews, but definitely check out Emanuel Levy’s review and Amber Wilkinson’s less enthusiastic review.

Now watch the trailer.

Releasing on DVD, Tuesday 7/28/09

Dollhouse, Season 1

Starring Eliza Dushku, Olivia Williams, Fran Kranz, Harry Lennix, Tahmoh Penikett, Enver Gjokah and Dichen Lachman. Created by Joss Whedon.

Much controversy occurred with the airing of Joss Whedon’s latest show, Dollhouse. Definitely take a look at Sady’s full analysis of the feminist elements of the show over at Tigerbeatdown. Here’s an excerpt containing the basic plot summary:

“Dollhouse is, pretty much specifically and entirely, a show about consent. It’s built around an organization—the titular Dollhouse—which erases volunteers’ personalities and memories and renders them childlike and passive, in order to implant them with new, built-to-order personalities custom made for wealthy clients who wish to order the ‘perfect’ person for a specific job. The purpose for which these mind-wiped folks (called ‘dolls,’ and I do not think that we are for a second supposed to miss how creepy that term is) are rented out is, primarily, sex. Also, they have no knowledge of or ability to consent to the ‘engagements’ for which they are rented out. Also, they seem, in large part, to not really be volunteers at all—most of the ones we know about, including the central character, Echo, have become dolls in order to get out of jail time or worse, and one woman in particular was literally sold into the organization. Also, several Dolls have been used for sex by Dollhouse employees, sometimes with the illusion of consent in place and sometimes not.”

Trailer

**************************************

Battlestar Galactica, The Complete Series

Starring Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park, and Katee Sackhoff.

The release of the Battlestar box-set might just be the ass-kicking I need to finally watch this show. Everyone I know who’s seen it claims it’s the best sci-fi show to ever exist, and many people love it specifically for its feminist elements. However, Juliet Lapidos wrote an article for Slate called, “Chauvinist Pigs in Space: Why Battlestar Galactica is not so frakking feminist afterall,” which challenges the show’s supposed feminism. But before all you feminist Battlestar fanatics freak out, definitely read Annalee Newitz’s rebuttal to the Lapidos article, “The Men Who Make Battlestar Galactica Feminist.” Be aware of spoilers.

You can watch a fan-made trailer here.

Movie Review: 500 Days of Summer, Take 1

500 Days of Summer. Starring Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Clark Gregg. Written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. Directed by Marc Webb.

Within the past few years especially, independent films have developed a certain easily identifiable “indie charm,” and 500 Days of Summer most definitely fulfills the criteria. These films used to be termed “independent” due to budget constraints, but just like the big studio films, indie movies have essentially become marketable, targeting a very specific audience to the point that indie elements have basically become indie clichés:

—amazing alterna-soundtrack? check.
(see also: Juno, Garden State, Away We Go)

—strangely cartoonish, bubbly-lettered and/or pencil-sketched movie poster? check.
(see also: Juno, Away We Go, Wes Anderson movies, Napoleon Dynamite)

—quirky female lead? check.
(see also: Juno, Garden State, The Royal Tenenbaums, Reality Bites, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)

—at least one scene that occurs in a ridiculous location? check.
(see also: Juno [furniture on the lawn scenes], Away We Go [department store bathtub scene, trampoline scene, stripper pole scene], Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind [most of the scenes])

—tortured love, tortured souls, tortured existences? check.
(see also: every indie film ever made)

For interesting reading about independent film clichés, coupled with a good review of Away We Go, read this.

******************************************

Despite the fact that 500 Days of Summer is pretty much guilty of perpetuating all of the above indie clichés, I really liked it. Despite the completely conservative ending, I really liked it. Despite my two-week long depressive episode following my viewing of this film, alone, in a theater in Times Square, in the middle of the day, alone, I really liked it. And, for whatever reason, despite my initial ambivalence after leaving the theater, this movie managed to linger with me. Why?

Well, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, for starters. The distilled plot: he falls in love with a woman who doesn’t believe in love, which leads to his inevitable heartbreak. I hated watching Joseph Gordon-Levitt get his heart stomped on by [insert quirky hipster female love interest] Zooey Deschanel! Joseph Gordon-Levitt starred in Mysterious Skin! And Brick! And Third Rock from the Sun!

We love him!

The truth is, though, while I enjoyed watching a romantic comedy that changed-up the genre by turning the leading man into a mushy, self-loathing disaster who attempts to accept the reality of unrequited love, I hated how much the film still turned the female lead into a sidekick. In traditional romantic comedies, problematic as they are, the films at the very least focus on the couple, and you get to know the characters individually (The Break-Up, Eternal Sunshine, etc) by watching their interactions and conflicts as a couple.

But in 500 Days of Summer, the plot unfolds exclusively through the perspective of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character, Tom. Zooey Deschanel’s character, Summer, (haha, get it?) exists merely as a vehicle to further the audience’s identification with Tom. We never learn much about her. She likes Ringo Starr. She likes The Smiths. She likes karaoke. She doesn’t believe in true love.

Thankfully, we also know that she identifies as an independent woman who refuses to be tied down. She might even identify as a feminist, though she never explicitly states that.

I loved one scene in particular where she gets angry with Tom because of some performative alpha-male attempt to “defend her honor” in a bar fight. He might be defending himself a little too; after all, the initial punch happens after the other man says to Summer, “I can’t believe this guy is your boyfriend.” Harsh. But I would’ve loved the scene even more if it hadn’t been undercut by Summer showing up at Tom’s apartment later, soaking wet from the rain, to apologize for getting angry with him.

In fact, the biggest issue I take with this film is how often it undercuts Summer’s independence. The conclusion, which I won’t give away here, completely disappoints in that regard. Not only is it an easy, throwaway ending, but it doesn’t do justice to Summer’s independent-woman persona, and instead (and again), exists only as a plot point that encourages the audience to sympathize with Tom.

We barely know Summer, but why does the little bit we do know about her have to get unnecessarily lost in the end?

There are also no other important women characters. Tom occasionally solicits advice from his younger sister, who’s like, twelve, and I found it appropriately cute and indie-funny. And he goes on a blind date once, where he spends the entire time complaining to his date about Summer. (To the film’s credit, the woman he’s on the date with defends the shit out of Summer, rather than veering off into traditional rom-com female competitive-jealous territory.) Other than those few women though, it’s all about Tom.

However, if this movie can claim anything, it can claim inclusion of some seriously awesome meta shit. Movies within movies within movies, oh my! We get clips and parodies of The Graduate, Persona, and some other French films I didn’t recognize. And one can’t ignore the hilarious bursting-into-song scene, complete with full group-dance sequence and cartoon birds. The film also uses a style of storytelling that moves back-and-forth within time, and that works too, keeping the viewer slightly off-kilter and in the same headspace as its hero.

With all this film fun, you ask, then what’s my problem?

I think it has much to do with what I wanted for Summer. For her to go on being her quirky, independent-hipster self, unabashed and unapologetic. For her to never come across as potentially manipulative or dishonest, because she isn’t either of those things. And for the writers and/or director to have taken as much care in creating a 3-dimensional female lead as they did in creating a fully fleshed-out male lead who picks himself up, dusts himself off, and goes out and accomplishes shit.

They’re calling it a romantic comedy, after all. Even in the traditional “girl meets boy” then “boy breaks girl’s heart” then “boy realizes he really loves girl” then “boy and girl live happily ever after” bullshit, and its pointless variations, the male and female characters get mostly equal screen time. In cases where that might not happen, the audience at least comes to understand each of the characters’ motivations at some point.

(I’m by no means defending the rom-com, but at least in most female-driven rom-coms, like Pretty Woman and He’s Just Not That Into You, I know that I’ll have the pleasure of watching both of the characters one-dimensionally participate in a recreation of 1950s gender roles, ha.)

But in 500 Days of Summer—the female love interest exists, but she exists in the background as a supporting character, her main purpose being to help flesh out the hero. In turn, she becomes nothing more than an extension of him, just a quirky after-thought, another one of his personality traits.

500 Days of Summer could’ve (and should’ve) found a way to avoid that.

Yet at the end of the day, despite its shortcomings, I couldn’t help but really like this “story about love.” It felt authentic, at least in its illustration of relationship conflicts, from the initial courtship phase to the inevitable dissolution. Deschanel maintains her complete adorability and Gordon-Levitt, well, we love him! Their on-screen chemistry, intermingled with all kinds of mopiness and feel-goodness and splashes of The Smiths and Regina Spektor … look, who cares about my criticisms? You should probably just go see this.

******************************************

Check out some insightful reviews here, here, here, and here.

Movie Posters: Bad Boys vs Bad Girls

The Spirit has all kinds of shit wrong with it. According to these movie posters, Samuel L. Jackson apparently plays a gun-wielding, trench coat wearing badass, who most definitely takes an active role, probably killing people who made the unfortunate mistake of trying to face his power. On the other hand Eva Mendes plays … um … a woman, who … um … has a long neck and um … pretty lips … and um … she has been a very, very bad girl.

For a while, I thought Sin City and The Spirit were the same movie. Same marketing. Same brooding male action hero with a gun, risking his life in the rain for god’s sake. Same beautiful and, don’t forget, merciless woman who will obviously take people down with her tongue and her manipulative vagina. In the rain.

Yes, I realize these posters aren’t from the same film. But I believe they’re relevant to each other, in that these actors both star in these movies, and receive top billing. Also, the posters feature them both holding some seriously gigantic guns, and something tragic with America is probably occurring … flags, Las Vegas, extinction, “public enemies,” evil, etc. Yet we get Depp in a full suit, complete with trench coat, black leather gloves, and a hat, while Jovovich barely made it off the stripper pole in time to grab a couple of guns and destroy some shit. And watch out, she might be coming to do bad things to you, boys, hehe! (But what the hell is Depp looking at?)

Star Trek, revised taglines:

Man: I’m going to murder the fuck out of you.

Woman: I’m going to fuck the shit out of you.

What’s with the men on these posters looking away (Depp, this guy, Law, Owen) while most of the women stare head-on? I’ll tell you: the male gaze, baby! These women are straight-up going to do you. Men have more important things on their minds, like taking action, looking for action, or looking right at you in that “I’m about to kill some bitches” kind of way (which, yes, is problematic in its own right). But in fairness, even though the G.I. Joe poster objectifies the woman by depicting her entire backside, the poster with the man isn’t much better. Check out his chest! I’ll admit it; this poster sorta makes me want to do him.

A List, An Archive, and Some Wishes

Today I’m posting some great links to things other people wrote. Enjoy!

Melissa at Women & Hollywood has created a “highlight reel” of some of her best posts. This is must-read material for anyone interested in movies and the role women play in (making) them. Help her celebrate her 1000th post by sending a donation.

Tracy at Unapologetically Female asks why we can’t flip some traditional gender norms of jealousy and heroics in the stories we tell.

The IFC has created a list of the 50 Best Movie Trailers. I’d spend all day watching them if I could. What’s your favorite?

2009 Emmy Nominations

Check out the Emmy-nominated women below. I haven’t included all categories, but you can check out the entire list of Emmy nominees here.

Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series

30 Rock • Reunion • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with
Universal Media Studios
Beth McCarthy, Director

Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special

Generation Kill • Bomb In The Garden • HBO • Company Pictures and Blown Deadline
Productions in association with HBO Films
Susanna White, Director

Little Dorrit • Part 1 • PBS • A co-production of BBC Productions and WGBH Boston
Dearbhla Walsh, Director

Outstanding Directing For Nonfiction Programming

Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired • HBO • Milwood Pictures, Graceful Pictures, BBC, Antidote Films in association with HBO Documentary Films and ThinkFilm
Marina Zenovich, Director

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

The New Adventures Of Old Christine • CBS • Kari’s Logo Here in association with
Warner Bros. Television
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine

Samantha Who? • ABC • ABC Studios
Christina Applegate as Samantha Newly

The Sarah Silverman Program • Comedy Central • Central Productions/Eleven Eleven
O’Clock Productions/Oil Factory Inc.
Sarah Silverman as Sarah Silverman

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal
Media Studios
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon

United States Of Tara • Showtime • Showtime presents in association with DreamWorks Television
Toni Collette as Tara Gregson

Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lionsgate Television and
Tilted Productions, Inc.
Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Brothers & Sisters • ABC • ABC Studios
Sally Field as Nora Walker

The Closer • TNT • The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros.
Television
Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson

Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Glenn Close as Patty Hewes

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC • Wolf Films in association with Universal
Media Studios
Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson

Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson

Saving Grace • TNT • Fox Television
Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie

Accidental Friendship • Hallmark Channel • A Muse Entertainment and Automatic
Pictures Production
Chandra Wilson as Yvonne

Coco Chanel • Lifetime • Lux Vide S.p.A, Pamp Productions and Alchemy Television
Group
Shirley MacLaine as Coco Chanel

Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Drew Barrymore as Little Edie

Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Jessica Lange as Big Edie

Prayers For Bobby • Lifetime • Once Upon The Times Films, LTD in association with
Permut Presentations and Sladek Taaffe Productions
Sigourney Weaver as Mary Griffith

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Pushing Daisies • ABC • Living Dead Guy Productions, The Jinks/Cohen Company in
association with Warner Bros. Television
Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook

Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Amy Poehler as Various Characters

Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Kristin Wiig as Various Characters

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal
Media Studios
Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater

Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lionsgate Television and
Tilted Productions, Inc.
Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Rose Byrne as Ellen Parsons

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Sandra Oh as Dr. Christina Yang

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey

In Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in association with HBO Entertainment
Dianne Wiest as Gina

In Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in
association with HBO Entertainment
Hope Davis as Mia

24 • FOX • Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox Television in association with
Teakwood Lane Productions
Cherry Jones as President Allison Taylor

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie

The Courageous Heart Of Irena Sendler (Hallmark Hall Of Fame Presentation) • CBS • Jeff Most/Jeff Rice Productions in association with Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions
Marcia Gay Harden as Janina

Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Jeanne Tripplehorn as Jackie O.

House Of Saddam • HBO • HBO Films in association with BBC
Shohreh Aghdashloo as Sajida

Into The Storm • HBO • Scott Free and Rainmark Films production in association with the BBC and HBO Films
Janet McTeer as Clementine Churchill

Relative Stranger • Hallmark Channel • A Larry Levinson Production
Cicely Tyson as Pearl

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory • The Maternal Capacitance • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television
Christine Baranski as Beverly Hofstadter

Monk • Mr. Monk And The Lady Next Door • USA • Universal Cable Productions in association with Mandeville Films and ABC Studios
Gena Rowlands as Marge

My Name Is Earl • Witch Lady • NBC • 20th Century Fox TV
Betty White as Crazy Witch Lady

Saturday Night Live • Presidential Bash 2008 • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Tina Fey as Governor Sarah Palin (Spoof)

30 Rock • The One With The Cast Of ‘Night Court’ • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Jennifer Aniston as Claire

30 Rock • Christmas Special • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Elaine Stritch as Colleen Donaghy

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series

Grey’s Anatomy • No Good At Saying Sorry (One More Chance) • ABC • ABC Studios
Sharon Lawrence as Robbie Stevens

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • Swing • NBC • Wolf Films in association with
Universal Media Studios
Ellen Burstyn as Bernadette Stabler

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • Persona • NBC • Wolf Films in association with
Universal Media Studios
Brenda Blethyn as Linnie Malcolm/Caroline Cantwell

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • Ballerina • NBC • Wolf Films in association with
Universal Media Studios
Carol Burnett as Bridget “Birdie” Sulloway

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency • The Boy With The African Heart • HBO • Mirage
Enterprises and Cinechicks in association with The Weinstein Company, BBC and HBO
Entertainment
CCH Pounder as Mrs. Curtin

Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program

Project Runway • Bravo • Magical Elves for The Weinstein Company, Full Picture, Bravo
Heidi Klum, Host

Top Chef • Bravo • Magical Elves, Bravo
Padma Lakshmi, Host
Tom Colicchio, Co-Host

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Special

Kathy Griffin: She’ll Cut A Bitch • Bravo • Rickmill Productions, Bravo

Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special

Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Michael Sucsy, Writer
Patricia Rozema, Writer

I plan on updating this with some fun statistics later.

New on DVD: Explicit Ills

Explicit Ills. Written and directed by Mark Webber. Starring Rosario Dawson, Paul Dano, Lou Taylor Pucci, Tariq Trotter, Naomie Harris, Frankie Shaw, and Francisco Burgos.

EXPLICIT ILLS is actor turned helmer, Mark Webber’s directorial debut. The film follows four inter-connecting stories revolving around love, drugs and poverty in Philadelphia. Babo, an asthma ridden seven-year-old lives with his mother in the badlands of North Philly. His neighbor Demetri transforms himself into a well-read “smart” boy in order to get the girl. Michelle, a well-off art student is quick to fall into a drug induced love-affair with her dealer Jacob. Kaleef and Jill’s marriage is strained as they pursue their dreams of bringing “produce to the people” as their teenage son Heslin focuses on competing in the World’s Strongest Man competition. The lyrical and moving drama finds its core as all members come together in their fight for justice and self-discovery.

As a directorial debut, I imagine some criticisms in uneven reviews of the film are probably correct, but this still looks interesting. Comparisons to Crash and Babel seem more convenient than accurate, and I hope it doesn’t make the mistake of confusing prejudice with more complex issues of race and class–an error Crash (aka the worst movie of 2005) egregiously committed.

Watch the trailer:

Ripley’s Pick: ‘Smiley Face’

Anna Faris in Smiley Face — Anna Faris in *Smiley Face*

Written by Amber Leab.

Contrary to popular belief, you need not be stoned to enjoy a stoner comedy. You just need to be a dude.

Or so I thought, when I came upon Smiley Face, starring Anna Faris as a stoner who happens to be female, starring in a movie that offers mindless entertainment but still manages to be smart.

Faris eating pot cupcakes — Jane eating pot cupcakes

The plot is typical stoner-flick, road-movie material: character has a destination/goal and encounters obstacles on the way there, which are funny and at times poignant. Jane F. (Faris), a twenty-something wannabe actress/pothead, has a busy day ahead of her: she needs to pay the electric bill to avoid the power being shut off, and go to an audition–all while not eating her roommate’s plateful of cupcakes in the fridge marked “These cupcakes are RESERVED for SCI-FI EXTRAVAGANZA-CON!!! Do NOT eat! That means YOU Jane.” In a fit of mid-morning munchies, she eats said cupcakes, and you can probably guess why Steve wrote such an enthusiastic note about them.

Why do I love this movie? Jane graduated summa cum laude with a degree in economics, yet she’s half-heartedly trying to be an actress, though her only experience seems to be a regional root beer commercial. In other words, she’s not lazy or stupid, just a slacker. We have so many twenty- and thirty-something male slackers in film, and we’re all supposed to just adore them. (Boys being boys! Slobs in need of feminine domestication!) Female slackers are a rarity. Women in movies are supposed to be highly functioning and successful. They fall in love with slackers (who then save them from their uptight, bitchy selves). Jane isn’t interested in love, or romance, or success. She’s interested in saving her thousand-dollar mattress from the dealer who threatens to take it if she doesn’t pay her debt.

There are major differences between this and other stoner movies I’ve seen. First, and most obvious, is that we’ve never had a female protagonist. Sure, there have been stoned girlfriends and minor lady players, but never have I seen the main character of a stoner comedy be a woman. Second, and just as important, Jane does not have buddies who get stoned with her. She’s all alone (after a brief debate with her dealer about the state of marijuana as a black market item in a “laissez-faire paradigm, or whatever”), stoned and entirely alienated from the world around her. Her interactions are all with people who are sober and generally hostile toward her, from a casting agent to a manager in a pork processing plant, to the guy (Krasinski) she uses for a ride to Venice, who happens to be madly in love with her. Her utter alienation allows viewers to solely identify with her, regardless of the viewer’s gender. That’s pretty cool.

Alienation might just be the theme of the whole movie. Jane might have lost her friends by failing to repay the money she borrowed from them, but she’s also a woman walking around in a male genre. It’s no coincidence that the book accompanying her on the journey through L.A. declared alienation a necessary requirement for the functioning of capitalism (I’ll leave it up to you to analyze that final, wonderful scene with the manuscript). Jane is alone and lost in a world that seems to be suspicious of her every (paranoid, high) move, but with a few strange helper characters, she might get where she’s going.

Or not.

Humpday: Just Another Bromance?

Maybe not.
Humpday. Written and directed by Lynn Shelton. Starring Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, and Alycia Delmore. Opens today (July 10, 2009).

It’s been a decade since Ben (Duplass) and Andrew (Leonard) were the bad boys of their college campus. Ben has settled down and found a job, wife, and home. Andrew took the alternate route as a vagabond artist, skipping the globe from Chiapas to Cambodia. When Andrew shows up unannounced on Ben’s doorstep, they easily fall back into their old dynamic of macho one-upmanship.

Late into the night at a wild party, the two find themselves locked in a mutual dare: to enter an amateur porn contest together. But what kind of boundary-breaking, envelope pushing porn can two straight dudes make? After the booze and “big talk” run out, only one idea remains—they will have sex together…on camera. It’s not gay; it’s beyond gay. It’s not porn; it’s art. But how exactly will it work? And more importantly, who will tell Anna (Delmore), Ben’s wife?

Here’s the Sundance trailer:

I think I might see this movie…

Are You Ready to Get Ridiculous?

div style=”text-align: justify;”>In response to my previous post about <a href="https://www.btchflcks.com/2009/07/pay-discrimination-in-hollywood-who.html">pay discrimination in Hollywood</a>, an anonymous commenter pointed out the following: <div>“Although I agree that women should be paid the same in all industries, your breakdown of the top grossing movies fails to recognise that apart from Sex and the City there were major male actors in each of the films, whereas the male movies listed featured the men as the main star of the film surrounded by a supporting cast.” </div> <div>That got me thinking. While it was impossible to account for every single factor that might’ve contributed to the actors’ salaries more than doubling the actresses’ salaries (actors/actresses who produced rather than starred in a film, actors/actresses who released more than one film in the previous year, actors/actresses receiving residuals from past work, worldwide box office gross versus US box office gross, etc), my main goal was to illustrate the fact that lead actresses didn’t seem to be fairly compensated for their films based on skill-level (measured by Oscar nominations and wins), US box office gross, and the overall critical reception of their work, when compared/contrasted with the male leads’ compensation. But, like I said, that anonymous commenter got me thinking. Is it possible that male leads are usually the main attraction in their films, surrounded by an anonymous supporting cast, while female leads tend to star in more ensemble-driven films, surrounded by a cast of prominent male actors? So I decided to use the list of films from my previous post on pay discrimination to attempt to get to the bottom of this. My ultimate goal: to discover if a trend exists where male leads star in their “own movies” whereas female leads tend to blend in with the rest of their cast (which often includes major male actors). Or, do we merely view male leads differently than female leads, seeing the female leads the way our society sees women in general: as helpers, partners, and assistants rather than leaders? ************************************************************************ <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVM18oJQqI/AAAAAAAAAJg/8nrrSfLrP-k/s1600-h/kungfupanda.jpeg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVM18oJQqI/AAAAAAAAAJg/8nrrSfLrP-k/s400/kungfupanda.jpeg" alt="" border="0"></a>Kung Fu Panda: Angelina Jolie’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $215,395,021 Cast: co-starring Jack Black, well-known ensemble cast, including Dustin Hoffman, Ian McShane, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, and Lucy Liu Analysis: Most of the posters only featured the Panda, and the previews did the same, mainly focusing on Jack Black in the title role. While Angelina Jolie is an Oscar-winner, as is Dustin Hoffman, and they are by no means minor players in the film industry, it’s safe to characterize Kung Fu Panda as a Jack Black movie, since it was essentially marketed as such. Verdict: Jack Black movie, supported by a prominent male and female cast. ************************************************************************ <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVNe9qIAaI/AAAAAAAAAJw/ePOyS1V_csI/s1600-h/marleyandme.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVNe9qIAaI/AAAAAAAAAJw/ePOyS1V_csI/s400/marleyandme.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a>Marley & Me: Jennifer Aniston’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $143,084,510 Cast: co-starring Owen Wilson as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Eric Dane, Kathleen Turner, and Alan Arkin Analysis: The promotional posters either featured the dog only, or they featured all three: Aniston, Wilson, and the dog. I’m not sure how to characterize this movie, as the dog seems to carry as much star-power as the actors. Given that Aniston and Wilson both have some box-office draw, I’ll call this what it is: a draw. (But I really just want to give it to Marley.) Verdict: Aniston/Wilson movie, supported by a prominent male and female cast. And a dog. ************************************************************************ <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVN4G6f1PI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/1lHX6P2KuvU/s1600-h/mammamia.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVN4G6f1PI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/1lHX6P2KuvU/s400/mammamia.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a>Mamma Mia!: Meryl Streep’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $143,704,210 Cast: well-known ensemble cast, including Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, and Amanda Seyfried Analysis: Meryl Streep is in this (and many film posters exclusively promoted Amanda Seyfried) Verdict: Meryl Streep movie (with special shout-out to Seyfried) supported by a prominent male cast. ************************************************************************ <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVOJWvOdeI/AAAAAAAAAKA/Euc_zLUwgeA/s1600-h/sexandthecity.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVOJWvOdeI/AAAAAAAAAKA/Euc_zLUwgeA/s400/sexandthecity.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a>Sex and the City: Sarah Jessica Parker’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $152,595,674 Cast: well-known ensemble cast, including Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth, Candace Bergen, and Jennifer Hudson Analysis: Even though this is an ensemble comedy, Sarah Jessica Parker narrates, and most of the promotional posters focused on her. The film also benefitted from its success as a TV show, where SJP’s job as a columnist took center stage. Verdict: Sarah Jessica Parker movie, supported by a prominent female cast. ************************************************************************ <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVObksRanI/AAAAAAAAAKI/uxtthFYEPc8/s1600-h/whathappensinvegas.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVObksRanI/AAAAAAAAAKI/uxtthFYEPc8/s400/whathappensinvegas.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a>What Happens in Vegas: Cameron Diaz’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $80,199,843 Cast: co-starring Ashton Kutcher as love interest, anonymous supporting cast, including Rob Corddry, Lake Bell, and Jason Sudeikis Analysis: Who cares? This movie sucked and Diaz/Kutcher could’ve been replaced by other actors and it probably wouldn’t have made a difference. They both got equal billing and promotion, and since it’s a rom-com of sorts, and rom-coms rely on, you know, a romantic relationship, it too is a draw. Verdict: Diaz/Kutcher movie, supported by an anonymous cast. ************************************************************************ (Sandra Bullock: did not star in any films in 2008) Analysis: From what I can gather, she produced several films/owns a production company, so that’s where her loot came from. ************************************************************************ <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVOyoVZMeI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/QeMjJa2Tzvo/s1600-h/fourchristmases.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVOyoVZMeI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/QeMjJa2Tzvo/s400/fourchristmases.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a>Four Christmases: Reese Witherspoon’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $120,136,047 Cast: co-starring Vince Vaughn as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, and Jon Favreau Analysis: Same deal—it’s a rom-com, so yeah. I’d like to argue that Reese Witherspoon’s Oscar win trumps Vince Vaughn’s whole schlubby-funny-guy thing, but the unfortunate reality is that the success of rom-coms doesn’t usually depend on the actual quality of the actors/acting. Verdict: Witherspoon/Vaughn movie, supported by a prominent, mostly male cast, with the exception of Spacek. ************************************************************************ <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVPsVVRNQI/AAAAAAAAAKY/NSWPaQ0W_cI/s1600-h/australia.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVPsVVRNQI/AAAAAAAAAKY/NSWPaQ0W_cI/s400/australia.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a>Australia: Nicole Kidman’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $49,420,849 Cast: co-starring Hugh Jackman, anonymous supporting cast, including Shea Adams, Eddie Baroo, Ray Barrett, and Tony Barry Analysis: Love, or something. I never bothered to see this gem, given the reviews, but if the movie poster is anything to go by, I’m pretty sure it’s about love and Australia. Nicole Kidman has won two Oscars and everyone loves her, so I’m tempted to call Kidman the main attraction. Except! Hugh Jackman is totally Wolverine! Verdict: Kidman/Jackman movie, supported by an anonymous cast. ************************************************************************ <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVQL-b74nI/AAAAAAAAAKg/7k40kxGiqf8/s1600-h/beverlyhillschihuahua.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVQL-b74nI/AAAAAAAAAKg/7k40kxGiqf8/s400/beverlyhillschihuahua.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a>Beverly Hills Chihuahua: Drew Barrymore’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $94,497,271 Cast: well-known supporting cast including Piper Perabo, Andy Garcia, George Lopez, Cheech Martin, Edward James Olmos, and Jamie Lee Curtis Analysis: Um. Verdict: Talking Chihuahua movie, with Barrymore’s voice supported by a prominent male cast (and Jamie Lee Curtis). ************************************************************************ <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVQpqSEGBI/AAAAAAAAAKo/CbYPOC4PxQ0/s1600-h/leatherheads.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVQpqSEGBI/AAAAAAAAAKo/CbYPOC4PxQ0/s400/leatherheads.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a>Leatherheads: Renee Zellweger’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $31,199,215 Cast: co-starring George Clooney and John Krasinski, anonymous supporting cast, including David de Vries, Rick Forrester, Malcolm Goodwin, and Matt Bushell Analysis: Zellweger barely got mentioned in the promotion of this film and seems to have been relegated to the infamous barely-there role-as-female-love-interest. Didn’t they show her in the previews literally cheering from the sidelines? Verdict: George Clooney movie, supported by an anonymous male cast. ************************************************************************ <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVRGyc89KI/AAAAAAAAAKw/HEZoLmQP-7Q/s1600-h/indianajones.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVRGyc89KI/AAAAAAAAAKw/HEZoLmQP-7Q/s400/indianajones.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a>Indiana Jones: Cate Blanchett’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $316,957,122 Cast: co-starring Harrison Ford and Shia LaBeouf, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, and John Hurt Analysis: I actually think this is a tough one. Blanchett = brilliant Oscar-winning actress, so it’s hard to exclusively call this for Ford. But in reality, would people have gone to see this if Cate Blanchett’s role-as-villain had been played by another actress? Yes. Verdict: Harrison Ford movie, supported by a prominent actress (Blanchett) and a mostly male cast. ************************************************************************ <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVRpqZkc8I/AAAAAAAAAK4/Aq95Dub3uVw/s1600-h/getsmart.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVRpqZkc8I/AAAAAAAAAK4/Aq95Dub3uVw/s400/getsmart.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a>Get Smart: Anne Hathaway’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $130,246,343 Cast: co-starring Steve Carell, well-known supporting cast, including Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, James Caan, and Bill Murray Analysis: I watched the first fifteen minutes of this before turning it off, and it appeared as if Carell and Hathaway had a whole equal partnership going on. But I have to admit, I was only talked into watching it because someone reminded me that Steve Carell is hilarious. When I realized it was the worst fifteen minutes of a film I’d ever seen, I lamented that Hathaway chose to be a part of it. Verdict: Carell/Hathaway movie, supported by a prominent male cast. ************************************************************************ (Halle Berry: did not star in any films for 2008) Analysis: I don’t know man, I don’t know. ************************************************************************ <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVSIrWiTUI/AAAAAAAAALA/ACSRYY1SxXc/s1600-h/otherboleyngirl.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVSIrWiTUI/AAAAAAAAALA/ACSRYY1SxXc/s400/otherboleyngirl.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a>The Other Boleyn Girl: Scarlett Johansson’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $26,814,957 Cast: co-starring Natalie Portman and Eric Bana, anonymous supporting cast, including Jim Sturgess, Mark Rylance, David Morrissey, and Kristen Scott Thomas Analysis: This film was all kinds of offensive. The marketing mainly focused on the casting of Portman/Johansson as vengeful sisters, (fighting over a man) so I’m only barely giving it to Johansson, since she’s the actual “Other Boleyn Girl” … and the supposed heroine. Verdict: Scarlett Johansson movie, supported by Bana, Portman, and an anonymous, mostly male cast. ************************************************************************ <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVSv4YRwQI/AAAAAAAAALI/Ixv4Cpjuaow/s1600-h/TheReader.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVSv4YRwQI/AAAAAAAAALI/Ixv4Cpjuaow/s400/TheReader.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a>The Reader: Kate Winslet’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $34,111,418 Cast: co-starring Ralph Fiennes, anonymous supporting cast, including Jeanette Hain, David Cross, Susanne Lothar, and Alissa Wilms Analysis: I had no idea who else was in this besides Kate Winslet. And she won an Oscar (finally) for this role. Verdict: 100% Kate Winslet movie, supported by Fiennes and an anonymous, male/female cast. ************************************************************************ Indiana Jones: Harrison Ford’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $316,957,122 Cast: co-starring Cate Blanchett and Shia LaBeouf, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, and John Hurt Analysis: We already went over this. Blanchett. Brilliant. Doesn’t matter. Verdict: Begrudgingly given to Ford. ************************************************************************ Bedtime Stories: Adam Sandler’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $109,993,847 Cast: co-starring Keri Russell and Guy Pearce, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Russell Brand, Richard Griffiths, Lucy Lawless, Courteney Cox, and Carmen Electra Analysis: Adam Sandler was the only person in this film they even attempted to promote, which is good news for all the other actors associated with this piece. Verdict: Adam Sandler can have it, with support from a prominent female/less prominent male cast. ************************************************************************ Hancock: Will Smith’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $227,946,274 Cast: co-starring Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman, anonymous supporting cast, including Jae Head, Eddie Marsan, and David Mattey Analysis: It’s a Will Smith action movie, what more can one say? Sure, Charlize Theron is an Oscar-winning actress who plays the role of “very important sidekick” next to a world famous action hero, but just check out the ridiculous movie poster if you need confirmation. Verdict: Will Smith movie, supported by Theron and random men I’ve never heard of. ************************************************************************ Meet Dave: Eddie Murphy’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $11,644,832 Cast: co-starring Elizabeth Banks, anonymous supporting cast, including Gabrielle Union, Scott Caan, Ed Helms, Kevin Hart, and Mike O’Malley Analysis: Has Eddie Murphy ever been in a movie that isn’t an Eddie Murphy movie? Again: movie poster. (Bonus points for anyone who can find me a film poster that features a female lead like this. Hint: one of the films on this big ass list does it.) Verdict: Eddie Murphy movie, supported by Banks and less well-known actors. ************************************************************************ Knowing: Nicolas Cage’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $79,911,877 Cast: anonymous supporting cast, including Chandler Canterbury, Rose Byrne, Lara Robinson, D.G. Maloney, and Nadia Townsend Analysis: I think the phrase “anonymous supporting cast” is enough of an analysis. Verdict: Nicolas Cage movie, supported by an anonymous male/female cast. ************************************************************************ (Tom Hanks: did not star in any films for 2008) Analysis: I’m pretty sure Tom Hanks makes money just by existing. ************************************************************************ Tropic Thunder: Tom Cruise’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $110,416,702 Cast: cameo/supporting role by Cruise, well-known ensemble cast, including Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, and Ben Stiller Analysis: No one really knew Tom Cruise was in this, and many people didn’t recognize him even as they watched. I kind of love that. Were there any women in this movie? Verdict: I’ll give it to any one of the other prominent male cast members who isn’t Tom Cruise. ************************************************************************ Horton Hears a Who!: Jim Carrey’s highest grossing film of 2008 Gross: $154,388,002 Cast: well-known ensemble/supporting cast, including Steve Carell, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Isla Fisher, Jonah Hill, and Amy Poehler Analysis: They promoted this as a Jim Carrey/Steve Carell comedy, but Jim Carrey is Jim Carrey and Steve Carell made Evan Almighty. It’s a kids film, though, so maybe none of that matters. Verdict: My 4-year-old niece doesn’t give a shit, so neither do I, supported by a prominent male/female cast. ************************************************************************ The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Brad Pitt’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $127,490,802 Cast: co-starring Cate Blanchett as love interest, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Julia Ormond and Taraji P. Henson Analysis: Cate Blanchett’s performance in this captured me much more than Brad Pitt’s performance, but I guess the Academy feels like they’ve already given her enough Oscars. Ultimately, the stand-outs were the women: Blanchett and Henson. But Brad Pitt has a bunch of kids with Angelina Jolie and he even dressed up in some kind of old man disguise for this film, so I really don’t know what to do here. I’m taking a cue from the movie poster. Verdict: Pitt/Blanchett movie, supported mainly by a female cast of mommies and love interests. ************************************************************************ (Johnny Depp: did not star in any films for 2008) Analysis: Remember when Johnny Depp wore that cut-off-at-the-waist football jersey in Nightmare on Elm Street? ************************************************************************ Burn After Reading: George Clooney’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $60,338,891 Cast: well-known ensemble cast, including Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, Richard Jenkins, Tilda Swinton, and John Malkovich Analysis: I just watched this five days ago and was totally surprised by the focus on McDormand and Swinton. All these people have either been nominated for Oscars or won Oscars, and it’s definitely an ensemble-driven film. So, sorry Clooney, this doesn’t exclusively go to you. Verdict: Everyone, equal weight given to a prominent male/female cast. ************************************************************************ Body of Lies: Russell Crowe’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $39,380,442 Cast: co-starring Leonardo DiCaprio, anonymous supporting cast, including Mark Strong, Golshifteh Farahani, and Ali Suliman Analysis: I actually couldn’t remember what the hell this movie was, so I looked it up and even then I still didn’t remember it ever existing. But apparently it made money. So who do I give it to, Crowe or DiCaprio? The suspense! Verdict: Who cares—didn’t this go straight to DVD? (Men supporting men.) ************************************************************************ Iron Man: Robert Downey Jr.’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $318,298,180 Cast: co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Paul Bettany, and Jon Favreau Analysis: Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow! Oh wait, that doesn’t mean anything? Just check out our review of this movie <a href="https://www.btchflcks.com/2009/03/movie-review-iron-man.html">here</a>. Verdict: Robert Downey Jr., supported by Paltrow and a prominent male cast. ************************************************************************ (Denzel Washington: did not star in any films for 2008) Analysis: I love you, Denzel. ************************************************************************ Four Christmases: Vince Vaughn’s highest grossing film for 2008 Gross: $120,136,047 Cast: co-starring Reese Witherspoon as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, and Jon Favreau Analysis: See above. Even though Vaughn could be a good actor if he wanted to, it doesn’t really matter in the simplistic world of rom-com. Verdict: Witherspoon/Vaughn movie, supported by men and Spacek. ************************************************************************ So, did I learn anything from this exercise? What the hell was I trying to do again? Oh yeah, depress the shit out of myself, and this: … discover if a trend exists where male leads star in their “own movies” whereas female leads tend to blend in with the rest of their cast (which often includes major male actors) … Well, the male leads who star as the “main attraction,” surrounded by a mostly anonymous supporting cast include George Clooney in Leatherheads (this one’s tricky since Zellweger and Krasinski co-star and probably don’t count as “anonymous” ha, but whatever), Adam Sandler in Bedtime Stories, Nicolas Cage in Knowing, and Eddie Murphy in Meet Dave. One could argue that films like Iron Man and Indiana Jones and Hancock and The Other Boleyn Girl—films that relegate prominent lead actresses to the status of sidekick and/or love interest (and for that matter, go on ahead and add The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to that list)—while the men go off and save the world and/or run the world and/or do shit in the world, and shit, might as well fall into the male-lead-as-main-attraction category. I think maybe I just convinced myself that they do. Fuck. Okay, so, the female leads who manage to star as the “main attraction,” surrounded by a mostly anonymous supporting cast include, um … Kate Winslet in The Reader?! That’s it? I guess Ralph Fiennes isn’t even anonymous, but neither are Zellweger and Krasinski, and I gave Clooney Leatherheads! Take that, film industry! I’m depressed. It appears, from this list at least, that female leads either co-star with a male lead in romantic comedies, or star in films that include a prominent supporting cast, (Mamma Mia!, Sex and the City). Clearly, we could use more Tomb Raiders and Changelings (go Angelina!) and whatever other movies our actresses have starred in as the “main attraction” who’s surrounded by a mostly anonymous supporting cast. Can we make a list, please? Because I’m pretty sure I was wrong when I suggested that the audience might only be viewing female leads as helpers, partners, and assistants; the film industry actually fucking treats them that way. </div>

In response to my previous post about pay discrimination in Hollywood, an anonymous commenter pointed out the following:

“Although I agree that women should be paid the same in all industries, your breakdown of the top grossing movies fails to recognise that apart from Sex and the City there were major male actors in each of the films, whereas the male movies listed featured the men as the main star of the film surrounded by a supporting cast.”

That got me thinking. While it was impossible to account for every single factor that might’ve contributed to the actors’ salaries more than doubling the actresses’ salaries (actors/actresses who produced rather than starred in a film, actors/actresses who released more than one film in the previous year, actors/actresses receiving residuals from past work, worldwide box office gross versus US box office gross, etc), my main goal was to illustrate the fact that lead actresses didn’t seem to be fairly compensated for their films based on skill-level (measured by Oscar nominations and wins), US box office gross, and the overall critical reception of their work, when compared/contrasted with the male leads’ compensation.

But, like I said, that anonymous commenter got me thinking. Is it possible that male leads are usually the main attraction in their films, surrounded by an anonymous supporting cast, while female leads tend to star in more ensemble-driven films, surrounded by a cast of prominent male actors?

So I decided to use the list of films from my previous post on pay discrimination to attempt to get to the bottom of this. My ultimate goal: to discover if a trend exists where male leads star in their “own movies” whereas female leads tend to blend in with the rest of their cast (which often includes major male actors). Or, do we merely view male leads differently than female leads, seeing the female leads the way our society sees women in general: as helpers, partners, and assistants rather than leaders?

********************************************************************

Kung Fu Panda: Angelina Jolie’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $215,395,021
Cast: co-starring Jack Black, well-known ensemble cast, including Dustin Hoffman, Ian McShane, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, and Lucy Liu

Analysis: Most of the posters only featured the Panda, and the previews did the same, mainly focusing on Jack Black in the title role. While Angelina Jolie is an Oscar-winner, as is Dustin Hoffman, and they are by no means minor players in the film industry, it’s safe to characterize Kung Fu Panda as a Jack Black movie, since it was essentially marketed as such.

Verdict: Jack Black movie, supported by a prominent male and female cast.

********************************************************************
Marley & Me: Jennifer Aniston’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $143,084,510
Cast: co-starring Owen Wilson as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Eric Dane, Kathleen Turner, and Alan Arkin

Analysis: The promotional posters either featured the dog only, or they featured all three: Aniston, Wilson, and the dog. I’m not sure how to characterize this movie, as the dog seems to carry as much star-power as the actors. Given that Aniston and Wilson both have some box-office draw, I’ll call this what it is: a draw. (But I really just want to give it to Marley.)

Verdict: Aniston/Wilson movie, supported by a prominent male and female cast. And a dog.

********************************************************************
Mamma Mia!: Meryl Streep’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $143,704,210
Cast: well-known ensemble cast, including Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, and Amanda Seyfried

Analysis: Meryl Streep is in this (and many film posters exclusively promoted Amanda Seyfried).

Verdict: Meryl Streep movie (with special shout-out to Seyfried) supported by a prominent male cast.

********************************************************************
Sex and the City: Sarah Jessica Parker’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $152,595,674
Cast: well-known ensemble cast, including Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth, Candace Bergen, and Jennifer Hudson

Analysis: Even though this is an ensemble comedy, Sarah Jessica Parker narrates, and most of the promotional posters focused on her. The film also benefitted from its success as a TV show, where SJP’s job as a columnist took center stage.

Verdict: Sarah Jessica Parker movie, supported by a prominent female cast.

********************************************************************
What Happens in Vegas: Cameron Diaz’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $80,199,843
Cast: co-starring Ashton Kutcher as love interest, anonymous supporting cast, including Rob Corddry, Lake Bell, and Jason Sudeikis

Analysis: Who cares? This movie sucked and Diaz/Kutcher could’ve been replaced by other actors and it probably wouldn’t have made a difference. They both got equal billing and promotion, and since it’s a rom-com of sorts, and rom-coms rely on, you know, a romantic relationship, it too is a draw.

Verdict: Diaz/Kutcher movie, supported by an anonymous cast.

********************************************************************

(Sandra Bullock: did not star in any films in 2008)

Analysis: From what I can gather, she produced several films/owns a production company, so that’s where her loot came from.

********************************************************************
Four Christmases: Reese Witherspoon’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $120,136,047
Cast: co-starring Vince Vaughn as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, and Jon Favreau

Analysis: Same deal—it’s a rom-com, so yeah. I’d like to argue that Reese Witherspoon’s Oscar win trumps Vince Vaughn’s whole schlubby-funny-guy thing, but the unfortunate reality is that the success of rom-coms doesn’t usually depend on the actual quality of the actors/acting.

Verdict: Witherspoon/Vaughn movie, supported by a prominent, mostly male cast, with the exception of Spacek.

********************************************************************
Australia: Nicole Kidman’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $49,420,849
Cast: co-starring Hugh Jackman, anonymous supporting cast, including Shea Adams, Eddie Baroo, Ray Barrett, and Tony Barry

Analysis: Love, or something. I never bothered to see this gem, given the reviews, but if the movie poster is anything to go by, I’m pretty sure it’s about love and Australia. Nicole Kidman has won two Oscars and everyone loves her, so I’m tempted to call Kidman the main attraction. Except! Hugh Jackman is totally Wolverine!

Verdict: Kidman/Jackman movie, supported by an anonymous cast.

********************************************************************
Beverly Hills Chihuahua: Drew Barrymore’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $94,497,271
Cast: well-known supporting cast including Piper Perabo, Andy Garcia, George Lopez, Cheech Martin, Edward James Olmos, and Jamie Lee Curtis

Analysis: Um.

Verdict: Talking Chihuahua movie, with Barrymore’s voice supported by a prominent male cast (and Jamie Lee Curtis).

********************************************************************
Leatherheads: Renee Zellweger’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $31,199,215
Cast: co-starring George Clooney and John Krasinski, anonymous supporting cast, including David de Vries, Rick Forrester, Malcolm Goodwin, and Matt Bushell

Analysis: Zellweger barely got mentioned in the promotion of this film and seems to have been relegated to the infamous barely-there role-as-female-love-interest. Didn’t they show her in the previews literally cheering from the sidelines?

Verdict: George Clooney movie, supported by an anonymous male cast.

********************************************************************
Indiana Jones: Cate Blanchett’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $316,957,122
Cast: co-starring Harrison Ford and Shia LaBeouf, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, and John Hurt

Analysis: I actually think this is a tough one. Blanchett = brilliant Oscar-winning actress, so it’s hard to exclusively call this for Ford. But in reality, would people have gone to see this if Cate Blanchett’s role-as-villain had been played by another actress? Yes.

Verdict: Harrison Ford movie, supported by a prominent actress (Blanchett) and a mostly male cast.

********************************************************************
Get Smart: Anne Hathaway’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $130,246,343
Cast: co-starring Steve Carell, well-known supporting cast, including Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, James Caan, and Bill Murray

Analysis: I watched the first fifteen minutes of this before turning it off, and it appeared as if Carell and Hathaway had a whole equal partnership going on. But I have to admit, I was only talked into watching it because someone reminded me that Steve Carell is hilarious. When I realized it was the worst fifteen minutes of a film I’d ever seen, I lamented that Hathaway chose to be a part of it.

Verdict: Carell/Hathaway movie, supported by a prominent male cast.

********************************************************************

(Halle Berry: did not star in any films for 2008)

Analysis: I don’t know man, I don’t know.

********************************************************************
The Other Boleyn Girl: Scarlett Johansson’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $26,814,957
Cast: co-starring Natalie Portman and Eric Bana, anonymous supporting cast, including Jim Sturgess, Mark Rylance, David Morrissey, and Kristen Scott Thomas

Analysis: This film was all kinds of offensive. The marketing mainly focused on the casting of Portman/Johansson as vengeful sisters, (fighting over a man) so I’m only barely giving it to Johansson, since she’s the actual “Other Boleyn Girl” … and the supposed heroine.

Verdict: Scarlett Johansson movie, supported by Bana, Portman, and an anonymous, mostly male cast.

********************************************************************
The Reader: Kate Winslet’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $34,111,418
Cast: co-starring Ralph Fiennes, anonymous supporting cast, including Jeanette Hain, David Cross, Susanne Lothar, and Alissa Wilms

Analysis: I had no idea who else was in this besides Kate Winslet. And she won an Oscar (finally) for this role.

Verdict: 100% Kate Winslet movie, supported by Fiennes and an anonymous, male/female cast.

********************************************************************
Indiana Jones: Harrison Ford’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $316,957,122
Cast: co-starring Cate Blanchett and Shia LaBeouf, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, and John Hurt

Analysis: We already went over this. Blanchett. Brilliant. Doesn’t matter.

Verdict: Begrudgingly given to Ford.

********************************************************************
Bedtime Stories: Adam Sandler’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $109,993,847
Cast: co-starring Keri Russell and Guy Pearce, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Russell Brand, Richard Griffiths, Lucy Lawless, Courteney Cox, and Carmen Electra

Analysis: Adam Sandler was the only person in this film they even attempted to promote, which is good news for all the other actors associated with this piece.

Verdict: Adam Sandler can have it, with support from a prominent female/less prominent male cast.

********************************************************************
Hancock: Will Smith’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $227,946,274
Cast: co-starring Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman, anonymous supporting cast, including Jae Head, Eddie Marsan, and David Mattey

Analysis: It’s a Will Smith action movie, what more can one say? Sure, Charlize Theron is an Oscar-winning actress who plays the role of “very important sidekick” next to a world famous action hero, but just check out the ridiculous movie poster if you need confirmation.

Verdict: Will Smith movie, supported by Theron and random men I’ve never heard of.

********************************************************************
Meet Dave: Eddie Murphy’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $11,644,832
Cast: co-starring Elizabeth Banks, anonymous supporting cast, including Gabrielle Union, Scott Caan, Ed Helms, Kevin Hart, and Mike O’Malley

Analysis: Has Eddie Murphy ever been in a movie that isn’t an Eddie Murphy movie? Again: movie poster. (Bonus points for anyone who can find me a film poster that features a female lead like this. Hint: one of the films on this big ass list does it.)

Verdict: Eddie Murphy movie, supported by Banks and less well-known actors.

********************************************************************
Knowing: Nicolas Cage’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $79,911,877
Cast: anonymous supporting cast, including Chandler Canterbury, Rose Byrne, Lara Robinson, D.G. Maloney, and Nadia Townsend

Analysis: I think the phrase “anonymous supporting cast” is enough of an analysis.

Verdict: Nicolas Cage movie, supported by an anonymous male/female cast.

********************************************************************

(Tom Hanks: did not star in any films for 2008)

Analysis: I’m pretty sure Tom Hanks makes money just by existing.

********************************************************************
Tropic Thunder: Tom Cruise’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $110,416,702
Cast: cameo/supporting role by Cruise, well-known ensemble cast, including Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, and Ben Stiller

Analysis: No one really knew Tom Cruise was in this, and many people didn’t recognize him even as they watched. I kind of love that. Were there any women in this movie?

Verdict: I’ll give it to any one of the other prominent male cast members who isn’t Tom Cruise.

********************************************************************
Horton Hears a Who!: Jim Carrey’s highest grossing film of 2008
Gross: $154,388,002
Cast: well-known ensemble/supporting cast, including Steve Carell, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Isla Fisher, Jonah Hill, and Amy Poehler

Analysis: They promoted this as a Jim Carrey/Steve Carell comedy, but Jim Carrey is Jim Carrey and Steve Carell made Evan Almighty. It’s a kids film, though, so maybe none of that matters.

Verdict: My 4-year-old niece doesn’t give a shit, so neither do I, supported by a prominent male/female cast.

********************************************************************
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Brad Pitt’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $127,490,802
Cast: co-starring Cate Blanchett as love interest, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Julia Ormond and Taraji P. Henson

Analysis: Cate Blanchett’s performance in this captured me much more than Brad Pitt’s performance, but I guess the Academy feels like they’ve already given her enough Oscars. Ultimately, the stand-outs were the women: Blanchett and Henson. But Brad Pitt has a bunch of kids with Angelina Jolie and he even dressed up in some kind of old man disguise for this film, so I really don’t know what to do here. I’m taking a cue from the movie poster.

Verdict: Pitt/Blanchett movie, supported mainly by a female cast of mommies and love interests.

********************************************************************

(Johnny Depp: did not star in any films for 2008)

Analysis: Remember when Johnny Depp wore that cut-off-at-the-waist football jersey in Nightmare on Elm Street?

********************************************************************
Burn After Reading: George Clooney’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $60,338,891
Cast: well-known ensemble cast, including Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, Richard Jenkins, Tilda Swinton, and John Malkovich

Analysis: I just watched this five days ago and was totally surprised by the focus on McDormand and Swinton. All these people have either been nominated for Oscars or won Oscars, and it’s definitely an ensemble-driven film. So, sorry Clooney, this doesn’t exclusively go to you.

Verdict: Everyone, equal weight given to a prominent male/female cast.

********************************************************************
Body of Lies: Russell Crowe’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $39,380,442
Cast: co-starring Leonardo DiCaprio, anonymous supporting cast, including Mark Strong, Golshifteh Farahani, and Ali Suliman

Analysis: I actually couldn’t remember what the hell this movie was, so I looked it up and even then I still didn’t remember it ever existing. But apparently it made money. So who do I give it to, Crowe or DiCaprio? The suspense!

Verdict: Who cares—didn’t this go straight to DVD? (Men supporting men.)

********************************************************************
Iron Man: Robert Downey Jr.’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $318,298,180
Cast: co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Paul Bettany, and Jon Favreau

Analysis: Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow! Oh wait, that doesn’t mean anything? Just check out our review of this movie here.

Verdict: Robert Downey Jr., supported by Paltrow and a prominent male cast.

********************************************************************

(Denzel Washington: did not star in any films for 2008)

Analysis: I love you, Denzel.

********************************************************************
Four Christmases: Vince Vaughn’s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $120,136,047
Cast: co-starring Reese Witherspoon as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, and Jon Favreau

Analysis: See above. Even though Vaughn could be a good actor if he wanted to, it doesn’t really matter in the simplistic world of rom-com.

Verdict: Witherspoon/Vaughn movie, supported by men and Spacek.

********************************************************************

So, did I learn anything from this exercise? What the hell was I trying to do again? Oh yeah, depress the shit out of myself, and this:

… discover if a trend exists where male leads star in their “own movies” whereas female leads tend to blend in with the rest of their cast (which often includes major male actors) …

Well, the male leads who star as the “main attraction,” surrounded by a mostly anonymous supporting cast include George Clooney in Leatherheads (this one’s tricky since Zellweger and Krasinski co-star and probably don’t count as “anonymous” ha, but whatever), Adam Sandler in Bedtime Stories, Nicolas Cage in Knowing, and Eddie Murphy in Meet Dave.

One could argue that films like Iron Man and Indiana Jones and Hancock and The Other Boleyn Girl—films that relegate prominent lead actresses to the status of sidekick and/or love interest (and for that matter, go on ahead and add The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to that list)—while the men go off and save the world and/or run the world and/or do shit in the world, and shit, might as well fall into the male-lead-as-main-attraction category.

I think maybe I just convinced myself that they do. Fuck.

Okay, so, the female leads who manage to star as the “main attraction,” surrounded by a mostly anonymous supporting cast include, um … Kate Winslet in The Reader?! That’s it? I guess Ralph Fiennes isn’t even anonymous, but neither are Zellweger and Krasinski, and I gave Clooney Leatherheads! Take that, film industry!

I’m depressed.

It appears, from this list at least, that female leads either co-star with a male lead in romantic comedies, or star in films that include a prominent supporting cast, (Mamma Mia!, Sex and the City). Clearly, we could use more Tomb Raiders and Changelings (go Angelina!) and whatever other movies our actresses have starred in as the “main attraction” who’s surrounded by a mostly anonymous supporting cast.

Can we make a list, please? Because I’m pretty sure I was wrong when I suggested that the audience might only be viewing female leads as helpers, partners, and assistants; the film industry actually fucking treats them that way.

********************************************************************

Bonus Movie Poster

Movie Preview: Sorority Row

Sorority Row. Starring Briana Evigan, Leah Pipes, Rumer Willis, Jamie Chung, Margo Harshman, and Julian Morris. Written by Josh Stolberg, Pete Goldfinger, and Mark Rosman. Directed by Steward Hendler.

imdb synopsis: College juniors Cassidy, Jessica, Claire, Ellie, and Megan are sorority sisters sworn to trust, secrecy and solidarity, no matter what. But their loyalty is tested when a prank at a raucous house party goes terribly wrong and Megan ends up brutally murdered. Rather than confess to the crime and risk destroying their bright futures, the girls agree to hide the bloody corpse and keep their secret forever.

And then they all get stalked by some mysterious killer in a hood (Scream) who knows their secret and sends them videos and pictures of their secret (I Know What You Did Last Summer and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer and … is there another one)?

What the hell? I realize this is a remake of the 1983 film The House on Sorority Row, but does every misogynistic horror film from 1983 really need a remake? Here’s what I’m betting on: gratuitous nudity, possibly in hot tubs, girl-on-girl hate, or, you know, murder. I’ll just stop there.

Look, let me be the first to admit that I don’t exactly have a high opinion of most sororities in general, especially given many of their well-known hazing techniques (body-shaming one another by circling “problem areas” in marker, etc). But this film will most certainly take on a they-all-deserve-to-die theme, with the audience identifying exclusively with the killer, as the killer picks off the girls in one hilarious bloodbath after another.

While a film like Mean Girls tries to take a decidedly feminist slant in the end, at least in the way it addresses the issue of female competition for men, female slut-shaming, and the subsequent abandonment of sisterhood (I have some problems with this film, but that’s for another post), a film like Sorority Row promises to use the idea of sisterhood as some kind of commentary on … what? Female incompetence?

Face it, when women get together man, I mean, watch the fuck out! You might, like, die!

Of course, we can’t ignore Carol J. Clover’s “Final Girl” theory. She argues in her book Men, Women and Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film, that slasher films are obsessed with feminism in that they force male viewers to identify with the Final Girl, the one lone girl who doesn’t die, who gets her shit together, who kills the killer.

And all the men in the audience cheer!

I get that. And I like her theory. But I don’t have high hopes for this particular film to live up to her theory. As I said above, when these girls do a stupid, shitty thing, and one of their sorority sisters dies as a result, I suspect that a major element of you-deserve-what-you-get-haha-bitches will overtake any potential empowering “Final Girl” resolution. I hope I’m wrong.

36th Student Academy Award Winners for 2009

We’re a few weeks late with this but thought it was important to mention.

The 36th Annual Student Academy Awards Ceremony was held on June 13, with Gary Oldman, John Landis, Andreas Deja, and Robert Rehme presenting the awards. Since 1972, the Academy has honored students’ achievements in filmmaking, with past notable award recipients including Spike Lee, Trey Parker, Bob Saget, and Oscar winners John Lasseter and Robert Zemeckis.

From the Web site:

“The Student Academy Awards is a national competition conducted by the Academy and the Academy Foundation. Each year over 500 college and university film students from all over the United States compete for awards and cash grants, with films being judged in four categories: Animation, Documentary, Narrative and Alternative. An outstanding student filmmaker from outside the U.S. is honored each year as well. The presentation ceremony is a popular event that is annually attended by a capacity audience in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.”

This year, out of the thirteen total awards given, five of the winners were women.

Alternative Film

Robyn Yannoukos, University of California, Los Angeles
Gold Medal Winner: “Alice’s Attic”

Documentary Film

Liz Chae, Columbia University
Gold Medal Winner: “The Last Mermaids”

Cassandra Lizaire and Kelly Asmuth, Columbia University
Silver Medal Winners: “The Wait”

Lauren DeAngelis, American University, Washington, D.C.
Bronze Medal Winner: “A Place to Land”

Congratulations, ladies!

You can watch their acceptance speeches and clips from their films here.