Search Results for: Toni Collette

‘The Boxtrolls’: Better Than Its “Man in a Dress” Jokes

In a nice contrast to many children’s films and books, the character at the start who goes against the mob is a girl, Lord Portley-Rind’s daughter, Winnie (voiced by Elle Fanning in a mid-Atlantic accent passing as British). Although Winnie, in her pink ruffled dress and blonde ringlets might look like other storybook heroines, her fits over never being believed or taken seriously by adults and her morbid fascination with the boxtrolls make her more like Daria than Alice in Wonderland. When she asks another character if boxtrolls ate his parents, she adds, “Did they let you, I mean, make you, watch?”

When Can You Laugh at Suicide?: ‘A Long Way Down’

Suicide is no laughing matter, but we try. If it’s not a heavy drama or inspirational story telling you to stop and watch the sunset, stop and smell the roses, and the like, making a film about suicide requires a light touch and buckets of understanding and sensitivity. As a comedy plot, it only seems to work when sensitivity is disposed of completely. Suicide has been a successful plot for dark comedies, most notably ‘Heathers’ and ‘Harold and Maude’, which are full of irony, satire, insight and meditation. But ‘A Long Way Down’, a British film based on the bestselling novel by Nick Hornby, is not a dark comedy

Bourgie White People Problems and Fat Shaming in ‘Enough Said’

To put it bluntly, I hated ‘Enough Said.’ The theme was trite, the characters were insufferable with their selfish pretensions, and there was a whole lot of fat shaming going on. Frankly, I’m surprised that Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been getting such high praise for starring in this turd, and I’m disappointed that I can’t be more supportive of a film written and directed by a woman: Nicole Holofcener.

Wedding Week: You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You: ‘Muriel’s Wedding’ and the Promise of Bridal Transformation

This is a guest post by Jessica Freeman-Slade.  As much as they contain all the elements of great cinema—gorgeous photography, lighting, costumes—weddings are hard to capture on film because their machinations and motivations are so terribly complicated. Even a film like Father of the Bride can’t distance itself from the fact that weddings are logistical … Continue reading “Wedding Week: You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You: ‘Muriel’s Wedding’ and the Promise of Bridal Transformation”

Travel Films Week: Protecting Olive in ‘Little Miss Sunshine’

Movie poster for Little Miss Sunshine This is a guest review by Melissa Richard. Look around… this place is fucked! I don’t want these people judging Olive—fuck them! You’re the mom—you’re supposed to protect her! Everyone is gonna laugh at her, Mom… please don’t let her do this. Look, she’s not a beauty queen. She’s … Continue reading “Travel Films Week: Protecting Olive in ‘Little Miss Sunshine’”

Foreign Film Week: Realistic Depictions of Women and Female Friendship in ‘Muriel’s Wedding’

Guest post written by Libby White. The first time I saw Muriel’s Wedding, I went in expecting a Cinderella-esque romantic comedy about an awkward girl who transforms her life into one filled with success and romance. I was definitely ready to indulge in your standard ‘feel-good chick-flick.’ Two hours later, as I sat surrounded by … Continue reading “Foreign Film Week: Realistic Depictions of Women and Female Friendship in ‘Muriel’s Wedding’”

Guest Writer Wednesday: Big Screen BFF’s — Cinema’s Greatest Female Friendships

Susan Sarandon (Louise) and Geena Davis (Thelma) in Thelma and Louise  Guest post written by Sophie Standing.  Stock up on tissues and chocolate ice-cream, call your best bud, and reserve a day just for the two of you. For the ultimate feel-good friendship vibes, rent the following from your local store and have a BFF … Continue reading “Guest Writer Wednesday: Big Screen BFF’s — Cinema’s Greatest Female Friendships”

Cracked.com Makes Obnoxious Assumptions While Critiquing Hollywood’s Obnoxious Assumptions

Last week, I somehow ended up on Cracked.com reading a post called, “6 Obnoxious Assumptions Hollywood Makes About Women.” It’s no surprise that I ended up there, given that I write for Bitch Flicks and have a vested interest in Hollywood’s Obnoxious Assumptions, of which there are many. But. Cracked.com seriously failed with a couple … Continue reading “Cracked.com Makes Obnoxious Assumptions While Critiquing Hollywood’s Obnoxious Assumptions”

Oscar Acceptance Speeches, 2000

Leading up to the 2011 Oscars, we’ll showcase the past twenty years of Oscar Acceptance Speeches by Best Actress winners and Best Supporting Actress winners. (Note: In most cases, you’ll have to click through to YouTube in order to watch the speeches, as embedding has been disabled at the request of copyright owners.) Best Actress … Continue reading “Oscar Acceptance Speeches, 2000”

Guest Post: Tara is Better Not United

  This guest post also appears at Professor, What If… and the Ms. Magazine blog. As I began watching the second-season premiere of the Showtime series The United States of Tara, I eagerly ask what I always do before an episode starts: “Which ‘alter’ will it be this time?” Alas, to my dismay, the show’s … Continue reading “Guest Post: Tara is Better Not United”

Emmys: After-Thoughts

Congratulations to this year’s Emmy Winners! Dearbhla Walsh, Director Maria Jacquemetton, Supervising ProducerLisa Albert, Supervising Producer Toni Collette, as Tara Gregson Glenn Close, as Patty Hewes Jessica Lange, as Big Edie Lucy Barzun Donnelly, Executive ProducerRachael Horovitz, Executive Producer Anne Pivcevic, Executive ProducerRebecca Eaton, Executive ProducerLisa Osborne, Producer Elise Doganieri, Co-Executive ProducerAmy Nabseth Chacon, Co-Executive … Continue reading “Emmys: After-Thoughts”

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 withUniversal Media StudiosBeth McCarthy, Director Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or … Continue reading “2009 Emmy Nominations”