The radical notion that women like good movies
CJ Cregg (Allison Janney) in The West Wing Guest post written by Pauline Holdsworth. CJ: They beat women, Nancy. They hate women. The only reason they keep Qumari women alive is to make more Qumari men. Nancy: What do you want me to do? CJ: How about suggesting that we sell the guns at … Continue reading “Women in Politics Week: "The Women of Qumar": Feminism and Imperialism in ‘The West Wing’”
Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) in Election Guest post written by Carleen Tibbets. Warning: Spoilers ahead. Election, the 1999 film directed by Alexander Payne and based on the novel by Tom Perotta, chronicles type A personality Tracy Flick’s (Reese Witherspoon) quest to become student body president and the unraveling of her social sciences teacher, Mr. McAllister … Continue reading “Women in Politics Week: A Lady Lonely at the Top: High School Politics Take an Ugly Turn in ‘Election’”
To say that Aung San Suu Kyi, political prisoner and General Secretary for the Burmese National League of Democracy is one of the world’s most powerful and inspirational women would not be a stretch. Leaving the safety of England and the care of her family she endured 15 years of house arrest in her non-violent … Continue reading “A Review and An Interview: ‘Aung San Suu Kyi: Lady of No Fear’”
M (Judi Dench) in Skyfall Warning: Spoilers ahead! For fifty years, James Bond movies have varied wildly in quality, but not quantities. There’s always been plenty of punching, driving, drinking, smooth-talking, and seducing. This year’s release, Skyfall, features the fetching Bérénice Lim Marlohe and a blond-mopped Javier Bardem. But director Sam Mendes has done something … Continue reading “Guest Post: ‘Skyfall’: It’s M’s World, Bond Just Lives in It”
This review by Marcia Herring previously appeared at Another Coast and is cross-posted with permission. The new face of horror … is privileged white dudebros. I just watched and reviewed the found-footage horror genre film V/H/S after reading some promising reviews. Despite the early read in the opposite direction, V/H/S is not anything close … Continue reading “Horror Week 2012: ‘V/H/S’: The New Face of Horror”
Jennifer’s Body (2009) This is a guest post from Erin Blackwell. Jennifer’s Body, the 2009 horror chick-flick that was a coming-of-age for sex goddess Megan Fox after hyper-lucrative, career-building toil under the aegis of Michael Bay’s teenage-boy-centric Transformers franchise, now enjoys a cult following outside the Transformers demographic. And yet, on release, Jennifer’s Body was … Continue reading “Horror Week 2012: Portrait of the Artist as the Demon’s Best Friend Forever”
Rock of Ages Warms Your 80s-Loving Little Heart With a Cheesy Two-Hour Music Video by Candice Frederick Even though its finest moments all boil down to well-intentioned, high energy karaoke numbers, and its script (co-written by Justin Theroux) left more cheese in the recipe than what was called for, Rock of Ages is still great … Continue reading “Women and Gender in Musicals Week: The Roundup”
This review by Megan Kearns previously appeared at Bitch Flicks as part of our series on Animated Children’s Films. An intelligent, strong-willed, female protagonist. Who reads books. And seeks adventure. With a heroine like Belle, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, must be a feminist-minded film. Right?? At first, I thought so too. But appearances can … Continue reading “Women and Gender in Musicals Week: Despite an Intelligent Heroine, Sexism Taints Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’”
This review by Ana Mardoll previously appeared at Bitch Flicks on May 9, 2012. Disney. The word is so synonymous in my mind with “animated feature films” that it’s like using “Kleenex” for “tissue.” When children come to my house, as they sometimes do, they’re invariably drawn to my huge selection of “Disney movies,” … Continue reading “Women and Gender in Musicals Week: The Little Mermaid”
The rosterof newtelevision shows premiering each year in the fall ought to be an exciting time for any TV fan. Unfortunately, I am a jaded, cynical curmudgeon, burned by my previous experiences in the field of new fall shows, and I read the previews with dread roiling in the pit of my stomach. In our … Continue reading “Max’s Field Guide to Returning Fall TV Shows”
I am too old for the Disney Channel. The bright candy colors, the rapid-fire pacing, the saccharine music and headache-y flash-cuts and forced zaniness – it all adds up to one massively hyperstimulating, sugar-coated migraine. Half an hour of all that on a Saturday morning and I am ready to bounce off the ceiling before … Continue reading “‘Gravity Falls’: Manliness, Silliness, and a Whole Lot of Awesome”
Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon), cavalry guy with a rock (not pictured: rock) Buffy the Vampire Slayer has a great cast of characters that includes many flawed, admirable, psychologically complex (white) women. Two of them (Buffy and Cordelia) are some of my most beloved television characters ever. Another (Willow) fascinates me and infuriates me in equal … Continue reading “Buffy the Vampire Slayer Week: Xander Harris Has Masculinity Issues”
