The radical notion that women like good movies
Here are the pieces for our series on Motherhood in Film and Television–all in one place! Thanks so much to all the writers who contributed reviews. ———- Nine Months Forward, Three Centuries Back by Tyler Adams: Nine Months, contrary to all expectations, is not about pregnancy. It’s about a man coping with a pregnancy. Yes. … Continue reading “Motherhood in Film & Television: The Roundup”
Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) in Terminator 2: Judgment Day Mothers are supposed to be everything to everyone. Sadly, society often stigmatizes, vilifies and demonizes single mothers. Single moms are blamed for “breeding more criminals.” Single parenthood is criminalized and “declared child abuse.” On top of that, “almost 70% of people believe single women raising children … Continue reading “Motherhood in Film & Television: Is Terminator’s Sarah Connor an Allegory for Single Mothers?”
The Great Lie (1941) This is a guest post from Erin Blackwell. My mother used to sit me down to watch movies in front of a small black-and-white TV in our Southern California living room, not far from Hollywood, where she’d spent the happiest years of her childhood. Watching movies was part of a wide-ranging … Continue reading “Motherhood in Film & Television: ‘The Great Lie’”
Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) This is a guest post from Megan Ryland. For me, no television mother springs to mind faster than Lorelai Gilmore of the long running show The Gilmore Girls. In fact, what is arguably so special about the show is that it offers a popular mainstream venue to focus on mothering, and … Continue reading “Motherhood in Film & Television: Three Generations of Mothering on ‘The Gilmore Girls’”
I’m happy to report that this Friday several women-centered films are opening in theaters, some in limited release. While I doubt these films will all be fabulous feminist explorations of gender constructs that also depict women’s actual real-life experiences–and some of them might even be anti-feminist (I don’t necessarily have high hopes for What to … Continue reading “Women-Centric Films Opening Friday, May 18”
Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) in 30 Rock This post written by Peggy Cooke was originally published at Abortion Gang and is cross-posted with permission. I have had a love-hate relationship with 30 Rock almost since the show’s inception. I love it purely because it is smart and hilarious, and the Liz Lemon character is such … Continue reading “Guest Writer Wednesday: The Casual Feminism of ’30 Rock’”
Movie poster for Vamps Vamps, the new indie film directed by Amy Heckerling and starring Alicia Silverstone and Krysten Ritter (the upcoming star of the TV show Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23) takes the vampire genre and turns it into a fun, feminist celebration of youth culture and female friendship. The film is … Continue reading “Movie Review: How ‘Vamps’ Showcases the Importance of Women Friendships”
Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games Part 1 of the Review in Conversation on The Hunger Games. Megan’s Take:In a dystopian future, the nation of Panem stands where North America once existed. The government at the Capitol, which controls the country, mandates a girl and boy between the ages of 12 and … Continue reading “‘The Hunger Games’ Review in Conversation: Part 1 on Jennifer Lawrence, Female Protagonists, Body Image, Disability, Whitewashing, Hunger & Food”
You can’t be what you can’t see. That’s just one of the reasons we need more women filmmakers and more diverse portrayals of complex women on-screen. At this year’s Oscars, actor Gabby Sidibe astutely declared: “The way I watch movies, I’m really searching for myself because I don’t get to see enough of myself and … Continue reading “Happy International Women’s Day: 11 Films that Celebrate Inspiring & Trailblazing Women”
The Descendants (2011) Amber’s Take: I went into The Descendants knowing only: George Clooney, land inheritance, and Hawaii. Had I even taken the time to visit IMDb and read the one-line synopsis (“A land baron tries to re-connect with his two daughters after his wife suffers a boating accident.”), I would have known a … Continue reading “The Descendants: Review in Conversation”
Melancholia (2011) This is a guest post from Olivia Bernal. As I’m leaving the theatre, the booming volume of two planets crashing still causing a hollow echo in my ears, the gentlemen who sat behind me remarks to his wife, “Well, that was…odd.” “What did you say?” his wife replies, apparently as temporarily deaf as … Continue reading “Indie Spirit Best International Film Nominee: Melancholia”
Beginners (2010) This is a guest post from Megan Ryland. (Does contain minor, vague spoilers) Beginners introduces us to Oliver (Ewan McGregor), who is struggling to cope with the life and death of his father, while also attempting to fall in love. Told in memories that collide with the present day, the narrative moves forward … Continue reading “Indie Spirit Best Feature Nominee: Beginners”
