The radical notion that women like good movies
Sometimes a movie needs more than a review–it needs a discussion. See our previous Reviews in Conversation here and here. Nina is cracking… Amber’s Take:There’s a lot to say about Black Swan, and the more I think about it, the fewer definitive, and perhaps positive things I have to say. Before getting too ahead of … Continue reading “Review in Conversation: Black Swan”
With its first season complete and two Golden Globes under its belt (Best TV Drama and Best Actor in a TV Drama), Boardwalk Empire, HBO’s prohibition-era Sopranos/Mad Men hybrid, has gotten plenty of attention. And it’s something feminists should be paying attention to as well. Like Mad Men, the show doesn’t gloss over the sexist … Continue reading “Guest Writer Wednesday: Boardwalk Empire”
Tiny Furniture. Starring Lena Dunham, Laurie Simmons, Grace Dunham, and Jemima Kirke. Written and directed by Lena Dunham. The film follows Aura (played by writer/director Lena Dunham), a 20-something self-described misanthrope who, after graduating from a film program at a small liberal arts school in Ohio, moves back to New York City to live with … Continue reading “Ripley’s Pick: ‘Tiny Furniture’”
Cross posted at Wellywood Woman There’s so much discussion about the Bechdel Test now (see links below for some examples). I love it all, am interested that men are writing about the test. AND I relate to @marnen’s tweet: “I’m feeling snarky enough to propose the Laibow-Koser test: can 2 female writers have a conversation … Continue reading “Guest Writer Wednesday: The 40% Figure”
This guest post also appears at Professor, What If… and the Ms. Magazine blog. In the second-season premiere of the Showtime series Nurse Jackie, a feminist id was on full display. According to Mr. Penis Envy, Sigmund Freud, who published The Ego and the Id in 1923, the id acts according to the “pleasure principle,” seeking … Continue reading “Guest Post: Nurse Jackie as Feminist Id?”
We previewed The Princess and the Frog back in June, noting the potential perpetuation of racial stereotypes and lamenting yet another princess movie where the princess still portrays the humanly-impossible physique of all who came before her. I actually watched this. The movie flirts with improvement, at least in its attempt to make the heroine … Continue reading “Releasing on DVD: Tuesday, March 16”
*This is a guest post from Sarah Domet. District 9: A Film I Want to Like I’ll be the first to admit: I want to like District 9, and I want to applaud The Academy for nominating this quirky, dark, heartfelt, and comic film for a Best Picture award. Even further, I would like to … Continue reading “Movie Review: ‘District 9’”
No. No to the over-abundant racial stereotypes showcased throughout the film. No to the kind-hearted southern woman as the Black man’s White Savior. No to the shallow, embarrassing, surface-level portrayal of class issues. No to the constant heavy-handed references to God and prayer and sexual morality. No to falling back on the tired tropes of … Continue reading “Movie Review: ‘The Blind Side’”
*This is a guest post from the author of The Undomestic Goddess. I saw Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds when it first came out and then again recently in the sweep of the Oscar season. I remember upon first viewing being surprised that, unlike all the posters and marketing would have you believe, Brad Pitt is … Continue reading “Movie Review: Inglorious Basterds”
So I decided to watch one of those mind-numbingly mediocre action films, assuming I’d walk away from the experience merely mind-numbed and ready to move forward with more serious cinema. The exact opposite happened. Not only is Taken a terribly made film in terms of its pacing, plot points, character development, and dialogue, it’s one … Continue reading “Flick-Off: Taken”
By now, you’ve all probably heard that Patrick Swayze lost his battle with pancreatic cancer yesterday, at age 57. I remember watching Dirty Dancing when it first came out–and when I was definitely too young to see it. There are worse things for a young girl to see, however, than Frances coming into her own–even … Continue reading “Patrick Swayze 1952-2009”
Dear Filmmakers, Movie Promoters, Marketing Teams, Poster Designers, et al: Recently, I spent some time gathering movie posters for several of last year’s top-grossing films. I noticed that in movies with male leads, the posters usually featured them prominently, with either up-close shots of their faces (smiling in a mocking “I’m hilarious!” way, or looking … Continue reading “Movie Posters: A Bitch Flicks Verbal Beatdown”
