The radical notion that women like good movies
Written by Max Thornton. Time’s relentless onward march has brought us to the end of April. In just a few days it will be the first weekend in May, which is – in the strange, terrifying minds of Hollywood executives – the first weekend of summer. Summer movies are an odd and frustrating bunch. I … Continue reading “Summer Movie Preview”
Written by Leigh Kolb [Trigger warning: references to graphic content.] Sometimes feminist films succeed by showing just how awful a world without feminism is. Dušan Makavejev’s WR: Mysteries of the Organism (1971) and Sweet Movie (1974) provide that kind of jarring commentary. Both of these films critique fascism, communism, capitalism and sexual repression. His films are part of the … Continue reading “Foreign Film Week: The Disturbing, Terrorizing Feminism of Dušan Makavejev’s ‘WR: Mysteries of the Organism’ and ‘Sweet Movie’”
Kerry Washington “Mammy, Sapphire, or Jezebel, Olivia Pope Is Not: A Review of Scandal“ by Atima Omara-Alwala Many writers and film critics have written about the three usual archetypes that black women have fit into in popular culture representation. And it is through this prism Scandal is viewed. The Jezebel, who is very sexually promiscuous; … Continue reading “Women of Color in Film and TV: The Roundup”
Pam Grier was the first black woman to be on the cover of Ms. Magazine (August 1975). Jamaica Kincaid wrote the article, “Pam Grier: The Mocha Mogul of Hollywood.” Written by Leigh Kolb[Warning: spoilers ahead!] The first time I saw Pam Grier in a film, I blurted out, “Why isn’t she in everything?” I first saw Grier … Continue reading “The Unfinished Legacy of Pam Grier”
Scandal Guest post written by Nakeesha Seneb, originally published at Structured Breakdown. Cross posted with permission. I think Shonda Rhimes, and her writing round table, are some of the most prolific storytellers of our times. Yes, I said prolific and I’m going to stand by such a big SAT word. Prolific actually means producing much … Continue reading “Women of Color in Film and TV: ‘Scandal’ Pilot: Loosen Up Your Buttons, Baby”
Guest post written by Emily Campbell. If you reel off its vital stats, War Witch sounds like a shoo-in for an Oscar. It tackles the delicate topic of African child soldiers and was filmed entirely in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its main character is a girl who bravely forges forward even though her … Continue reading “2013 Oscar Week: A Thorn Like a Rose: War Witch (Rebelle)”
Lena Dunham and the cast of Girls Written by Stephanie Rogers. Dear Lena Dunham Haters, I’m sick of the Lena Dunham hate. I’m not referring to the criticisms of Dunham, which are—in most cases—valid and necessary critiques of her privilege, especially how that privilege translates into her work. The first season of Girls in particular … Continue reading “Let’s All Take a Deep Breath and Calm the Fuck Down About Lena Dunham”
Written by Max Thornton. I have a confession to make: Last year, I only went to the movies a dozen times, and only 7 of those were 2012 releases. That is the least time I have spent at the movies in any year since I started going to the movies. There are a few reasons … Continue reading “2013 Pop-Culture Resolutions”
Carrie Mathison, a haunted yet brilliant CIA analyst This post, by Leigh Kolb, first appeared at Bitch Flicks on October 10, 2012. Warning: spoilers ahead! I hate straight singing. I have to change a tune to my own way of doing it. That’s all I know.— Billie Holiday In the pilot episode of Homeland, Carrie … Continue reading “Women in Politics Week: ‘Homeland’s Carrie Mathison: A Pulsing Beat of Jazz and ‘Crazy Genius’”
Carrie Mathison, a haunted yet brilliant CIA analyst. Warning: spoilers ahead! “I hate straight singing. I have to change a tune to my own way of doing it. That’s all I know.” — Billie Holiday In the pilot episode of Homeland, Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes), hurries back to her Washington D.C. apartment after a night … Continue reading “‘Homeland’s Carrie Mathison: A Pulsing Beat of Jazz and ‘Crazy Genius’”
This is a guest post from Soraya Chemaly. How many movies have you watched in which rape is a notable, if not integral, part of the plot? Not sure? Well, I started thinking about it and poked around. The short list I compiled is at the end of this article. Amazing, right? I personally have … Continue reading “‘The Invisible War’ Takes on Sexual Assault in the Military”
Welcome to Twin Peaks. This is a guest post by Cynthia Arrieu-King and Stephanie Cawley. Cynthia’s take: Why do I like Twin Peaks? I remember dialing through Netflix Streaming back in May of this year as a way of breaking up the cooking of several chopping-intensive dishes. The show was totally unappealing to me when … Continue reading “Guest Writer Wednesday: A Review in Conversation of Twin Peaks”
