The radical notion that women like good movies
Season Two Episode One of ‘Sherlock,’ “A Scandal in Belgravia,” is adapted from the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Holmes story “A Scandal in Bohemia.” The storyline focuses on Irene Adler, portrayed brilliantly by the arresting Lara Pulver, who has incriminating photographs of a member of nobility that Sherlock must retrieve.
Basically, Brave isn’t really that brave of a film. It’s traipsing through a well-established trope that, though positive, is stagnant. Don’t get me wrong; I love all the prepubescent female power fantasy tales I’ve listed, and I’m grateful that they exist and that I could grow up with many of them. However, we can’t pretend that Brave is pushing any boundaries. It sends the message that little girls can be powerful as long as they remain little girls. The dearth of representations of postpubescent heroines who are not objectified, whose sexuality does not rule their interactions, and who are the heroes of their own stories is appalling.
At its heart, this film is about how young Wadjda, played by newcomer Waad Mohammed, navigates her culture and adolescence as a Saudi girl, her relationships with other girls and women, and what seems to be the changing attitudes of her country
Two out of the three female characters are women of color: Melinda May played by Ming-Na Wen and Skye played by Chloe Bennet. They’re both of Asian descent, which leaves me wishing there were also prominent Black and Latino characters, but maybe more will be introduced over time. I’ve got to say that the Asian hacker and the Asian martial arts expert are pretty stereotyped roles, but I’m living on faith in Joss that he’ll flesh those characters out in a way that takes them beyond their trite origins into fully rounded characters to whom we’re heartbreakingly attached.
The shadow of Patty Hewes dwarfs her protege Ellen Parsons in Damages Emily Thorne stands beside her enemy Victoria Grayson in Revenge Written by Amanda Rodriguez Spoiler Alert Older women in film and TV are generally a stereotypical lot. They’re usually sexless matrons or grandmothers who perform roles of support for their screen-stealing husbands or … Continue reading “Older Women Week: The Ruthless Power of Patty Hewes from ‘Damages’ & Victoria Grayson from ‘Revenge’”
Wentworth poster Written by Amanda Rodriguez Wentworth is an Australian women’s prison drama that is much grittier, darker, more brutal and realistic than Netflix’s Orange is the New Black could ever hope to be. This bleak realism also makes Wentworth‘s well-developed characters and situations much more compelling than its fluffier American counterpart. Don’t get me … Continue reading “‘Wentworth’ Makes ‘Orange is the New Black’ Look Like a Middle School Melodrama”
Brian de Palma’s Passion Written by Amanda Rodriguez Brian De Palma’s film Passion is a sleek, sexy, beautifully shot neo-noir thriller remade from Alain Corneau’s 2010 French film Crime d’amour (or Love Crime in English). Crime d’amour I always think it’s valuable to examine how films deviate from their source material because those are indications … Continue reading “‘Passion’ and ‘Crime d’amour’: Women and Corporate Power Plays”
Brian de Palma’s Passion Written by Amanda Rodriguez Brian De Palma’s film Passion is a sleek, sexy, beautifully shot neo-noir thriller remade from Alain Corneau’s 2010 French film Crime d’amour (or Love Crime in English). Crime d’amour I always think it’s valuable to examine how films deviate from their source material because those are indications … Continue reading “‘Passion’ and ‘Crime d’amour’: Women and Corporate Power Plays”
Elysium Movie Poster Written by Amanda Rodriguez I was surprised that I not only liked, but was impressed by Elysium. I had my doubts because it’s a Hollywood blockbuster, and their interpretation of the tenets of sci-fi usually leaves much to be desired. Also, I just really, really don’t like Matt Damon and his…face. The … Continue reading “‘Elysium’: A Sci-Fi Immigration Parable”
Europa Report Poster Written by Amanda Rodriguez Ecuadorian Sebastián Cordero’s Europa Report is a new kind of movie. The film centers around an unprecedented trip to one of Jupiter’s moons, Europa, based on evidence that the moon could perhaps support life. The movie does blend a documentary style with thriller, science fiction, and even horror … Continue reading “‘Europa Report’: For the Love of Sci-Fi”
20 Something Documentary Poster Written by Amanda Rodriguez The documentary 20 Something is a labor of love for its creator Lanze Spears.With a non-existent budget while sleeping on floors as he filmed, Spears followed and actualized his dream, which is exactly what 20 Something is about. 20 Something trailer. The documentary follows a handful of early … Continue reading “’20 Something’: Youth and the American Dream”
Splash movie poster Written by Amanda Rodriguez I was completely in LOVE with Ron Howard’s 1984 film Splash when I was little. I was then and continue now to be obsessed with mermaids. My child brain even thought that in the way hair color changes as you get older, I could become a mermaid as … Continue reading “‘Splash’: A Feminist Tail Tale?”
