Review on the Side: Cinderella

Release Date: March 13th, 2015
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Writer: Chris Weitz
Bechdel Test: Passed all three tests

Cinderella is the live action adaptation of the classic Disney cartoon of the same name. The 1950's Cinderella was a powerful movie that helped establish Disney as a brand that can make quality films. In the last few years, Disney has produced a series of live action adaptations and re-imaginings including Alice in Wonderland, and Maleficent. Both movies were visually stunning with a less than stunning plot. With Cate Blanchett headlining this film as the evil step mother, it's easy to presume this film will be another re-imagining of sorts.

Instead, Cinderella is quite faithful to the original cartoon, and surprisingly the original Grimm fairy tale. It's the traditional story of a poor girl who is abused by her step-mother and step-sisters and goes to the ball to meet a prince with the help of a fairy. No psychedelic universe, or cartoon settings. It's refreshingly simple and enchanting.

Lily James as Cinderella encapsulates that blonde, fair maiden look that Disney loves so much. I always will have trouble with a lead who has no flaws, and Cinderella is meant to be nothing but kind and good, although she never comes across as tooth-ache sweet. Despite the role being an fashioned cliche, James draws you in with her sincerity.

Cate Blanchett does steal the show quite a bit as the evil step mother. It would have been very easy to make her character inherently evil through and through, but instead the step-mother becomes a sympathetic character. Blanchett radiates talent, and without her I think this movie would fall flat. Helena Bonham Carter also brings a lot of charm to her role as the Fairy Godmother. She frequently plays fantastical characters, but the Fairy Godmother is different from her normal fair. She gives life to the story when it starts to grow dull, and has a wonderful presence as the narrator.

The biggest issue I have with Cinderella is with director Kenneth Branagh. The film feel drawn out and flat. Similar to his Marvel movie Thor, Branagh takes a magical fantastic universe and does a disservice with flat comedy and slow steady pacing. His style is simply quite boring. The second half of the movie seems to lose all urgency and stakes. There's nothing wrong with this or any of his movies, they will simply will never surprise you.

It does need to be said that like many old fairy tales, the portrayal of women is steeped in old fashioned ideals with less than stellar stereotypes. There's no getting around that. There's an argument to be had about the way women are portrayed in these morality films, and how that affects gender roles but I don't have it in me to fight that battle. Yes, it's old fashioned, but the essential message of kindness over selfishness isn't going to ruin a nation of kids. There does seem to be a conscious effort to represent diversity with some of the minor characters, so at least there's that.

Cinderella is a nice movie. I might recommend it to kids who enjoyed Maleficent but as an adult my nostalgia lies in the cartoon, I'd rather hear the old fashioned "Bippity Boppity Boo" than sit through this version again. It's a totally fine movie with some rather nice moments, but there's nothing to take away from it besides some impressive costumes and a hefty payday for Disney.

IMDb - Cinderella (7.2)

Review #46: Jenny's Wedding

Release Date: July 31, 2015
Writer: Mary Agnes Donoghue
Director: Mary Agnes Donoghue

Logline: Jenny Farrell has led an openly gay life - except with her conventional family. When she finally decides to start a family and marry the woman they thought was just her roommate, the small, safe world the Farrells inhabited changes forever. They are left with a simple and difficult choice - either change with it or drown. (IMDb) Comedy, 94 minutes.

Bechdel Test: Passes all 3 tests

Review

After reading this interview with writer/director Mary Agnes Donaghue, I was really looking forward to Jenny’s Wedding. Films centering around LGBT issues are unfortunately scarce and I’m always happy to see people attempting to help bridge that gap. While the effort is valiant, the finished product unfortunately doesn’t quite pay off. With mediocre performances, stiff dialogue and a blatant over usage of that Macklemore song from 2012, Jenny’s Wedding squanders its opportunity to tell an important story that is both needed and wanted in our current age of sequels, remakes and male centered action blockbusters.

This film could have benefited greatly from better chemistry between the two leads. Katherine Heigl’s Jenny and Alexis Bledel’s Kitty are so boring together that it’s easy to see why Jenny’s family had no problem believing they were just roommates. They are the beigest of beige. Too basic to even fit the categorization of basic bitches. Although the film is truly about Jenny and her family, a little more time focused solely on her relationship with Kitty may have produced a deeper level of empathy from the audience.

The combination of on-the-nose dialogue and preachy overtones makes the film seem more like a made for tv movie than an authentic discussion on coming out and being true to yourself. It just feels a little clunky, a little outdated and a little disjointed. When you add all these problems up, they equal a disappointing experience and a mediocre film.

Portrayal of Women: On a positive note, it’s nice to see the women in the film grow into more confident versions of themselves. Jenny escapes her state of fear and learns to stick to her guns. Her mother does the same as she lets go of a lifelong desire to fit into the cookie cutter

stereotype of a perfect family.

And then there is Jenny’s sister, Anne, who is played beautifully by Grace Gummer and is arguably the most interesting character in the film. Trapped in a horrible marriage and an unhappy life, Anne comes to the understanding that the only way to ensure your own happiness is to take action. She is consumed with this idea that happy people don’t have dead grass – something her yard has been plagued with for years. I really wanted to get on board with this, but like the rest of the film, it was too forced to actually be effective. 

Sisterhood Moment: The dynamic between Jenny and Anne is almost worthy of its own film. The implied rocky history seems to be founded on jealousy and mistrust – feelings that are sometimes impossible to avoid between sisters. The moment Jenny asks Anne to be her maid of honour is sincerely sweet and shows that the bond of sisterhood is truly stronger than anything.

Rating: 1 gossiping neighbor with questionable hair choices

IMDb - Jenny's Wedding (5.4)

Wikipedia - Jenny's Wedding

Rotten Tomatoes - Jenny's Wedding  (8%)

Review #45 - Something Borrowed

Release Date: May 6, 2011
Writer: Jennie Snyder Urman, Emily Griffin (novel)
Director: Luke Greenfield

Logline: Friendships are tested and secrets come to the surface when terminally single Rachel falls for Dex, her best friend Darcy's fiance. (IMDb)

Comedy, Romance. 112 minutes. 

Bechdel Test: Passes all 3 tests

Review

Is it just me or is Something Borrowed always playing on TV? I honestly can’t remember the last time I was scrolling through the channel guide and didn’t see it listed somewhere. This has resulted in it becoming a sort of fixture of background noise in my house. Cleaning out the fridge? I bet Something Borrowed is playing on W, I’ll put that on. Painting my nails? Something Borrowed is on TBS, the perfect companion. Need something to do while I eat an entire bag of Cool Ranch Doritos? I’ll switch over to the French network – an educational way to view Something Borrowed!

If you’re thinking that all of this leads up to a grand declaration of love for this movie, you thought wrong. I HATE this movie. So much. Why do I keep watching it? I have no idea. I just can’t say no – it’s like some kind of form of self torture.

The characters aren't likable and the dialogue is far from charming but the real reason I can't stand this movie is because why would anyone pick Dex (Colin Egglesfield) when they could have Ethan (John Krasinski)? This is just too big of a plot hole to ignore and it makes me rage every time I think about. Although I generally try to avoid judging a movie solely on a plot decision I don't agree with, I can't help myself with this one. On the other hand, Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) is boring as hell so her and Dex probably deserve each other.

If you're still upset about the ending of Pretty in Pink, skip this one.

Portrayal of Women: The women in this movie take on so many sterotypical traits that they become caricatures. Rachel is the modest, meek girl who lives to take care of everyone else. Darcy (Kate Hudson) is the bitchy life of the party who is too self absorbed to have any kind of depth. Claire (Ashley Williams) is the crazy single girl who will stop at nothing to get her man.

Unfortunately, these one dimensional women are also defined by their relationship to men. Their value goes up when they have a significant other which makes having/keeping a boyfriend the most important goal in their lives. Lifelong friendships are tossed aside, honesty is completely disregarded, and lying is considered an absolute essential - all in the name of finding love.

We are tricked into thinking this movie is about a woman finding her voice and fighting for what she wants. In reality, it's about women being horrible to each other while using manipulation and deceit to get what they want. And what is it that our 'hero' is rewarded with? The opportunity to pick up dry cleaning for her basic bitch boyfriend. What a dream come true.

Sisterhood Moment: I'll admit that the choreographed dance to Push It is everything I've ever believed in. It's magical. 

Rating: 1 dropped pencil

IMDb - Something Borrowed (5.9)

Wikipedia - Something Borrowed

Rotten Tomatoes - Something Borrowed  (15%)

What to see this weekend?

Movie lovers and summer blockbusters. A match made in heaven. Are you interested in...

A female lead?
Inside Out
Jackie & Ryan
Spy

Written by a woman?
Inside Out
Jackie & Ryan
Jurassic World
Terminator Genisys

Directed by a woman?
Jackie & Ryan

Trailblazer Appreciation: Amy Schumer

Ever hear that women can't be funny? Ever hear that women can't be on late night TV? Ever hear that only certain kinds of women can be sexy?

Amy Schumer doesn't give a fuck.

This week the third season of Amy Schumer's sketch-comedy show called Inside Amy Schumer premiered on Comedy Central. Lets be honest, that in itself is an achievement worth celebrating, since the prevailing theory is that women aren't funny. Amy's comedy is provocative and pushes the limit's of what can be shown on TV.

The Inside Amy Schumer premiere included the viral sensation "Milk, Milk, Lemonade" and the epic collaboration of Julia Louie-Dreyfus, Patricia Arquette, and Tina Fey celebrating their "Last Fuckable Day." Her show takes a massive undeniable stand against the physical standards that Hollywood has set for women. A fantastic season opener to a show that often takes a critical eye to the way women are treated in society.

Amy's hilarious comedy also lead her to this year's MTV Movie Awards as the host. Between Shailene Woodley winning literally every award, and buff action movie stars standing in front of pyrotechnics instead of speaking, Amy stood out for her hysterical monologue.

Amy also wrote her first feature film called Trainwreck,  a romantic comedy that she is starring in along with SNL alum Bill Hader. The movie was directed and produced by star maker Judd Apatow. The trailer is up, and with such a funny, talented cast, it looks like it will be a hit this summer.

Are you exhausted yet? You should be. Amy Schumer has been paving the way for women in comedy, and isn't slowing down now. She's been able to take the stereotypes that hold back women, and use them to push herself forward. For her inspiring perseverance and fearless comedy, we are grateful to have such outstanding idol carving her own path. 

Review #44: Little Miss Sunshine

Release Date: July 26th 2006
Writer: Michael Arndt
Director: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris

Logline: A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus. (IMDb)

Comedy, Drama. 101 minutes. 

Bechdel Test: Passes all 3 tests

Review

How many screenwriters get nominated for an Oscar for their first produced movie? Michael Arndt is in that club. It's no fluke either, the guy is incredibly talented. He has gone on to write for movies like Toy Story 3, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Little Miss Sunshine is peanuts compared to those big budget franchises, but it's easy to see that he is a fantastic storyteller because Little Miss Sunshine is a fantastic story.

With an all-star cast of characters, Little Miss Sunshine tells the story of one family trying to get the youngest daughter, Olive Hoover (Abigail Breslin) get to California for a beauty pageant. Along for the ride comes her overworked Mom, Sheryl (Toni Collette) and her Dad, Richard (Greg Kinnear) who is a life coach and motivator chasing a book deal. Olive's step brother Dwayne has taken a vow of silence until he can join the Air Force, a career making performance by Paul Dano. Rounding out the trip is Sheryl's brother, Frank (Steve Carell) a gay scholar who is at the bottom of a downward spiral, and Richard's Father Edwin, played by the outstanding Alan Arkin, who both antagonizes Richard with his free living philosophy and coaches Olive in her pageant. 

The effect created is this endearing train wreck of a dysfunctional family. There is so much depth to the characters and their journeys, that the superficial goal of getting to the Little Miss Sunshine Pageant is a delightful contrast. It's a little bit funny, and a little bit nostalgic with some heavy emotional punches, and memorable capers along the way.

A family road trip movie might seem predictable and tired, but Little Miss Sunshine is anything but. It's a modern feel-good movie that gives quirky indies a good name.

Portrayal of Women: While it's not necessarily the point of the film, there is definitely an interesting commentary on how gender impact's family roles. Sheryl is really the glue that keeps everyone in the family together. She is constantly being railroaded by everyone else's problems, leading to a secret smoking habit. Part of the condescension and arrogance that comes from Richard is the pressure to be the breadwinner for his family, while Sheryl has to deal with the fallout of his failures.

And then there's Olive. This sweet little girl who the audience falls in love with over the course of the movie. The moment of her walking into the beauty pageant dressing room for the first time brings such an incredible sense of levity to the film. Olive became this beacon for innocent sincerity throughout the rest of the movie, and the reality that she came to compete with these hyper-sexualized and experienced young girls is so distressing. The knee jerk reaction that the boys in the family have to pull Olive from the competition makes so much sense, and yet this is Olive's dream, these are the girls Olive idolized.

Whether that's an intentional criticism of the way young women are sexualized or just a commentary on pageants, I'm not sure. The effect is an emotional punch that resonates with the audience and brings the family closer together in the end. 

Sisterhood Moment: Olive's Superfreak superstar moment. If you don't want to dance with them, you might not have a soul. 

Rating: A crown, scepter, sash, bouquet of roses, and a standing ovation. 

IMDb - Little Miss Sunshine (7.9)

Wikipedia - Little Miss Sunshine

Rotten Tomatoes - Little Miss Sunshine (91%)

What's on TV this week?

This week in TV we have some favorites, old and new, and one classic is coming to an end. Let us know if any of these shows are in your TV queue. 

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

While The Daily Show might represent one of many late night slots that women can't break into, Jon Stewart created a show that has become a staple for human who like comedy everywhere. His late night run on the satirical news show is coming to an end in August. While a new anchor, Trevor Noah will take over the helm at The Daily Show, it certainly feels like the end of an era. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart also helped bring comediennes like Samantha Bee, Jessica Williams, and Kristen Schaal into our homes with their comedy and commentary. We hope you catch up with Jon Stewart while he's still on the air.

iZombie

For something lighter we turn to the CW. From the creator of Veronica Mars comes iZombie, a supernatural police procedural based on a comic series. iZombie is coming on the heels of popular procedural's like Forever, Castle, and Elementary which seem to have a clear agenda to show police detectives as totally useless, and random people should absolutely be out solving murders. It's wonderful to see a woman in the helm of such a franchise, as well as co-creator and executive producer Diane Ruggiero bringing more women to the writing and development. It's a fun show that takes a serious look at the life of a lonely zombie, and shows some creative crime solving.

Veep

Returning for it's 4th season is the Julia Louis-Dreyfus political comedy that I've often called the funniest show on television. For 4 seasons, Armando Iannucci has made comedy smarter, and politics sillier. The interaction between Vice President Selena Meyers (Louis-Dreyfus) and her personal aid Gary (The outstanding Tony Hale) is something that makes me laugh until I'm gasping for air. You might have seen their shtick when Julia won an Emmy for her work on Veep in 2013 and Tony Hale joined her on stage to hold her purse and whisper "you love your family" in her ear like he does in the show. Veep is really really funny.

What are you watching on TV this week?

What to see this weekend?

Spring has sprung! Are you in the mood for...

A female lead?
The Age of Adaline
Cinderella
Clouds of Sils Maria
Insurgent
The Longest Ride
Unfriended
Woman in Gold

Written by a woman?
Adult Beginners
Insurgent
Woman in Gold

Review #43: The Debt

Release Date: August 31st, 2011
Writer: Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman, and Peter Straughan
Director: John Madden

Logline: In 1965, three Mossad agents cross into East Berlin to apprehend a notorious Nazi war criminal. Thirty years later, the secrets the agents share come back to haunt them. (IMDb)
Thriller, 113 minutes
Bechdel Test: Passes all 3 tests

Review
I love a good spy movie. There aren't nearly enough of them. Give me Jason Bourne over Captain America any day.

The Debt is an American/British remake of an Israeli film. The adaptation was written by the action film duo of Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman (X-Men: First Class, Kickass) and spy film writer Peter Straughn (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.) The director John Madden has a few Oscar films under his belt, including Shakespeare in Love.

The reason I'm outlining all that information is to explain why I has such high hopes before I watched this film. When you bring together a stellar list of experienced hit-makers, you do so expecting a hit. Maybe The Debt was a success; it made it's budget back, and put Dame Helen Mirren on the poster for an action film. I'm not sure it lived up to all of my many expectations.

Sold as a tangled web of deception around a CIA operation that happened during the Cold War, The Debt has a narrative that shows what happened in the 1960's and the fallout many years later. Agent Rachel Singer, portrayed as Jessica Chastain in the 1960's and as Helen Mirren in the 1990's, was part of a three man operation to capture and bring to justice a Nazi war criminal.

Jessica Chastain and Sam Worthington in The Debt

The first half of the movie brings the audience on several spy missions that are beautifully shot and executed. There is a nail biting sequence during which the CIA operatives pose as ambulance drivers to extract their target, with the real ambulance on the way, only moments behind. Many action movies rely on technology to keep a sequence interesting, or the counting clock of a man set to watch out for the team. John Madden plays into the fear of the unknown in The Debt, reminding the audience that there is no fall back, that time is ticking and there is no way of knowing if or when the agents will be found out.

The weakness of the film, is of course the very narrative structure by which it is framed. The characters have been introduced as old men and women, so there is a bit lost in watching their younger selves in dangerous situations. We know they make it out alive. Ironically, I found the second half of the film, taking place 30 years later, to be the slowest part. While the characters are more interesting and complex, with secrets to cover up and uncertain allegiances, the action significantly drops off.

Helen Mirren in The Debt

I'm not sure I can place The Debt in the list of spy movies I really love. While there are some great scene of tense action, and gut wrenching suspense, the story itself falls off the map. With characters who swap actors, and motives that become muddled, I didn't get suspense all the way though the film.

Portrayal of Women: Before going into the movie I had a fleeting thought "how nice that they put a woman in the spy movie," for now. While she appeared to portray an important character in the trailers, I had a suspicion that her role would be undercut by some stereotypical trope.

I'm pleased to say Rachel Singer's character wasn't used as a love interest or reward, and she wasn't incompetent. She wasn't a cold, manipulative villainess either. At no point was she heroically saved by a man. Rachel Singer fought her own fights, and was the most valuable part of the CIA's mission. Her character was used for her vulnerability, and perhaps earned sympathy for being considered weaker, but I don't think that detracts from her capabilities as a woman. Her character captivated the audience, and ultimately controlled the story.

Sisterhood Moment: Rachel Singer recaps the events of the past through the book her daughter wrote about her. What a fantastic little tag to a movie about spy's, deception, and lies. Rachel Singer might be a lot of unsavory things, but she's also a mother and a hero to her child.

Rating: 3 Jason Bournes out of 5 franchises

IMDb - The Debt (6.9)
Wikipedia - The Debt
Rotten Tomatoes - The Debt (77%)

In 2014 Women kept disappearing.

If you're not already familiar with the Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film from San Diego State University you should be. They do annual reports of the representation of women in front of and behind the camera.

In 2014 among the top 100 grossing movies 
Women represent 12% of the protagonists. The number of women who were represented as major characters and speaking characters were the same as last year,  both figures were about 30%. A staggering 74% of all women characters were white. 

If you further read the study there are interesting statistics regarding the decrease of female characters from their 30's to 40's compared to the increase of male characters in the same age range. There are also statistics regarding the role of women in leadership positions, whether their marital status is known, and whether they were identified via a work related role (ie, doctor, lawyer) vs a personal role (ie, mother, sister.) It's a pretty clear analysis of the ways in which women are marginalized on film.

Their study for the role of women behind the camera looked at the top 250 domestic grossing films in 2014. 
Specifically they looked at the roles of directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers.

"38% of films employed 0 or 1 woman in the roles considered. 23% of films employed 2 women, 29% employed 3 to 5 women, 7% employed 6 to 9 women, and 3% employed 10 to 14 women. In contrast, no films employed 0 or 1 man in the roles considered, and 69% employed 10 to 27 men."

A whopping 93% of films had no female director, and 79% of the films had no female writer.

The figures for women working as cinematographers or composers? Even more depressing.

Women looking to work in these industries should see these figures as empowering. Awareness can change views. These are opportunities for women to break into these new markets. It might be a challenge to find someone out of the ordinary for roles in front of and behind the camera, but we need unique voices to keep movies alive.

Some fantastic films came out this year that told the stories of women, and by women including The Hunger Games, Wild, Maleficent, Selma, Cake, Gone Girl, Camp X Ray, Obvious Child, and more. If you want more films like those, get out there and make those movies.

• It's a Man's (Celluloid) World: On-Screen Representation of Female Characters in 2014
• Celluloid Ceiling: Behind the Scenes Employment in 2014
• The Hollywood Reporter - Major Film Roles for Women drop in 2014

87th Annual Academy Awards Wrapup

The 2014 award season is finally coming to an end, and last nights ceremony seemed to show that one topic was getting ripe on the vine; Hollywood sexism.

#AskHerMore

Reese Witherspoon

The night started before the ceremony with Reese Witherspoon, nominated for her role as lead actress in Wild, demanding one thing: #AskHerMore

The last few years, women have been showing a distinct annoyance with the Red Carpet treatment. Men who walk the red carpet get asked questions about their co-stars, their upcoming projects, philanthropy, anything really, women get ask a series of condescending questions about frivolous topics, usually clothes hair, nails, shoes, etc. 

Photo posted by @ReeseWitherspoon 

❤️ this movement #AskHerMore..have you heard of it? It's meant to inspire reporters to ask creative questions on the red carpet. I love the Oscars AND fashion like many of you - & am excited to share #WhoAmIWearing later tonight. (not yet!!) But I'd also love to answer some of these Qs....And hear your suggestions?! (Share em below!) There are so many amazing, talented nominees this year..! Let's hear their stories! Spread the word. #AskHerMore #Oscars #Countdown
@ReeseWitherspoon 

Last October at the Women in Hollywood event, Jennifer Garner compared notes to her husband, Ben Affleck who both had similar press junkets scheduled on the same day. She was asked questions about making time for her family, while he was asked about models.

Elizabeth Moss showed her frustration at the Golden Globes. She was asked to use the "E! Mani Cam" where famous celebrated women are asked to walk their fingers up a miniature red carpet "like children." While many other celebrities including Jennifer Aniston and Julianne Moore, opted out, Moss received a lot of praise for showing the camera her manicure - on her middle finger. The Mani Cam did not reappear at this years Oscars.

The #Oscars red carpet is open! Let's #AskHerMore and re-direct the conversation!! 🙌🎉
— AmyPoehlerSmartGirls (@smrtgrls) February 22, 2015

Patricia Arquette 

Best Supporting Actress

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Patricia Arquette

And then of course, the scene stealer herself. Patricia Arquette. She won her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Richard Linklater's Boyhood. A fantastic movie, and a fantastic role she spend 12 years filming. With a prepared speech, she hit some major talking points during the 30 seconds or so winners are given.

“To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else’s equal rights. It’s time to have wage equality once and for all. And equal rights for women in the United States of America.”

Congratulations Patricia. Very well said.

Julianne Moore 
Best Actress

Julianne Moore

One of our favorite women, Julianne Moore was also awarded an Oscar for her work in the moving drama, Still Alice. This was her fifth time nominated and her first win. She gave a beautiful speech as well.

"There is no such thing as Best Actress as evidenced by the performances of my fellow actresses."

We're with you, Julianne. Women supporting women is what the world needs more of.



Let us know what you thought of the 2015 Academy Awards in the comments below.

Further Reading...

• The Hollywood Reporter - Is Red Carpet Coverage Sexist?
• The Independent - #AskHerMore: Patricia Arquette, Reese Witherspoon and Julianne Moore back red carpet campaign to take women seriously

What to see this weekend

Do you want to see...

A female lead?

-The Duff
-The Last Five Years 

-Fifty Shades of Grey
-The Boy Next Door
-Jupiter Ascending

Written or co-written by a woman? 

-McFarland, USA
-Fifty Shades of Grey
-The Boy Next Door
-Jupiter Ascending

Directed by a woman?

-McFarland, USA
-Fifty Shades of Grey
-Jupiter Ascending

Review #42: Juno

Juno (2007)

Release Date: December 25th, 2007
Writer: Diablo Cody
Director: Jason Reitman

Logline: Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, an offbeat young woman makes an unusual decision regarding her unborn child. (IMDb)
Comedy/Drama, 96 min.
Bechdel Test: Passed all three tests.


Review

I love this movie.

For a while that sentence was the whole review. I love the story, the characters, the writing. When it came out in 2007 it was so fresh and endearing. Not a whole lot has changed since then.

I hate describing this as a quirky comedy because I want every movie to be as confident and stylized as Juno. The Wes Anderson meets indy music video visual style hasn't really been successfully replicated since. Juno put both Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman on the map for their bold innovation. Cody showed a phenomenal range of characters, from the crass wit of High Schoolers Juno and Leah, to the prim and educated Vanessa and Mark. It's a movie that deals with teen pregnancy, abortion, relationships, abandonment, divorce, plenty of difficult issues without a hint of being preachy or judgmental.

The iconic scenes and lines that came from Juno are worth talking about alone.

-Juno swigging Sunny D and Rainn Wilson's "you're eggo is preggo." and "This is one doodle that can't be undid, homeskillet." Come on. Every single person did an impression in their head immediately after those lines.
-Hamburger telephone. Worthy of getting a landline.
-"It's probably just a food baby." I've had food pregnancy before.
-Brenda telling off the ultrasound technician? What a great moment. No evil stepmother cliche just mama-claws ferocity.
-"They call me the cautionary whale" The image of preggers Juno walking the halls and the students parting like it's Moses and the red sea? What a great scene.
-"Thundercats are GO!"


Portrayal of Women: I love a movie that shows how bitches get stuff done without being an overt chick flick. Juno somehow managed to find that sweet spot of being a movie about girls supporting girls, without being patronizing or so boring that half the audience falls asleep. Juno makes her own decisions. She decides what to do with her body and what to do with her baby. Vanessa is a different kind of go-getter but hey she gets what she needs out of life even if it's not in a man-pleasing way. Bren and Leah? They are some fantastic supporting characters with their own personality and goals.

To see a film where there are two leading women have clear and present goals, and are basically the emotional core of the film? Oh, and that ISN'T a rom-com? That comes along once every few years at best. Juno is kind of an important film in that respect.

Sisterhood Moment: Despite all the fantastic moments Juno has with her friends that I could endlessly laugh about, it comes down to the ending for me. Juno writing that note for Vanessa? Come on, that's a REAL sisterhood moment. Juno and Vanessa both had their plans fall apart, but they still supported each other.

Rating: 5 feet of twizzlers and a jumbo blue slushie for good measure.

IMDb - Juno (7.6)
Wikipedia - Juno
Rotten Tomatoes - Juno (94%)

What's on TV this week?

This week in television is sort of an in between of great specials and shows for sweeps, while other favorites are still on hiatus for another two weeks. Here's what we are excited for.

Better Call Saul

Better Call Saul Monday's on AMC

Yup, this is going to be a good one. Everyone on the planet watched Breaking Bad, so it comes as no surprise that this has already been greenlit for a second season before the pilot even aired. Better Call Saul regularly airs Monday nights on AMC, but the premiere episode aired Sunday night February 8th, with the second airing in it's regular timeslot on February 9th.

Aside from being a fantastic show that I'm sure everyone will watch anyways, the Breaking Bad-Better Call Saul clan has supported some fantastic women writers and directors, including Michelle MacLaren, director of Monday nights episode #2,  who has been tapped to direct the upcoming Wonder Woman project.

Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special. 

SNL 40th Anniversary Special airing Sunday on NBC

There's going to be 3 hours of Saturday Night Live with every cast member, every guest host, and every musical guest over the last 40 years invited. I'll give you a few minutes if you need to go freshen up.

There's also be a red carpet special leading up to what can only be described as "the event." Also, despite the confusing name, a compilation episode of SNL will air for Valentines day on Saturday February 14th in it's regular timeslot, while the actual Anniversary Special is airing Sunday evening on February 15th.

Cougar Town

Cougar Town Tuesdays on TBS

Cougar Town is that weird show that almost nobody watched as it aired on ABC and then it moved to TBS where even less people watched it. This Bill Lawrence (Scrubs) show stars Courtney Cox (Friends) and a bunch of people who drink wine all day and are delightfully entertaining. It's one of those shows that ABC loves to make with a name that insults it's targeted audience, but don't be deterred, Cougar Town is self deprecating enough to poke fun at itself. It's also one of those shows that's had cancellation looming overhead since season 1, so very early on they lose any restraint and fully embrace weird stories and in-jokes. 

If you're trying to escape the frigid winter via the magic of television, this show might hit the spot. It's funny, it's light and fluffy and it's set in Florida, so you can dream of tan-lines. 

Sadly, Cougar Town only has 8 episodes left to air! If you want to watch, it airs tonight, February 10th on TBS. The series finale will be Tuesday, March 31st, so mark your calendars.


What shows are you planning on catching up with this week?

What to see this weekend

Do you want to see...

A female lead?

-The Last Five Years 

-Fifty Shades of Grey
-The Boy Next Door
-Jupiter Ascending

Written or co-written by a woman? 

-Fifty Shades of Grey
-The Boy Next Door
-Jupiter Ascending

Directed by a woman?

-Fifty Shades of Grey
-Jupiter Ascending

Review #41: Elaine Stritch: Shoot me

Release Date: April 19, 2013
Director: Chiema Karasawa

Logline: The uncompromising Tony and Emmy Award-winner is showcased both on and off stage via rare archival footage and intimate cinema vérité.

Review

I didn’t know much about Elaine Stritch before watching this film, all I knew was that she was Jack’s mom on 30 Rock and the lady who swore on the Today Show. By the end of the film, I had completely fallen in love with her.  She is a legend for a reason and that reason is her rare ability to be difficult and absolutely enchanting at the same time. She had amazing talent, she spoke her mind, and she didn’t wear pants – can you get any better than that?

This is one of my favourite documentaries that I’ve ever seen. It lets us observe Stritch’s daily routine as she struggles with alcoholism and diabetes while preparing for performances, but also tells the story of her successful and interesting career.  It’s heartbreaking to see her so frail and sick but also completely full of joy as we see her determination, gratitude and spark shine through.  Her relationship with her pianist Rob is also a real highlight. If you love inspirational ladies, this is a movie for you.

At the time of filming, Elaine was 87 and although she was still successfully performing, her age and health issues were taking their toll. My favourite moment of the film came when she forgot her lyrics in the middle of a show. What could have been an embarrassing turned into a moment of honesty, hilarity and magic. She showed that mistakes are the perfect opportunity to find a laugh and I love that.

Other things I learned from Elaine

• It’s okay to use a paper bag as a purse
• Sometimes you have to date someone simply because they’re much too attractive to leave behind (this happened to her with JFK)
• Know what you want and go for it
• Even legends get scared sometimes
• Speak your mind and be confident that what you have to say matters
• Everybody’s got a sack of rocks
• The key to happiness is accepting and respecting yourself

Portrayal of Women: Obviously this is a movie celebrating the life of a woman and her many accomplishments. I love how it perfectly demonstrates how wonderful Elaine was even though she wasn't necessarily nice all the time. The film captures her complexity as a performer and as a woman in a compelling way.

Sisterhood Moment: I'm sure we've all thought of the benefits of chewing food and spitting it out as a way to curb weight gain. 

I can’t recommend this documentary enough. You can’t truly appreciate Elaine’s feistiness until you see her in action. She was often described as a force of nature, and that’s a fitting description.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Bay's English Muffins




IMDb - Elaine Stritch Shoot Me (7.5)
Wikipedia - Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me
Rotten Tomatoes - Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me (98%)

Review on the Side: Wild

Release Date: December 19th, 2014
Director: Jean-Marc Vallee
Writer: Nick Hornby (Based on the novel by Cheryl Strayed)
Bechdel Test: Passed all three tests.

Last night I cleaned my kitchen. Took a nice hot bath. Made cup of tea. Got in my PJ's, with blankies and my puppy on the couch, ready for snuggles. Then I turned on this movie and was unable to look away.

I highly recommend anyone else who wants to watch this film to do the same. Not only was it a nice Sunday night, this movie is highly deserving of your focus and attention. And you will probably also need something to snuggle.

Wild follows the story of Cheryl Strayed as she hikes across the west coast of the United States via the Pacific Crest Trail. It's a story of her learning to deal with her past, as the journey on the hiking trail reflects the journey her life took to get to this point. You might even call the hike the b-plot because the "flashbacks" are really the focus of the film.

There is really something wonderful about the relatability of Cheryl in this film. Women are so often portrayed as either strong and cold, or weak and flirtatious. This is as close to the female "every-man" as I've seen on screen. Her character reflects the way people are composed of contradictions. She's a character full of love, compassion, and empathy, but also makes selfish and impulsive decisions. She struggles to deal with things that are hard to deal with. She doesn't have the answers. She has to make hard mistakes to figure out who she is. So rarely are women given the opportunities to see those stories told on film, even though this one made for one fantastic film.
Reese Witherspoon is vulnerable and raw, but also optimistic. She brings so much dimension to this already complex character. Laura Dern is undeniably charming, as she often is on screen. Her moments in the film are brief but haunting. I've always felt like she was an underrated actress. I think Jean-Marc Vallee brought out some quality performances from the cast.

So yes, I highly recommend Wild. It fits somewhere outside the normal convention of film. It's a drama that isn't agonizing. It's a female-driven film that doesn't dwell in romance. It's a biographical memoir told in an unconventional way. This is what I like about independent films. Sometimes going just a few steps outside of the 'expectations box' can lead to wonderful things.
(X-post from Sarah Does Movies)

Rating: 4.5/5
IMDb - Wild (7.3)

87th Annual Academy Awards - The One Where They Forgot about Women

This week the prestigious annual Oscar nominations were revealed for the 2014 year in film.

In the past, there has been commentary about the quality of roles for women, and the lack of representation for women in the writing and directing categories. The awards have always been drama-heavy, almost creating it's own genre of Christmas released biopics. If we are being honest about what happens behind the curtain, then we can be honest about the way studios intentionally create "Oscar-dramas" then campaign to leverage wins. Thank Harvey Weinstein for that.

Last year was fortunate to have women nominated for writing, and Jennifer Lee won for her role writing and directing the animated feature Frozen. Several of the Best Picture nominees, like Her and Gravity actively featured women. A few years ago Katheryn Bigelow even won for Best Director. Against men! I know, pick your jaw up off the floor.

Unfortunately this year's crop are some of the least diverse awards in years. The writing categories snubbed some of this years talent, like Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl, and Ava DuVernay and Paul Webb for Selma. Ava DuVernay was also ignored in the Best Director category. This Martin Luther King Jr. Biopic should be the kind of film the Academy falls in love with, like last year's 12 Years a Slave (Best Picture Winner). Instead the general notion is that Selma was snubbed, only being nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Song. Although not as favorited as Selma, some felt Angelina Jolie was deserving of a Best Director nomination for Unbroken. 

Best Picture

American Sniper

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Boyhood

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Imitation Game

Selma

The Theory of Everything

Whiplash

Achievement in Directing

Alejandro G. Inarritu - Birdman

Bennett Miller - Foxcatcher

Morten Tyldum - The Imitation Game

Richard Linklater - Boyhood

Wes Anderson - The Grand Budapest Hotel

In the Acting categories we saw Jennifer Aniston get overlooked for her groundbreaking role in Cake. She's an actress I often dismiss for the "Rachel" typecast, but Cake turns her into a broken down, suicidal woman dealing with chronic pain. Both Amy Adams for Big Eyes and Emily Blunt for Into The Woods were considered front runners early on that got overlooked. While Julianne Moore and Marion Cotillard gave excellent performances, to be blunt, no one saw them. It's hard to get excited about a movie that didn't even make it to theaters. For a comparison, 4/5 of the Best Actor nominees were from Best Picture nominated movies. 1/5 of the Best Actress nominees were. 

Actress in a leading Role

Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything)

Julianne Moore (Still Alice)

Marion Cotillard (Two Days, One Night)

Reese Witherspoon (Wild)

Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl)

Actress in a Supporting Role

Emma Stone (Birdman)

Keira Knightley (The Imitation Game)

Laura Dern (Wild)

Meryl Streep (Into the Woods)

Patricia Arquette (Boyhood)

While Rosamund Pike picked up a Best Actress nom for Gone Girl the film was snubbed in all other categories. Similarly, Wild picked up acting nominations for Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern, but nothing else. Both films should have been contenders for Best Picture. Interestingly, both films were produced by Witherspoon's newly founded production company Pacific Standard. Perhaps the takaway for her is that good movies aren't enough, political lobbying is needed for the win.

Adapted Screenplay

American Sniper (Jason Hall)

The Imitation Game (Graham Moore)

Inherent Vice (Paul Thomas Anderson)

The Theory of Everything (Anthony McCarten)

Whiplash (Damien Chazelle)

Original Screenplay

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. & Armando Bo)

Boyhood (Richard Linklater)

Foxcatcher (E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman)

The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wes Anderson)

Nightcrawler (Dan Gilroy)