These stories are probably criticized more for gender portrayal than almost any other book or film I can think of. Because I was prepared to be annoyed I actually found myself finding GOOD gender decisions in this movie. Here are some thoughts.
- I don't have a problem with Edward and Bella's young engagement. They're both young. In fact, she's older. They're just stupid teenagers - it's not sexist.
- Edward's "I would get your father's permission" speech and general chivalrous behavior are for sure annoying. But there's actually a REASON for this. He's from 100 years ago. Also, one could argue that this is a huge improvement on how modern movie boys treat women. (Superbad, for example. Come to think of it, any movie with Jonah Hill in it.)
- Edward and Jacob constantly get in each others' faces over Bella. This is annoying, no denying it. I got tired of watching Bella try to break up their fights.
- Bella is weak, no doubt about it. However, this is more excusable than it is when women are portrayed as frail in other movies, because the boys are immortal/supernatural in some way, and she is a human. The female vampires are in no way physical inferiors to the males.
- It is very cool and very rare to see a physical fight in a film between men and women or, particularly, between one man and one woman. We had both in Eclipse.
- The gender ratios in this movie are actually pretty good. There are equal numbers of female and male vampires. The werewolves are a different story, but it's very interesting that, for the first time in history, a female joins the pack. Also, the film goes out of its way to show the bravery of a woman who is not a "spirit warrior" but finds a way to use her humanness to save her husband and tribe.
- Bella's rhetoric is solid. She decides to be with Edward instead of Jacob because, in her words, she feels "strong" as part of his world. She also says that when they get married she "at least" wants to hyphenate her last name. Very interesting and very different from the book Bella who swoons over the idea of being "Mrs. Cullen."
- The movie goes out of its way to show Bella's hard-headedness.
- Bell is not eye candy for guys. She wears a flannel shirt and jeans in just about every scene. At the same time, she is the sexual initiator. Can you think of another film for teens that meets both of these criteria? I can't.
- I love creep-tastic villain leader Jane.
- This movie definitely passes the Bechdel test.
I wonder if the filmmakers were hyper conscious about these choices because of the criticism of the books.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Salt quote from Vanity Fair
"Salt was developed with a male actor in mind, specifically Tom Cruise, who was attached to play C.I.A. operative Edwin Salt. After Cruise...took a pass, the script found its way to [Angelina] Jolie. Writing for a man, then swapping gender, is, as it turns out, the best way to create an utterly liberated hero, a character with none of the tropes that writers, even if they don't mean to, fall back on when creating a role for a woman."
Super interesting. If I were a screenwriter, I would try this as a tactic to make my characters nuanced and unexpected.
I'll definitely need to see this movie.
Super interesting. If I were a screenwriter, I would try this as a tactic to make my characters nuanced and unexpected.
I'll definitely need to see this movie.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Date Night
This is a movie about marriage, above all else. And a really solid, fun, true-to-life one at that.
The premise is: a middle-aged, happily married couple from New Jersey begins to doubt if they have enough excitement in their lives. That worry is quickly put to rest when, during a dinner in the city, they are mistaken for a different couple with lives that you might call TOO exciting.
What I really loved about this film is the nature of the marriage they portray. This couple tries really, really hard to be good to one other. They schedule a regular date night and GO despite being so exhausted they can hardly stay awake. They somehow manage to be funny and still talk nicely to each other. They have sweet little traditions. Etc. When their adventure begins, then, they are already a team, ready to take on whatever comes their way. One perfectly representative moment involves each of them driving a getaway car at the same time (also the cars are connected...you have to see it, I guess). They also each get a chance to shine in different instances. Claire (Tina Fey), at one point, wraps her husband Phil's (Steve Carell) coat around her hand and punches through a glass door to get information off of a computer. And Phil bravely orchestrates the final showdown that gets the bad guys arrested.
But they're not Mr. and Mrs. Smith, here. They also both also have moments of indignity and panic. After keeping his wits about him and getting himself and his wife out of a deserted boathouse, Phil vomits in the street. Likewise, Claire has a couple of freak-outs Phil has to talk her down from. And a scene where they BOTH have to do an erotic dance is priceless.
I also love that it's a tired female police officer that figures out exactly what's going on and saves the day. Not only did it mean a good role for a good actress that could have easily, EASILY been written for a man, but it also drove home the point that this movie is about regular men AND regular women doing the best they can. Just like real life.
(Let me just pause and wonder out loud of we have Tina Fey to thank for a lot of these decisions. Her presence alone in a film seems to almost guarantee a more equitable and realistic portrayal of females.)
Finally, what made this film moving to me way beyond what I expected was Steve Carell's character. He is just an excellent husband. Phil Foster subtly demonstrates love and consideration for his wife and family at every turn. For example, he goes to Claire's book club and participates wholeheartedly, only to find out later that she doesn't even read the books! And toward the end of the film, when he gives a monologue about wanting to do more around the house and with the kids and wanting to be seen as useful, not incompetent, it is just pitch perfect. That moment made me think, "Damn. There are some really good men in the world."
Also, at least when Fey and Carell are involved, there seem to be some really funny movies.
The premise is: a middle-aged, happily married couple from New Jersey begins to doubt if they have enough excitement in their lives. That worry is quickly put to rest when, during a dinner in the city, they are mistaken for a different couple with lives that you might call TOO exciting.
What I really loved about this film is the nature of the marriage they portray. This couple tries really, really hard to be good to one other. They schedule a regular date night and GO despite being so exhausted they can hardly stay awake. They somehow manage to be funny and still talk nicely to each other. They have sweet little traditions. Etc. When their adventure begins, then, they are already a team, ready to take on whatever comes their way. One perfectly representative moment involves each of them driving a getaway car at the same time (also the cars are connected...you have to see it, I guess). They also each get a chance to shine in different instances. Claire (Tina Fey), at one point, wraps her husband Phil's (Steve Carell) coat around her hand and punches through a glass door to get information off of a computer. And Phil bravely orchestrates the final showdown that gets the bad guys arrested.
But they're not Mr. and Mrs. Smith, here. They also both also have moments of indignity and panic. After keeping his wits about him and getting himself and his wife out of a deserted boathouse, Phil vomits in the street. Likewise, Claire has a couple of freak-outs Phil has to talk her down from. And a scene where they BOTH have to do an erotic dance is priceless.
I also love that it's a tired female police officer that figures out exactly what's going on and saves the day. Not only did it mean a good role for a good actress that could have easily, EASILY been written for a man, but it also drove home the point that this movie is about regular men AND regular women doing the best they can. Just like real life.
(Let me just pause and wonder out loud of we have Tina Fey to thank for a lot of these decisions. Her presence alone in a film seems to almost guarantee a more equitable and realistic portrayal of females.)
Finally, what made this film moving to me way beyond what I expected was Steve Carell's character. He is just an excellent husband. Phil Foster subtly demonstrates love and consideration for his wife and family at every turn. For example, he goes to Claire's book club and participates wholeheartedly, only to find out later that she doesn't even read the books! And toward the end of the film, when he gives a monologue about wanting to do more around the house and with the kids and wanting to be seen as useful, not incompetent, it is just pitch perfect. That moment made me think, "Damn. There are some really good men in the world."
Also, at least when Fey and Carell are involved, there seem to be some really funny movies.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Toy Story 3
Okay, Okay, nice work Pixar! You're not perfect, but I think you're trying!
The low-down. This is a really sweet, fun movie. It's also the film I'd least recommend to anyone going off to college this fall or to somebody with a child who's leaving home. It'll break your heart.
It's still a boy-dominated franchise (in any given scene, do a quick head count of the number of males and females on screen), but I think Pixar's really making an effort here. The movie opens with an imaginary show-down between Woody and Mr. Potato Head. Predictable. But wait! Immediately, Mrs. Potato Head and then Jessie jump into the scene. Yes! It almost, ALMOST felt like the filmmakers were sending a shout-out to the many people like me who have been concerned with the lack of a female presence in their films.
Another moment that was particularly meaningful from a gender perspective was Woody's first experience at Bonnie's house. It begins with her holding a tea party for him and her other dolls. I thought, "Oh brother, here we go." Do you remember how dismissive the first movie was about Molly's tea parties? But, in 3, Pixar handles this brilliantly. Bonnie holds a tea party, but it quickly segues into an escape from an evil witch and then a space adventure. With this one decision, Pixar shows us that they have a much more nuanced view of how little girls actually play than they have previously demonstrated.
Finally, (major spoiler alert here), the fact that Andy passes his beloved dolls on to Bonnie is a huge step. Pixar, in a sense, passes the torch on to a female (10, even 5, years ago I have an inkling they would have written Bonnie's character as a boy). It also sends the message that toys are toys, fun is fun, and imagination is imagination. Play doesn't have to be gendered.
Also, two small points:
1) I like that Jessie's taller than Buzz.
2) I love the computer geek dinosaur Trixie!
A couple of complaints. (Of course.)
They introduce some new female characters, but they also bring in at least as many, probably more, male ones. All of the villains are male, for example. Even the potentially gender-neutral "big baby" is identified by masculine pronouns.
Ken is hilarious. I'll grant them that. But I think they went a little too far with the "I'm not a girl's toy!" vibe.
I could have used a little more involvement from human fathers. The only people who interact with kids in this story are women.
Definite progress for Pixar. I hear they're coming out with a princess movie next. Very interested to see how they do with that.
The low-down. This is a really sweet, fun movie. It's also the film I'd least recommend to anyone going off to college this fall or to somebody with a child who's leaving home. It'll break your heart.
It's still a boy-dominated franchise (in any given scene, do a quick head count of the number of males and females on screen), but I think Pixar's really making an effort here. The movie opens with an imaginary show-down between Woody and Mr. Potato Head. Predictable. But wait! Immediately, Mrs. Potato Head and then Jessie jump into the scene. Yes! It almost, ALMOST felt like the filmmakers were sending a shout-out to the many people like me who have been concerned with the lack of a female presence in their films.
Another moment that was particularly meaningful from a gender perspective was Woody's first experience at Bonnie's house. It begins with her holding a tea party for him and her other dolls. I thought, "Oh brother, here we go." Do you remember how dismissive the first movie was about Molly's tea parties? But, in 3, Pixar handles this brilliantly. Bonnie holds a tea party, but it quickly segues into an escape from an evil witch and then a space adventure. With this one decision, Pixar shows us that they have a much more nuanced view of how little girls actually play than they have previously demonstrated.
Finally, (major spoiler alert here), the fact that Andy passes his beloved dolls on to Bonnie is a huge step. Pixar, in a sense, passes the torch on to a female (10, even 5, years ago I have an inkling they would have written Bonnie's character as a boy). It also sends the message that toys are toys, fun is fun, and imagination is imagination. Play doesn't have to be gendered.
Also, two small points:
1) I like that Jessie's taller than Buzz.
2) I love the computer geek dinosaur Trixie!
A couple of complaints. (Of course.)
They introduce some new female characters, but they also bring in at least as many, probably more, male ones. All of the villains are male, for example. Even the potentially gender-neutral "big baby" is identified by masculine pronouns.
Ken is hilarious. I'll grant them that. But I think they went a little too far with the "I'm not a girl's toy!" vibe.
I could have used a little more involvement from human fathers. The only people who interact with kids in this story are women.
Definite progress for Pixar. I hear they're coming out with a princess movie next. Very interested to see how they do with that.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
I must be on a Pixar kick.
I went to see Toy Story 3 yesterday. I'll write a review soon, but I got kind of interested in what other people are saying about females in Pixar films.
This post makes me want to quit blogging, it's so good.
This post makes me want to quit blogging, it's so good.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Wild Idea of the Day
I'm often met with the argument that little things like whether a protagonist is female or male just don't make an impact on real individuals' lives. Those who make this argument believe that people are people and that girls can look up to men as role models, boys can look up to women, etc. The individuals who hold this viewpoint are also the ones who argue that it's no big deal if brides take their husbands' last names or that little girls wear pink and little boys wear blue. According to them, these subtle messages just don't have an influence on our lives.
I respect and understand this viewpoint. I kind of admire the idealism it represents. People who make this argument are saying that we are strong, tough, independent individuals who don't let anybody tell us what we can and can't do. But I disagree.
Here's some evidence to support my point.
I just read an article by a very smart, very respected economist that compared 500 or so sets of sisters on their likelihood of taking advanced math and science classes in high school. The shocking finding is this: Girls with more feminine first names were less likely to take these advanced courses than their sisters with less feminine names.
The idea is that having a feminine name either makes others treat you as more "girly" OR makes you think of yourself as less "into" traditionally male-dominated subjects (or both). Remember that these findings occur within individual families. So, there are no background differences between these girls - they have the same parents, grew up in the same houses, and go to the same schools. The only difference is how feminine their names are.
I truly, truly believe that messages about who we are supposed to be as men and women are everywhere. I believe we internalize them and make a lot of our decisions according to them. And since I hate limitations and pigeonholes, I believe that if we heard a greater variety of messages, we would be happier, healthier, and have lives that better fit who we really are.
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