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2011 Oscar Nods Announced – Congrats to the Ladies!
Published on 2012-01-24 19:56:33
It’s that time of the year again when the Oscar nominations are announced in oh so serious, dulcet tones by Tom Sherak, president of AMPAS and some lovely Oscar-nominated (or winning) lass of seasons past. This morning it was Jennifer Lawrence, last year’s pre-eminent gleaming blonde ingenue. Because of the theme of this blog, I’m [...] > read more
Review: War Horse – Touching Schmaltz
Published on 2012-01-02 16:02:01
I’ll admit this right off the bat: I didn’t really want to see this film but unfortunately I was too late for a showing of The Descendants and sadly, The Artist wasn’t playing anywhere near me. So reluctantly, I agreed to see this flick. All in all, I’m glad I went. Despite my fears that [...] > read more
Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Disappointing, Dreary Remake
Published on 2011-12-26 16:32:44
Okay, here are two things you need to know before you read my review of the American remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. 1) I’ve read all three books of Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium” trilogy (the first in the series, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is the book upon which the current David [...] > read more
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Announces 2011 AWFJ EDA Nominees
Published on 2011-12-24 15:28:17
The Alliance of Women Film Journalists is pleased to announce the nominees for the 2011 AWFJ EDA Awards. The winners will be announced on January 10, 2012. As in years past, the awards categories include all of the standard bests that are presented by other critics groups. But, in addition, AWFJ has our unique Female Focus Awards and [...] > read more
Ten Great Bad Films With Cult Followings
Published on 2011-08-23 07:12:33
Courtesy of Zencollegelife.com, check out their 10 “awesomely bad” movies with cult followings. I agree with “Mommy Dearest,” “Showgirls” and “Rocky Horror Show” but I will cede to them when it comes to the others I haven’t seen. Have a read and enjoy: http://www.zencollegelife.com/10-awesomely-bad-films-with-cult-followings/ (FYI, I’m taking a summer break from the blog–I’ll be back [...] > read more
The 10 Absolute Creepiest Moments in David Lynch’s Oeuvre
Published on 2011-07-05 09:44:59
Back in the 1980s when I had less gray hair, I used to be a big fan of David Lynch. He was the hot, up and coming cinematic wunderkind; and although he had a penchant for exploring the bizarre and eccentric in his films, he always executed it with a > read more
Broadway Dressers share their tips for success
Published on 2011-06-22 09:09:08
Read my article on Broadway dressers in TheaterMania.com! Here’s the link: http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/news/06-2011/dresser-up_38290.html > read more
The 20 Best Movies About Money
Published on 2011-06-09 08:08:55
Movies about money and the people who make or lose them have always been great fodder. From Oliver Stone’s classic greed is good yuppie cautionary epic, “Wall Street” to HBO’s recent “Too Big to Fail” (about the 20 > read more
Trailer for Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” – Check It Out
Published on 2011-06-02 10:31:29
David Fincher’s long-awaited version of Stieg Larsson’s hugely popular “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is coming to theaters at the end of the year. The film, which stars Daniel Craig as the tremendously irresistible (reader > read more
Review: “Midnight in Paris” – Charming Time-Travel Fable
Published on 2011-05-25 08:04:28
In the new Woody Allen film, Midnight in Paris, the slightly fallen auteur returns to somewhat stellar form with a charming time-travel fable set in the City of Love. Having reached his peak in the 70s and 80s with such films as Annie Hall (a favorit > read more
Matlick’s “Tree of Life” and Kirsten Dunst win top awards at Cannes!
Published on 2011-05-22 13:31:30
Wow! Terence Matlick’s “Tree of Life,” which stars Brad Pitt as a stern, disciplinarian father and Sean Penn (a huge Matlick fan himself) as his son, has won the big award at the Cannes Film Festival-the Palme d’Or. Also, Kirs > read more
“Bridesmaids” Takes in $26.2 Million Opening Weekend!
Published on 2011-05-16 18:45:45
According to box office estimates, the film overperformed its opening weekend. That’s good news! Now perhaps studios will greenlight more female-driven or female buddy flicks. Yeah! > read more
Review – “Bridesmaids” – Hilarious Meditation on Friendship
Published on 2011-05-14 17:56:40
In Paul Feig’s Bridesmaids, Annie (SNL’s Kristen Wiig), a thirtysomething single living in Milwaukee, is at a low point in her life: Her pastry shop, in which she has sunk a great deal of money, has closed prematurely, a victim of the rec > read more
“I Don’t Own a TV” – PRETENTIOUS IDIOTS!
Published on 2011-05-13 18:55:00
Have you ever been somewhere–maybe a class, a party, a get-together, whatever–and someone will make the above remark when the conversation steers to favorite TV shows? Don’t you just want to throttle this pompous self-important idio > read more
New Feature Idea: What Do You Think?
Published on 2011-05-12 08:25:50
Rather than wait for the next review of a film that ostensibly targets women, I’ve been brainstorming feature ideas for this blog, one of which is to feature Q & A’s with women who work behind the scenes in film. Please let me know wh > read more
Review – “Something Borrowed” – Schadenfreude Rules
Published on 2011-05-07 09:55:04
I know I should hate this film but I don’t. In fact, throughout the film’s running length of two hours, my attention rarely meandered from what was happening on screen. This is attributable to the fact I did root for the main character Ra > read more
Early Review – My Week with Marilyn – Superb Branagh but Williams Disappoints
Published on 2011-04-29 15:09:19
She’s been dead for nearly 50 years but that hasn’t stopped the cottage industry profiting from her memory one iota: Books, movies, documentaries, heck even conspiracy theories (related mostly to her death) still proliferate like so much > read more
Friend or Frenemy?
Published on 2011-04-28 10:52:12
According to Websters, a frenemy is someone who pretends to be your friend but really isn’t. Or it’s a rival. And Urban Dictionary defines a frenemy who might have once been a friend but has since degenerated into something else-a rival, > read more
French Actress Marie France Pisier Dies at 66
Published on 2011-04-27 09:09:31
I was so sorry to read this! I remember her from that cheesy over the top movie “The Other Side of Midnight.” I saw it as a teenager with my aunt and uncle when I was visiting them in Israel. I also remember her from that equally cheesy b > read more
The Phoniness of Facebook – Ludicrous 24/7 Nirvana
Published on 2011-04-26 12:26:36
When I became a member of Facebook, that hugely popular social network started by a Harvard dropout who may or may not have stolen the idea for this multi-billion dollar phenomenon from two genetically blessed Aryan twin brothers, I did so for the pu > read more
Review – Water for Elephants – Bland Circus Drama
Published on 2011-04-24 09:53:26
When I first saw the trailers for the newly released Water for Elephants, I felt a flutter of excitement, kind of the way a child feels the first time he or she is at a circus. That reaction is apt considering the backdrop for this film, based on a n > read more
Review – The Conspirator – Pontificating Bore
Published on 2011-04-22 09:45:21
You would think that a movie that chronicles the kangeroo court presiding over the fate of Mary Surratt, the only woman tried and convicted in the Lincoln assassination plot, would have such historic gravitas it would demand an equally dramatic retel > read more
Blog Won’t be Strictly Film-Focused Anymore
Published on 2011-04-21 21:15:06
Because I want this blog to become active again, I’ve decided that even though I will continue to post reviews and film-focused features, I’m going to diversify to include other topics that interest me–after all, this is my blog. Bu > read more
Just Came Back From Seeing “The Conspirator” – What a Bore!
Published on 2011-04-21 21:11:29
I’m very disappointed as both a history buff and a moviegoer (and fan of Robert Redford who directed the film). I’ll post my review tomorrow–probably late afternoon. Next up will be Water for Elephants. > read more
Guest Blogger’s Movie Review – Jane Eyre – Still As Haunting As Ever
Published on 2011-04-20 12:10:06
by Alexis Bonari I have a secret. Even though I majored in creative writing in college, I’ve never read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. I know; I’m a woman, I’m a bibliophile, but I’ve just never done it. I did watch the current cinematic r > read more
Sorry for Delay in Posting: Will Be Back Soon
Published on 2011-04-13 13:45:12
Hi, everyone! Sorry for the delay in updates. I’ll be back soon with reviews of The Conspirator (Robert Redford’s new film about the only woman hanged in the plot to assassinate Lincoln) and the 500th remake of Jane Eyre. I’ve been > read more
Doubleheader Reviews – The Lincoln Lawyer/Source Code
Published on 2011-04-02 10:02:08
Okay, I know I’ve been scarce on this blog the past few weeks but work and a new writing project prevented me from making regular updates. Also, now that the “Oscar season” is over, not that many decent films, certainly films that t > read more
RIP Elizabeth Taylor – Last of the Great Hollywood Broads
Published on 2011-03-23 08:08:24
She died this morning at age 79 of heart failure. Not only was she a celebrated movie icon, legend but also a great humanitarian and the first high-profile AIDs advocate. God bless her. Say hello to Richard Burton, Mike Todd and Monty. > read more
25 Books For Cinephiles! Check Them Out
Published on 2011-03-07 09:24:42
Are you considering reading a film book for the spring but you don’t know where to start? You’ve come to the right place. Webdesignschoolsguide.com has just put out a list of the top 25 books for cinephiles. And I must … Continue re > read more
2011 Oscars – A Snoozefest – But To Be Expected
Published on 2011-02-28 09:45:00
The critics who have been blasting last night’s Oscar show as the “worst Oscarcast” in history have selective amnesia. Yes, the show was a bore but then it’s always a bore unless something remarkable–like an upset– > read more
Tonight’s Oscars: No Big Surprises–Really
Published on 2011-02-27 08:36:42
For tonight’s Oscars, I don’t expect we’re going to see any huge surprises in the top categories. Pretty much who we expect to win (Colin Firth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Aaron Sorkin for the screenplay of The Social Network) > read more
Sex and the City 2 Sweeps (Oy) the Razzies
Published on 2011-02-27 08:24:55
Oy…Yesterday the 201o Razzies (they’re the anti-Oscars) announced their winners. And it looks like Sex and The City 2 “won” big with “honors” in the following category: Best Actress (entire cast), Best Screen Ensem > read more
Black Swan Scores Big Wins at 2011 Indie Spirit Awards
Published on 2011-02-27 08:16:33
Yesterday (on Oscars eve), the 2011 Independent Spirit Awards gave out its awards for the year. Top honors went to Darren Aronofsky (Best Director) for Black Swan, Oscar frontrunner Natalie Portman (Best Actress) and Best Feature (Black Swan). Oscars > read more
Movie Review: Just Go With It – Worst Film of 2011 So Far
Published on 2011-02-15 12:17:05
Okay, we’re barely into 2011 but after seeing the cinematic atrocity that is Just Go With It this past weekend, I think I may have found the year’s worst film so far (I’m sure there will be scores of contenders … Continue read > read more
Saw Just Go With It Yesterday–AWFUL!!!
Published on 2011-02-14 07:44:41
Honestly, it’s only February 2011 and so far, this movie has my vote as the WORST of the year. Horrendous. Jennifer Aniston: Please fire your agent! Review (god help me) to come soon. > read more
What a Nice Surprise! Marion Cotillard Joins Cast of The Dark Knight Rises
Published on 2011-02-14 07:30:14
Initially, I thought she would make a great Catwoman but Anne Hathaway is now playing that role in the upcoming sequel to The Dark Knight. I thought Cotillard’s pregnancy (she’s due in April according to People.com) took her out of … > read more
R.I.P. Maria Schneider – Last Tango Girl Loses Battle with Cancer
Published on 2011-02-03 12:44:16
Marlon Brando’s co-star in Last Tango in Paris has died at the age of 58 after a long bout with cancer. I’m very sorry to hear this. I remember going to see Last Tango at the Bleeker Street Cinema (or … Continue reading → > read more
Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue Cover
Published on 2011-02-02 10:46:59
Vanity Fair’s annual Hollywood issue is out with the March edition. And true to past precedent, the magazine has a glossy cover (or rather gatefold) with some of Tinseltown’s most “exciting” (they say) up and coming stars. As > read more
Thank you Oscars Gods! Michelle Williams is IN!!!
Published on 2011-01-25 08:15:32
Yeah! The Oscar nominations have just been announced and Michelle Williams got the fifth Best Actress slot! (Okay, most likely, she’s NOT going to win–it’ll probably be Natalie Portman). But I’m so pleased the Oscar gods liste > read more
Please Oscar Gods: Nominate Michelle Williams
Published on 2011-01-24 13:36:03
Tomorrow the Oscar nominations will be announced and I only have one wish: Please, god of movies, make Michelle Williams the fifth Best Actress slot! So far, four actresses–Annette Bening, Natalie Portman, Jennifer Lawrence and Nicole Kidman ar > read more
Review: No Strings Attached – Slight Cut Above the Usual Rom-Com
Published on 2011-01-22 10:13:55
I must make a confession: I am not a fan of rom-coms. Not. One. Bit. It’s a genre I find not only exceedingly played out but filled with cliches (i.e. the guy chasing the girl down at the end and … Continue reading → > read more
Anne Hathaway cast as Catwoman in upcoming “Dark Knight” sequel
Published on 2011-01-19 16:18:57
I’m disappointed. I really wanted Marion Cotillard to be cast as Catwoman but I’m sure her pregnancy took her out of the running. Still, it could be worse: Natalie Portman (who’s great in “Black Swan,” probably the last > read more
R.I.P. Susannah York
Published on 2011-01-16 10:46:16
Sad news. Susannah York, the lovely and talented blonde actress who co-starred in a number of popular films in the 1960s and 1970s, died of advanced bone marrow cancer. She was 72 years old. York, who was nominated for a … Continue reading U > read more
Looking Forward to the Golden Globes – A Preview: Liquored-up Celebs
Published on 2011-01-16 10:18:20
I’m not going to make any predictions for tonight’s Golden Globes ceremony. I can’t really call it a precursor to the Oscars because very often the Globes (which are doled out by the venal Hollywood Foreign Press, a small press R > read more
“10 Famous Films You Didn’t Know Were Allegories”
Published on 2011-01-12 10:23:39
Courtesy of Films For Women reader, Emma Taylor, I want you all to take a look at the excellent and very insightful article, “10 Famous Films You Didn’t Know Were Allegories” recently posted on the Accredited Online Colleges website > read more
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Names “Social Network” Best Pic
Published on 2011-01-10 13:21:18
This surprises me because I thought it was going to be either “Winter’s Bone” or “The Kids Are All Right.” I guess this org didn’t want to step out of line with the overwhelming critical consensus. Fincher was name > read more
Review: Blue Valentine – Anatomy of the Birth and Death of a Marriage
Published on 2011-01-09 14:50:47
At the beginning of his immortal novel, “Anna Karenina,” a story about a respectable upper-middle class Russian matron in the Tsarist era who destroys her life by having an illicit affair with the dashing Count Vronsky (who later tires of > read more
Saw ’69 “True Grit” on TV: Yes, the Coens’ Version IS Better
Published on 2011-01-09 10:59:39
Although John Wayne is fun to watch as Rooster Cogburn at no point did I (unlike Jeff Bridges) see him as any other than John Wayne. Kim Darby was terrible as Mattie Ross–just ghastly .Glen Campbell was wooden as LaBeouf. … Continue readi > read more
Black Swan – “Hilarious” and “Campy” – Can’t Say I Disagree
Published on 2011-01-06 15:10:10
In my review of Black Swan, I called it “deliciously demented.” That opinion hasn’t changed since I’ve seen the film. Recently, this dance blogger (who calls herself “Tonya”) put up a post reviewing the film. She&# > read more
Review: Rabbit Hole – Quiet, Well Acted Film About Grief’s Aftermath
Published on 2011-01-03 11:04:03
I first saw David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Rabbit Hole” (the source material for the current film starring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart), in its theater incarnation at Broadway’s Biltmore Theater durin > read more
Good Riddance to a Lousy Year!
Published on 2010-12-31 08:03:14
I don’t think when I’m at the end of my life and I look back wistfully at certain periods that 2010 will be one of them. Let’s see–2010–how do I hate thee? Let me count the ways: I had a … Continue reading → > read more