The Movie Guide for Women
  • Home
  • Author Bio
  • Women in Film
  • Book Blog
  • Excerpts
  • SHOP

Her (2013) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

6/10/2022

0 Comments

 
This week two of my analyses of Hollywood feature films were published in women-led publications: the first, on the latest MCU movie, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, appeared in Women Making Films (read it here), and the second, on the Spike Jonze directed Her, appeared in The 11th Hour (read it here). 

​Happy Friday!


​Copyright © 2022 Alline Cormier
0 Comments

My first writing contest: honourable mention

6/5/2022

0 Comments

 
Yesterday was full of lovely surprises owing to the fact that I spent the morning at the beach and had supper with friends at a pub. At midday I heard that my first writing contest entry merited an honourable mention, which was particularly gratifying since my creative non-fiction piece centered on women in film. The literary arts society who gave me the honourable mention will publish my short story later this year. More details to come!

While walking along the beach a woman told me about this pretty sea star (picture by my husband), so small I may have missed it if she hadn't brought it to my attention. People are so friendly here
--I'm really enjoying island life. 

Stay tuned. I have more articles about the treatment/portrayals of women and girls in film/TV coming soon. 

Copyright © 2022 Alline Cormier
Picture
0 Comments

Inventing Anna (2022) and Venom (2018)

4/18/2022

0 Comments

 
My article about Inventing Anna (2022) was published in Gender Dissent on April 7. You can read it here. Also, Women Making Films published my review of Venom (2018) today (read it here). This is the third review from my Superhero films through a feminist lens series.

Copyright © 2022 Alline Cormier
0 Comments

The Oscars

4/2/2022

0 Comments

 
My piece about the 94th Academy Awards ceremony (the Oscars) was published in Feminist Current today. You can read it here. Below are some of the pictures of women's outfits that didn't make it into the article.

Copyright © 2022 Alline Cormier
0 Comments

Spider-Man: No Way Home review

3/27/2022

0 Comments

 
Yesterday Women Making Films (India) published my review of Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), the second part of a series of feminist critiques I am writing about superhero films. My review of The Batman (2022) was published last week (read it here). Although I found the latest installment of the Spider-Man franchise entertaining, ultimately it was disappointing because it had little to offer female viewers. You can read my review here.

The Academy Awards ceremony (the Oscars) is tonight, and I'll have some commentary about that soon.


Copyright © 2022 Alline Cormier
Picture
0 Comments

Series: Superhero films through a feminist lens

3/16/2022

0 Comments

 
Yesterday Women Making Films (India) published the first of a series of feminist critiques I am writing about superhero films. This one focused on the latest installment of the Batman franchise, The Batman, which is currently holding the number one spot at the box office. It is a dark film brimming with violence and angry, vengeful men. You can read it here.

My second article for Series: Superhero films through a feminist lens will be published next week.

Women Making Films is a not-for-profit community that, according to its website, "strives to connect, facilitate and showcase the work of its members through film screenings, workshops, film festivals and other interactive programmes." Vaishnavi Sundar, WMF’s founder and a filmmaker and women's rights activist from India, is dedicated to countering the inequality in the film industry and creating a global solidarity of female filmmakers. Her latest film, Dysphoric, is a four-part documentary series on the rise of gender identity ideology and its effects on women and girls, especially in developing countries. 

​
​Copyright © 2022 Alline Cormier
Picture
0 Comments

Happy International Women's Day!

3/8/2022

0 Comments

 

Happy International Women's Day, ladies!

My latest article in Feminist Current shines a spotlight on depictions of prostituted women in Hollywood feature films and discusses Susan Sarandon's tweet last month ("SEX WORK IS WORK!"). You can read it here. 

According to its website, Feminist Current, which was founded in 2012 by Meghan Murphy, "provides a unique perspective on gender, women’s rights, violence against women, pop culture, politics, current events, sexuality, and many other issues that are often underrepresented or misrepresented by mainstream, progressive, and feminist media sources." It is Canada's leading feminist publication. Check it out here.

Copyright © 2022 Alline Cormier

0 Comments

My article in 4W about Hollywood conditioning us to be "good girls"

3/4/2022

0 Comments

 
It looks like today may be a day of surprises. I just discovered on Twitter that a Spanish woman living in Switzerland translated into Spanish my latest article in 4W, which you can read here. Given that I hadn't asked her to do this it took me quite by surprise. You can read her translation here. To my knowledge this is the first time that one of my articles has been translated.

​4W is a publication founded by M. K. Fain in 2019. According to its website, "4W exists to give a platform to today’s feminists who are boldly stepping outside of the mainstream narrative to unapologetically bring you stories about the issues affecting women today." 4W actually pays its female writers, which is uncommon. It also allows women who have otherwise been cancelled and deplatformed to have a voice. In a world sorely lacking in regard for women and girls 4W is a breath of fresh air.

Copyright © 2022 Alline Cormier
0 Comments

My articles in 4W and Feminist Current yesterday

2/16/2022

0 Comments

 
When I awoke yesterday I could not have predicted that I would have articles published in two great feminist publications, but it was a pleasant surprise. In the morning 4W published the piece I had written the day before on filmmaker Ivan Reitman, and in the afternoon Feminist Current published my piece about actress Pamela Anderson, written earlier this month.

My article about director/producer Ivan Reitman focuses on his treatment and portrayal of the female characters in his films. You can read it here.

My second article is a defence of Canadian actress Pamela Anderson's right not to be revictimized, namely through a new miniseries called Pam & Tommy. You can read it here.

According to its website, Feminist Current, which was founded in 2012 by Meghan Murphy, "provides a unique perspective on gender, women’s rights, violence against women, pop culture, politics, current events, sexuality, and many other issues that are often underrepresented or misrepresented by mainstream, progressive, and feminist media sources." It is Canada's leading feminist publication. Check it out here.


(Below: screenshots of Twitter posts by 4W and Feminist Current.)

Copyright © 2022 Alline Cormier​
0 Comments

Valentine’s Day movie picks for women

2/14/2022

0 Comments

 
This Valentine’s Day women should treat themselves to a romance or romantic comedy that has much to offer female viewers. Instead of settling for regressive narratives packaged as great love stories they should indulge in a truly enjoyable movie, preferably with a huge bowl of popcorn and a box of chocolates. The Disney channel currently has several laughable suggestions for female viewers. For instance, Pretty Woman (1990), a story about a poor, uneducated, unworldly American prostitute hired by a cultured millionaire businessman to be her escort for a week, over the course of which they fall in love (written and directed by men). Or Beauty and the Beast (2017), a story about a young woman who falls in love with the beast who sequesters her after her father steals one of his roses (screenplay written and directed by men). Come on! What century is this? Sexual exploitation and Stockholm Syndrome should not be our best options in 2022.

The romance/romantic comedy and drama genres have better offerings. Some movies include a few (and sometimes all) of the following: a female gaze, several significant female characters, affection and congeniality between females (not just antagonism), exchanges between women about things besides men—not to mention an absence of violence against women and girls (VAWG) and hypersexualization of the female characters. The following movie picks do not all contain every one of these inclusions (and exclusions) but they are all enjoyable and have much to offer female viewers. 
Click on the underlined text to watch enjoyable clips from these movies.


  1. Little Women (2019): If you can handle a Christmas movie in February you will be rewarded with a feast for female viewers from director Greta Gerwig. The female protagonist is strong and assertive, it boasts several significant female characters, as well as congeniality, affection and supportiveness between women and women speak throughout. It also offers a female gaze, close relationships between sisters, a critical look at sexism, etc.
  2. Last Christmas (2019): Another Christmas movie, true, but it has a female gaze and so much more. It includes affection, congeniality and many exchanges between women, lesbianism for women’s viewing pleasure—as opposed to men’s, an unconventional ending, etc. Emma Thompson co-wrote it (this is practically a guarantee of excellent screenwriting).
  3. Austenland (2013): Over and above the affection, congeniality and exchanges between the female characters we get disapproval of women’s so-called ‘expiry date’. Rudeness and men’s blameworthy behaviour towards women are portrayed disapprovingly. Written and directed by Jerusha Hess (co-writer: Shannon Hale).
  4. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011): Despite the lack of female involvement in the writing/directing we get narration by a woman, several elderly female protagonists (still too rare in mainstream movies), assertive women, many exchanges between women, etc.
  5. Bewitched (2005): Despite Will Ferrell playing the lead male it is enjoyable. It includes a female gaze, a disapproving look at men silencing women in show business, etc. Men’s blameworthy behaviour towards women is portrayed disapprovingly and women spend time together. Written and directed by Nora Ephron (co-writer: her sister, Delia Ephron).
  6. Pride & Prejudice (2005): Deborah Moggach wrote the screenplay for this adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved story. We get a female perspective, 10 significant female characters, as well as loving relationships, congeniality, solidarity and numerous exchanges between women, etc.
  7. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002): It includes many strong and assertive women, congeniality and affection between women, a good mother/daughter relationship, etc. Also, characters challenge sexist stereotypes. Written by Nia Vardalos.
  8. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999): A story about teenagers but still enjoyable. Among the high points: a female gaze; a smart, articulate, assertive lead female; a female freethinker is portrayed approvingly (so rare); and focus on a girl’s post-secondary education (rarer still). Written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith.
  9. Sense and Sensibility (1995): High points include a female perspective; eight significant female characters; solidarity, numerous exchanges and loving, affectionate relationships between females; and congenial mother/daughter relationships and relationships between sisters. Screenplay by Emma Thompson.
  10. Sleepless in Seattle (1993): High points include a loving friendship between two women, women spend time together, focus on what women look for in men, a popular misconception about women is challenged, etc. Nora Ephron directed and co-wrote.
  11. Dirty Dancing (1987): High points include a female perspective, solidarity and exchanges between women and narration by a woman. Written by Eleanor Bergstein.
​
​Copyright © 2022 Alline Cormier
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    The film analyst who puts women first. Author of an upcoming film guide for women. 
    Watch related movie clips on her YouTube channel (ACPicks). 
    ​Read her articles in Feminist Current, 4W and Women Making Films India.

    Picture

    Archives

    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Site powered by Weebly. Managed by Web Hosting Canada
  • Home
  • Author Bio
  • Women in Film
  • Book Blog
  • Excerpts
  • SHOP