Female presentation in Hollywood films
Audiences need to support the films that actually give us strong and realistic portrayals of female characters if they want a greater range of well-written/strongly-acted female-led movies
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| Hailee Steinfeld shows her combat skills in 'Barely Lethal' (DirecTV Cinema/A24) |
by Jack Linsdell
When it comes to the presentation of women in movies, Hollywood almost every time gets it wrong. Or by wrong, I mean depicts females according to their traditional stereotypes as the "glammed-up damsel in distress" or an "all out ass-kicking" hero and finds no realistic and relatable middle ground. And, I've spoken about this a few times before and I stick by the fact that films that show the "strong but vulnerable" woman are some of the best out there, as they offer a realistic depiction of females to be both emotionally and physically strong, whilst also having vulnerabilities.
Indeed, studios do take the hint every now and then, and offer audiences the chance to support an original or remake of previous IP, female-led flick in which the protagonist has both emotional and physical strength and vulnerabilities and insecurities that make our heroes more grounded and associable. These include, to name a few, 'Atomic Blonde', Alicia Vikander's 'Tomb Raider', 'The 5th Wave', 'Barely Lethal', 'Wonder Woman' and most recently 'The Hate U Give', 'Widows' and 'The Girl In the Spider's Web'. A slight digression, but 'The Hate U Give' is an outstanding film, so much so its become my top pick of 2018, despite the high-standard of competition (read my review here). But, anyway these films are all, like it or not, at the very least solidly-made, well-acted and very entertaining flicks - despite what critic views will tell you. Indeed, most of these films were intended as franchise starters - 'Tomb Raider' and 'The 5th Wave' explicitly set-up sequels that had me excited for more, yet I'm now not going to get because audiences failed to show up in cinemas. The only exception was Gal Gadot's 'Wonder Woman', which is now getting it's sequel because audiences attended cinemas. This must prove to you that if you pay your cinema ticket to see a female-led actioner or drama then studios will continue their plans to create purely female-led franchise often about and made by women, that are at the very least solidly well-made.
If, you don't support these films (regardless of your gender), you cannot complain about James Bond staying male or a lack of true female representation in film. Whether the films are any good or not in your opinion, as a moviegoer you should make exceptions to support studio flicks that are female-led, especially the ones (like those listed above) that actually depict the "strong but vulnerable" emotionally and physically depiction of woman that is so much more associable and grounded in reality. And, even more so, ones that are intended as franchise starters. If you do this, we will get a scenario where we have female-led franchises to match the male-led ones and although they probably wouldn't be as commercially successful, the issue of a lack of quantity and quality of female presentation would be part of the way to being solved. The men have James Bond, the women could have Lorraine Broughton. Males have Captain America, whilst females would have Wonder Woman or Lara Croft. For the blokes, Jason Bourne kicks ass while girls could have Lisbeth Slander. Heck, even when we have male-led Oscar contenders like 'Darkest Hour' showing "strong but insecure men", we could (and hopefully will) have 'The Hate U Give'. The point here, is that the whole issue of females not being allowed to convert the gender of iconic male heroes (except for Doctor Who whom technically isn't defined by anything as a character that defines a gender) to female-ones, is one that lacks any weight. Females could have their own franchises to rival their male counterparts and ones that actually portray females for how they are in real life, not as some sex symbol or object for male heroism.
Surely, women deserve their own original heroes instead of ripping off/converting explicitly male ones?! Yes, having a female Doctor Who is a start when talking about gender equality in Hollywood. But, for those hypocrites out there that seem to jump to conclusions when they don't even support the films that are trying to solve the issues, either stay quiet or do something about it by supporting these female-led films in cinemas and voting with your wallet.
Your chance comes in cinemas over the next few weeks. Jamie Lee Curtis's 'Halloween' sequel, 40 years after John Carpenter's original, presents a "strong but vulnerable" woman. She is a 60-year-old Grandma that kicks Mike Myer's ass with some really well-staged fight scenes, but also is emotionally strong in the way she confronts his pure evil instead of hiding. However, she also is vulnerable, feeling scared of being in Myer's presence (despite her bravery) and one who is so wrapped up in guilt and grief that her emotions spill out on numerous occasions. If not, 'The Hate U Give' is another portrayal of a "strong but vulnerable" woman. Amandla Stenberg's Starr is emotionally strong in confronting racist characters and standing up for what she believes in and physically strong in joining in the riot in the climatic scene. However, she is also deeply insecure with the pressure and cruelty of others to her getting too much for her at points. And, in two weeks we have Claire Foy's 'The Girl in the Spider's Web', which looks to continue that "strong but vulnerable" presentation, riding motorbikes and confronting danger whilst suffering personal vulnerabilities with the mind-games her evil sister seems to be employing. Indeed, if you don't support that film, which is intended to be a franchise starter, the issue is going to be no further forward to being solved.
On Netflix last night I re-watched Hailee Steinfeld's 'Barely Lethal' and that Kim Newman-directed part actioner, part coming-of-age drama is another example of this true female presentation. Her character is a very capable child-assassin, who handles herself very capably in car chases, fight scenes and interrogations. However, he longing to be normal and find true love and friendships also creates a vulnerability which is exploited by the Jessica Alba's villain. If you look around, the opportunity for greater and truer female presentation on-screen in Hollywood is there. All you've got to do is make the effort to support these films and then studios might get the message and our goal for true diversity will be set in motion.
If, you don't support these films (regardless of your gender), you cannot complain about James Bond staying male or a lack of true female representation in film. Whether the films are any good or not in your opinion, as a moviegoer you should make exceptions to support studio flicks that are female-led, especially the ones (like those listed above) that actually depict the "strong but vulnerable" emotionally and physically depiction of woman that is so much more associable and grounded in reality. And, even more so, ones that are intended as franchise starters. If you do this, we will get a scenario where we have female-led franchises to match the male-led ones and although they probably wouldn't be as commercially successful, the issue of a lack of quantity and quality of female presentation would be part of the way to being solved. The men have James Bond, the women could have Lorraine Broughton. Males have Captain America, whilst females would have Wonder Woman or Lara Croft. For the blokes, Jason Bourne kicks ass while girls could have Lisbeth Slander. Heck, even when we have male-led Oscar contenders like 'Darkest Hour' showing "strong but insecure men", we could (and hopefully will) have 'The Hate U Give'. The point here, is that the whole issue of females not being allowed to convert the gender of iconic male heroes (except for Doctor Who whom technically isn't defined by anything as a character that defines a gender) to female-ones, is one that lacks any weight. Females could have their own franchises to rival their male counterparts and ones that actually portray females for how they are in real life, not as some sex symbol or object for male heroism.
Surely, women deserve their own original heroes instead of ripping off/converting explicitly male ones?! Yes, having a female Doctor Who is a start when talking about gender equality in Hollywood. But, for those hypocrites out there that seem to jump to conclusions when they don't even support the films that are trying to solve the issues, either stay quiet or do something about it by supporting these female-led films in cinemas and voting with your wallet.
Your chance comes in cinemas over the next few weeks. Jamie Lee Curtis's 'Halloween' sequel, 40 years after John Carpenter's original, presents a "strong but vulnerable" woman. She is a 60-year-old Grandma that kicks Mike Myer's ass with some really well-staged fight scenes, but also is emotionally strong in the way she confronts his pure evil instead of hiding. However, she also is vulnerable, feeling scared of being in Myer's presence (despite her bravery) and one who is so wrapped up in guilt and grief that her emotions spill out on numerous occasions. If not, 'The Hate U Give' is another portrayal of a "strong but vulnerable" woman. Amandla Stenberg's Starr is emotionally strong in confronting racist characters and standing up for what she believes in and physically strong in joining in the riot in the climatic scene. However, she is also deeply insecure with the pressure and cruelty of others to her getting too much for her at points. And, in two weeks we have Claire Foy's 'The Girl in the Spider's Web', which looks to continue that "strong but vulnerable" presentation, riding motorbikes and confronting danger whilst suffering personal vulnerabilities with the mind-games her evil sister seems to be employing. Indeed, if you don't support that film, which is intended to be a franchise starter, the issue is going to be no further forward to being solved.
On Netflix last night I re-watched Hailee Steinfeld's 'Barely Lethal' and that Kim Newman-directed part actioner, part coming-of-age drama is another example of this true female presentation. Her character is a very capable child-assassin, who handles herself very capably in car chases, fight scenes and interrogations. However, he longing to be normal and find true love and friendships also creates a vulnerability which is exploited by the Jessica Alba's villain. If you look around, the opportunity for greater and truer female presentation on-screen in Hollywood is there. All you've got to do is make the effort to support these films and then studios might get the message and our goal for true diversity will be set in motion.
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