Hunger Games: What do you mean, the black girl was black?
After The Hunger Games was released in the U.S. on Friday, “fans” who hadn’t seen a lot of advance materials got the shock of their lives to see a black character depicted by a black actress. Rue, played by the adorable Amandla Sternberg, was described as having “dark brown skin and eyes”–thus the ruination of the film at the hands of a dark-skinned, dark-eyed actress. And where else would enraged moviegoers turn but Twitter?
...read moreA night at the Oscars (“Phew. There. I solved racism!”)
Managed to miss this year’s Oscar nominees, and now you’re biting your nails because the big night is coming and you aren’t prepared?! Me, either. But the good people at Jest have us covered in adorable fashion, with Kids Reenact the Oscar Nominees. For instance, if you missed The Help, little kids can show you what you missed.
...read moreThe best thing you will read today about Breaking Dawn
And vampire-fetus-babies and misogyny and female desire and abuse and rough sex and mother-martyrs:
...read moreWelcome to the twisted glory that is Mormon housewife turned teen-lit sensation Stephenie Meyer’s imagination.
On the pages of Breaking Dawn Meyer let that imagination, which has been hovering under the repressed surface of the series’ previous three books, run rampant: Bedboard-breaking, feather-spilling, bruising honeymoon sex. A demonic pregnancy that grows so fast the fetus is nudging and jumping around the heroine’s womb days after conception. A grown-up werewolf falling in love with a half-vampire infant. And our heavily-pregnant heroine sipping blood from a soda cup–and loving it–just before her ribs and spine are shattered by the immortal spawn she’s carrying. It gets better: a c-section performed by vampire teeth. A shot of venom straight to the heart. A crazed childless vampire woman who will protect the fetus at all costs.
God, somebody tell me why: Bridesmaids
So last night, we rented Bridesmaids. We were already there at the Redbox, it was right there in front of us, and it was supposed to be a hilarious and heartwarming romp, right? It got critical accolades, it got 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes–it should be a laff riot, right? Holy shit, Batman. Bridesmaids is [...]
...read more“Budrus” documentary on peace activism
Last week I saw a fantastic documentary: “Budrus“, an inspiring look at some of the non-violent activism that is shaping the Israel/Palestine conflict right now. Snip from the site: “Budrus” is an award-winning feature documentary film about a Palestinian community organizer, Ayed Morrar, who unites local Fatah and Hamas members along with Israeli supporters in [...]
...read moreIn which I indulge myself in brief admiration of Helen Mirren
I kind of love Helen Mirren. I just think that for the most part, she’s a classy dame. I like that she takes no shit. I like that it looks like she knows how to have fun. I like how outspoken she is about the dangers of gender stereotyping, and the importance of mentors and [...]
...read moreFlick Chicks
A guide to women in the movies, by Mindy Kaling.
...read moreWhat romantic comedies can teach us about ourselves
God, I hate romantic comedies with a fiery passion. It’s a cliche, I know–look, the bitter, humorless feminist hates love and laughter–but they make my teeth itch. I don’t fault anyone else for enjoying them, if that’s their thing, but I can’t get over the repeated implication in every single movie that I’m supposed to [...]
...read moreI Don’t Know How She Does It
Luckily, someone else has figured it out.
...read moreGo see The Interrupters
I caught this new documentary by Steve James (Hoop Dreams, Stevie) & Alex Kotlowitz (There Are No Children Here) during its sold-out run at the Siskel Center last week. Trailer: The Interrupters Imagine walking down a street where everyone is armed – with guns, rocks, knives – and a fight is breaking out. Imagine walking [...]
...read moreWhat I mean when I talk about movies that bore the everloving shit out of me.
For some masochistic reason, I ended up watching the trailer for The Art of Getting By today. Here’s the official synopsis: THE ART OF GETTING BY stars Freddie Highmore (Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as George, a lonely and fatalistic teen who’s made it all the way to his senior year without ever [...]
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