Absolutely and I’m glad you acknowledge that there’s chick flix and blokes fillums and there’s nothing wrong with that. A lot of people dislike the term chick flick but they know what we mean. And also Greta makes what are commonly called “women’s films” but they’re high grade stuff and I love them.
But they just are! Sometimes, anyway, "chick flicks" and "bloke fillums," as you very Oirishly say. Films are made in genres, mostly, and there is beauty in that. I have no problem with that, as long as people approach films with open minds. I love that you are a Greta Gerwig fan, and yes, she does rather make "women's films." I believe she remade "Little Women." There's a flag. LOL.
Action flicks and Tarantino etc, I don’t see anything wrong with this. Muscular hyper male things, that’s fine because it’s either entertaining or it isn’t. The audience isn’t stupid. I don’t buy into ideas like toxic masculinity or a lot modern thought regarding gender roles (I’m not against everything in this area, I’m glad to see great women directors get their chance just as much as I’m glad to see anyone who’s great get their chance, doesn’t matter to me their race or their gender) so I don’t get distracted by thinking if something is offensive. If it’s offensive, switch it off. Watch something else. Generally films follow the money and when genres become stale and overworked, they fade, maybe to return some day.
Totally agreed. If you make a good film, people will (usually) go and see it. (Or find it, eventually.) There is something to be said for diversity of filmmakers and stories, because not everyone has felt themselves represented on screen or behind the camera, and there is money to be made in broadening appeal, which has been learned. But also, when a piece of art gets made, like "Moonlight," it catches a wide audience, exactly because, as you say, people aren't stupid, and they respond to real art. Not the "paint-by-numbers" version of diversity, but real people stories, or really well-spun yarns.
Hopefully Marvel films fade and don’t return.
Amen. I completely bemoan that Hollywood is almost completely committed to comic books and franchises...repeating themselves endlessly. Don't get me wrong...there are comic book movies I have loved. But the fear-based notion that the only thing that can succeed is what has already succeeded will kill Hollywood.
You mentioned Alien. Who even thinks about it that Ripley is the main character? This is because it’s germane to the plot, and not far fetched, and not politically forced onto the filmmaker. And it’s a great film. Same with Sarah Connor. Nobody batted an eye. Recently I watched the excellent addition to the Predator movies - Prey. I thought it was excellent and that Amber Midthunder was perfect as the lead.
I don’t have any issues with this kind of thing. As long as it’s creative and driven by creative people, it’ll either work or not work.
Sarah Conner in "Terminator" franchise...well-mentioned. Films made by great filmmakers (even though I don't love David Cameron, across the board.) They had great stories and told them. Sarah Conner could only have been a woman, because she was the mother. But when the first film was a hit, he made a genius follow-up, and made her a total badass.
As for the women’s films I like, I get mushy in a macho way over a lot of films the missus wants to watch. And I say “the missus wants to watch” because generally I wouldn’t put them on. Except A Good Year by Ridley Scott, with Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard. I love that film, just simply because I feel good watching it. Sense and Sensibility, some funny Richard Curtis stuff like Love Actually, I’m not above watching things like that at Christmas. Old classics with great old actresses.
I haven't seen "A Good Year," but I love Ridley, so I'll look out for it. Funny, I wondered if "Love, Actually" would get a mention. I absolutely HATED that film when it came out, but my mom loved it, so we watched it every Christmas, just the two of us, before the whole family showed up, usually, and I just love it now.
I don’t look down on women’s films, they’re different and that’s what we need. I think that any film can be ruined by the anachronistic intrusion of modern politics, but generally if the creatives are in control, I have my preferences but no prejudices…
There are plenty of great "women's films," especially from the early days. I have no doubt that you don't look down on them. I think we both agree that a good story, well-told, is the answer. Not a film Frankensteined together by committee.
Which is why the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon caught hold this summer. Two very different films, but made by real filmmakers, with a point of view. People were hungry for a good film, on the big screen.
