weekend watchlist: is it good to be the queen?
Plus a teenage con artist, a skewering of late-night comedy, and more… (First published September 18th, 2022, on Substack and Patreon.)
Naomi Watts
movies by or about women opening US/Can Dec 06
Jessica Hausner directs and writes, with Géraldine Bajard, Little Joe, starring Emily Beecham; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
movies by or about women opening UK/Ire Nov 22
Kasi Lemmons cowrites and directs Harriet, starring Cynthia Enrivo; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
Luce movie review: whom to believe, and what that says about us
Intense, uncomfortable family drama morphs into psychological suspense in a challenging tale of racial and cultural identity eliding the biases and delusions of its characters with the viewer’s own.
movies by or about women opening US/Can Aug 02
Whitney Hamilton writes, directs, and stars in historical drama Union; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
movies by or about women opening US/Can Jun 26–28
Lila Avilés directs and cowrites drama The Chambermaid (La Camarista), starring Gabriela Cartol; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
The Divergent Series: Allegiant movie review: walled in by reality
A disappointing downfall from the previous films, the appealing metaphor for nonconformity giving way to dull good-vs-evil battle and dumb plot conundrums.
Where Are the Women? While We’re Young
Despite allusions to the careers of the two main female characters, they are primarily adjuncts to their men, whose stories are all about their work. [This post is not behind the paywall.]
While We’re Young movie review: 40 is the new 14
This stinging GenX midlife meltdown is a bit strained in its plot, but that’s balanced out by lots of melancholy wisdom and bittersweet wit.
The Divergent Series: Insurgent movie review: being human
Sneakily undercuts tropes of the young-adult hero’s journey. But in a more adventurous movie environment, this wouldn’t feel this fresh as it does.
