January was a simply brilliant month of cinema, leading to an even better year if we're lucky. We've seen new releases from some of the true giants and geniuses of cinema, such as Scorsese and the Coen Brothers, and new kids on the block like Steve Mcqueen. There were a lot of films covering race and masculinity out last month, but how have the females fared?
American Hustle - 1st January
What's it about?
A Scorsese-esque tale of a group of con artists trying to survive by hustling both their hapless victims and each other. Check out our review here.
Decent Female Characters?
Yep. Thought it's easy for them both to have been broad stereotypes - the mad wife and the sultry mistress - both Adams and Lawrence's characters have moments of humour, sadness, and downright awfulness. Just like the men in the film, they're never just "good" or "bad", making them interesting, well-rounded characters.
Yep. Thought it's easy for them both to have been broad stereotypes - the mad wife and the sultry mistress - both Adams and Lawrence's characters have moments of humour, sadness, and downright awfulness. Just like the men in the film, they're never just "good" or "bad", making them interesting, well-rounded characters.
Does it pass the Bechdel Test?
Yes. Lawrence and Adams's characters talk to each other, (and um, have a quick kiss) though this is mainly about a man, and Lawrence has a conversation with a politician's wife about nail varnish and weird smelling perfume.
Worth seeing?
Depends if you want to see Scorsese-lite or the real thing - if it's the latter, see Wolf of Wall Street instead. The female characters here are good, just be prepared to see about as many leery shots of their breasts and bums are you do their faces. However the film looks amazing - even if everything good about it is style over substance.
12 Years a Slave - 10th January
What's it about?
Yet another true story of horrifying discrimination based on race. Freed man Solomon Northup is tricked and sold into slavery for 12 years.
Decent Female Characters?
Absolutely. While all the male characters in the film are interesting and brilliantly acted, one name and character stands out from the rest - Lupita Nyong'o's Patsey. Played with such force and passion that the film's director Steve McQueen thanked her for being born and Michael Fassbender described her as his "peer", Patsey is one of the most sympathetic and interesting characters of the year. And though their roles are smaller, Adepero Oduye and Sarah Paulson also deliver wonderful performances as a slave whose children are taken away from her and a hardened wife of Fassbender's sadistic slave-owner.
Does it pass the Bechdel Test?
Yes. There are various conversations between slaves and their mistresses, none of them particularly pleasant, mind you.
Worth seeing?
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees. 12 Years is one, if not the most important films of the year, depending on how awards season goes. While the film's focus is of course on the main character of Solomon, as previously mentioned, the female characters in this film are rich, interesting and heartbreaking. And even if you're not fussed about the plight of the women in this film, it's still a must-see, a wonderful horrible and most importantly much needed film about race and slavery.
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees. 12 Years is one, if not the most important films of the year, depending on how awards season goes. While the film's focus is of course on the main character of Solomon, as previously mentioned, the female characters in this film are rich, interesting and heartbreaking. And even if you're not fussed about the plight of the women in this film, it's still a must-see, a wonderful horrible and most importantly much needed film about race and slavery.
The Wolf of Wall Street - 17th January
What's it about?
The rise and fall of real-life Wall Street stockbroker Jordan Belfort, as he goes from a nobody in Queens to a life of excess, only to find it all coming crashing down.
The rise and fall of real-life Wall Street stockbroker Jordan Belfort, as he goes from a nobody in Queens to a life of excess, only to find it all coming crashing down.
Decent Female Characters?
This is one of two films seen solely through the eyes of its protagonist, (see Inside Llewyn Davis, below) so the way that we see women is the way that Jordan sees them. Therefore, all the female characters in this film are rubbish. There's potential with both of Jordan's wives, his secretary and another woman at his work, but all of these women just turn into rushed caricatures. And let's not even get started on how every female character is presented in the film - if you thought the way Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence were filmed in American Hustle was gratuitous, you'll have a heart attack watching this.
This is one of two films seen solely through the eyes of its protagonist, (see Inside Llewyn Davis, below) so the way that we see women is the way that Jordan sees them. Therefore, all the female characters in this film are rubbish. There's potential with both of Jordan's wives, his secretary and another woman at his work, but all of these women just turn into rushed caricatures. And let's not even get started on how every female character is presented in the film - if you thought the way Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence were filmed in American Hustle was gratuitous, you'll have a heart attack watching this.
Does it pass the Bechdel Test?
Surprisingly yes. Jordan's trophy wife, Naomi has conversations with her friend Hildy about her aunt's death, and with the maid to make sure her child is okay.
Surprisingly yes. Jordan's trophy wife, Naomi has conversations with her friend Hildy about her aunt's death, and with the maid to make sure her child is okay.
Worth seeing?
I personally was VERY disappointed with the film, which I had been looking forward to for months, but I know a lot of people disagree with me. If you're a Scorsese or DiCaprio fan, you're definitely going to want to see it. It's the sort of film that, regardless of whether you actually want to see it, you'll end up going to just to see what all the hype was about.
I personally was VERY disappointed with the film, which I had been looking forward to for months, but I know a lot of people disagree with me. If you're a Scorsese or DiCaprio fan, you're definitely going to want to see it. It's the sort of film that, regardless of whether you actually want to see it, you'll end up going to just to see what all the hype was about.
August: Osage County - 24th January
What's it about?
After the patriarch of the Weston family disappears, his daughters gather from across the country to look after their sick, chain-smoking, foul-mouthed mother. Needless to say, things do not go well.
After the patriarch of the Weston family disappears, his daughters gather from across the country to look after their sick, chain-smoking, foul-mouthed mother. Needless to say, things do not go well.
Decent Female Characters?
It totally depends on your definition of "decent". Strong, noble female characters? Nope. Shrieking, sad, messed-up, pill popping opinionated women of all ages? You bet. This is a rare film where female characters are allowed to just as flawed and messed up as their male counterparts - more so in fact in this film, as the men of this film are relatively more together than the women - and it's a joy to behold.
It totally depends on your definition of "decent". Strong, noble female characters? Nope. Shrieking, sad, messed-up, pill popping opinionated women of all ages? You bet. This is a rare film where female characters are allowed to just as flawed and messed up as their male counterparts - more so in fact in this film, as the men of this film are relatively more together than the women - and it's a joy to behold.
Does it pass the Bechdel Test?
100 percent. The Weston women do talk about men and relationships a lot, but they also talk about a variety of others topics too.
100 percent. The Weston women do talk about men and relationships a lot, but they also talk about a variety of others topics too.
Worth seeing?
The film as a whole is average, one of those that feels very static and long, which is understandable considering that it has been adapted from a play. But as I've said before, it is wonderful to see such a variety of female characters, and in all honesty, anything with Meryl Streep in is always going to be at least a little bit watchable.
The film as a whole is average, one of those that feels very static and long, which is understandable considering that it has been adapted from a play. But as I've said before, it is wonderful to see such a variety of female characters, and in all honesty, anything with Meryl Streep in is always going to be at least a little bit watchable.
Inside Llewyn Davis - 24th January
What's it about?
The film follows musician and general sad-sack Llewyn Davis through New York and beyond as he attempts to make a name for himself, return his friends cat to them, and find a couch to sleep on.
Decent Female Characters?
Tough one. Coen Brothers films, Fargo aside, tend to have male main characters with supporting female characters who range from very good (see Raising Arizona, True Grit, The Hudsucker Proxy, Intolerable Cruelty) to a bit stereotypical or whiny. (see O Brother, Where Art Thou? and The Big Lebowski) This is the case here. As the title suggests, the film is all about the inner world of Llewyn Davis, and therefore we see women the way he sees them - shrewd, mean, and trying to stop him achieving his goals. Carey Mulligan's Jean is kind of a one-note character, but the way that she's played suggests there's something more going on within her.
Tough one. Coen Brothers films, Fargo aside, tend to have male main characters with supporting female characters who range from very good (see Raising Arizona, True Grit, The Hudsucker Proxy, Intolerable Cruelty) to a bit stereotypical or whiny. (see O Brother, Where Art Thou? and The Big Lebowski) This is the case here. As the title suggests, the film is all about the inner world of Llewyn Davis, and therefore we see women the way he sees them - shrewd, mean, and trying to stop him achieving his goals. Carey Mulligan's Jean is kind of a one-note character, but the way that she's played suggests there's something more going on within her.
Does it pass the Bechdel Test?
No. Though Llewyn interacts with several women, this is always through one to one conversations or in the presence of other men.
No. Though Llewyn interacts with several women, this is always through one to one conversations or in the presence of other men.
Worth seeing?
For a cinema-goer? Yes, absolutely. The Coens almost always get it right, particularly their period dramas, and Llewyn Davis really is up there in their best films. If you're looking for a piece of cinema with female characters? It's still worth it just for Carey Mulligan's rants, but you may be a little disappointed.
For a cinema-goer? Yes, absolutely. The Coens almost always get it right, particularly their period dramas, and Llewyn Davis really is up there in their best films. If you're looking for a piece of cinema with female characters? It's still worth it just for Carey Mulligan's rants, but you may be a little disappointed.
Grace Barber-Plentie
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