10 Kick-Ass “Chick Flicks”

In 1987, March was designated “Women’s History Month”. During this month we honor amazing women who have blazed trails and changed the world. In celebration of these women, and in honor of this very special month (also my birthday month), here are my 10 favorite “Chick Flicks”:

10 – Fargo (1996)
I love the Coen Brothers because they direct films (From “Fargo” to “True Grit”) that feature kick-ass women! Fargo is a dark comedy-crime about a man who, seeking ransom money from his wealthy father-in-law, has his wife kidnapped. The kidnapping is botched and several innocent victims are killed as a result. The heroine in this story is a pregnant police officer who, in spite of her naive soccer mom demeanor, is a brilliant and hardnosed detective. She solves the crime, thanks to her astute deductions, while her bumbling male counterparts scratch their heads in confusion.

9 – The Group (1966)
Before four women moved to New York to discuss sex and the city, eight women graduated from college and took on the world. “The Group” is set in the 1940’s and follows eight women as they explore life after college. Divorce, sexuality, psychosis, birth control, the “glass ceiling” and several other hot button issues are discussed in this film. Perhaps most beautifully, however, is how the bond of this tight knit group provides support to each woman as she faces her inner demons. The film, as well as the book it was adapted from, was controversial when released in the 1960s. However, it is perhaps most shocking that many of the controversial issues address in “The Group” are still relevant today.

8- Bend It like Beckham (2002)
It takes a truly kick-ass girl to kick ass on a soccer field. Jess, a tomboy living in London, is torn between her family’s traditional values and her love for the game of soccer. She befriends Juliet, a fellow player who also dreams of going pro. Throughout the film, the girls struggle to overcome cultural and gender stereotypes. The most climactic moment occurs when the girls are forced to choose between following their dreams and abiding by society’s expectations.

7 – Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Julia Roberts plays Katherine, a newly hired Art History professor at Wellesley College in 1953. Katherine soon discovers that the students have enrolled in college for the sole purpose of finding husbands. Appalled, she embarks on a crusade to help these ladies discover what it means to be a liberated woman. The college labels her a trouble maker and Katherine is soon forced to take a stand for what she believes in. This film melts my heart every time I watch it – and not simply because I’m also a graduate of a women’s college!

6 – The First Wives’ Club (1996)
I remember watching this film in the theater during its opening weekend. Movie patrons (mostly women) stood up and cheered as the final credits rolled and Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton and Bette Midler danced off the screen singing “You Don’t Own Me”. Watching “The First Wives’ Club” over a decade later, I still root for these characters who, after being discarded by their husbands, exact calculated (and at times hilarious) revenge. The coolest thing about this story is that even after the women find closure they help other wronged women find the same peace.

5 – Adam’s Rib (1949)
Amanda, a high powered attorney played by Katherine Hepburn, takes on her husband Adam, an equally successful attorney, in a high profile court case. The case involves a young woman who shoots and injures her husband after learning of his infidelity. The husband presses charges and hires Adam as his Attorney. Amanda, understanding that importance of the outcome, takes on the wife’s case. Although the case quickly turns into a comedic three-ringed circus, women cheer as Hepburn’s character gallantly comes to the defense of scorned married women and challenges gender biases.

4 – The Color Purple (1985)
If we were talking about Alice Walker’s iconic novel, this entry would be number one. But, in my opinion, Stephen Spielberg’s interpretation falls just short of Walker’s “womanistic” vision. However, this movie soars in telling a triumphant tale and has moved audiences across the globe to tears and cheers. Celie, a poor and abused African American woman, finds her voice after years of being oppressed by the men in her life. With the help of a few strong women, our protagonist is able to find strength in the arms of sisterhood.

3 – A League of Their Own (1992)
When I decided to create this kick-ass list, “A League of Their Own” was the first film to come to mind. In one of my favorite of his countless roles, Tom Hanks plays a fallen-from-grace baseball player who has been coerced into coaching a baseball team in the first all women’s league. The women in this film are hardcore athletes with a complete devotion to the game of baseball. Their undying commitment to this sport is touching and extremely inspiring – especially since the film is set in the 1940s, a time when women were rarely accepted outside of their kitchen.

2 – Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
I have always believed Queen Elizabeth I, daughter of King Henry VIII, to be the epitome of kick-ass. In the face of corruption and the threat of assassination she claimed her rightful thrown and ruled solo for 70 years, ushering in one of the longest eras of prosperity and peace that England had experienced up until that time. In this film we see the Elizabeth fight for her crown, defend her country against the Spanish Armada and declare herself Virgin Queen – unmarried mother to all England.

1 – Mulan (1998)
To spare her aging father from fighting, Mulan, a clumsy young girl who hasn’t quite found her place in Chinese society, impersonates a male soldier and enlists in the army. She becomes a skilled warrior and soon faces off against the vicious Huns. I love that Mulan literally kicks ass on the battlefield as well as the fact that she sends a powerful message to young girls. Unlike Cinderella and Snow White, Mulan isn’t waiting demurely for her prince to arrive and rescue her. Instead, she not only rescues her “prince” but the entire Chinese Empire as well! This film deserves the #1 spot because it teaches young girls to make noise, ruffle feathers and grow up to become women who aren’t afraid to kick ass.

Honorable Mention: Coco before Chanel (2009), Akeelah and the Bee (2006), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Matilda (1996), Enough (2002)

The AFI Challenge

The American Film Institute (AFI) was established in 1967 to preserve and celebrate the art of filmmaking. The institute is perhaps best known for their “100 Years” series in which artists, scholars and critics select films from 10 categories (Animation, Mystery, Romance, etc). In each 10 categories, 10 films are chosen and ranked for their longstanding popularity, historical significance and cultural impact.

I have made it my personal goal to see every film on all 10 lists. I’ve seen 60 out of these 100 films thus far. I was familiar with some genres more than others but taking on this challenge has given me an appreciation for genres I had not previously explored. Westerns, for instance, now rank among my top five favorite movie genres.

If you love film, history, art or entertainment, I encourage you to take on this challenge. I guarantee that you will be enriched!

http://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/TOP10.pdf

Pariah (Sundance Review)

I cringe when I hear critics compare this film to “Precious”.

Yes, “Precious” and “Pariah” both have predominantly African-American casts and both story lines contain controversial subject matter. I will even grant that both titles begin with the same consonant. But this is where the similarities end.

“Pariah” explores the life of an African-American teenage girl who is struggling to define her sexuality. But to be clear, this is not your average “coming out” story.

Newcomer Dee Reese directs this film with the grace of a veteran. She makes a wise decision in casting Adepero Oduye as Alike, the film’s protagonist. Alike is a soft-spoken, high-achieving tomboy with a smile that lights up every scene. Laura (Pernell Walker), her best friend, is masculine, abrasive and on a mission to help bashful Alike lose her virginity. (Perhaps now is a good time to mention that this film contains some adult content)

Alike’s parents, Audrey (Kim Wayans) and Arthur (Charles Parnell), are in the midst of a troubled marriage. The dynamics of their relationship is added conflict in Alike’s already confusing life. Audrey’s refusal to accept Alike’s sexuality – even before she has accepted it herself – serves as a catalyst for the teen’s awakening. The film’s most powerful moment, narrated by one of Alike’s poems, involves this issue. In it she poignantly states that she is “not running but choosing” to find acceptance.

Similar to how the characters played by Wayans and Parnell stifle their daughter’s growth, these two actors suppress some of “Pariah’s” brilliance. Their performances are lackluster compared to the film’s otherwise outstanding cast. This is surprising considering that most of the cast members are newcomers. The fantastic breakout performances of these youngsters is reason enough to see the film.

“Pariah” explores the dynamics of gender, sexuality and love. Several of Alike’s relationships are dissected, turning our expectations on their head. However, there are a few relationships that Reese chose not to develop further. For instance, the relationship between Alike and her english teacher appeared important in the beginning of the film but, for some strange reason, failed to materialize later in the movie.

I enjoyed that this film did not go down the roads I expected. I also love that “Pariah” dodges clichés and stereotypes. Alike’s love life, for example, panned out far different than I predicted. In addition to strong writing and acting, “Pariah” also deserves praise for cinematography. The film’s perfectly executed camera shots pull the viewer into the story and add intimacy to this indie drama.

In short, “Pariah” does not simply chronicle the life of a societal outcast, as its title indicates. Instead, this film portrays one of the most beautiful stories of courage and self acceptance that I have seen on the silver screen.

4 out of 5 stars

(To be released in 2011)