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)

Top 10 Romantic Movies

In honor of Valentine’s Day I compiled a list of my favorite romantic films. Within this list are comedies, tragedies, and a few slightly off-center stories about love. I assure you that there is a movie here for everyone – from the hopeless romantic to the cynic. If you have time this VDay weekend, snuggle up with one of these films and celebrate the spirit of love!

10 – The Titanic (1997)
That’s right, I said it. Melodrama and all, I loved this movie. This is a classic love story of the most epic kind…and I’m not just talking about Leo and Kate’s romance. The tragedy of a sinking ship tests the love of family, friends, and strangers. I dare you to watch and not shed a tear.

9 – Harold and Maude (1971)
I realize that I’m jumping from epic (Titanic) to off-center. But what I love about “Harold and Maude” is that there is no easy way to transition into this film. A suicidal young man falls in love with an odd elderly woman – who also happens to be a kleptomaniac! I think people either love or hate this film. Personally, I was moved by the intensity of the story and refreshed by its inappropriate humor.

8 – Waitress (2007)
This is perhaps my favorite modern Hollywood-produced romantic comedy. Keri Russell truly captures the essence of feeling stuck in a relationship (or situation) and the cathartic feeling of being free to love again. Cute. Quirky. Charming. What more can you ask for?

7 – 500 Days of Summer (2009)
Okay, it’s true that this is a breakup story. But this is a breakup story that (for some strange reason) makes you believe in love. This is a great film for cynical singles or for those who enjoy a realistic and funny story about the trials of love. Love doesn’t always work out the way you want it to but there is beauty in the hope that one day it will.

6 – Love Actually (2003)
Who doesn’t love a quirky British romantic comedy? This story follows the lives of eight couples whose lives are loosely intertwined. “Love Actually” portrays a child’s crush, a troubled marriage, a budding romance, unrequited love, a sister’s undying commitment to her brother, and the ‘bromance’ between a manager and an aging rock and roll legend. The last line of the film fully summarizes the tone of this movie, “love actually is all around us”.

5 – The Way We Were (1973)
Barbara Streisand plays Katie, a woman who many women can identify with. She is not a classic Hollywood beauty but Hubbell (played by the annoyingly handsome Robert Redford) is drawn to her magnetism. This is a story about a passionate romance in which the lovers must choose between their love for each other and their convictions. The film asks a tough question: can you change who you are for love?

4 – Up (2009)
Rarely does an animated film make me shed a tear. But the tale of an old man and his flying house has earned a spot in my heart – and on my top ten list. This is a story about love that grows stronger over time and the commitment that a man has to his wife even after her death.

3 – Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind (2004)
What do you do after a bad breakup? If you’re like most people, you try to forget that the relationship ever happened. But what if you were allowed to do just that? This film follows two ex-lovers who have been given the opportunity to erase their memory of one another. The best part of this love story occurs when they begin to discover what life would be like without the memory – however painful – of their love.

2 – Casablanca (1942)
Humphrey Bogart. Ingrid Bergman. These two names are now synonymous with romance. Here is a story about choosing between a once-in-a-lifetime love affair and virtue. Should a man keep his promise and do what he deems best for the woman he loves or follow his heart’s desire? The answer depends on your definition of love.

1 – The Notebook (2004)
Please marry me, Ryan Gosling. This film earns the number one spot because it’s one of the most beautiful tales of passion AND commitment that I have seen on screen. A young couple is madly in love but gets separated due to class differences. This is a typical love story chain of events. However, the real plot twist happens 50 years later when the couple is old and still hopelessly committed to one another. I don’t want to give away the ending but it is truly a love story to remember.

Happy Valentine’s Day!