This piece was originally published by Margot Magowan on her blog, Reel Girl. My three daughters, my niece, my sister, and I LOVED The Croods. From beginning to end, this movie is fantastic. The characters are great and the animation is gorgeous. The Croods is the best ensemble animated movie since The Incredibles, and like… Continue Reading →
Drop everything you’re doing and watch these films!
Media clearly has something against women. There just aren’t enough women making movies about women, and those movies that do exist don’t get the attention they deserve. Documentaries are unfortunately in the same situation when it comes to gender equality. Luckily, there are organizations and women out there making a difference that deserve to be… Continue Reading →
America: obsessed with nudity (but only the lady version!)
The end of a year always brings with it some interesting “Top Ten” lists, ranging from best dressed to most money to least likely couple. But The Huffington Post took it to a whole new level with “The Best Nude Scenes of 2012.” Drawing on movies released throughout the past year, the Post created its list… Continue Reading →
Reel Girl’s gallery of girls gone missing from children’s movies in 2012
This article was originally published by Margot Magowan on her blog, Reel Girl. I’ve been avoiding writing this post. I knew that female characters in children’s movies were not faring well in 2012. Not in number and not in stature. But I kept hoping. Hoping that somehow, before January, something would change, a slew of… Continue Reading →
Apparently, Melissa McCarthy deserves no awards for “Bridesmaids”
The film Bridesmaids has gotten a lot of attention this past year: a female-friendship focused film written by and starring women is pretty hard to come by. Notably present among the film’s recent Academy Award nominations was the Best Actress in a Supporting Role nod for Melissa McCarthy. McCarthy is known not only for her role… Continue Reading →
Women laughing alone (and on TV and in the movies) with salad
What’s the last thing you saw a woman eating on television? Once you start looking for it, it seems women eating salad are everywhere–and not a whole lot else. But sometimes even salad isn’t “lady” enough: A scene from the 2009 film The Invention of Lying limits women’s options even more. Jennifer Garner’s character (“the… Continue Reading →
Pixar goes “girl power” with Brave
Almost a year before its release, we’re already hearing about Brave, Pixar’s lucky thirteenth animated film to be released on June 22, 2012. And — the big news — it’s their first to feature a female protagonist. Set in the 10th century in the Scottish highlands, the film tells the story of a rebellious princess…. Continue Reading →
What’s age (and weight) got to do with the Oscars?
Admit it, you would have dropped the f-bomb too. After winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar at Sunday’s Academy Awards, Melissa Leo blurted out the expletive, along with a slew of more G-rated words of gratitude. Yet no one can seem to let Leo off the hook for last month’s self-promotional “Consider” ads she personally paid for… Continue Reading →
Stuff My Dad Says (Female Empowerment/Pre-Oscars Edition)
The other day, my dad (age 71) was telling me (age 35) about his 8 favorite movies of the year, since the Golden Globes and Oscars were coming up, and it occurred to me that most of them (except for #8, Inception) have multidimensional female characters who are mostly strong and empowered. And what’s cool… Continue Reading →