Women in Movies

[lls_mutant]

So. I've seen a recent article/statement (I forget the link, I'll dig it up) on how Hollywood isn't going to be putting out female-starring movies because they tank at the box office. I'm interested in writing an article about this for MRFH, and if you guys could all help me out, I'd really appreciate it. (Also, please pimp far and wide- I'd like a lot of responses.)

Behind the cut I have a poll- it's pretty basic and not all that in-depth. But I'd be really interested in anything else you have to say on the roles of women in movies. (I'm also curious about the role of television in this whole thing.) I'm kind of just formulating thoughts at this point in time, but I'm hoping this poll will give me a good jumping off point.

Thanks!





[Poll #1074282]

Comments

[thistlerose.livejournal.com]

Do any of the following reasons play into why you might not see movies more often?

Partly budget. Partly, I'm so cynical about movies that I don't want to waste the time and money on something I'm pretty sure will be a clunker. I mean, a full-price ticket here in Minnesota is about 8.25. That's more than the price of a paperback novel. Not saying books are automatically better than movies, but at least they don't have soundtracks full of pop ballads or choirs. And if they're good, I don't have to shell out any cash to read them again.

[snorkackcatcher]

You seem to have posted this twice ... :)

(Not much point in me filling in the poll, as I don't watch movies that often these days.)

[krabapple.livejournal.com]

Do any of the following reasons play into why you might not see movies more often?

I tend to have transportation issues; don't have a car, and getting to a movie theater on my own is usually a hassle. I saw a lot more movies in New York, especially when there was a theater three blocks away. :)

I also put down budget, because even here in Atlanta tickets run close to ten dollars any time after about 2 or 3 o'clock. I think it's very hard for women with families to go to the movies, even with their kids -- a movie trip with a family of four is downright expensive.

This is also just my opinion, but I tend to think t.v. is a better market for actresses -- we are now seeing a lot more t.v. shows with lead characters who are women or who are being carried by women (Bionic Woman, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Friday Night Lights, 30 Rock, The Office, Pushing Daisies, Grey's Anatomy, just to name a sample few). It may also be that DVRs and cable programming are luring women viewers from movies -- it's cheaper, easier, but I also think that there are better roles for women and more stories/programming for women on t.v.

[werewolf-lib.livejournal.com]

I don't go to movies often because so few of them sound even remotely interesting. Same crap, same plot, different actors, so much of the time.

I think female-led movies tank sometimes because the producers underestimate both their audience and their actress. Not all women want some chick-lit fluff piece/tearjerker/romance nor do they want a lead who is more looks than talent. Some of us like a plot that shows life doesn't always have a Hollywood ending or even a Hollywood beginning or middle. I recommend 'Secrets & Lies' for a strong film with a mostly female cast that isn't about romance, pseudo-self-help tripe or Chick Takes on World Armed Only with Boobs and Handgun.

[brieza.livejournal.com]

Do any of the following reasons play into why you might not see movies more often?

I'm uncomfortable in crowds and can't sit still. Also, I'm noise sensitive and the movies are just too loud for me.

I prefer movies and TV on DVD. I can get up and move around as needed and not miss anything. If I get bored, I can come back later. I really don't watch TV either. (One show a week and that's it (and even then, I'm happier with the DVD - don't have DVR/cable/etc))

[gioiaverdi.livejournal.com]

Do any of the following reasons play into why you might not see movies more often?

Mostly my husband's training regimen gets in the way of movie watching, but I'm also more inclined to spend my entertainment budget on live theare/music/dance.

[lilacsigil.livejournal.com]

I live 2 hours drive from a cinema, so if I'm going to see a movie, it's an all day plan, and I won't go at night because the roads are dangerous. I t*rrent quite a few, though, and buy lots of DVDs.

One example of a poorly marketed movie is Elektra. Despite Daredevil being successful as a date movie, and its spin-off featuring a woman mentoring a teenage girl, it was marketed entirely to horny comicbook reading teenage boys. All the teenage fanfic about the movie is written by girls, and all the people I know who liked it are girls. And yet it tanked, therefore female action movies are no good.

[busaikko]

1. Ah! I think you meant, how often do I see films I want to see in the cinema? Never! But often take the spawn to Pokemon and other cartoons....
2, 3. Never watch TV (the spawn own it, again with the cartoons!); I do watch DVDs on my computer (stupid f'ing DVD zone thing means American DVDs don't play in Japan....)

Re women in films, I have to admit that I literally can't tell many actresses apart (all those thin blondes get glomped together -- possibly something to do with my facial blindness?). Actors generally have far more varying facial and body types, plus fewer confusing hairstyle changes. When an actress *does* stick in my mind (Molly Parker in Twitch City, Kate Hewlett in SGA), she tends to be *not* who Hollywood adores. Go figure.

And I'm out-of-touch with American culture totally, so I had no idea that women's films were tanking. Er. Or are they? *is clueless*

[merlinssister12.livejournal.com]

The main reason I don't see too many movies that are female dominated is, usually I go with either my husband or as a family. This means its usually either a family flick like "Harry Potter" or a big effect FX epic. My husband loves romantic comedies, but he doesn't like watching him in the theatre where there are maybe only two or three other men. We do however own a great variety of DVDs.

[magnetic-pole.livejournal.com]

Here, skewing your results, since I watch few movies and try to avoid Hollywood movies altogether.

My two cents on the women's-movies-tanking? Are we sure that's the case? (We're talking about the Jodie Foster movies and that one with what's-her-name, right?) Sometimes I think the entertainment industry takes a few high-profile failures and generalizes from them--this star isn't popular any more! Movies filmed in Jersey don't work! Epics are dead! (This time it's just especially insidious because of the sexism.) M.

"Do any of the following reasons play into why you might not see movies more often?"

[snow-blossoms.livejournal.com]

Other: There seem to be long stretches of time where no movies in the theaters interest me/my fiance/both of us at the same time. Couple that with the fact that it's over $10 a piece to go see a movie and we just can't do it too often.

[aome.livejournal.com]

Normally I'd only see 1-2 movies in the theater a year, but this year was a weird exception because there were SO MANY movies we both wanted to see, so we took turns a lot, and also had a movie or two coincide with a babysitter opportunity. I went to the theater six times between March and July, but likely won't get there again for awhile.

Don't really have a strong favorite female/male actor, so I left that blank.

[verdenia.livejournal.com]

Mostly budget. I do like being able to pause at home, too, though. ;P

When I saw Clueless listed, it reminded me of Legally Blonde. ;D
Mom and I did see The Banger Sisters in the theater, heh.

The last few years I've pretty much just seen HP movies and a few others--Narnia and King Kong IIRC.

Many more actors and acresses I like... I think my brain has the dumb right now. :P