A Feminist's Take On: "The Theory Of Everything"

     How does one begin to review an Oscar nominated movie? Such films are created to  provide us with stark images of our society, family/home lives or small historical nuances that might have been overlooked by the general public. Let's face facts; they are not mere popcorn-style fair that are meant to amuse us. This small category of cinematic goodness act as the whole grain/ health food in any movie lover's diet.

     The Theory of Everything follows this description to a fault at times; depicting the life of Stephen Hawking, the now-famous Astrophysicist and his wife Jane Wilde. The acting is flawless, with Eddie Redmayne stealing basically every scene he is a part of. There is a rumor among Hollywood hopefuls that a sparkling award can be won if an actor embarks on a "passion project"--setting aside his own vanity for the sheer necessity of the work itself. This reviewer will not comment on the validity of such statements. All I can say is that Redmayne was truly a sight to behold; taking on the slight nuances of Hawking's personality down to a simple, sparkling gesture or a flick of an eyebrow. He made us believe that the brilliant mind of this formidable man still lurks somewhere behind the shallow waters of his complicated disease. I am not sure if this will render him an Oscar winner at the end of this evening, but Redmayne has nothing to be ashamed of. I suspect he will have many opportunities to showcase his talents for years to come.

     The silent, shining star of this movie had to be the complicated marriage that the Hawking's found themselves in. It all began with a cliche: "every strong man has an even stronger woman behind him", a turn of phrase that I have often resented. Why is that a strong man would require his even stronger counterpart to trail behind him? Would it be so much to ask that she, say, stand beside him.. as a partner should? Felicity Jones is a subtle force throughout, not allowing Jane Wilde to stay silently in the background of her husband's success. She began her career at Cambridge with dreams of her own, many of which she had to knowingly replace with the life of a wife and mother. Her portrayal of Jane Wilde showcased the struggle to maintain that delicate balance, all while trying to find something in their complicated universe that was solely her own. Perhaps, Jane finds this freedom within her own religious beliefs; refusing to give up her faith despite her brilliant husband's insistence on the scientific theory of the universe at large. Jane becomes the moral, emotional center of his world after all. There is a grey area, she insists, things that his careful equations could fill in her hungry soul

     More than anything else, Jane stares out into the great, wide void with a deep sense of longing that no words could ever possibly fill. Felicity Jones was brilliant in her subtle way of reaching out to all of us as she longed for that ever present "something". Jane-the-character transcended the strong wife ideal to become a real woman: silent, enduring, kind, loving, nurturing and yet still selfish enough to wish for more than her life could provide. She reminds us that we are all simple and messy human beings at the end of the day. Yes, love is a powerful and life changing force but yet sometimes it  may not be enough to conquer all the bumps that life may through in our paths.

     It seems that if this movie teaches us anything, it is the power of self-acceptance in the face of adversity. Stephen Hawking is a man who is simply happy to be alive, seemingly embracing his life with a passion that is almost enviable. A movie is not reality, however, so I wouldn't suggest taking this as the final testament into the lives of the Hawking's clan. It does shed some light into their complicated lives, while also introducing us to some very talented actors.

The Golden Apple Awards: The 2014 Season

        It has been an interesting year for women in film; with stereotypical archetypes being pushed aside in favor of more realistic portrayals of our fictional female characters. No where is this change more apparent than in the Young Adult category- a genre that largely defines the teenage reading experience for young women. So, it should come as no surprise that below you will find two such specimens of that most beloved genre. However, instead of pitting these two Sci-Fi mavens against each other, it was decided to set aside the apple of discord between them in favor of  honoring what makes these fictional females so extraordinary to begin with. Spoiler Alert! You have been warned! 

And the Golden Apple goes to...

The Mockingly: Part I

Release Date: November 21, 2014

Rating: PG-13

     This is not your "average", dystopian YA-inspired movie adaptation. For anyone entering those hollowed, theatre doors expecting a no-holds-barred shoot-out, you must have faced the sort of bone crushing disappointment saved for the latest installment of the Twilight saga. This is a war movie and there is no way around that. Katniss Everdeen is no super hero who dusts herself off after certain destruction to only face off against the stereotypical villain for an epic ass-whooping. She is broken-- left huddled in the fetal position, tucked away within the deepest bowls of District 13.  Peeta is gone-- rather taken-- by the capital to a fate that is unknown to us. Don't worry, fangirls, you will receive glimpses of him on and off throughout this harrowing journey through Capital destruction. The citizens of Panem will rise again behind their figurehead, but as the title of this movie suggests; to what end? How much of herself must Katniss sacrifice before there is nothing left of her? As stated in a previous blog post, Ms. Everdeen's struggles have always far exceeded those within the arena's walls. She has juggled her undying need to be the protector/ provider of her family, all while trying to make sense of her confused emotional ties for Gale and Peeta.

In Mockinjay, her careful balancing act is about to collapse around her. Her very sanity hangs in the balance as the Capital taunts her with visions of Peeta in various forms of tortorous decay.Does she love him? Does she still harbor feelings for old flame Gale? Who cares! At the end of the day, she would much rather trade places with either man than cause them pain. Instead of experiencing this near end to the now infamous trilogy as a grandly epic thrill ride; it remained closer to the subject matter at hand. For those of us that are fans of the text, this is a special treat. The power in each scene lies behind the now tightly knit cast-- and those quietly intimate moments that occur when weapons are set aside and tears are shed. The entire film is moving slowly towards that one, titular moment at the very end.

For those of you that were disappointed with this cinematic gem, expecting more from the battle for Panem's soul-- do not fear. The war will begin promptly with the release of Mockingjay, Part II. 

  Divergent

Release Date: March 21, 2014

Rating: PG-13

      Only receiving a 41% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, even I must admit some mixed feelings about the movie adaptation-- as detailed in this movie review. Yes, there are some similarities between these two femme fatales but this blog post is dedicated to embracing what makes these women stand out. To begin with, Divergent is more a personality-test-on-steroids than a reality show gone amuck.  Tris is forced, very early on, to choose against her family and her station in order to break through the boundaries of what is expected of her. She does not want to follow the line of her Abnegation past, choosing instead to join the Dauntless and forging her own path. The entire movie unfolds as simply a series of physically/mentally demanding tasks that are meant to bring our heroine to the brink of success. It's only in failure that the audience begins to see that Tris is no outstanding woman.

She is just a girl, after all; trying to reconcile all the different facets of herself in an effort to move forward towards an unsure future. There is no love triangle here to distract from the overall story-- her loyalty to Tobias/Four will carry us through two more sequels before it is all over. How refreshing that a young woman should know her own heart well enough to find true love within the first handful of chapters. In the end, Tris teaches us that it is alright to push the envelope of what is expected of us. Sometimes we will succeed, and most likely we will fail. Hell, there will be times that our worst fears are realized (quite literally) and we may have to improvise our way out of that ever-filling water tank of failure. 

In the end, we must stay true to who we are if we ever expect to achieve happiness.  

The Girl Power "Ghostbusters"?

From Top: Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, and Melissa McCarthy.

The Hollywood Reporter broke the story on Tuesday that an all-female cast was being considered for the reboot, based off of the 1984 classic starring Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray. The original concept for this reboot started as a sequel, of sorts; but Murray remained elusive, and with the passing of Harold Ramis, the entire project was reimagined. The understatement of the century, I know. Who could have imagined an entirely female cast of ghost-hunting mavens? Especially in an era where Hollywood seems to have lost a sense of all ingenuity-- rehashing the same ideas over and over again in a string of sequels and reboots that have no end.


Seriously, how many more Scary Movie or Paranormal Activity movies must we endure!

     So, it is with a heavy heart that I must admit just a fleas-breath of admiration towards this particular...reimagining. Not only because Melissa McCarthy is already attached, and her partner in crime/Brides Maids mastermind--Kristen Wiig-- is already in talks to join the cast. It's the simple fact, dear Muses, that someone out there in the movie-making factory is trying to turn the gears in a different direction for a change. With movies like the aforementioned Brides Maids and my personal favorite, Pitch Perfect, proving the simple fact that not only are female-driven movies cheaper to make (with budgets totaling $32.5 million and $17 million respectively) but they also rake in some serious cash in the process. 

Yes, you heard that correctly. 

     The math there is simple: women love seeing our favorite comediennes not only showing a keen understanding of real issues we girls face, and let's be honest, often feel on a daily basis. But, to exaggerate those problems into something that drive us into that insane fit of laughter reserved for a cozy night in with your BFF; sipping wine on the couch wearing only your sweat pants. "Chick Flicks" are evolving, ladies. No are we delegated to watching mindless "Rom Coms" like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (battle of the sexes my ass) or the horrifyingly un-feminist The Other Woman.  This new influx of witty and character-driven comedy, made famous by the likes of Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph and the countless others finally getting their due in this brave, new world.

     What does this mean for the Ghostbusters reboot? And, most importantly, is any of this even relevant for this ghost hunters-on-steroids comedy? Only time will tell that. This much is certain, however: Sony was obviously taking a cue from the recently changing climate of modern, Hollywood cinema. 

A Feminist's Take on: "Into The Woods".

This is not your run-of-the-mill, straight off the conveyor belt, musical. This family reunion of all our favorite Disney fairytales could have easily been another, long drawn out infomercial-- a hit and run of sorts-- that would have inundated one's senses with all the nuances we have come to know and love from the mouse factory. However, Muses be warned, this musical isn't for the faint of heart. And, for that matter, I wouldn't suggest bringing any child under the age of 13 to this film unless you expect to have a lot of explaining to do!

Steven Sondheim's dark retelling of all the Brother's Grimm classics is just that: dark, moody and wrought with humor that would make your fairy godmother cringe. Evil stepsister's chopping off their heels to make the glass slipper fit? Check. Prince Charming hitting on a happily married, and newly-minted mother/baker's wife/main female protagonist? Double check. With those familiar with the real stories the Disney animated films are based off of, all of this is just as it should be... and even provides a few laughs along the way. For your 8-year-old daughter, however, it's the stuff of nightmares and maybe even therapy. Pop in the Frozen DVD instead. Trust me.

Meryl Streep brings a sympathetic glow to what could have easily been another evil witch role: making the greasy-haired and long nailed she-creature both independent and bitingly honest. The witch does what she has to in order to survive... moral compass be damned. Johnny Depp is at his character-actor best; wearing a full-fledged wolf suit complete with matching cuff links. He gnaws at his lines for a demure 15 minutes or so...just long enough to not out stay his welcome.

All in all, I liked this film more than I thought was possible. The singing was actually enjoyable and the off-kilter humor fit right in with my Tim Burton-esque leanings. It showcases the debilitating obsession this society has with beauty. Not to mention the undo pressure this obsession puts on women in general-- even those that exist within this fairytale-esque world-- the effects are clear. We
will do whatever it takes to fit in at the ball, and yet is it worth the risk? Especially if Prince Charming has the IQ of a moss covered rock and a straying eye, Sondheim asks? The answer is clear as the characters struggle to stray from their respective paths in order to defeat the witch, slay the giant-- and then continue on their merry way towards their "happily ever after" ending.

I would highly suggest this musical for anyone who is a fan of Sondheim's original stage play. Or, any adult looking for a modern retelling showcasing all these classic characters at their comic best.

A Feminist's Take On: "Maleficent".

Disney has done it again; managing to re-write a classic fairytale with a modern day twist. Except this time, they change a fundamental part of their animation history. In their latest project, the juggernaut tackles one of the most classic stories from their vault; Sleeping Beauty. But be warned, Disney movie classicists, this is not your grandmother's fairytale. In fact, this is not your grandmother's villain! Maleficent is a wicked woman for the ages; a true, 21st century renaissance woman…with wings to boot! Be Warned, SPOILERS from here. 

From the very first moment she appears, as a young woodland creature we realize one fundamental fact; this is a woman as sharp as her cheekbones. Fine, they may have started her off as a 10 year old cutie with perfect hair; but she isn't to be played for a fool either. She calls out a young Stefan (yes, that Stefan) and reminds him of his place in the strange and darkly beautiful Moors. This is not a place for you, she reminds him, and warns him never to return. Sadly, as we watch the story play out, one realizes that Stefan is not the stuff of kiddy movies. He toys with her heart and her trust. Leading her on for years before finally committing the ultimate act of injustice against the title character. It would have to take a truly wicked act to cause Maleficent to take out her rage on an innocent child. And indeed, the act is both violent and goose bump worthy. With a gut-wrenching cry into the dark, the movie enters it's second act… and the other-worldly fairy becomes the Mistress of Darkness.

I could go on here to say how a very real love story develops as Maleficent watches the young princess grow from afar. How she grows a heart and soul once again… and the re-imagined meaning behind "true love's first kiss" in this version of fairy tale events. However, I'd much rather focus on the merits of Angelina Jolie's performance. Her portrayal is both deliciously wicked and generally aloof. There are  very little scenes of dark scheming and staff-pumping. In fact, other than that one, titular moment in the great hall where she imbues her "gift" upon a young Aurora (a beautiful nod to Sleeping Beauty, by the way) she is basically detached from the events of the original movie that inspired it. She much prefers to remain perched in a tree, her humanoid henchman at her side. Eating fruit and pursing her lips. "I don't like children" she chides like a true diva. She is above it all. Her green eyes aloof but also filled with vulnerability. She battles herself throughout; unsure of her motives but still reeling from her heart breaking loss early on.

"Before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, she will fall into a sleep-like death!"

This isn't about a woman scorned by a man. No, instead this is about being betrayed and then injured from within. She is no longer the woman she was before; she is unsure if love exists and therefore if she is good or bad by default. This is her movie, and she rules over it with an iron if not slightly disconnected fist. She doesn't need to rant and rave. Or deliver heavy handed monologues. Her eyes tell the story. The subtlety behind Jolie's performance gives it more merit. It helps an ancient story feel modern and real. Maleficent isn't the manifestation of pure evil. She is only human. Or, as human as a fairy can be, I suppose. She is messy and cruel at times, but also capable of realizing the reality behind her decisions. Whether she realizes the error of her ways or not, I'll leave for you to see for yourself as you enjoy the movie on the big screen.

At the end of the day, Jolie looked like she was having a blast. And so did we in the process. As I sat there enjoying the ride; watching her soar through the clouds with complete freedom I found myself wishing that I had wings too. That I could fly away with her and inhabit the Moors. I was transported to a time where magic was real, possibilities were endless; and the lines between fantasy and reality were blurred. Even, if only for an hour and a half.

A Love Letter to Mr. Johnny Depp

I know what this looks like; an impassioned, oblivious note of gush-worthy proportions. With a side of stalker. But I can assure you, my dear Muses, that my intentions are pure. No, really, they are. He is an actor who needs no introduction, his body of work speaks for itself and, most likely, more eloquently than I can. But yet, here I am, giving it a go regardless. Depp is a Muse simply because he is… he refuses to fit into any mold what so ever. He exists in an entirely different plane of creativity. A true patron of the arts, if you will, he doesn't seem to realize any cookie cutter role for himself; he is not merely the broody bad boy, the villain or the comedic actor. He embodies all three of these and has even created some molds all his own!

Consider Edward Scissorhands, for instance. How do you begin to characterize that creation? Both comedic, tragic and real all the same time. Yes, I said real. There is nothing more honest and vulnerable than the silent-movie qualities of dear old Edward. I could go into great detail about how technically awesome his portrayal was. But, I'll get a tad more personal than that. That movie has always touched me on a personal level. Who hasn't felt lost and alone, rudderless in this big and wide world? Or, at the very least, like an outsider? Edward is all of these things and yet, he refuses to change. Why should he, I asked myself as I was growing up with this movie on constant repeat. He is perfect and beautiful and pure… the world should be more like him. He touches the lives of a few and then disappears; going back to his isolated castle where he realizes that, being alone is it's own freedom after all.

That is only one example, and there is a long line of other creations from his internal factory, waiting in the wings. Literally too many to list here lest this turns into a 100 page thesis on his overall breed of creativity. He is a true chameleon, doing whatever it takes to dive into his roles. But, I am no critic. I am just a humble and
 loving fan. I rarely watch interviews because there is a certain repetitive nature to the questions being asked. That and, let's face the one reality here: we will never know him. I can only know him for that briefest of moments when he is projected in character form; like a living canvas on the screen for about two hours. But, in a way that is his gift to us. A small piece of himself, frozen in time forever so we can enjoy it over and over again. The Mad Hatter, Captain Jack Sparrow, Barnabas Collins, Ed Wood and countless others. They are ours to enjoy at our leisure.

So, as Mr. Depp stands on the eve of another movie release, I find myself holding my breath. As always, the trailer looks completely amazing. Trailers usually do. Transcendence, they say, is a "departure" for Depp because it is a marketable movie. Expectations seem high, but regardless if whether it's a hit or not, Depp probably isn't terribly worried. Despite all the commentary and judgement… all the haters who wait poised for failure, he has always, and ever been himself. He makes no apologies, and furthermore seems to genuinely not care. Well, I'm sure he cares… and if you happen to stumble upon this letter, Mr. Depp I want you to know, that I know, that you know…. wait what?

Oh my, it seems I've confused myself... oh well. He gets the picture. And if he doesn't, he can feel free
to drop me an email and I'll be more than happy to clear it up for him. Ecstatic, in fact. My simple point is: there is not enough said about how inspirational his journey is. He has been, and always  will be, himself. If you don't like it, then there are a multitude of other actors out there to gush over. He is respectful in his indifference. In many ways, he jumped off the conveyor belt some ways back, and decided to trail his own path through the bumpy roads ahead. Sink or swim, it's been his journey. In a lot of ways, he's proved that you can achieve success, and even fame for that matter,  while still  maintaining who he is. Being different is not a liability, he insists, aren't we all different and weird in our own ways, anyway? Shouldn't we just embrace that about ourselves?

I endeavor always to try. And for that, I'd like to thank him: thank you, sir, for making it just a flea's breath easier for the rest of us. Oh, and good luck on that little movie, Transcendence, coming out April, 18th.

A Feminist's take On: "Divergent"-- From Book to Movie.

I know what you're thinking; the book is entirely different from the movie. I mean, basically world's apart by adaptation standards. Where does one begin? How about starting here: I actually don't mind the sudden string of book-to-movie adaptations that are taking over the big screen lately. Once a book is written, it's out there. Out there for us to enjoy and live however we choose to; hence the whole theory of having a movie adaptation to begin with! It allows a whole new group of people to experience the story; to meet the characters and join the fandom. There really is enough room for everyone, I promise.

So, let me begin by saying, I didn't totally hate Divergent the movie. I didn't love it either. I could sit here and knit pick what I disliked and, honestly, when I set out to write this post I almost did! Yeah, no one wants to read that! No, instead I'm just going to condense my opinion to 2 issues that I found most frustrating. Because, overall, there were a lot of truly glowing moments. Like when Tris took that literal leap of faith into Dauntless. I held my breath , and then laughed with her when she landed successfully. What a rush! And then that first meeting with Four… sigh. Yes, I'm a huge Tobias Eaton groupie. Don't judge me. At least I don't stalk any real people. SPOILERS!

Point One: They tried to copy The Hunger Games. I'm the first one to point out that, yes, Divergent shares many things in common with this series. Dystopian America, check. Corrupt government, check. Control freak president figure with overall distain for human life, check. Yummy abs, check. But that's all on the surface. Whereas the Hunger Games uses the actual games as a basis for all the unrest, and eventual revolution, Divergent does not. The rigourous training is necessary; it allows the initiates to build up their bodies and minds. To face their perceived fears and to become stronger, inside and out. Tris grows through this experience and very literally becomes a "warrior woman". There is also no love triangle, no side to take on which man is most "deserving" of Tris' heart in the end. In fact, there is a very realistic, messy, emotional and volatile relationship at the heart of this story. They barely gave that relationship a chance to flourish, basically throwing it together during one "show me your tats" moment. What happened to the slow boil?  I'm certainly not saying the entire movie was a loss; I just wish that they had embraced what makes Divergent unique. However,I do have to admit it was amazing to see women in a position of power. There was no separation of gender training within Dauntless faction, each initiate had to train in the same facility while learning the same techniques. It was refreshing, and one of the things that makes this story so strong right from the start.

Point Two: The ending was painful.  I mean, why did they have to rework the ending to begin with? All of you who read the book will, hopefully, agree. They ruined the climatic ending sequence  involving Jeanine for Insurgent!  And, officially, reduced Tobias to a pretty boy. He had a bigger role in that final sequence (rather than flinging his girlfriend around) and it was meant to show his duality. He's not just a good trainer/fighter. He's also a smart guy, who works in INTELLIGENCE!! I think he even says as much, for a split second, at the beginning of the movie. Why didn't he shut down the computers HIMSELF, like he was supposed to?? Why did they have to MIND CONTROL Jeanine? Like she would have been so foolish as to have been standing right there. In Dauntless headquarters. Basically ground zero, the whole time. With dozens of witnesses to her depravity, controlling the simulation herself. I thought she was supposed to be from Erudite, the logical-thinking faction. And, how will this play out for Insurgent,  where Tobias and Tris are blamed for "crimes against humanity", because they are believed to have caused the entire attack on Abnegation. I mean, the writers did realize there was another book, correct? This does have to make sense even in a Sci-Fi universe!

Ok, ok I need to calm down. Deep, cleansing breaths.

Ok. I'm solid again. Sorry, guys, I almost lost my cool there. Anyways, I didn't mean to slam the movie.  Fine, maybe only a little bit. The casting, though, was like a bright light at the end of a dimly lit tunnel. Take Shailene Woodley for example. Although she got started on some ABC Family show, her break out moment finally came in The Descendants, playing George Clooney's troubled daughter, no less. She got the chance to prove that she isn't just another pretty face, out to play the same teen-angsty role over and over again. A fact she got to showcase here  in Divergent. She made Tris real for us. Showing all the facets of her personality; quiet and somewhat shy but  still smart and observant. She's a fighter and you realize, as you do when reading the book, that Tris was born a fighter all along.

And, of course, Theo James. Not only is he a brooding, handsome guy with big pouty lips. But he managed to break away from that stereotype, just enough to show that there is more to Four. His dry sarcasm was just enough to make us chuckle, and let's not forget that final scene. Yes, it made steam come out of my ears just a little bit. But, when Tris turns the gun towards herself, I actually held my breath. You see Four battling with himself, his eyes confused and hard and…vulnerable. That is the essence of Four, to me anyway. He breaks the stereotypes of what a man should be, as much as Tris does for women. A man can wield a gun and yet still be vulnerable and a little lost as well. He proves that walls can be brought down, that a man can be both soft and hard at the same time… that all Tobias really wanted was to be loved in the end.

Ok, now that I've said my piece, what part of the movie did you love, or even hate for that matter? Are you looking forward to Insurgent? Any thoughts on Allegiant?

On another note, I've become recently obsessed with Ellie Goulding's song, Beating Heart. Check it out here! And anyone looking for another interesting read in this same genre, you should really give the Delirium series a look. It's available in Hardcover and for your Kindle.