Reviews of movies and TV focused on women
I loved Hidden Figures. Maybe a man could watch this film and not love it, but there is no way a woman could watch Hidden Figures and not love it. It was the most emotionally satisfying film I’ve seen in a long time. Continue reading “Review: Hidden Figures”
Hidden Figures is based on a true story about a team of African-American women who provided NASA with important mathematical data to launch America’s first successful space missions. Continue reading “Watch This: Trailer for Hidden Figures – Updated”
I saw Larry Crowne back in 2011 when it was first released. I remembered enjoying it. When it showed up on Netflix I watched it again. I enjoyed it just as much the second time. Continue reading “Review: Larry Crowne”
Hidden Figures doesn’t release until January 2017, but I’m already excited about the cast and the people they are playing. Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monáe, and Octavia Spencer star as three mathematicians working at NASA.
The film is based on the true story of a group of female African Americans working at NASA told in the upcoming book Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
There are some shows I started, then stopped watching. I originally found them interesting, but I they lost me somewhere along the way. I try to explain why. Continue reading “Not Watching: Empire, Gotham, Fear The Walking Dead, Shadowhunters, Stitchers”
Variety has created a series of conversations called “Actors on Actors” that are fascinating discussions between peers. Most of them are a man and a woman. I picked these three to include here because both the conversationalists are women, but don’t overlook the others at Variety Studio: Actors on Actors.
The women’s conversations are about art and craft and fame and the meaning of success.
UPDATE: Here’s another that just published with two women in conversation.
It’s a brain dump day. Just a little bit of one thing or another in disconnected ramblings.
When Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) finally has all the power in the world in his hands, he becomes a tyrant and a bigger ass than he ever was. And when Claire Underwood (Robin Wright) has a chance, she chooses to do the right thing. Unlike dear Frank.
House of Cards is more about the relationship between Frank and Claire than it is about political intrigue and power. Season 3 really brings that home, especially the final moments.
Favorite scenes: 1. When Claire shamed the Russian President on Russian TV. 2. When Frank caused Jesus to go all to pieces. 3. When Claire – aw, shucks, that’s too big of a spoiler to share.
I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying Empire. I know I’m a sucker for any show with music, but I thought this one would be different because I don’t enjoy rap. I get tired of all those male voices in rap. But the music on this show is good, with only an occasional bit of rap and with plenty of women performers in the mix.
I’m also into the characters and the drama. Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyons and Terrance Howard as Lucious Lyons show off outstanding acting chops in every episode, with the rest of the cast doing just as well. I’m happy it keeps climbing in the ratings, because that means it will probably be back for another season.
In The Americans, Phillip and Elizabeth Jennings (Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell) have agonized all season over when (or if) to explain to their oldest child Paige (Holly Taylor) that they are Russian spies. Phillip doesn’t want to. Elizabeth wants to but can’t bring herself to do it. It underscores everything that happens this season from what they do as spies to how they relate to each other and their daughter. It’s fascinating to watch their lives and all their assumptions kind of unravel over this issue.
I think we need more geeky young women on TV as role models. Well, we got one. Cierra Ramirez as Mariana on The Fosters turns out to be quite the hacker. I love Mariana the geek! More geeky girls, please.
