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Fair Question
"Is It Time To Kill The Chick Flick?," a 2.4 Times Online article by Kevin Maher, says several justified things about this inane genre, including a boilerplate statement that "the modern Hollywood women's picture or so-called chick flick has become home to the worst kind of regressive, pre-feminist stereotype and misogynistic cliche."
The quote that got me, however, is from marketing consultant and Women & Hollywood founder Melissa Silverstein, to wit: "Fewer than 10 per cent of Hollywood films are written by women, and fewer than 6 per cent directed by women. So really what you are seeing is a white male version of women. And that is just unacceptable."
The obvious question would be (and I haven't done any research at all) "how many of the male screenwriters of chick flicks are straight?" And if, for the sake or hypothesis, a statistical majority of these screenwriters were shown to be gay, would that that really be an example of a bunch of boys-club screenwriters unfairly muscling female screenwriters out of a job? Put another way, if you were producing a chick flick, wouldn't you want your pick of the best gay screenwriters around, at the very least for sass and seasoning?
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 6, 2009 at 10:38 AM
comment #1
MikeSchaeferSF
says ...
Well, Tyler Perry makes "women's pictures", and by all accounts...
But you're dead-on, Jeff. Sex & the City is totally a gay male fantasy about how straight women shoould behave.
Posted by MikeSchaeferSF
at February 6, 2009 11:02 AM
comment #2
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
yes, PLEASE, kill the chick flick trend already. It's doing a great disservice to us female screenwriters, female actors, female directors, etc. out there.
I'm not going to lie-- I enjoyed watching "Sex and the City" for its mindless, fantasy story elements (wishing I could live in a nice apartment somewhere in Upper Manhattan, when in fact, that'll never happen), but in the end, it's just another TV show that many women cannot relate to, although they wish they could.
I've been reading that the Lara Croft franchise might be revived-- it would be great to see a whole new franchise with a strong female lead, instead of seeing shallow, empty bimbos onscreen obsessed with boys, clothes, and babies.
Also, it would be great if they can attach a female screenwriter and/or a female director to the franchise.
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at February 6, 2009 11:34 AM
comment #3
Gordon27
says ...
I feel like, out of fairness to women, they need to start making good movies which are directed towards women before they stop making the *only* movies which are directed towards women.
Posted by Gordon27
at February 6, 2009 11:54 AM
comment #4
George Prager
says ...
Get a grip, Gordon27. If you gave a woman the choice between seeing THE SEVEN SAMURAI and LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165857/
Which do you think they would choose?
Posted by George Prager
at February 6, 2009 11:57 AM
comment #5
raygo
says ...
I watched The Secret Life of Bees last night. Chick flick, for sure, but not the shallow, materialistic kind. I have a weakness for well-made chick flicks, and I guess it's not a surprise that women are behind the ones I most remember and appreciate ... Gas Food Lodging, Desert Hearts, Desert Bloom. You could say that John Sayles can crank out a good chick flick like Passion Fish, so I'm not convinced that just have a gay writer is enough. You need people that believe in the story, and appreciate the story. Straight or gay.
For what it's worth, I enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees more than I thought. Alicia Keyes has a nice natural quality. Dakota Fanning shows some Jodie Foster acting chops.
Posted by raygo
at February 6, 2009 12:01 PM
comment #6
dukedog
says ...
The Seven Samurai everytime. That goes for all the chicks I know as well, not just me. Seriously.
DeafBrown: I am surprised you could make it through "Sex and the City", but I totally understand where you are coming from. I couldn't bring myself to even rent it. I loved the show, but that was another time. By the time the movie came out, I just didn't care about these women or their "problems" anymore. I had too many of my own (being laid-off with a toddler at home, etc.) I didn't see the flick, so I can't comment, but my friends who did, said it just wasn't the same/as good as the show. Maybe we can take that kind of wit for only 30 minutes at a time? I don't know.
Bottom line, I agree with you, the chick flick has to go. The commercials on tv insult me. I mean, "You speak Prada?" What the hell is that?!
Posted by dukedog
at February 6, 2009 12:05 PM
comment #7
raygo
says ...
Of course, a woman made The Women, and it was god-awful. So there you go have it. Smart people + smart stories = smart movie (sometimes).
Posted by raygo
at February 6, 2009 12:06 PM
comment #8
scooterzz
says ...
it is interesting that gay guys can write great women characters but women can't write gay men at all....
Posted by scooterzz
at February 6, 2009 12:06 PM
comment #9
raygo
says ...
Interesting comment Scooterzz. Maybe gay men can imagine life without a penis, but a woman can NEVER understand the power of the penis.
Posted by raygo
at February 6, 2009 12:10 PM
comment #10
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
George Prager, still being a d-bag as usual.
Let's see, when I was a 16 years old female, I begged my parents to give me money to buy a DVD of "Seven Samurai."
yeah, fuck you, too.
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at February 6, 2009 12:20 PM
comment #11
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
raygo, come on, why did you call "The Secret Life of the Bees" a chick flick? Seriously? That's NOT a chick flick.
just because a movie has (more than one) female leads, doesn't make it a chick flick. Would you also call "The Piano" a chick flick? would you call "Ghost World" a chick flick?
by calling "The Secret Life of the Bees" a chick flick you are downplaying the movie... I know you said you liked the movie, but give the movie some more credit.
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at February 6, 2009 12:22 PM
comment #12
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
it is interesting that gay guys can write great women characters but women can't write gay men at all....
Gay playwrights have been notoriously renowned for writing such strong, provoactive female characters... Edward Albee, for instance. I just absolutely LOVE the strong-headed, explosive character, Martha, from "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at February 6, 2009 12:23 PM
comment #13
George Prager
says ...
Let's see, when I was a 16 years old female, I begged my parents to give me money to buy a DVD of "Seven Samurai."
How precious! If you weren't deaf (which explains the hankering for a subtitled movie) you could be a member of the Glass family!
Posted by George Prager
at February 6, 2009 12:42 PM
comment #14
hcat
says ...
There is a difference between a woman's movie and a chick flick. Secret Life of Bee's would be a woman's movie and He's just not into you is a chick flick. You can tell the difference by the fact that all the women do in chick flicks is talk about men.
Posted by hcat
at February 6, 2009 12:48 PM
comment #15
Michael
says ...
I have a question here. Is P.S. I Love You a chick flick? Because if so, then don't kill it. That film owns me.
Posted by Michael
at February 6, 2009 12:51 PM
comment #16
raygo
says ...
Sorry Deaf, I consider most movies with multiple female leads/strong female leads a chick flick. What else would one call them? Just like Lethal Weapon and Beverly Hills Cop are "buddy flicks".
The Piano and Ghost World ... if you asked a bunch of guys how to clasify them, what would they say?
Chick flicks, by definition (I suppose) are films that skew towards women, yes? Thelma and Louise ... chick flick/buddy flick. But primarily a chick flick.
Posted by raygo
at February 6, 2009 1:09 PM
comment #17
raygo
says ...
Maybe Jeff needs to start a new thread ... just what is a "chick flick"????
Posted by raygo
at February 6, 2009 1:12 PM
comment #18
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
George, you are truly a pathetic, sad boy. Isn't it time to take that dirty dildo out of your ass and give it a new wash?
Raygo, no, I disagree with you about chick flicks...when I hear the term, I think of romantic comedies OR all-female movies that deal with relationships, love, sex, and weddings. Ok, I guess that's a narrow definition, but I still think calling "The Secret Life of the Bees" a chick flick is such a huge insult.
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at February 6, 2009 1:23 PM
comment #19
scooterzz
says ...
raygo -- imo some movies cross the line...i think that 'thelma & louise' is more buddy movie than chick flick....
Posted by scooterzz
at February 6, 2009 1:24 PM
comment #20
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
hcat, yep you got that right-- chick flicks (in my opinion) are about whiney, narrow-minded, materialstic, shallow bimbos who keep shrilling about men, sex, fashion, marriage, and/or babies.
Ugh.
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at February 6, 2009 1:24 PM
comment #21
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
scooterzz and raygo, "Thelma and Louise" is a FEMALE BUDDY movie. It's a far cry from a chick flick.
I would also probably throw "Ghost World" and "Kamikaze Girls" (one of the best Japanese movies, period) into the "female buddy movie" genre.
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at February 6, 2009 1:25 PM
comment #22
scooterzz
says ...
deaf -- that's what i said...however, i don't think the term 'buddy movie' really needs to have gender attached...a buddy movie is a buddy movie.....
Posted by scooterzz
at February 6, 2009 2:05 PM
comment #23
hcat
says ...
And if we kill the chick flicks can we also kill Happy Madison Films, Morgan Creek Films, once cool comedians starring in family films, horror remakes, direct to video knockoffs, faith-based films, and anything with Larry the Cable guy, Cedric the entertainer or a non-Dwayne Johnson pro-wrestler
Why settle for eliminating one form of mediocrity. As long as we've got the scapel out why not cut them all.
Posted by hcat
at February 6, 2009 2:15 PM
comment #24
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
scooterzz, yeah I guess you're right about the buddy movie genre. My bad.
hcat, I wouldn't go THAT far... lol. some people actually dig that mediocre shit. I just wish that the majority of movies about women aren't crappy chick flicks.
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at February 6, 2009 2:31 PM
comment #25
Big Black
says ...
Yes, I'm sure that KAMIKAZE GIRLS (2004) is one of the best Japanese movies, period. At the very least we can agree that it's certainly stood the test of time right alongside the works of Ozu, Kurosawa, Naruse, Kobayashi, Fukasaku, Teshigahara, Suzuki etc. More 'lols' and rancid dildo jokes and name-calling will convince me further of your opinions, definitely.
Posted by Big Black
at February 6, 2009 2:37 PM
comment #26
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
Yeah, I like KAMIKAZE GIRLS, it's one of my favorite films. So what? You don't like it, good for you.
Don't be such a bloody film snob.
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at February 6, 2009 2:48 PM
comment #27
LexG
says ...
Lispy Drew: "He MyThpathed me!"
Gayish-seeming black dude: "OUCH!"
Gayish wannabe Lloyd From Entourage: "My little sistah says MySpace is the new boooootay caaaaaall."
SO GLAD that now that He's Not... is *dropping*, I won't have to see that fucking trailer before every movie I see.
Since it's Blunt O'Clock, here goes:
1) Women generally have terrible taste in movies.
2) Even female audiences don't go to see the "good" chick flicks that we're always hearing there's such a dearth of. They go to the bad, vapid ones.
3) Female directors by and large aren't very visual.
4) Who know PJ Hogan was MARRIED?????
Posted by LexG
at February 6, 2009 3:16 PM
comment #28
D.Z.
says ...
Brown: You do know the whole point of Tomb Raider was to appeal to horny guys, right? It's never been about empowerment.
Big Black: I'll take Kamikaze Girls over Clueless, at least. Heckerling really sold out with that one.
Posted by D.Z.
at February 6, 2009 3:51 PM
comment #29
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
D.Z, sadly, you're probably right... sigh.
I like the RESIDENT EVIL franchise, that could be a lucrative female franchise like James Bond, but I heard that Milla Jovovich doesn't have any plans to make any more sequels beyond the 3rd film.
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at February 6, 2009 4:31 PM
comment #30
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
Deaf - Really? What did u like about the RE films? They were third-rate Romero rip-offs, and didn't even have the added benefit of being fun and schlocky in a European sense.
Hell, they weren't even as close to being as good or suspenseful as the games were (esp. the fourth, which is a masterpiece, IMHO).
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at February 6, 2009 6:06 PM
comment #31
bmcintire
says ...
DZ: 1) Women generally have terrible taste in movies.
Just change that to "Most people generally have terrible taste in movies." Seeing the non-female skewing garbage that makes tons of cash, I don't think that call should be balanced one way or the other.
Posted by bmcintire
at February 6, 2009 7:09 PM
comment #32
Doug
says ...
The idea that you have to be a woman or gay to write strong female characters is ridiculous.
Posted by Doug
at February 6, 2009 10:12 PM
comment #33
scooterzz
says ...
you're prob right but an example or two would be nice....
Posted by scooterzz
at February 6, 2009 10:25 PM
comment #34
D.Z.
says ...
Brown: Don't feel too bad. You could always check out Chocolate, if you need your ass-kicking female fix.
Kane: Funny you call them Romero rip-offs, since the guy was originally supposed to direct the first one. But Capcom didn't want an NC-17 adaptation of the game with Bruce Campbell. :( *sigh*
bmc: That was Lex, not me. I personally don't know who has crappier tastes, since some girl in my HS was excited about Striptease, while some guy in my HS defended the Emmerich Godzilla and Batman and Robin...
Posted by D.Z.
at February 6, 2009 10:47 PM
comment #35
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
I prefer Striptease because it is a masterpiece of awful filmmaking while Godzilla and B&R are just averagely awful.
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at February 7, 2009 1:30 AM
comment #36
mitchtaylor
says ...
I think the moniker "chick flick" underscores the problem. Am I alone?
Posted by mitchtaylor
at February 7, 2009 7:35 PM
comment #37
Mr Bohemian
says ...
Tess was good, Emma, or any of Jane Austin films Cranford or any of Elizabeth Gaskell's movies. Ghost world.
Boys Don't Cry, Desert Hearts, Wendy and Lucy
Bar Girls, The Locusts.
The Woman sucked because it was a remake and all remakes suck ( MGM remade the film in the 50's and it sucked. The only remake that gets better is Moby Dick but that is beside the point) The Chick Flick was coined by some shitty man with A.D.D who couldn't watch a movie with out a car crash every 10 seconds. You know those Dick Flicks or if you are from the south Bubba pictures. I guess our society is just pissed that a lot of people are out of jobs and feel that men should work and women should be marriage sanctioned whores and movies project this disenchantment. The movies that I study all the women want to get married and have babies, an except is maybe the film The Best Of Everything, All About Eve.
People who watch movies and like film really don't care what is on screen as long as you don't come way feeling cheated and used. I am glad I am old and hopefully die soon.
Posted by Mr Bohemian
at February 9, 2009 4:54 PM
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