Thursday Movie Picks: Strong Female Characters

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This week's theme from Wandering Through the Shelves is something I always crave, a strong female character. I tried to think of a theme here. I wanted to simply pick indie films but there's one character in particular I just can't help but talk about.

 1) Gone Girl

 Amy Dunne: The cool girl. I love Amy. I love to hate Amy. I thought she was despicable but I can't help but be blown away at all the shit she pulled off. Never call Amy Dunne weak. (No seriously, she might kill you)

 2) Middle of Nowhere

 I love this little film. Ruby sacrifices a lot in the name of her jailed boyfriend Her career, money, but she keeps her head up. She works hard. This was Emayatzy Corinealdi's first big role, and she owns it. 

3) In A World...

 Carol is a vocal coach and voice actor who finds herself competing against her own father for a part in narrating a big movie. It's perfect for this week as so many people tell her she can't do this because she's a woman. But she CAN!

Comments

  1. Big Screen Small WordsNovember 16, 2017 at 7:09 AM

    Amy Dunne is a fantastic character. I wish Rosamund Pike got meaty roles after this, she gave a brilliant performance. I did like the subject matter of In a World. I haven't seen your second pick but it sounds heartbreaking.

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamNovember 16, 2017 at 10:43 AM

      I wish Pike would've gotten an Oscar for that too. lol

      Delete
  2. Sonia CercaNovember 16, 2017 at 7:18 AM

    Amy Dunne is one of my favourite characters ever. I haven't seen the other two films but I'll add them on my list.

    ReplyDelete
  3. BirgitNovember 16, 2017 at 9:08 AM

    Gone Girl-She is one F'ed-up chick who you never want to mess with. Rosamund is brilliant in the role and that scene-never saw it coming. I have not seen your other 2 but just shows how many strong women are depicted in film

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamNovember 16, 2017 at 10:42 AM

      I love her little hair flip in that scene. omg it was brilliant.

      Delete
  4. s.November 16, 2017 at 11:35 AM

    YEY for Amy! Owning Sadfleck's gross ass

    ReplyDelete
  5. joel65913November 16, 2017 at 1:23 PM

    Amy Dunne is surely a strong woman though I don't think one I'd like to meet. I haven't seen your second but In a World was a decent film set in an unusual field, certainly one I'd never given a lot of thought.

    There are a few female focused films now but I reached back to when they were thick on the ground and the studios had dozens of female stars they built vehicles around.

    Three Secrets (1950)-When a private plane crashes in the remote California Mountains the only survivor is a 5-year-old boy. As word spreads that the child had been adopted at birth from a certain orphanage the three possible mothers, housewife Susan Chase (Eleanor Parker), newspaper reporter Phyllis Horn (Patricia Neal) and ex-con Ann Lawrence (Ruth Roman), gather at the mountain base to discover the truth drawing on their strength to endure the ordeal of wondering “Could that be my boy?” Solid drama with three excellent lead performances was directed by Robert Wise.

    Tammy and the Bachelor (1957)-Young Tambrey "Tammy" Tyree (Debbie Reynolds) lives with her grandfather (Walter Brennan) on his houseboat in the swamps of the South. One day young pilot Peter Brent (Leslie Nielsen) crashes nearby and during his recovery Tammy develops a crush on him. He heads back to his family’s mansion telling Grandpa if anything should happen to have Tammy come to his family. Shortly after Gramps is arrested for making corn liquor and Tammy heads to town. Once there she shakes the place up with her common sense approach to all things relying on her strong sense of self to ride out any bumps along the way. Meanwhile Pete sees her in a new light. Debbie carries this with a light touch and scored an enormous hit with the theme song.

    His Girl Friday (1940)-Ace reporter Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell) is sick of the cutthroat world of the newspaper game and tells her editor and ex-husband Walter Burns (Cary Grant) she’s quitting to get married to someone Walter considers a dolt (Ralph Bellamy). Walter tries every trick in the book to get Hildy to stay finally dangling a carrot he knows her aggressive take charge reporter’s heart can’t refuse-a murderer’s execution. Despite her protests the resourceful Hildy jumps into action and when the chance for a scoop comes along all else is pushed aside. Manic screwball comedy is noted for its extremely fast dialog patter between the leads. This set Roz on the path as THE boss lady of the movies for most of the decade.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamNovember 17, 2017 at 7:00 AM

      I've only seen His Girl Friday, which was decent, though I'm having trouble remembering specifics about it now. I just remember thinking I wouldn't like it, then ended up enjoying it.

      Delete
  6. joel65913November 16, 2017 at 1:24 PM

    I try not to double dip but I’m also using this week to re-recommend two films I’ve chosen before but they fit right in and both are terrific somewhat obscure films that deserve a look.

    Cry “Havoc” (1943)-As WWII rages in the Philippines a group of women volunteer to help the army nurses in a hospital unit on Bataan. Set mostly in their protective bunker and the switchboard that brings increasingly more dire war news this focuses on the struggles and hardships endured by the women as the front moves ever closer. The cast is comprised almost exclusively of great actresses, Margaret Sullavan, Ann Sothern, Joan Blondell and Fay Bainter among them, with only very brief glimpses of men, including a young Robert Mitchum. A compelling heavy drama leavened by doses of gallows humor.

    Westward the Women (1951)-Unvarnished look at the hard road faced by a group of women settlers on a wagon train to California. Robert Taylor, weathered and hard is the rough but fair wagon master and has the only significant male role. Hope Emerson stands out as a plain speaking, no nonsense traveler but all the performances are very good. The cost of the trip is honestly depicted as heavy with human lives. Written by Frank Capra and directed with an unflinching eye by Wild Bill Wellman, an involving, unusual picture.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamNovember 17, 2017 at 6:59 AM

      I haven't seen either of these but Cry Havoc sounds interesting.

      Delete
  7. thevoid99November 16, 2017 at 4:31 PM

    Ah, Amy Dunne. How can anyone not love her? She is fucking awesome.

    I haven't seen Middle of Nowhere but I hope to as I'm interested in Ava Duvernay while I have seen In a World... which I like a lot.

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamNovember 17, 2017 at 6:58 AM

      I highly recommend Middle of Nowhere. It took me forever to find it and was worth the wait.

      Delete
  8. KatyNovember 16, 2017 at 5:28 PM

    Awesome picks! In A World has been on my to-watch list. I'll have to see if it's on Netflix.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamNovember 17, 2017 at 6:58 AM

      That's where I watched it initially, so hopefully it's still there.

      Delete
  9. Alex WithrowNovember 17, 2017 at 2:45 PM

    Love that you included Amy here! And that gif, omg.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Katie HoganNovember 22, 2017 at 4:41 PM

    I LOVE In a World... such a great movie!!! Also liked the look of Middle of Nowhere, not heard of it before. Oh gad Gone Girl is great in many ways but that Amy....

    ReplyDelete
  11. WandererNovember 23, 2017 at 1:14 PM

    Amy Dunne - strong and crazy.

    In A World...I've heard good things, so it's definitely on my to watch list.

    ReplyDelete

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