The world lost a truly great man on September 26th. Like me, you are no doubt reading many eulogies this week about a great actor & humanitarian, as well as a devoted friend & family man. But I’d like to remind you here of his astounding FIFTY YEAR artistic collaboration with wife Joanne Woodward, the woman he married on January 29, 1958 right after they filmed their first major film together: The Long Hot Summer. It’s true that not all their films are classics. From the Terrace (1960), A New Kind of Love (1963), & Rally ‘Round the Flag, Boys! (1958) are definitely “period pieces,” & while I know I saw WUSA (1970) ages ago, I frankly can’t remember anything about it. But Summer, Mrs. & Mrs. Bridge, Paris Blues & Winning will all definitely stand the test of time. Furthermore, Newman directed Woodward in several extraordinary films once she hit middle age, & it’s hard to imagine that these fine films would ever have been made without his star power as collateral. So rest in peace, Paul. Everyone down here likes you, & someone up there probably does too!
29.Sep.08 
Raving/Ranting about Male Filmmakers 
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Hard copies of the Sept/Oct ’08 issue of University of Chicago Magazine are now arriving in snail mail boxes. If you’ve got one but you don’t know where to look for Ruth Kott’s profile of yours truly, just turn to page 52! A very good friend of mine said something truly wonderful this evening: “Jan, you’ve been talking about all of this for years now, but even though I wear my SWAN pin proudly all the time, this is the first time I really appreciate its true significance.” Bravo, Ruthie: You’ve done it! You’re a great writer!
23.Sep.08 zBackfill/Misc Read more Comments (0)
To all my Chicago friends who couldn’t make yesterday’s HOUNDDOG reception because you were working hard in support of Barack Obama’s campaign: We are fighting this good fight together! When you see HOUNDDOG, you will see a beautiful young girl cruelly abused. If John McCain & Sarah Palin rule the world, then a child like Louellen will be forced to carry her baby to term if her rape results in an unwanted pregnancy. Little wonder that Conservatives are boycotting this film, after having done everything they could to prevent anyone with a conscience from seeing it.
Special message to all of my sisters who supported Hillary Clinton (as I have since 1991!!!), let there be NO QUESTION in your mind about what to do next. As my t-shirt proudly declares: Hillary has my Heart; Barack has my Vote!!!
Special message to friends outside Illinois who ask why we’re invoking Abraham Lincoln in our Cafe Press items. (”Wasn’t Lincoln a Rebublican?”) Abraham Lincoln said many important things, but the one with most resonance today is: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Rich & I decry the implicit racism of Sarah Palin’s seemingly innocent remark: “America grows good people in small towns.” And we are SURE that “Honest Abe” would agree!!!
22.Sep.08 zBackfill/Misc Read more Comments (0)
Huge thanks to everyone who came to yesterday’s HOUNDDOG reception at O’Briens Restaurant on Wells! Here are some of the comments entered in the sign-in book: “Great, heartfelt work;” A very profound film—keep up the good work;” “Loved it—you captured the essence of what it feels like to be a little girl;” “The film should NOT be censored;” “A great film—I recognized many of the characters from living in an area of rural poverty;” “Absolutely deserves its day!!”
All pages from sign-in book will be mailed to filmmaker Deborah Kampmeier, & addition comments & photos will be posted soon on FILMS FOR TWO.
22.Sep.08 Events: Metro Chicago Only, Events: WITASWAN & SWAN Day Read more Comments (0)
Read review of HOUNDDOG by Martha Steketee.
All five of Chicago’s major print critics trashed this film in their reviews yesterday. Now I know all these guys, & I know they all have the best of intentions, but I also know there’s another POV: every woman I know who has seen this film has been deeply moved by it, & my husband/partner Rich also liked it very much. (Bless his heart!)
If you live in metro Chgo, please come to reception on Sun 9/21 after 3:10 screening @ AMC Pipers Alley.
Martha Steketee is a Chicago theatre critic & one of the mentors in the “Young Critics Circle” (a joint project for high school girls co-sponsored by the Association for Women Journalists & the Goodman Theatre).
20.Sep.08 Events: WITASWAN & SWAN Day Read more Comments (0)
Members of IWA’s Film Discussion Group met in Kay’s beautiful condo last night to discuss Tamara Jenkins’ film THE SAVAGES starring Laura Linney (with Philip Bosco & Philip Seymour Hoffman). It was a profoundly moving encounter for me, as we shared our various experiences of parental loss. By the end of our ~ 2 hour discussion, we all agreed the film was so rich that we had to see it again to understand all the nuances of Jenkins’ Oscar-nominated screenplay. As facilitator, I ended by telling the story of Richard’s encounter with Linney at last year’s Chgo International Film Fest–couldn’t resist 
20.Sep.08 Events: Metro Chicago Only, Events: WITASWAN & SWAN Day Read more Comments (0)
Click here to download Sun 9/21 eVite with RSVP Instructions.
If you live in Metro Chicago, then you are invited to a reception honoring Deborah Kampmeier’s controversial new film HOUNDDOG this Sunday (9/21) @ 5 PM. Reception immediately follows the 3:10 screening of HOUNDDOG at the AMC Pipers Alley Theatre (1608 N Wells—corner of Wells & North Avenue).
Why YOU Should Care:
This is the film that Sean Hannity, Concerned Women for American, & other rightwing ideologues don’t want you to see–even though most of them have never seen it! Because of them, writer/director Deborah Kampmeier had to have FBI security when HOUNDDOG first screened at Sundance ’07, & she’s still receiving hate mail! HOUNDDOG opens in limited release
on Fri 9/19.
Playing in Chicago exclusively at the AMC Pipers Alley!
Read review by Chgo critic Martha Steketee.
*** See HOUNDDOG first & then decide for yourself… ***
17.Sep.08 Events: Metro Chicago Only, Events: WITASWAN & SWAN Day Read more Comments (0)
Click here to download header as pdf file.
“If you saw Sex and the City this summer, you were supporting more than the popular HBO franchise about four powerful
New York City women. According to Jan Lisa Huttner, AM’80, the film’s box-office gross—$150 million as of the end of July—affirms that movies marketed primarily to females can succeed, a fact that
Hollywood has been slow to realize. In 2007 only five of the 50 top-grossing films were about or starred women in strong roles…”
Click here to read Ruth Kott’s complete article online.
16.Sep.08 Events: WITASWAN & SWAN Day Read more Comments (5)
I can’t believe the hypocrisy of some of my colleagues! After trashing SEX AND THE CITY way back in June, they’re now using some of the very same arguments to trash THE WOMEN, but here’s the thing: knowing SATC was a box office smash, they’re pretending that they understand why so many women loved it. Now they’re arrogant enough to tell you that even if you liked SATC, you won’t like THE WOMEN. But take it from me: if you liked SATC, then you probably will like THE WOMEN. I certainly did.
Furthermore, they’re telling you the ’39 version is far superior to the ’08 version, & that’s pure BS. Sure, the ’39 version has some clever dialogue, but most of it is dull & sappy, with dated characters & obvious set-ups. I really don’t believe that anyone watching it today enjoys the whole in its entirety: the dude ranch, the fashion show, puh-leeze!!! Furthermore it’s racist and classist, with a couple of uncomfortably anti-Semitic moments too. (“Cheer up, Mary; living alone has its compensations. Heaven knows it’s marvelous being able to spread out in bed like a swastika.”)
To be sure, Joan Crawford is terrific as “the shpritzer girl,” & one can see why Depression Era audiences loved her (even tho they knew the rules required that she would get her comeuppance in the end). And Paulette Goddard is also in her prime. But the rest of the cast? Forget about it! And note: in 1939, “Sylvia” (Rosalind Russell) is Mary’s cousin; she is not Mary’s friend. All the women know she’s bitch from the very beginning, & no one trusts her, ever.
Chicago shows were sold out last weekend, & all the people I interviewed afterwards told me they really enjoyed it. So click here to read my review, & if you disagree, then please tell me why.
15.Sep.08 Raving/Ranting about Critics/Journalists Read more Comments (0)
Pen’s Points: ccc1/2
Click here to download my FWA review as a pdf.
Diane English’s new adaptation of the Depression-era classic The Women is a huge ensemble piece with megawatt star power; counting up the Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe nominations of all the cast members would likely take hours… With all the hoopla surrounding the huge success of Sex and the City earlier this summer, it’s inevitable that most critics will compare these two films. But while Mary’s gal pals are a crucial component of her psychic equilibrium (thereby making SATC a legitimate source for comparison), I think The Women is after something very different.
As the narrative unfolds, Mary has occasion to see herself anew as the daughter of her mother and the mother of her daughter. What has she learned from her mother? What is she teaching her daughter? Transforming an estrogen-rich confection from a cold satire into a warm dramedy, English and her cast help us see that, in the end, these are the two questions by which this Mary Haines will ultimately judge her own life… Click here to continue reading review on the FWA website.
15.Sep.08 Reviews: U-W Read more Comments (0)
