Howard Zinn died this week & I just watched a rebroadcast of one of his speeches on C-SPAN’s BookTV (year ‘07/place Brandeis). Change occurs, says Zinn, when the voices of the many, engaged in Civil Disobedience, finally make the powers that be embarrassed… & that’s exactly what we’ve all just seen happen!
Last night, Danny Boyle handed Kathryn Bigelow the very first Best Director Award ever presented by the DGA to a woman. Can the irony be more delicious? Yes, the night we all watch this happen again, but live & in prime time: Oscar Night (Sunday March 7, 2010). Meanwhile, be still my beating heart!
Click HERE for the DGA’s official press release announcing all ‘09 winners–including more women in additional categories :-)
31.Jan.10 
Rants: Oscars & Other Awards 
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So today I get an eAlert from one of our local Chicago publicists announcing Lionsgate’s slate of films for 2010. There are 10 films on this list, & every one of them is directed by a man, & only one of them even has one woman screenwriter on the team… And that one film is called Kick-Ass. Release Date: April 16, 2010. Described in IMDb as “…a twisted, funny, high-octane adventure, by director Matthew Vaughn…”
<Insert BIG sigh here!>
But there is a glimmer of hope: IMDb shows that Tyler Perry is currently working on a screen adaption of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf (the classic play from 1975), and he’s working on it with the playwright, Ntozake Shange, herself! (see Shange in photo above)
In addition to “macho treats,” Lionsgate is now making money with Tyler Perry’s films, most recently Precious (Perry is one of the Executive Producers), but gone, apparently, are the days when they also distributed wonderful films like Away from Her & Secretary L
So, no, it’s not always easy, but I continue to live in hope!
21.Jan.10 Raving/Ranting about Male Filmmakers Read more Comments (0)
Yesterday, I hosted a “Meet & Greet” event for my neighbor & good friend Bonnie Carol McGrath (who is running for Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County). We went to see THE LOVELY BONES at our beautiful new Icon Showplace Theatre on Delano Place (just off Roosevelt Road & Clark Street), & afterwards we ate gourmet pizzas in the upstairs lounge. We even had a celebrity guest: Democratic State Representative Ken Dunkin (a great friend of the Illinois film community).
Now here’s the thing: Despite the dismal reviews from our two most prominent local critics (Roger Ebert & Michael Phillips), we all loved THE LOVELY BONES. Me, I was seeing it for the fourth time, & able to attend to all the subtle nuances & the delicate construction, I loved it all more! If I ruled the world, THE LOVELY BONES would be my top contender for “Best Adapted Screenplay” this year, above even AN EDUCATION, BRIGHT STAR, & JULIE & JULIA (every one of which is way better than UP IN THE AIR which I nominated for this year’s Women Film Critics Circle “Hall of Shame” award).
So what gives??? I’m reminded of THE CIDER HOUSE RULES brouhaha, & the many critics (all male) who claimed that they couldn’t figure out what it was about. Funny how I have yet to meet a woman who had any doubts!
19.Jan.10 Events: Metro Chicago Only, Events: WITASWAN & SWAN Day, Rants: Oscars & Other Awards, Raving/Ranting about Critics/Journalists Read more Comments (0)
Click HERE to read DF review as a pdf file.
Mel Brooks literally dances on Hitler’s grave in this hilarious musical about a faded Broadway impresario (Lane) looking to make millions from a surefire flop. Alas the camera is cruel to baby-faced Broderick as the accountant turned butterfly, but the supporting cast (many from the BW original) made us giddy.
Click HERE to read FF2 haiku.
18.Jan.10 Reviews: N-P Read more Comments (0)
Come see THE LOVELY BONES this Sunday
at Chicago’s beautiful new Showplace ICON Theatre!
When: Sunday, January 17, 2010
Time: 1:30 PM
Where: 150 West Roosevelt Road (Delano Place)
And join us for an after screening reception for Bonnie Carol McGrath (candidate for Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County). Reception in the ICON Lounge hosted by Bonnie’s proud neighbors Jan Lisa Huttner & Rich Miller.
You do NOT have to attend the screening in order to attend the reception. Just meet us in the Lounge at approximately 4 PM.
THE LOVELY BONES is highly recommended by Jan.
Rich likes it too.
14.Jan.10 Events: Metro Chicago Only, Events: WITASWAN & SWAN Day Read more Comments (0)
Click HERE to print review from a pdf file.
FF2 Haiku: LORD OF THE RINGS team (director PeterJackson plus screenwriters Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens) exquisitely adapt beloved Alice Sebold novel about the murder of a teenager by a seemingly ordinary suburban neighbor (brilliantly played by Stanley Tucci). Special note to those who have read Sebold’s novel: Please keep an open mind & let these wonderful filmmakers explore the new work they believe Susie (Saorise Ronan) needs to do in “the Inbetween” before she can enter Heaven.
Highly Recommended by Jan!
Rich likes it too.
Click HERE to read my full review on WomenArts.
14.Jan.10 Reviews: K-M Read more Comments (0)
Provocative IndieWIRE article by London-based writer Matthew Hammett Knott (”Is KB a female director?“) creating lots of great discussion in cyberspace, including pick-up by the invaluable Melissa Silverstein. And of course, yours truly is fully engaged J
Here’s my bottom line: Let’s all keep in mind that Kathryn Bigelow created strong women leads in Blue Steel & The Weight of Water, as well as strong supporting roles for women in Point Break & Strange Days. Since Oscars often honor a body of work as exemplified in a significant achievement in one specific year, there is no reason for any woman (or man of good will) anywhere to have any qualms whatsoever cheering for her on Oscar Night come March!
The Hurt Locker arrives on DVD this Tues (1/12/10).
Click HERE for my review including three reasons
why WOMEN should see The Hurt Locker ASAP!
10.Jan.10 Rants: Oscars & Other Awards Read more Comments (0)
