FEMALE-WIELDED CINEMATICS!

Get a pen and paper and see these female-directed movies. I haven't seen all these but I'm working on it!

Out in theatres NOW:

Waitress - the late Adrienne Shelley is not around to see her directorial debut find an audience and hold them close. It's a damn shame...we'll never get to see all the wonderful wacky pictures Shelley had in store for us. See it!

Talk To Me - This movie looks real good and it's getting great reviews! Kasi Lemmons directs Don Cheadle in this true tale of popular DC radio personality and civil rights activist Ralph "Petey" Greene. 80% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes guys! See it!

Broken English - Zoe Cassavetes wee film is getting mixed reviews but my friends really liked it...Parker Posey is supposedly getting better and better with age! Some say Zoe has inherited some of her Dad's unflinching honesty. Ya!

2 Days in Paris - I'm dying to see this Julie Delpy-helmed movie. It stars Delpy and the truly edible Adam Goldberg. 83% Fresh on RT!!!

**Update 08/21/07: Just saw 2 Days in Paris at the Sunset 5 in Hollywood...There is a lot of good stuff in this movie. Adam Goldberg is SO good. I love that Delpy has crafted a truly annoying, troubled girl in her Marion character. I laughed out loud several times. There are a bunch of problems but I still really liked it and I think Delpy's saying some interesting stuff about Americans & Parisians and her own personal connection to both. I also LOVE that Delpy has a regular woman's body! And her hair is always frizzy and she barely wears any make up in the film! It sounds so silly for me to point this out but it really is cool. I don't know how many films this gal's got in her but I was inspired and I laughed and I wanted to bang Goldberg and this is all a good thing. Recommended!

The 11th Hour - No, it's not a Canadian television series...it's the Leonardo Dicaprio-produced doc on the global environmental crisis we are in RIGHT. NOW. Co-directed by the I-assume-awesome Nadia Conners and Leila Conners Petersen.

And COMING SOON don't forget to catch these flicks too!

The Nanny Diaries - co-directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, the folks who brought us American Splendor, which I loved. OK, so TND isn't getting the best advance press...but hey if you loved the book...?

Deep Water - This documentary (about the disastrous round-the-world yacht race of 1968) may not sound like your cup of tea at first glance...But people, I must tell you the word is VERY GOOD. Supposed to be quite gripping! Co-Directed by Louise Osmond & Jerry Rothwell.

The Jane Austin Book Club - Written and Directed by Screenwriter Robin Swicord (Memoirs of a Geisha), this movie is about six Californians who start a club to discuss the works of Jane Austen, only to find their relationships -- both old and new -- begin to resemble 21st century versions of her novels. Stars the great great Emily Blunt, Maria Bello, Amy Brenneman and, unfortunately for us, Maggie Grace. What do you think?

Across the Universe - OK. Many people are really looking forward to Julie Taymor's latest flick which incorporates and is based around the music of The Beatles. Honestly, I'm super thrilled that Taymor EXISTS in the world and takes risks and is an auteur and very much her own artist...and YES, many people will ADORE and slide down a rainbow with joy upon seeing this movie. I hope they do! That being said the trailer for this film elicits the deepest of grumblings from my belly...and not the good kind of grumblings that say "ooohhh I'm hungry! Hungry for this movie!" The grumblings are more akin to way-expired dairy products and over-cooked romanticism churning and preparing themselves to blow out my ass. Of course this is all coming from someone who LOATHED Moulin Rouge. Across the Universe is already surrounded by controversy as studio head Joe Roth has gone and made his own cut of the movie and started running test screenings! This begs the question: will Taymor take her name off the film if his cut makes the...cut?

And finally....

Things We Lost In The Fire - one of my favourite filmmakers, Denmark's Susanne Bier (Brothers, Open Hearts) makes her Hollywood/English language film debut with TWLITF, starring Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro. I will see anything this woman makes but I have to say, I'm a bit uneasy with Berry's presence.

If you've never seen a Susanne Bier movie, treat yourself TONIGHT. Track her down...find Brodres(Brothers) or Open Hearts or last year's After The Wedding. She's an inspiration, a joy, a kick in the face, a brilliant, wondrous filmmaker.

And just because you've still got that pen and paper handy...have you seen these OUTSTANDING films which just so happen to be directed by women?

Europa, Europa - Agnieszka Holland (see ALL her films!)
An Angel at My Table - Jane Campion (one of my all time faves)
Walking and Talking - Nicole Holofcener (Her first film...so good!)
Vendredi Soir(Friday Night) - Clair Denis (This film is HOT)
Hysterical Blindness - Mira Nair (Uma and Juliette Lewis=awesome)
The Ballad of Jack & Rose - Rebecca Miller (Really moving)

Support Women in Film.
If you're a woman, write something and shoot it.
Let's tell our stories, bitches!
(just kidding, ladies)

love,

Tracy