Girls on Film: Men 'At the Movies'
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Girls on Film
At first, I didn't think much about the news that At the Movies had dumped the well-hated pair of Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz to get a little more intellectual with Michael Phillips and A.O. Scott. When Ebert was officially gone and the Ben-led fluff job took the spots, I preferred to pretend that the show didn't exist. Nevertheless, the new leads are solid choices for cinematic discussion. Writers for the Chicago Tribune and New York Times (respectively), our William Goss pointed out that both had "previously appeared in lieu of Ebert when he had taken ill and proved their own considerable intelligence and mutual respect for one another, the medium, and their audience."
Then I read Melissa Silverstein's "New Hosts for 'At the Movies' -- Another Couple of Guys," and started thinking about the testosterone-led television show. She asked: "Women filmgoers want more information before they make decisions about what movies to see, so wouldn't it make sense to try and bring in a female voice and perspective to look at films that are opening?" That would surely be a benefit to the women looking for reviewers they can relate to, but I think it would be even more important for the overall cinematic community by having a popular, visual representation of a female critic who loves more than the stereotypical "female fare."
Like it or not, there's an attitude towards women and cinema -- especially those who write about it -- and to have a thoughtful, cogent reviewer who could show love for a superhero film or an aggressive art piece, just as much as a romance or comedy, would be a wonderful step forward. It helps teach the audience that women have a variety of interests, too. Moreover, it would help pave the way for a more equal view on the opinions between male and female writers. In writing for Cinematical, I've been called out for calling a man sexy and told to go work for gossip rags (something that never gets thrown at male writers commenting on an actress' looks). After writing something positive about one rom-com clip, I was described elsewhere as a chick writer into Chick Flicks -- a rather strange assumption if you've kept up with my writing and talk of favorite films (cult flicks, docs, avant-garde, etc).
It's just commenter silliness, which is the name of the blogging game, but it does reflect a larger attitude that appears in many shades of grey. It can range from that look of surprise when girls are really excited for G.I. Joe (I hope to see it Friday!), to a female critic getting handed only fluff fare to review, to serious questions about a writer's ability to like or understand a film or genre based on their sex.
So adding a female critic into the mix, Silverstein's suggestions included Anne Thompson and ex-Cinematical editor Karina Longworth, both of whom would be a great way to start re-thinking our cinematic sex-pectations. Having a male and female critic argue over the finer points of an action film, or share their distaste for a vapid romantic comedy, would set us on the road for more real expectations and opinions of taste. Maybe it would no longer be weird that Cinematical has 6 female writers in a group of 17, most of whom are the daily writers, plus a female geek expert. Maybe an opinion can become nothing more than an expression of taste without being thrown into a "girls don't get that" or "guys don't like that" rationale. And just maybe one day, a genre can be nothing more than a genre, and not a troubling emblem of an entire sex or gender.
Maybe it will happen one day. And in hopes that it does: Which female film critics would you like to see on At the Movies, or stealing the thunder in a competing critic-led show?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-10-2009 @ 8:13PM
Ben Reichman said...
How about Stephanie Zacharek, the Salon movie critic?
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8-10-2009 @ 8:57PM
Chelsea said...
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Zacherak is Armond White in a skirt. This would be amusing for about five minutes, and then it would get ridiculous...and not in a fun way.
8-10-2009 @ 9:08PM
Jaded said...
I resent that women can't be objective movie reviewers. I personally love action movies, and most of the time will pick one to see over a "chic flick" as I can wait to see those at home, unlike action films that greatly benefit to being seen on the big screen.
When I heard that the Ben's had been let go I really had hoped that someone would have considered getting a male/female combo. Not sure who I would choose for that combo, but I think whomever it is that the both should have an appreciation for all forms of films whether it be foreign, docs, action, chic flicks, whatever.
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8-10-2009 @ 9:17PM
Dave said...
Kim Morgan, that's who. During her duties as one of the fill-in guest reviewers who stopped by "At the Movies" post-Ebert, she brought a much-needed kick to the show. She's wickedly funny, knowledgeable as hell about cinema and a genuine bad ass, to boot.
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8-11-2009 @ 11:27AM
J. said...
I second Kim Morgan.
8-10-2009 @ 11:57PM
Mike said...
There was a review show a few years ago called Hot Ticket or something like that, that I believe evolved into a two critic show with Leonard Maltin and some female critic. I say evolved because it began as a panel review show with "celebrity" guest reviewers until they tinkered with it endlessly until it was a Siskel and Ebert knock-off. That's about all I remember of it.
But, from a network standpoint, I'm sure they probably figure the audience for these shows are male film geeks. So I think they tend to believe that film geeks want to watch other film geeks, and that women don't fall into that category. If they were to add a woman to the equation, as with any show on TV, they'd probably want it to be some sex pot. And, let's be honest, they aren't too many sexy female movie critics out there that come to mind. Not that there are any good-looking male film critics. It's a double standard, but that's how TV works.
Male/female, I really don't care. I just want someone with an informed opinion and an open mind.
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8-11-2009 @ 1:32AM
Scott Nye said...
For the record, I'll probably tune in occasionally to the new At the Movies, more often if it really grabs me. But if Kim Morgan or Manohla Dargis were at the helm, I'd be there every week, guaranteed.
From a purely objective perspective, just as you, Monika, were (unfortunately) expected to behave differently as a woman, there are certain things men just aren't allowed to say, but women can bring up. Sometimes to very fine results:
http://www.moviecitynews.com/columnists/voynar/2009/090415.html
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8-11-2009 @ 12:23PM
Monika said...
I'm confused.. In Kim's piece, she does bring up two men who wrote about the issue. Why wouldn't a man be able to talk about the date rape issue in Observe and Report?
8-11-2009 @ 12:07PM
greatone said...
"In writing for Cinematical, I've been called out for calling a man sexy and told to go work for gossip rags (something that never gets thrown at male writers commenting on an actress' looks)."
I have to disagree with this statement. I remember one of the male writers was called out by posters for continuously writing articles about Megan Fox just because she looks good.
If you think women should have more of a voice in tv movie reviews, why don't you and another Cinematical writer start a podcast like "At the movies" and make it available on the site. You already have a built in voice with the site so why don't you use Cinematical to your advantage. With enough hits and popularity, one day you might can market the show and get it on network TV.
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8-11-2009 @ 12:22PM
Monika said...
Calling someone out for continually writing the same thing is a bit different than a critique for one adjective in one post.
One day, maybe I could get some show marketed for the TV, although it's a little hard to do that from Canada. But that doesn't negate the need, and how great it would be, to have a professional with many years of experience, hundreds or thousands of reviews, and notoriety and clout be on US TV right now, co-leading the most successful movie review program to ever air.
8-11-2009 @ 5:23PM
Scott said...
Totally agreed--I was somewhat disappointed that a woman was not found as one of the replacements. I believe Karina Longworth mentioned this when the Bens were originally brought in.
But I do take exception with this statement:
"that look of surprise when girls are really excited for G.I. Joe (I hope to see it Friday!)"
I am surprised when anybody says they are really excited for G.I. Joe.
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8-12-2009 @ 5:44AM
Liam said...
I am from Australia, and funnily enough we have a movie review show on our television screens called 'At The Movies', which is hosted by a man and a woman. David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz have been Australia's premier film reviewers for 20 years and Margaret is definitely not the 'stereotypical' female reviewer. One of her favourite films is 'Near Dark' for crying out loud. And although I think she's a little crazy I actually agree with her most of the time.
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8-12-2009 @ 8:20AM
C.A. said...
I'll stick with Cinematical for my blogging and the lovely diverse team of Ellen Fox and Brett Erlich on The Rotten Tomatoes Show for my televised movie show needs.
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8-14-2009 @ 8:08PM
hamletmiss said...
For the last four years, there was Alison Bailes on "Reel Talk," who tried to prove to be more than just a pretty face reviewing movies. She wanted to prove she had the perfect combination of beauty and brains, preferring art films to mainstream films. But I thought Alison was too snobby and unfriendly, thus her reviewing skills came off stronger than her partner Jeffrey Lyons, now no longer on NBC. So yes, there is a place for women on movie review shows. We just need one that can do a good job, not one who is either a cute ditz or an extreme cinema snob.
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