Monday, February 08, 2016

The problem with films today






We use that image in our Film Classics of the 20th Century pieces and, looking at it, you may note women.

Among the women featured are Bette Davis, Jane Fonda, Goldie Hawn, Cher, Marisa Tomei, Meryl Streep, Drew Barrymore, Marilyn Monroe, Diana Ross, Diane Keaton, Lauren Bacall, Meg Ryan, Ruth Gordon, Tatum O'Neal, Whoopi Goldberg, Katharine Hepburn, Kathleen Turner, Bette Midler, Elaine May, Faye Dunaway, Demi Moore, Michelle Pfieffer and Barbra Streisand.

 And some of them are featured for comedies -- WILDCATS, DEATH BECOMES HER, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, MERMAIDS, HOUSE SITTER, FIRST WIVES CLUB, LOVE AND DEATH, ANNIE HALL, ROMANCING THE STONE and THE PHILADELPHIA STORY.


2015 was a lousy year for film.

And we wonder where are the comedies?

And where are the women?

Did Norah Ephron's death also mean the death of romantic comedies?

Where are the romantic comedies?

No, TRAINWRECK is not a romantic comedy.


It's a grossly disappointing film.

Kevin James makes a movie and he's got a hottie.

Amy Schumer makes a film and she pairs herself with a whole lot of ugly (Bill Hader).


Applause for Melissa McCarthy who acts like a star in her films -- she has attractive men around her.


And applause for her for making real comedies.

We need them the way we needed WILDCATS, PRIVATE BENJAMIN and PROTOCOL, to name but three.

But we also need romantic comedies.

The rush to female-led gross-out comedies?

We applaud those films.

There aren't that many of them even after the success of BRIDESMAIDS.

But where are the films like WHEN HARRY MET SALLY . . ., SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, THE PROPOSAL, MUSIC & LYRICS, NOTTING HILL, YOU'VE GOT MAIL, BOOMERANG, RUNAWAY BRIDE, THE WEDDING SINGER, TWO WEEKS NOTICE, MAID IN MANHATTAN, HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS, WHAT WOMEN WANT, PRELUDE TO A KISS, NEVER BEEN KISSED, HOPE FLOATS, THE WEDDING PLANNER, MADE IN AMERICA,  MONSTER-IN-LAW, KATE & LEOPOLD, SHE'S ALL THAT, FORCES OF NATURE, THE MIRROR HAS TWO FACES, and SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE?


2015 was a summer without love.

Pretty much true of the entire year.

And it's part of the reason that 2015 was a lousy year for film.