Movie Preview: Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire

Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire. Starring Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, and Lenny Kravitz. Written by Sapphire (novel), Geoffrey Fletcher, and Ramona Lofton. Directed by Lee Daniels.

I can't wait to see this film. The Sundance Film Festival honored it with several awards, including the Grand Jury Prize, the Audience Award, and a Special Jury Prize for Acting for Mo'Nique's performance. You can read an interview with Mo'Nique here, where she discusses her role as Precious's mother, Mary.

Eric D. Snider summarizes the film as follows:

"The premise of Push: Based on a Novel by Sapphire is so unsettling and bleak that no one would blame you if you didn't want to see it: It's the story of an obese 16-year-old illiterate Harlem girl who's pregnant (for the second time) by her own father, lives with her monstrously abusive mother, and has almost given up on life. But if you do see it, you'll find that it's compelling and artistic, punctuated with warm humor and masterful performances, and ultimately triumphant and hopeful."

And Paul Moore writes the following: "During the Q&A after the screening I attended, a girl stood up and said, 'I’m from Harlem and I know people like that, but I’ve never seen it on a screen before.' She then thanked director Lee Daniels through her tears and sat down."

Since it doesn't release until November, I haven't found too many reviews, but definitely check out Emanuel Levy's review and Amber Wilkinson's less enthusiastic review.

Now watch the trailer.

Releasing on DVD, Tuesday 7/28/09

Dollhouse, Season 1

Starring Eliza Dushku, Olivia Williams, Fran Kranz, Harry Lennix, Tahmoh Penikett, Enver Gjokah and Dichen Lachman. Created by Joss Whedon.

Much controversy occurred with the airing of Joss Whedon's latest show, Dollhouse. Definitely take a look at Sady's full analysis of the feminist elements of the show over at Tigerbeatdown. Here's an excerpt containing the basic plot summary:

"Dollhouse is, pretty much specifically and entirely, a show about consent. It's built around an organization—the titular Dollhouse—which erases volunteers' personalities and memories and renders them childlike and passive, in order to implant them with new, built-to-order personalities custom made for wealthy clients who wish to order the 'perfect' person for a specific job. The purpose for which these mind-wiped folks (called 'dolls,' and I do not think that we are for a second supposed to miss how creepy that term is) are rented out is, primarily, sex. Also, they have no knowledge of or ability to consent to the 'engagements' for which they are rented out. Also, they seem, in large part, to not really be volunteers at all—most of the ones we know about, including the central character, Echo, have become dolls in order to get out of jail time or worse, and one woman in particular was literally sold into the organization. Also, several Dolls have been used for sex by Dollhouse employees, sometimes with the illusion of consent in place and sometimes not."


Trailer

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Battlestar Galactica, The Complete Series

Starring Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park, and Katee Sackhoff.

The release of the Battlestar box-set might just be the ass-kicking I need to finally watch this show. Everyone I know who's seen it claims it's the best sci-fi show to ever exist, and many people love it specifically for its feminist elements. However, Juliet Lapidos wrote an article for Slate called, "Chauvinist Pigs in Space: Why Battlestar Galactica is not so frakking feminist afterall," which challenges the show's supposed feminism. But before all you feminist Battlestar fanatics freak out, definitely read Annalee Newitz's rebuttal to the Lapidos article, "The Men Who Make Battlestar Galactica Feminist." Be aware of spoilers.

You can watch a fan-made trailer here.

Movie Review: 500 Days of Summer, Take 1

500 Days of Summer. Starring Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Clark Gregg. Written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. Directed by Marc Webb.Within the past few years especially, independent films have developed a certain easily identifiable "indie charm," and 500 Days of Summer most definitely fulfills the criteria. These films used to be termed "independent" due to budget constraints, but just like the big studio films, indie movies have essentially become marketable, targeting a very specific audience to the point that indie elements have basically become indie clichés:

—amazing alterna-soundtrack? check.
(see also: Juno, Garden State, Away We Go)

—strangely cartoonish, bubbly-lettered and/or pencil-sketched movie poster? check.
(see also: Juno, Away We Go, Wes Anderson movies, Napoleon Dynamite)

—quirky female lead? check.
(see also: Juno, Garden State, The Royal Tenenbaums, Reality Bites, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)

—at least one scene that occurs in a ridiculous location? check.
(see also: Juno [furniture on the lawn scenes], Away We Go [department store bathtub scene, trampoline scene, stripper pole scene], Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind [most of the scenes])

—tortured love, tortured souls, tortured existences? check.
(see also: every indie film ever made)

For interesting reading about independent film clichés, coupled with a good review of Away We Go, read this.

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Despite the fact that 500 Days of Summer is pretty much guilty of perpetuating all of the above indie clichés, I really liked it. Despite the completely conservative ending, I really liked it. Despite my two-week long depressive episode following my viewing of this film, alone, in a theater in Times Square, in the middle of the day, alone, I really liked it. And, for whatever reason, despite my initial ambivalence after leaving the theater, this movie managed to linger with me. Why?

Well, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, for starters. The distilled plot: he falls in love with a woman who doesn't believe in love, which leads to his inevitable heartbreak. I hated watching Joseph Gordon-Levitt get his heart stomped on by [insert quirky hipster female love interest] Zooey Deschanel! Joseph Gordon-Levitt starred in Mysterious Skin! And Brick! And Third Rock from the Sun!

We love him!

The truth is, though, while I enjoyed watching a romantic comedy that changed-up the genre by turning the leading man into a mushy, self-loathing disaster who attempts to accept the reality of unrequited love, I hated how much the film still turned the female lead into a sidekick. In traditional romantic comedies, problematic as they are, the films at the very least focus on the couple, and you get to know the characters individually (The Break-Up, Eternal Sunshine, etc) by watching their interactions and conflicts as a couple.

But in 500 Days of Summer, the plot unfolds exclusively through the perspective of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character, Tom. Zooey Deschanel's character, Summer, (haha, get it?) exists merely as a vehicle to further the audience's identification with Tom. We never learn much about her. She likes Ringo Starr. She likes The Smiths. She likes karaoke. She doesn't believe in true love.

Thankfully, we also know that she identifies as an independent woman who refuses to be tied down. She might even identify as a feminist, though she never explicitly states that.

I loved one scene in particular where she gets angry with Tom because of some performative alpha-male attempt to "defend her honor" in a bar fight. He might be defending himself a little too; after all, the initial punch happens after the other man says to Summer, "I can't believe this guy is your boyfriend." Harsh. But I would've loved the scene even more if it hadn't been undercut by Summer showing up at Tom's apartment later, soaking wet from the rain, to apologize for getting angry with him.

In fact, the biggest issue I take with this film is how often it undercuts Summer's independence. The conclusion, which I won't give away here, completely disappoints in that regard. Not only is it an easy, throwaway ending, but it doesn't do justice to Summer's independent-woman persona, and instead (and again), exists only as a plot point that encourages the audience to sympathize with Tom.

We barely know Summer, but why does the little bit we do know about her have to get unnecessarily lost in the end?

There are also no other important women characters. Tom occasionally solicits advice from his younger sister, who's like, twelve, and I found it appropriately cute and indie-funny. And he goes on a blind date once, where he spends the entire time complaining to his date about Summer. (To the film's credit, the woman he's on the date with defends the shit out of Summer, rather than veering off into traditional rom-com female competitive-jealous territory.) Other than those few women though, it's all about Tom.

However, if this movie can claim anything, it can claim inclusion of some seriously awesome meta shit. Movies within movies within movies, oh my! We get clips and parodies of The Graduate, Persona, and some other French films I didn't recognize. And one can't ignore the hilarious bursting-into-song scene, complete with full group-dance sequence and cartoon birds. The film also uses a style of storytelling that moves back-and-forth within time, and that works too, keeping the viewer slightly off-kilter and in the same headspace as its hero.

With all this film fun, you ask, then what's my problem?

I think it has much to do with what I wanted for Summer. For her to go on being her quirky, independent-hipster self, unabashed and unapologetic. For her to never come across as potentially manipulative or dishonest, because she isn't either of those things. And for the writers and/or director to have taken as much care in creating a 3-dimensional female lead as they did in creating a fully fleshed-out male lead who picks himself up, dusts himself off, and goes out and accomplishes shit.

They're calling it a romantic comedy, after all. Even in the traditional "girl meets boy" then "boy breaks girl's heart" then "boy realizes he really loves girl" then "boy and girl live happily ever after" bullshit, and its pointless variations, the male and female characters get mostly equal screen time. In cases where that might not happen, the audience at least comes to understand each of the characters' motivations at some point.

(I'm by no means defending the rom-com, but at least in most female-driven rom-coms, like Pretty Woman and He's Just Not That Into You, I know that I'll have the pleasure of watching both of the characters one-dimensionally participate in a recreation of 1950s gender roles, ha.)

But in 500 Days of Summer—the female love interest exists, but she exists in the background as a supporting character, her main purpose being to help flesh out the hero. In turn, she becomes nothing more than an extension of him, just a quirky after-thought, another one of his personality traits.

500 Days of Summer could've (and should've) found a way to avoid that.

Yet at the end of the day, despite its shortcomings, I couldn't help but really like this "story about love." It felt authentic, at least in its illustration of relationship conflicts, from the initial courtship phase to the inevitable dissolution. Deschanel maintains her complete adorability and Gordon-Levitt, well, we love him! Their on-screen chemistry, intermingled with all kinds of mopiness and feel-goodness and splashes of The Smiths and Regina Spektor ... look, who cares about my criticisms? You should probably just go see this.

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Check out some insightful reviews here, here, here, and here.

Movie Posters: Bad Boys vs Bad Girls

The Spirit has all kinds of shit wrong with it. According to these movie posters, Samuel L. Jackson apparently plays a gun-wielding, trench coat wearing badass, who most definitely takes an active role, probably killing people who made the unfortunate mistake of trying to face his power. On the other hand Eva Mendes plays ... um ... a woman, who ... um ... has a long neck and um ... pretty lips ... and um ... she has been a very, very bad girl.

For a while, I thought Sin City and The Spirit were the same movie. Same marketing. Same brooding male action hero with a gun, risking his life in the rain for god's sake. Same beautiful and, don't forget, merciless woman who will obviously take people down with her tongue and her manipulative vagina. In the rain.

Yes, I realize these posters aren't from the same film. But I believe they're relevant to each other, in that these actors both star in these movies, and receive top billing. Also, the posters feature them both holding some seriously gigantic guns, and something tragic with America is probably occurring ... flags, Las Vegas, extinction, "public enemies," evil, etc. Yet we get Depp in a full suit, complete with trench coat, black leather gloves, and a hat, while Jovovich barely made it off the stripper pole in time to grab a couple of guns and destroy some shit. And watch out, she might be coming to do bad things to you, boys, hehe! (But what the hell is Depp looking at?)

Star Trek, revised taglines:

Man: I'm going to murder the fuck out of you.

Woman: I'm going to fuck the shit out of you.

What's with the men on these posters looking away (Depp, this guy, Law, Owen) while most of the women stare head-on? I'll tell you: the male gaze, baby! These women are straight-up going to do you. Men have more important things on their minds, like taking action, looking for action, or looking right at you in that "I'm about to kill some bitches" kind of way (which, yes, is problematic in its own right). But in fairness, even though the G.I. Joe poster objectifies the woman by depicting her entire backside, the poster with the man isn't much better. Check out his chest! I'll admit it; this poster sorta makes me want to do him.

A List, An Archive, and Some Wishes

Today I'm posting some great links to things other people wrote. Enjoy!

• Melissa at Women & Hollywood has created a "highlight reel" of some of her best posts. This is must-read material for anyone interested in movies and the role women play in (making) them. Help her celebrate her 1000th post by sending a donation.

• Tracy at Unapologetically Female asks why we can't flip some traditional gender norms of jealousy and heroics in the stories we tell.
  

• The IFC has created a list of the 50 Best Movie Trailers. I'd spend all day watching them if I could. What's your favorite?

2009 Emmy Nominations

Check out the Emmy-nominated women below. I haven't included all categories, but you can check out the entire list of Emmy nominees here.


Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series

30 Rock • Reunion • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with
Universal Media Studios
Beth McCarthy, Director


Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special

Generation Kill • Bomb In The Garden • HBO • Company Pictures and Blown Deadline
Productions in association with HBO Films
Susanna White, Director

Little Dorrit • Part 1 • PBS • A co-production of BBC Productions and WGBH Boston
Dearbhla Walsh, Director


Outstanding Directing For Nonfiction Programming

Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired • HBO • Milwood Pictures, Graceful Pictures, BBC, Antidote Films in association with HBO Documentary Films and ThinkFilm
Marina Zenovich, Director


Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

The New Adventures Of Old Christine • CBS • Kari's Logo Here in association with
Warner Bros. Television
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine

Samantha Who? • ABC • ABC Studios
Christina Applegate as Samantha Newly

The Sarah Silverman Program • Comedy Central • Central Productions/Eleven Eleven
O'Clock Productions/Oil Factory Inc.
Sarah Silverman as Sarah Silverman

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal
Media Studios
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon

United States Of Tara • Showtime • Showtime presents in association with DreamWorks Television
Toni Collette as Tara Gregson

Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lionsgate Television and
Tilted Productions, Inc.
Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin


Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Brothers & Sisters • ABC • ABC Studios
Sally Field as Nora Walker

The Closer • TNT • The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros.
Television
Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson

Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Glenn Close as Patty Hewes

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC • Wolf Films in association with Universal
Media Studios
Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson

Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson

Saving Grace • TNT • Fox Television
Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko


Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie

Accidental Friendship • Hallmark Channel • A Muse Entertainment and Automatic
Pictures Production
Chandra Wilson as Yvonne

Coco Chanel • Lifetime • Lux Vide S.p.A, Pamp Productions and Alchemy Television
Group
Shirley MacLaine as Coco Chanel

Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Drew Barrymore as Little Edie

Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Jessica Lange as Big Edie

Prayers For Bobby • Lifetime • Once Upon The Times Films, LTD in association with
Permut Presentations and Sladek Taaffe Productions
Sigourney Weaver as Mary Griffith


Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Pushing Daisies • ABC • Living Dead Guy Productions, The Jinks/Cohen Company in
association with Warner Bros. Television
Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook

Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Amy Poehler as Various Characters

Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Kristin Wiig as Various Characters

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal
Media Studios
Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater

Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lionsgate Television and
Tilted Productions, Inc.
Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes


Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Rose Byrne as Ellen Parsons

Grey's Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Sandra Oh as Dr. Christina Yang

Grey's Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey

In Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in association with HBO Entertainment
Dianne Wiest as Gina

In Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in
association with HBO Entertainment
Hope Davis as Mia

24 • FOX • Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox Television in association with
Teakwood Lane Productions
Cherry Jones as President Allison Taylor


Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie

The Courageous Heart Of Irena Sendler (Hallmark Hall Of Fame Presentation) • CBS • Jeff Most/Jeff Rice Productions in association with Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions
Marcia Gay Harden as Janina

Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Jeanne Tripplehorn as Jackie O.

House Of Saddam • HBO • HBO Films in association with BBC
Shohreh Aghdashloo as Sajida

Into The Storm • HBO • Scott Free and Rainmark Films production in association with the BBC and HBO Films
Janet McTeer as Clementine Churchill

Relative Stranger • Hallmark Channel • A Larry Levinson Production
Cicely Tyson as Pearl


Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory • The Maternal Capacitance • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television
Christine Baranski as Beverly Hofstadter

Monk • Mr. Monk And The Lady Next Door • USA • Universal Cable Productions in association with Mandeville Films and ABC Studios
Gena Rowlands as Marge

My Name Is Earl • Witch Lady • NBC • 20th Century Fox TV
Betty White as Crazy Witch Lady

Saturday Night Live • Presidential Bash 2008 • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Tina Fey as Governor Sarah Palin (Spoof)

30 Rock • The One With The Cast Of 'Night Court' • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Jennifer Aniston as Claire

30 Rock • Christmas Special • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Elaine Stritch as Colleen Donaghy


Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series

Grey's Anatomy • No Good At Saying Sorry (One More Chance) • ABC • ABC Studios
Sharon Lawrence as Robbie Stevens

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • Swing • NBC • Wolf Films in association with
Universal Media Studios
Ellen Burstyn as Bernadette Stabler

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • Persona • NBC • Wolf Films in association with
Universal Media Studios
Brenda Blethyn as Linnie Malcolm/Caroline Cantwell

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • Ballerina • NBC • Wolf Films in association with
Universal Media Studios
Carol Burnett as Bridget "Birdie" Sulloway

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency • The Boy With The African Heart • HBO • Mirage
Enterprises and Cinechicks in association with The Weinstein Company, BBC and HBO
Entertainment
CCH Pounder as Mrs. Curtin


Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program

Project Runway • Bravo • Magical Elves for The Weinstein Company, Full Picture, Bravo
Heidi Klum, Host

Top Chef • Bravo • Magical Elves, Bravo
Padma Lakshmi, Host
Tom Colicchio, Co-Host


Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Special

Kathy Griffin: She'll Cut A Bitch • Bravo • Rickmill Productions, Bravo


Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special

Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Michael Sucsy, Writer
Patricia Rozema, Writer


I plan on updating this with some fun statistics later.

New on DVD: Explicit Ills

Explicit Ills. Written and directed by Mark Webber. Starring Rosario Dawson, Paul Dano, Lou Taylor Pucci, Tariq Trotter, Naomie Harris, Frankie Shaw, and Francisco Burgos.

EXPLICIT ILLS is actor turned helmer, Mark Webber's directorial debut. The film follows four inter-connecting stories revolving around love, drugs and poverty in Philadelphia. Babo, an asthma ridden seven-year-old lives with his mother in the badlands of North Philly. His neighbor Demetri transforms himself into a well-read "smart" boy in order to get the girl. Michelle, a well-off art student is quick to fall into a drug induced love-affair with her dealer Jacob. Kaleef and Jill's marriage is strained as they pursue their dreams of bringing "produce to the people" as their teenage son Heslin focuses on competing in the World's Strongest Man competition. The lyrical and moving drama finds its core as all members come together in their fight for justice and self-discovery.

As a directorial debut, I imagine some criticisms in uneven reviews of the film are probably correct, but this still looks interesting. Comparisons to Crash and Babel seem more convenient than accurate, and I hope it doesn't make the mistake of confusing prejudice with more complex issues of race and class--an error Crash (aka the worst movie of 2005) egregiously committed.

Watch the trailer:

Ripley's Pick: Smiley Face

Smiley Face (2007). Written by Dylan Haggerty. Directed by Gregg Araki. Starring Anna Faris, John Krasinski, Adam Brody, and Danny Masterson.

Contrary to popular belief, you need not be stoned to enjoy a stoner comedy. You just need to be a dude.

Or so I thought, when I came upon Smiley Face, starring Anna Faris as a stoner who happens to be female, starring in a movie that offers mindless entertainment but still manages to be smart.

The plot is typical stoner-flick, road-movie material: character has a destination/goal and encounters obstacles on the way there, which are funny and at times poignant. Jane F. (Faris), a twenty-something wannabe actress/pothead, has a busy day ahead of her: she needs to pay the electric bill to avoid the power being shut off, and go to an audition--all while not eating her roommate's plateful of cupcakes in the fridge marked "These cupcakes are RESERVED for SCI-FI EXTRAVAGANZA-CON!!! Do NOT eat! That means YOU Jane." In a fit of mid-morning munchies, she eats said cupcakes, and you can probably guess why Steve wrote such an enthusiastic note about them.

Why do I love this movie? Jane graduated summa cum laude with a degree in economics, yet she's half-heartedly trying to be an actress, though her only experience seems to be a regional root beer commercial. In other words, she's not lazy or stupid, just a slacker. We have so many twenty- and thirty-something male slackers in film, and we're all supposed to just adore them. (Boys being boys! Slobs in need of feminine domestication!) Female slackers are a rarity. Women in movies are supposed to be highly functioning and successful. They fall in love with slackers (who then save them from their uptight, bitchy selves). Jane isn't interested in love, or romance, or success. She's interested in saving her thousand-dollar mattress from the dealer who threatens to take it if she doesn't pay her debt.

There are major differences between this and other stoner movies I've seen. First, and most obvious, is that we've never had a female protagonist. Sure, there have been stoned girlfriends and minor lady players, but never have I seen the main character of a stoner comedy be a woman. Second, and just as important, Jane does not have buddies who get stoned with her. She's all alone (after a brief debate with her dealer about the state of marijuana as a black market item in a "laissez-faire paradigm, or whatever"), stoned and entirely alienated from the world around her. Her interactions are all with people who are sober and generally hostile toward her, from a casting agent to a manager in a pork processing plant, to the guy (Krasinski) she uses for a ride to Venice, who happens to be madly in love with her. Her utter alienation allows viewers to solely identify with her, regardless of the viewer's gender. That's pretty cool.

Alienation might just be the theme of the whole movie. Jane might have lost her friends by failing to repay the money she borrowed from them, but she's also a woman walking around in a male genre. It's no coincidence that the book accompanying her on the journey through L.A. declared alienation a necessary requirement for the functioning of capitalism (I'll leave it up to you to analyze that final, wonderful scene with the manuscript). Jane is alone and lost in a world that seems to be suspicious of her every (paranoid, high) move, but with a few strange helper characters, she might get where she's going.

Or not.

Humpday: Just Another Bromance?

Maybe not.
Humpday. Written and directed by Lynn Shelton. Starring Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, and Alycia Delmore. Opens today (July 10, 2009).

It's been a decade since Ben (Duplass) and Andrew (Leonard) were the bad boys of their college campus. Ben has settled down and found a job, wife, and home. Andrew took the alternate route as a vagabond artist, skipping the globe from Chiapas to Cambodia. When Andrew shows up unannounced on Ben's doorstep, they easily fall back into their old dynamic of macho one-upmanship.

Late into the night at a wild party, the two find themselves locked in a mutual dare: to enter an amateur porn contest together. But what kind of boundary-breaking, envelope pushing porn can two straight dudes make? After the booze and "big talk" run out, only one idea remains—they will have sex together...on camera. It's not gay; it's beyond gay. It's not porn; it's art. But how exactly will it work? And more importantly, who will tell Anna (Delmore), Ben's wife?

Here's the Sundance trailer:



I think I might see this movie...

Are You Ready to Get Ridiculous?

div style="text-align: justify;">In response to my previous post about <a href="http://www.btchflcks.com/2009/07/pay-discrimination-in-hollywood-who.html">pay discrimination in Hollywood</a>, an anonymous commenter pointed out the following: <div style="text-align: justify;">"Although I agree that women should be paid the same in all industries, your breakdown of the top grossing movies fails to recognise that apart from <span style="font-style: italic;">Sex and the City</span> there were major male actors in each of the films, whereas the male movies listed featured the men as the main star of the film surrounded by a supporting cast." </div><div style="text-align: justify;">That got me thinking. While it was impossible to account for every single factor that might've contributed to the actors' salaries more than doubling the actresses' salaries (actors/actresses who produced rather than starred in a film, actors/actresses who released more than one film in the previous year, actors/actresses receiving residuals from past work, worldwide box office gross versus US box office gross, etc), my main goal was to illustrate the fact that lead actresses didn't seem to be fairly compensated for their films based on skill-level (measured by Oscar nominations and wins), US box office gross, and the overall critical reception of their work, when compared/contrasted with the male leads' compensation. But, like I said, that anonymous commenter got me thinking. Is it possible that male leads are usually the main attraction in their films, surrounded by an anonymous supporting cast, while female leads tend to star in more ensemble-driven films, surrounded by a cast of prominent male actors? So I decided to use the list of films from my previous post on pay discrimination to attempt to get to the bottom of this. My ultimate goal: to discover if a trend exists where male leads star in their "own movies" whereas female leads tend to blend in with the rest of their cast (which often includes major male actors). Or, do we merely <span style="font-style: italic;">view</span> male leads differently than female leads, seeing the female leads the way our society sees women in general: as helpers, partners, and assistants rather than leaders? ************************************************************************ <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVM18oJQqI/AAAAAAAAAJg/8nrrSfLrP-k/s1600-h/kungfupanda.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVM18oJQqI/AAAAAAAAAJg/8nrrSfLrP-k/s400/kungfupanda.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356271821518357154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Kung Fu Panda</span>: Angelina Jolie's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $215,395,021 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Jack Black, well-known ensemble cast, including Dustin Hoffman, Ian McShane, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, and Lucy Liu <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: Most of the posters only featured the Panda, and the previews did the same, mainly focusing on Jack Black in the title role. While Angelina Jolie is an Oscar-winner, as is Dustin Hoffman, and they are by no means minor players in the film industry, it's safe to characterize <span style="font-style: italic;">Kung Fu Pan</span><span style="font-style: italic;">da</span> as a Jack Black movie, since it was essentially marketed as such. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Jack Black movie, supported by a prominent male and female cast. ************************************************************************ <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVNe9qIAaI/AAAAAAAAAJw/ePOyS1V_csI/s1600-h/marleyandme.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVNe9qIAaI/AAAAAAAAAJw/ePOyS1V_csI/s400/marleyandme.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356272526169735586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Marley & Me</span>: Jennifer Aniston's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $143,084,510 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Owen Wilson as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Eric Dane, Kathleen Turner, and Alan Arkin <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: The promotional posters either featured the dog only, or they featured all three: Aniston, Wilson, and the dog. I'm not sure how to characterize this movie, as the dog seems to carry as much star-power as the actors. Given that Aniston and Wilson both have some box-office draw, I'll call this what it is: a draw. (But I really just want to give it to Marley.) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Aniston/Wilson movie, supported by a prominent male and female cast. And a dog. ************************************************************************ <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVN4G6f1PI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/1lHX6P2KuvU/s1600-h/mammamia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVN4G6f1PI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/1lHX6P2KuvU/s400/mammamia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356272958151054578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Mamma Mia!</span>: Meryl Streep's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $143,704,210 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: well-known ensemble cast, including Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, and Amanda Seyfried <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: Meryl Streep is in this (and many film posters exclusively promoted Amanda Seyfried) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Meryl Streep movie (with special shout-out to Seyfried) supported by a prominent male cast. ************************************************************************ <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVOJWvOdeI/AAAAAAAAAKA/Euc_zLUwgeA/s1600-h/sexandthecity.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVOJWvOdeI/AAAAAAAAAKA/Euc_zLUwgeA/s400/sexandthecity.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356273254456522210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Sex and the City</span>: Sarah Jessica Parker's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $152,595,674 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: well-known ensemble cast, including Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth, Candace Bergen, and Jennifer Hudson <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: Even though this is an ensemble comedy, Sarah Jessica Parker narrates, and most of the promotional posters focused on her. The film also benefitted from its success as a TV show, where SJP's job as a columnist took center stage. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Sarah Jessica Parker movie, supported by a prominent female cast. ************************************************************************ <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVObksRanI/AAAAAAAAAKI/uxtthFYEPc8/s1600-h/whathappensinvegas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVObksRanI/AAAAAAAAAKI/uxtthFYEPc8/s400/whathappensinvegas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356273567439874674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">What Happens in Vegas</span>: Cameron Diaz's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $80,199,843 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Ashton Kutcher as love interest, anonymous supporting cast, including Rob Corddry, Lake Bell, and Jason Sudeikis <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: Who cares? This movie sucked and Diaz/Kutcher could've been replaced by other actors and it probably wouldn't have made a difference. They both got equal billing and promotion, and since it's a rom-com of sorts, and rom-coms rely on, you know, a romantic relationship, it too is a draw. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Diaz/Kutcher movie, supported by an anonymous cast. ************************************************************************ (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sandra Bullock</span>: did not star in any films in 2008) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: From what I can gather, she produced several films/owns a production company, so that's where her loot came from. ************************************************************************ <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVOyoVZMeI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/QeMjJa2Tzvo/s1600-h/fourchristmases.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVOyoVZMeI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/QeMjJa2Tzvo/s400/fourchristmases.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356273963554648546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Four Christmases</span>: Reese Witherspoon's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $120,136,047 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Vince Vaughn as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, and Jon Favreau <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: Same deal—it's a rom-com, so yeah. I'd like to argue that Reese Witherspoon's Oscar win trumps Vince Vaughn's whole schlubby-funny-guy thing, but the unfortunate reality is that the success of rom-coms doesn't usually depend on the actual quality of the actors/acting. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Witherspoon/Vaughn movie, supported by a prominent, mostly male cast, with the exception of Spacek. ************************************************************************ <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVPsVVRNQI/AAAAAAAAAKY/NSWPaQ0W_cI/s1600-h/australia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVPsVVRNQI/AAAAAAAAAKY/NSWPaQ0W_cI/s400/australia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356274954886264066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Australia</span>: Nicole Kidman's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $49,420,849 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Hugh Jackman, anonymous supporting cast, including Shea Adams, Eddie Baroo, Ray Barrett, and Tony Barry <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: Love, or something. I never bothered to see this gem, given the reviews, but if the movie poster is anything to go by, I'm pretty sure it's about love and Australia. Nicole Kidman has won two Oscars and everyone loves her, so I'm tempted to call Kidman the main attraction. Except! Hugh Jackman is totally Wolverine! <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Kidman/Jackman movie, supported by an anonymous cast. ************************************************************************ <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVQL-b74nI/AAAAAAAAAKg/7k40kxGiqf8/s1600-h/beverlyhillschihuahua.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVQL-b74nI/AAAAAAAAAKg/7k40kxGiqf8/s400/beverlyhillschihuahua.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356275498496025202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Beverly Hills Chihuahua</span>: Drew Barrymore's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $94,497,271 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: well-known supporting cast including Piper Perabo, Andy Garcia, George Lopez, Cheech Martin, Edward James Olmos, and Jamie Lee Curtis <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: Um. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Talking Chihuahua movie, with Barrymore's voice supported by a prominent male cast (and Jamie Lee Curtis). ************************************************************************ <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVQpqSEGBI/AAAAAAAAAKo/CbYPOC4PxQ0/s1600-h/leatherheads.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVQpqSEGBI/AAAAAAAAAKo/CbYPOC4PxQ0/s400/leatherheads.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356276008481986578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Leatherheads</span>: Renee Zellweger's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $31,199,215 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring George Clooney and John Krasinski, anonymous supporting cast, including David de Vries, Rick Forrester, Malcolm Goodwin, and Matt Bushell <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: Zellweger barely got mentioned in the promotion of this film and seems to have been relegated to the infamous barely-there role-as-female-love-interest. Didn't they show her in the previews literally cheering from the sidelines? <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: George Clooney movie, supported by an anonymous male cast. ************************************************************************ <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVRGyc89KI/AAAAAAAAAKw/HEZoLmQP-7Q/s1600-h/indianajones.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVRGyc89KI/AAAAAAAAAKw/HEZoLmQP-7Q/s400/indianajones.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356276508891346082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Indiana Jones</span>: Cate Blanchett's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $316,957,122 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Harrison Ford and Shia LaBeouf, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, and John Hurt <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: I actually think this is a tough one. Blanchett = brilliant Oscar-winning actress, so it's hard to exclusively call this for Ford. But in reality, would people have gone to see this if Cate Blanchett's role-as-villain had been played by another actress? Yes. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Harrison Ford movie, supported by a prominent actress (Blanchett) and a mostly male cast. ************************************************************************ <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVRpqZkc8I/AAAAAAAAAK4/Aq95Dub3uVw/s1600-h/getsmart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVRpqZkc8I/AAAAAAAAAK4/Aq95Dub3uVw/s400/getsmart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356277108025095106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Get Smart</span>: Anne Hathaway's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $130,246,343 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Steve Carell, well-known supporting cast, including Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, James Caan, and Bill Murray <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: I watched the first fifteen minutes of this before turning it off, and it appeared as if Carell and Hathaway had a whole equal partnership going on. But I have to admit, I was only talked into watching it because someone reminded me that Steve Carell is hilarious. When I realized it was the worst fifteen minutes of a film I'd ever seen, I lamented that Hathaway chose to be a part of it. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Carell/Hathaway movie, supported by a prominent male cast. ************************************************************************ (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Halle Berry</span>: did not star in any films for 2008) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: I don't know man, I don't know. ************************************************************************ <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVSIrWiTUI/AAAAAAAAALA/ACSRYY1SxXc/s1600-h/otherboleyngirl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVSIrWiTUI/AAAAAAAAALA/ACSRYY1SxXc/s400/otherboleyngirl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356277640856751426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Other Boleyn Girl</span>: Scarlett Johansson's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $26,814,957 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Natalie Portman and Eric Bana, anonymous supporting cast, including Jim Sturgess, Mark Rylance, David Morrissey, and Kristen Scott Thomas <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: This film was all kinds of offensive. The marketing mainly focused on the casting of Portman/Johansson as vengeful sisters, (fighting over a man) so I'm only barely giving it to Johansson, since she's the actual "Other Boleyn Girl" … and the supposed heroine. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Scarlett Johansson movie, supported by Bana, Portman, and an anonymous, mostly male cast. ************************************************************************ <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVSv4YRwQI/AAAAAAAAALI/Ixv4Cpjuaow/s1600-h/TheReader.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3oGFtTefCAY/SlVSv4YRwQI/AAAAAAAAALI/Ixv4Cpjuaow/s400/TheReader.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356278314368614658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Reader</span>: Kate Winslet's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $34,111,418 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Ralph Fiennes, anonymous supporting cast, including Jeanette Hain, David Cross, Susanne Lothar, and Alissa Wilms <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: I had no idea who else was in this besides Kate Winslet. And she won an Oscar (finally) for this role. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: 100% Kate Winslet movie, supported by Fiennes and an anonymous, male/female cast. ************************************************************************ <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Indiana Jones</span>: Harrison Ford's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $316,957,122 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Cate Blanchett and Shia LaBeouf, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, and John Hurt <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: We already went over this. Blanchett. Brilliant. Doesn't matter. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Begrudgingly given to Ford. ************************************************************************ <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Bedtime Stories</span>: Adam Sandler's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $109,993,847 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Keri Russell and Guy Pearce, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Russell Brand, Richard Griffiths, Lucy Lawless, Courteney Cox, and Carmen Electra <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: Adam Sandler was the only person in this film they even attempted to promote, which is good news for all the other actors associated with this piece. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Adam Sandler can have it, with support from a prominent female/less prominent male cast. ************************************************************************ <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Hancock</span>: Will Smith's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $227,946,274 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman, anonymous supporting cast, including Jae Head, Eddie Marsan, and David Mattey <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: It's a Will Smith action movie, what more can one say? Sure, Charlize Theron is an Oscar-winning actress who plays the role of "very important sidekick" next to a world famous action hero, but just check out the ridiculous movie poster if you need confirmation. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Will Smith movie, supported by Theron and random men I've never heard of. ************************************************************************ <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Meet Dave</span>: Eddie Murphy's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $11,644,832 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Elizabeth Banks, anonymous supporting cast, including Gabrielle Union, Scott Caan, Ed Helms, Kevin Hart, and Mike O'Malley <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: Has Eddie Murphy ever been in a movie that isn't an Eddie Murphy movie? Again: movie poster. (Bonus points for anyone who can find me a film poster that features a female lead like this. Hint: one of the films on this big ass list does it.) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Eddie Murphy movie, supported by Banks and less well-known actors. ************************************************************************ <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Knowing</span>: Nicolas Cage's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $79,911,877 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: anonymous supporting cast, including Chandler Canterbury, Rose Byrne, Lara Robinson, D.G. Maloney, and Nadia Townsend <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: I think the phrase "anonymous supporting cast" is enough of an analysis. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Nicolas Cage movie, supported by an anonymous male/female cast. ************************************************************************ (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tom Hanks</span>: did not star in any films for 2008) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: I'm pretty sure Tom Hanks makes money just by existing. ************************************************************************ <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Tropic Thunder</span>: Tom Cruise's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $110,416,702 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: cameo/supporting role by Cruise, well-known ensemble cast, including Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, and Ben Stiller <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: No one really knew Tom Cruise was in this, and many people didn't recognize him even as they watched. I kind of love that. Were there any women in this movie? <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: I'll give it to any one of the other prominent male cast members who isn't Tom Cruise. ************************************************************************ <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Horton Hears a Who!</span>: Jim Carrey's highest grossing film of 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $154,388,002 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: well-known ensemble/supporting cast, including Steve Carell, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Isla Fisher, Jonah Hill, and Amy Poehler <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: They promoted this as a Jim Carrey/Steve Carell comedy, but Jim Carrey is Jim Carrey and Steve Carell made <span style="font-style: italic;">Evan Almighty</span>. It's a kids film, though, so maybe none of that matters. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: My 4-year-old niece doesn't give a shit, so neither do I, supported by a prominent male/female cast. ************************************************************************ <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Curious Case of Benjamin Button</span>: Brad Pitt's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $127,490,802 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Cate Blanchett as love interest, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Julia Ormond and Taraji P. Henson <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: Cate Blanchett's performance in this captured me much more than Brad Pitt's performance, but I guess the Academy feels like they've already given her enough Oscars. Ultimately, the stand-outs were the women: Blanchett and Henson. But Brad Pitt has a bunch of kids with Angelina Jolie and he even dressed up in some kind of old man disguise for this film, so I really don't know what to do here. I'm taking a cue from the movie poster. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Pitt/Blanchett movie, supported mainly by a female cast of mommies and love interests. ************************************************************************ (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Johnny Depp</span>: did not star in any films for 2008) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: Remember when Johnny Depp wore that cut-off-at-the-waist football jersey in <span style="font-style: italic;">Nightmare on Elm Street</span>? ************************************************************************ <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Burn After Reading</span>: George Clooney's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $60,338,891 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: well-known ensemble cast, including Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, Richard Jenkins, Tilda Swinton, and John Malkovich <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: I just watched this five days ago and was totally surprised by the focus on McDormand and Swinton. All these people have either been nominated for Oscars or won Oscars, and it's definitely an ensemble-driven film. So, sorry Clooney, this doesn't exclusively go to you. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Everyone, equal weight given to a prominent male/female cast. ************************************************************************ <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Body of Lies</span>: Russell Crowe's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $39,380,442 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Leonardo DiCaprio, anonymous supporting cast, including Mark Strong, Golshifteh Farahani, and Ali Suliman <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: I actually couldn't remember what the hell this movie was, so I looked it up and even then I still didn't remember it ever existing. But apparently it made money. So who do I give it to, Crowe or DiCaprio? The suspense! <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Who cares—didn't this go straight to DVD? (Men supporting men.) ************************************************************************ <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Iron Man</span>: Robert Downey Jr.'s highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $318,298,180 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Paul Bettany, and Jon Favreau <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow! Oh wait, that doesn't mean anything? Just check out our review of this movie <a href="http://www.btchflcks.com/2009/03/movie-review-iron-man.html">here</a>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Robert Downey Jr., supported by Paltrow and a prominent male cast. ************************************************************************ (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Denzel Washington</span>: did not star in any films for 2008) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: I love you, Denzel. ************************************************************************ <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Four Christmases</span>: Vince Vaughn's highest grossing film for 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gross</span>: $120,136,047 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: co-starring Reese Witherspoon as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, and Jon Favreau <span style="font-weight: bold;">Analysis</span>: See above. Even though Vaughn could be a good actor if he wanted to, it doesn't really matter in the simplistic world of rom-com. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict</span>: Witherspoon/Vaughn movie, supported by men and Spacek. ************************************************************************ So, did I learn anything from this exercise? What the hell was I trying to do again? Oh yeah, depress the shit out of myself, and this: ... discover if a trend exists where male leads star in their "own movies" whereas female leads tend to blend in with the rest of their cast (which often includes major male actors) … Well, the male leads who star as the "main attraction," surrounded by a mostly anonymous supporting cast include George Clooney in <span style="font-style: italic;">Leatherheads</span> (this one's tricky since Zellweger and Krasinski co-star and probably don't count as "anonymous" ha, but whatever), Adam Sandler in <span style="font-style: italic;">Bedtime Stories</span>, Nicolas Cage in <span style="font-style: italic;">Knowing</span>, and Eddie Murphy in <span style="font-style: italic;">Meet Dave</span>. One could argue that films like <span style="font-style: italic;">Iron Man</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Indiana Jones</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Hancock </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Other Boleyn Girl</span>—films that relegate prominent lead actresses to the status of sidekick and/or love interest (and for that matter, go on ahead and add <span style="font-style: italic;">The Curious Case of Benjamin Button</span> to that list)—while the men go off and save the world and/or run the world and/or do shit in the world, and shit, might as well fall into the male-lead-as-main-attraction category. I think maybe I just convinced myself that they do. Fuck. Okay, so, the female leads who manage to star as the "main attraction," surrounded by a mostly anonymous supporting cast include, um … Kate Winslet in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Reader</span>?! That's it? I guess Ralph Fiennes isn't even anonymous, but neither are Zellweger and Krasinski, and I gave Clooney <span style="font-style: italic;">Leatherheads</span>! Take that, film industry! I'm depressed. It appears, from this list at least, that female leads either co-star with a male lead in romantic comedies, or star in films that include a prominent supporting cast, (<span style="font-style: italic;">Mamma Mia!</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Sex and the City</span>). Clearly, we could use more <span style="font-style: italic;">Tomb Raiders</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Changelings</span> (go Angelina!) and whatever other movies our actresses have starred in as the "main attraction" who's surrounded by a mostly anonymous supporting cast. Can we make a list, please? Because I'm pretty sure I was wrong when I suggested that the audience might only be <span style="font-style: italic;">viewing </span>female leads as helpers, partners, and assistants; the film industry actually fucking treats them that way. </div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p></span>

In response to my previous post about pay discrimination in Hollywood, an anonymous commenter pointed out the following:

"Although I agree that women should be paid the same in all industries, your breakdown of the top grossing movies fails to recognise that apart from Sex and the City there were major male actors in each of the films, whereas the male movies listed featured the men as the main star of the film surrounded by a supporting cast."

That got me thinking. While it was impossible to account for every single factor that might've contributed to the actors' salaries more than doubling the actresses' salaries (actors/actresses who produced rather than starred in a film, actors/actresses who released more than one film in the previous year, actors/actresses receiving residuals from past work, worldwide box office gross versus US box office gross, etc), my main goal was to illustrate the fact that lead actresses didn't seem to be fairly compensated for their films based on skill-level (measured by Oscar nominations and wins), US box office gross, and the overall critical reception of their work, when compared/contrasted with the male leads' compensation.

But, like I said, that anonymous commenter got me thinking. Is it possible that male leads are usually the main attraction in their films, surrounded by an anonymous supporting cast, while female leads tend to star in more ensemble-driven films, surrounded by a cast of prominent male actors?

So I decided to use the list of films from my previous post on pay discrimination to attempt to get to the bottom of this. My ultimate goal: to discover if a trend exists where male leads star in their "own movies" whereas female leads tend to blend in with the rest of their cast (which often includes major male actors). Or, do we merely view male leads differently than female leads, seeing the female leads the way our society sees women in general: as helpers, partners, and assistants rather than leaders?

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Kung Fu Panda: Angelina Jolie's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $215,395,021
Cast: co-starring Jack Black, well-known ensemble cast, including Dustin Hoffman, Ian McShane, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, and Lucy Liu

Analysis: Most of the posters only featured the Panda, and the previews did the same, mainly focusing on Jack Black in the title role. While Angelina Jolie is an Oscar-winner, as is Dustin Hoffman, and they are by no means minor players in the film industry, it's safe to characterize Kung Fu Panda as a Jack Black movie, since it was essentially marketed as such.

Verdict: Jack Black movie, supported by a prominent male and female cast.

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Marley & Me: Jennifer Aniston's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $143,084,510
Cast: co-starring Owen Wilson as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Eric Dane, Kathleen Turner, and Alan Arkin

Analysis: The promotional posters either featured the dog only, or they featured all three: Aniston, Wilson, and the dog. I'm not sure how to characterize this movie, as the dog seems to carry as much star-power as the actors. Given that Aniston and Wilson both have some box-office draw, I'll call this what it is: a draw. (But I really just want to give it to Marley.)

Verdict: Aniston/Wilson movie, supported by a prominent male and female cast. And a dog.

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Mamma Mia!: Meryl Streep's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $143,704,210
Cast: well-known ensemble cast, including Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, and Amanda Seyfried

Analysis: Meryl Streep is in this (and many film posters exclusively promoted Amanda Seyfried).

Verdict: Meryl Streep movie (with special shout-out to Seyfried) supported by a prominent male cast.

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Sex and the City: Sarah Jessica Parker's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $152,595,674
Cast: well-known ensemble cast, including Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth, Candace Bergen, and Jennifer Hudson

Analysis: Even though this is an ensemble comedy, Sarah Jessica Parker narrates, and most of the promotional posters focused on her. The film also benefitted from its success as a TV show, where SJP's job as a columnist took center stage.

Verdict: Sarah Jessica Parker movie, supported by a prominent female cast.

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What Happens in Vegas: Cameron Diaz's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $80,199,843
Cast: co-starring Ashton Kutcher as love interest, anonymous supporting cast, including Rob Corddry, Lake Bell, and Jason Sudeikis

Analysis: Who cares? This movie sucked and Diaz/Kutcher could've been replaced by other actors and it probably wouldn't have made a difference. They both got equal billing and promotion, and since it's a rom-com of sorts, and rom-coms rely on, you know, a romantic relationship, it too is a draw.

Verdict: Diaz/Kutcher movie, supported by an anonymous cast.

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(Sandra Bullock: did not star in any films in 2008)

Analysis: From what I can gather, she produced several films/owns a production company, so that's where her loot came from.

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Four Christmases: Reese Witherspoon's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $120,136,047
Cast: co-starring Vince Vaughn as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, and Jon Favreau

Analysis: Same deal—it's a rom-com, so yeah. I'd like to argue that Reese Witherspoon's Oscar win trumps Vince Vaughn's whole schlubby-funny-guy thing, but the unfortunate reality is that the success of rom-coms doesn't usually depend on the actual quality of the actors/acting.

Verdict: Witherspoon/Vaughn movie, supported by a prominent, mostly male cast, with the exception of Spacek.

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Australia: Nicole Kidman's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $49,420,849
Cast: co-starring Hugh Jackman, anonymous supporting cast, including Shea Adams, Eddie Baroo, Ray Barrett, and Tony Barry

Analysis: Love, or something. I never bothered to see this gem, given the reviews, but if the movie poster is anything to go by, I'm pretty sure it's about love and Australia. Nicole Kidman has won two Oscars and everyone loves her, so I'm tempted to call Kidman the main attraction. Except! Hugh Jackman is totally Wolverine!

Verdict: Kidman/Jackman movie, supported by an anonymous cast.

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Beverly Hills Chihuahua: Drew Barrymore's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $94,497,271
Cast: well-known supporting cast including Piper Perabo, Andy Garcia, George Lopez, Cheech Martin, Edward James Olmos, and Jamie Lee Curtis

Analysis: Um.

Verdict: Talking Chihuahua movie, with Barrymore's voice supported by a prominent male cast (and Jamie Lee Curtis).

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Leatherheads: Renee Zellweger's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $31,199,215
Cast: co-starring George Clooney and John Krasinski, anonymous supporting cast, including David de Vries, Rick Forrester, Malcolm Goodwin, and Matt Bushell

Analysis: Zellweger barely got mentioned in the promotion of this film and seems to have been relegated to the infamous barely-there role-as-female-love-interest. Didn't they show her in the previews literally cheering from the sidelines?

Verdict: George Clooney movie, supported by an anonymous male cast.

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Indiana Jones: Cate Blanchett's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $316,957,122
Cast: co-starring Harrison Ford and Shia LaBeouf, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, and John Hurt

Analysis: I actually think this is a tough one. Blanchett = brilliant Oscar-winning actress, so it's hard to exclusively call this for Ford. But in reality, would people have gone to see this if Cate Blanchett's role-as-villain had been played by another actress? Yes.

Verdict: Harrison Ford movie, supported by a prominent actress (Blanchett) and a mostly male cast.

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Get Smart: Anne Hathaway's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $130,246,343
Cast: co-starring Steve Carell, well-known supporting cast, including Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, James Caan, and Bill Murray

Analysis: I watched the first fifteen minutes of this before turning it off, and it appeared as if Carell and Hathaway had a whole equal partnership going on. But I have to admit, I was only talked into watching it because someone reminded me that Steve Carell is hilarious. When I realized it was the worst fifteen minutes of a film I'd ever seen, I lamented that Hathaway chose to be a part of it.

Verdict: Carell/Hathaway movie, supported by a prominent male cast.

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(Halle Berry: did not star in any films for 2008)

Analysis: I don't know man, I don't know.

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The Other Boleyn Girl: Scarlett Johansson's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $26,814,957
Cast: co-starring Natalie Portman and Eric Bana, anonymous supporting cast, including Jim Sturgess, Mark Rylance, David Morrissey, and Kristen Scott Thomas

Analysis: This film was all kinds of offensive. The marketing mainly focused on the casting of Portman/Johansson as vengeful sisters, (fighting over a man) so I'm only barely giving it to Johansson, since she's the actual "Other Boleyn Girl" … and the supposed heroine.

Verdict: Scarlett Johansson movie, supported by Bana, Portman, and an anonymous, mostly male cast.


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The Reader: Kate Winslet's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $34,111,418
Cast: co-starring Ralph Fiennes, anonymous supporting cast, including Jeanette Hain, David Cross, Susanne Lothar, and Alissa Wilms

Analysis: I had no idea who else was in this besides Kate Winslet. And she won an Oscar (finally) for this role.

Verdict: 100% Kate Winslet movie, supported by Fiennes and an anonymous, male/female cast.

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Indiana Jones: Harrison Ford's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $316,957,122
Cast: co-starring Cate Blanchett and Shia LaBeouf, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, and John Hurt

Analysis: We already went over this. Blanchett. Brilliant. Doesn't matter.

Verdict: Begrudgingly given to Ford.

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Bedtime Stories: Adam Sandler's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $109,993,847
Cast: co-starring Keri Russell and Guy Pearce, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Russell Brand, Richard Griffiths, Lucy Lawless, Courteney Cox, and Carmen Electra

Analysis: Adam Sandler was the only person in this film they even attempted to promote, which is good news for all the other actors associated with this piece.

Verdict: Adam Sandler can have it, with support from a prominent female/less prominent male cast.

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Hancock: Will Smith's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $227,946,274
Cast: co-starring Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman, anonymous supporting cast, including Jae Head, Eddie Marsan, and David Mattey

Analysis: It's a Will Smith action movie, what more can one say? Sure, Charlize Theron is an Oscar-winning actress who plays the role of "very important sidekick" next to a world famous action hero, but just check out the ridiculous movie poster if you need confirmation.

Verdict: Will Smith movie, supported by Theron and random men I've never heard of.

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Meet Dave: Eddie Murphy's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $11,644,832
Cast: co-starring Elizabeth Banks, anonymous supporting cast, including Gabrielle Union, Scott Caan, Ed Helms, Kevin Hart, and Mike O'Malley

Analysis: Has Eddie Murphy ever been in a movie that isn't an Eddie Murphy movie? Again: movie poster. (Bonus points for anyone who can find me a film poster that features a female lead like this. Hint: one of the films on this big ass list does it.)

Verdict: Eddie Murphy movie, supported by Banks and less well-known actors.

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Knowing: Nicolas Cage's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $79,911,877
Cast: anonymous supporting cast, including Chandler Canterbury, Rose Byrne, Lara Robinson, D.G. Maloney, and Nadia Townsend

Analysis: I think the phrase "anonymous supporting cast" is enough of an analysis.

Verdict: Nicolas Cage movie, supported by an anonymous male/female cast.

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(Tom Hanks: did not star in any films for 2008)

Analysis: I'm pretty sure Tom Hanks makes money just by existing.

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Tropic Thunder: Tom Cruise's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $110,416,702
Cast: cameo/supporting role by Cruise, well-known ensemble cast, including Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, and Ben Stiller

Analysis: No one really knew Tom Cruise was in this, and many people didn't recognize him even as they watched. I kind of love that. Were there any women in this movie?

Verdict: I'll give it to any one of the other prominent male cast members who isn't Tom Cruise.

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Horton Hears a Who!: Jim Carrey's highest grossing film of 2008
Gross: $154,388,002
Cast: well-known ensemble/supporting cast, including Steve Carell, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Isla Fisher, Jonah Hill, and Amy Poehler

Analysis: They promoted this as a Jim Carrey/Steve Carell comedy, but Jim Carrey is Jim Carrey and Steve Carell made Evan Almighty. It's a kids film, though, so maybe none of that matters.

Verdict: My 4-year-old niece doesn't give a shit, so neither do I, supported by a prominent male/female cast.

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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Brad Pitt's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $127,490,802
Cast: co-starring Cate Blanchett as love interest, reasonably well-known supporting cast, including Julia Ormond and Taraji P. Henson

Analysis: Cate Blanchett's performance in this captured me much more than Brad Pitt's performance, but I guess the Academy feels like they've already given her enough Oscars. Ultimately, the stand-outs were the women: Blanchett and Henson. But Brad Pitt has a bunch of kids with Angelina Jolie and he even dressed up in some kind of old man disguise for this film, so I really don't know what to do here. I'm taking a cue from the movie poster.

Verdict: Pitt/Blanchett movie, supported mainly by a female cast of mommies and love interests.

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(Johnny Depp: did not star in any films for 2008)

Analysis: Remember when Johnny Depp wore that cut-off-at-the-waist football jersey in Nightmare on Elm Street?

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Burn After Reading: George Clooney's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $60,338,891
Cast: well-known ensemble cast, including Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, Richard Jenkins, Tilda Swinton, and John Malkovich

Analysis: I just watched this five days ago and was totally surprised by the focus on McDormand and Swinton. All these people have either been nominated for Oscars or won Oscars, and it's definitely an ensemble-driven film. So, sorry Clooney, this doesn't exclusively go to you.

Verdict: Everyone, equal weight given to a prominent male/female cast.

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Body of Lies: Russell Crowe's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $39,380,442
Cast: co-starring Leonardo DiCaprio, anonymous supporting cast, including Mark Strong, Golshifteh Farahani, and Ali Suliman

Analysis: I actually couldn't remember what the hell this movie was, so I looked it up and even then I still didn't remember it ever existing. But apparently it made money. So who do I give it to, Crowe or DiCaprio? The suspense!

Verdict: Who cares—didn't this go straight to DVD? (Men supporting men.)

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Iron Man: Robert Downey Jr.'s highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $318,298,180
Cast: co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Paul Bettany, and Jon Favreau

Analysis: Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow! Oh wait, that doesn't mean anything? Just check out our review of this movie here.

Verdict: Robert Downey Jr., supported by Paltrow and a prominent male cast.

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(Denzel Washington: did not star in any films for 2008)

Analysis: I love you, Denzel.

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Four Christmases: Vince Vaughn's highest grossing film for 2008
Gross: $120,136,047
Cast: co-starring Reese Witherspoon as love interest, well-known supporting cast, including Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, and Jon Favreau

Analysis: See above. Even though Vaughn could be a good actor if he wanted to, it doesn't really matter in the simplistic world of rom-com.

Verdict: Witherspoon/Vaughn movie, supported by men and Spacek.

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So, did I learn anything from this exercise? What the hell was I trying to do again? Oh yeah, depress the shit out of myself, and this:

... discover if a trend exists where male leads star in their "own movies" whereas female leads tend to blend in with the rest of their cast (which often includes major male actors) …

Well, the male leads who star as the "main attraction," surrounded by a mostly anonymous supporting cast include George Clooney in Leatherheads (this one's tricky since Zellweger and Krasinski co-star and probably don't count as "anonymous" ha, but whatever), Adam Sandler in Bedtime Stories, Nicolas Cage in Knowing, and Eddie Murphy in Meet Dave.

One could argue that films like Iron Man and Indiana Jones and Hancock and The Other Boleyn Girl—films that relegate prominent lead actresses to the status of sidekick and/or love interest (and for that matter, go on ahead and add The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to that list)—while the men go off and save the world and/or run the world and/or do shit in the world, and shit, might as well fall into the male-lead-as-main-attraction category.

I think maybe I just convinced myself that they do. Fuck.

Okay, so, the female leads who manage to star as the "main attraction," surrounded by a mostly anonymous supporting cast include, um … Kate Winslet in The Reader?! That's it? I guess Ralph Fiennes isn't even anonymous, but neither are Zellweger and Krasinski, and I gave Clooney Leatherheads! Take that, film industry!

I'm depressed.

It appears, from this list at least, that female leads either co-star with a male lead in romantic comedies, or star in films that include a prominent supporting cast, (Mamma Mia!, Sex and the City). Clearly, we could use more Tomb Raiders and Changelings (go Angelina!) and whatever other movies our actresses have starred in as the "main attraction" who's surrounded by a mostly anonymous supporting cast.

Can we make a list, please? Because I'm pretty sure I was wrong when I suggested that the audience might only be viewing female leads as helpers, partners, and assistants; the film industry actually fucking treats them that way.

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Bonus Movie Poster