Absolving some sins…

I’ve been a terrible patron of this blog, and Aurelle’s sad faces are making it worse I don’t want to abandon this project, and in an effort to redeem myself, I’m promising that my list of 100 Best Films about the lives of women will be exclusive to Chicks on Fire. The project, an attempt to create a “canon” for films about the lives and perspective of women is still a ways away. I’m sometimes afraid that I’ll never reach a point where I’ve seen enough that I feel satisfied, and the list will never be shown as a result, but a few days ago I was struck with a good idea! I won’t create a “definite” final list, but an entirely malleable, and evolving one that I’ll update on a bi-monthly basis. So I’m happy to announce, as of January 5th 2009, the first edition of the list will be unveiled.

For those who are unaware of the project, let me give some background. I was first inspired to do the list after reading the “Alliance for Women Film Journalists” top 100 films list. Their list was not meant as a collection of films about or for women, but rather the reflection of the taste of women journalists. It made for some offbeat selections that one doesn’t usually find on such lists, like An Angel at my Table, Being Julia and Dance, Girl, Dance, but it also included many of the perennial favourites of male dominated cinema (Kane, Chinatown, The Graduate, etc.). I’m not advocating leaving behind many of the “classics” of film history and popular tastes because they are somehow wrong for exploring the life and psyche of men, I’m simply offering an alternative that I see should exist.

It’s no surprise most films are made for men and about men, as those who make films are predominantly male. Even among the few women filmmakers out there, most still buy into the gender roles established by the “male rules”, offering little added insight into the female mind and perspective. More often than not, the greatest works exploring femininity and womanhood, are therefore born by men. I’m interested in showcasing films directed by women, but I’m admitting off the bat that the list will still be dominated by men, at least in the first incarnation.

Furthermore, my list is hardly exclusive to the celebration of female “strength” and accomplishments. That would make for an uninteresting and one-sided list. Humanity is flawed, and to fail to acknowledge that would be ignorant and close-minded. My first few drafts of the list though, did include a very high amount of horror films that I’ve since tried to trim down. It was an interesting phenomena, and begs the question why so many horror films have female protagonists. I think in part, it’s playing into sexual stereotypes and roles of weakness. While also being a rather blatant acknowledgement that women are the “other”, as the horror explored often reflects in some way “frightening” aspects of the female identity. It’s actually quite interesting, and maybe next October, when hopefully I will no longer be burned out on horror, I might write about it in more depth.

For those interested in a sneak peek, here are five films that you can expect to see on the list;

I’m still welcoming recommendations, but I probably won’t get to all of them within the next month, so don’t be too expectant.

All About Eve (1950)

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Black Narcissus (1948)

Cries and Whispers (1972)

The New World (2005)

The Clothes Make the Man!

Rouge: I invite my fellow Chicks to contribute to this one, favourite film costumes! A work in progress if there ever was, I’ll be updating this over the course of… a long while.

If I were to choose the single most titillating and arousing film costume, my mind doesn’t run towards Ursula Andress’ white bathing suit in Dr. No or Barbarella’s space suit in … well Barbaralla. Less is more, and the less we see the more our imagination runs wild. In Von Sternberg’s Morocco (1930), Marlene Dietrich is a stage performer who has arrived to make a new life for herself. It’s made clear to her that making it on the stage in Morocco is like finding a needle in a haystack, usually within a month those who arrive on the boat are never seen again.

When Dietrich emerges onstage dressed in a tailored man’s suit, the audience is already booing. Performers have to fight from the bottom up to make a success, and Dietrich makes it seem effortless. What people often forget about costumes, is that the suit is only as good as the person who wears it. This is not a case of simply looking good, but inhibiting what the clothing suggests. Dietrich’s indifferent sexuality, and gender ambiguity are played up to maximum effect as she performs her song parodying he other sex. She oozes a laissez-faire attitude, while simultaneously having every man and woman pining on her every word and action. In the film’s most notorious moment, she flirts with one of the society women before embracing her tenderly.

The costume is integrated as being an essential to the scene, and it’s because of this that the costume becomes so ingrained into popular consciousness. I also have to wonder, if any other actress could have pulled if off quite as well as Dietrich. Not only because audiences would have been aware that she was a bisexual, but her attitude and relative calmness that leaves us all clamouring for more. As good as the costume may be, if the figure inside is bland it’s never worth remembering. It takes that added Ooomph! to pull if off.

Aurelle: You’re so right, Rouge. It’s the person wearing the clothes that brings out the messages suggested. I haven’t seen too many Marlene Dietrich to make a proper comment regarding her working the suit, but she does look smashing wearing it in these pictures.

My personal favourite in recent years is Uma Thurman’s yellow jump suit in Kill Bill Vol. 1. It is a homage to the one Bruce Lee wore in his famous Game of Death, though she certainly made it all her own. It’s the only piece of film costumes that I actually searched far and wide for. As you can see, the suit is both tough and chic, comfortable (at least it looks that way) and form fitting. And check out the shoes she wears with it! Who says you can’t kick butt in style?

Shoot the Projectionist: 31 Films that give you the Willies

As my humble blog is currently dedicated to silent cinema, I hope my fellow chicks don’t mind this brief comment on 31 Films that Gave me the Willies! Although I missed the nomination process, I did vote despite my rather limited knowledge of horror cinema. I’ve seen most of the list from 20-31 but barely any of the top 10… I suppose I have a lot of work for next year! I’m just going to comment on the ones I’ve seen

31. The Bride of Frankenstein
A favourite of mine, it’s horror without the scares. Wonderfully baroque, it’s beautifully executed and is a lot of fun. I’m happy to see it make the list, as it seems many of the early horror films were looked over.

29. Poltergeist
I’m not really a fan, I didn’t like the fish lens thing, and with the exception of the melting face nothing really scared/drew me in. It became all too ridiculous towards the end.

28. Se7en
I probably wouldn’t consider this a horror first and foremost, but it is far more visceral and gripping than most films that call themselves horror these days. All around an excellent film.

27. The Night of the Hunter
An all time favourite of mine, I don’t think a villain has ever been so menacing as Harry Powell. Borrowing on German expressionism, and leaning heavily on biblical themes and motifs was a stroke of creative genius.

26. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
I love this film, more than I thought I ever would. It’s genuinly scary, always compelling and interesting as a reflection of the times.

25. The Ring (2002)
I was bored by it.

22. The Fly (1986)
It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen this, I was very much eewwwed.

20. Rosemary’s Baby
Another favourite of mine, even outside the genre of horror, Polanski manages so effectively to build up anxiety and horror that you never know when it really hits you. Everything about it works.

19. 28 Days Later
One of the best I’ve seen in recent years, I am even one of the few who likes the third act. It’s chilling and exciting. I think people will be talking about this in 20 years, in the same way we talk about Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

18. The Wicker Man
I own this, and should rewatch it because I first saw it when I was 14 and was like WTF.

18. Les yeux sans visage
Very scary, and surprisingly “realist” for a horror film. The operating scenes are almost too much for me, and I had to look away.

17. Nosferatu (1922)
I loves it, Shreck was one freaky looking dude.

17. The Descent
Another very scary recent film, I wish I had caught this in the theatres because I think it would have been even better. I love how it slowly builds up anxiety and claustorphobia, and long before the monsters appear you’re terrified.

13. Don’t Look Now
An all around great film, but I’d probably put it closer to thriller. Features one of the best sex scenes in cinema, and is visually stunning.

11. The Birds
I need to rewatch it, and while last time I saw it I didn’t find it particularly scary I’ve always loved it for the characters and their interractions. Hitchcock was da man.

10. Jaws
I like it, but never found it scary in the least. The only part that got me was when the head appears in the water.

6. The Exorcist
Like most of my favourite horrors, this one really builds up to it’s “terror”. There is so much uncertainty involved, and a lot of complex character development. It’s a great film.

5. Psycho
I don’t have to go into how much I love Hitchcock, and while far from a favourite Psycho always thrills me. I actually read a while back a very interesting case in defence of the “psychiatrist rant”, that came close to changing my mind on it. I wish I rememebered where I read it.

4. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Saw it this month, pretty damn freaky.

Ten Great horror films that didn’t make the list:
Nosferatu (Herzog, 1979)
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Wiene, 1919)
The Innocents (Clayton, 1961)
Les Diaboliques (Clouzot, 1955)
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)
Repulsion (1965)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Mamoulian, 1931)
I Walked with a Zombie (Tourneur, 1943)
The Body Snatcher (Wise, 1945)
The Unknown (Browning, 1927)

It’s in the Eyes: Horror film and Optics

The title of this post makes it seem like I’m going to write an essay… which I’m not. I have a strange compulsive obssesion with the human eye, and I’ve noticed horror films more than any other film use them as motives, or in extreme close-ups. Sadly I don’t have an extensive DVD collection, and a bad memory so I can’t remember all the scenes that I would like.  There are a few I know of that I can’t get, namely from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), I also think there is one or two in Rosemary’s Baby… but I’m not sure. Here is what I have for now, any additions are welcome! Hitchcock in particular seems very fond of using eyes thematically (although he’s not exactly horror… especially outside of Psycho, I’m still including some from Vertigo because they are somewhat related). Check out The House Next Door’s Close-up Blog-a-thon for many great posts, all far better and informative than my own :p

 

 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)

 

Repulsion

Psycho

Thanks to a good friend for these screencaps from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Why are we here?

Okay, so in an attempt to generate some discussion and to get in the mode of posting, I’m going to ask “Why are we here?” Hopefully I don’t take it as an existential crisis question, more as a raison-d’etre for our blog. This is meant to be a dialogue between Aurelle and I, and hopefully others will join in telling us what they are interested in seeing from us, any films, issues, etc. that you may want to know our thoughts on. Don’t be afraid to ask or suggest something! Want us to talk about fashion? Or maybe the figure of the blonde in Hitchcock? We’ll do our best to meet your demands!

So, my dear Aurelle, what do you want to do with this, our brainchild?

Splendid start, Rouge. Let’s start somewhere with the Love Explosion List. Let’s get organized! I’ll get the bread and you get us strawberry jam. Let’s DO THIS!