Podcasts

Woman Around Town’s Editor Charlene Giannetti and writers for the website talk with the women and men making news in New York, Washington, D.C., and other cities around the world. Thanks to Ian Herman for his wonderful piano introduction.

Robin Wright

Five Films About the Newspaper Industry

12/09/2017

With the upcoming released biopic, The Post, starring Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep already garnering Oscar buzz, it seems like a good time to consider other times movies have brought the news industry into the spotlight. At a time when the future of newspapers and journalism seems so uncertain the following films are especially relevant.

All The President’s Men (1976) This classic political thriller tells the now legendary story of how Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) investigation and reporting of an a minor break-in at the Watergate led to a tangled web that brought down the Nixon presidency. (It also ensured that all future scandals would have the title ‘gate’ attached to their name.) Directed by Alan Pakula (Klute, The Parallax View) and with a screenplay by William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Princess Bride) it was an instant commercial and critical success. It would garner eight Academy Award nominations and four awards including Best Screenplay for Goldman and Best Supporting Actor for Jason Robards. It currently holds a fresh rating of 93% on the Tomatometer.

Fletch (1985) Los Angeles Times reporter and master of disguise Irwin Fletcher (Chevy Chase in what he would call his favorite roll) is posing as a junkie while researching an expose on drug trafficking. A millionaire approaches him and claiming to be terminally ill hires Fletch to kill him. When further investigation reveals the millionaire to be in perfect health, Fletch realizes he’s on to a potentially much bigger story. To get at it, will take all his considerable wits. The movie was a critical and commercial hit spawning a sequel and has gone on to garner a cult following as well.

The Paper (1994) Ron Howard (Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind) directed this American comedy-drama taking place over 24 hectic hours in the life of Henry Hackett (Michael Keaton) Metro editor for the New York Sun, a fictional tabloid. The Sun is experiencing cash flow problems and is making drastic cuts. Meanwhile Henry’s wife, Martha (Marisa Tomei), is expecting their first child and aggravated with his workaholism. She wants him to take a job at the New York Sentinel (a thinly disguised version of the New York Times). Meanwhile a sensational double homicide of two white businessman and subsequent arrest of two African American teenagers has Harry’s news sense tingling. The all star cast also includes Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Randy Quaid, and Jason Robards (again!). It currently holds an 88% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes with critics praising the film for capturing the frenetic high energy environment of actual newsrooms.

State of Play (2009) This taut political thriller was an adaption of a six-part BBC series by the same name. Russell Crowe turns in a pitch perfect performance as investigative reporter Cal McAffrey who probes the suspicious death of Congressman Stephen Collins’ (Ben Affleck) mistress. Matters are further complicated by the fact that McAffrey and Collins were once old friends and that Cal had an affair with Stephen’s wife Anne (Robin Wright). Cal convinces his wary, long suffering editor Cameron (the always fabulous Helen Mirren) to let him dig deeper into the matter with the help of young reporter and blogger Della (Rachel McAdams at her most charming). Needless to say twists and turns abound in an intricate plot of layered conspiracy. State of Play garnered generally favorable reviews and Crowe won the Best Actor award from the Australia Film Institute.

Spotlight (2015) This searing biographical crime drama follows how The Boston Globe’s ‘Spotlight’ team uncovered a pattern of widespread systemic sexual abuse by priests in the Boston area, that kicked off an international scandal. Starring Michael Keaton (again!), Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams (again!), Stanley Tucci, and Liev Schreiber it’s an instant masterpiece demonstrating how a culture of complicity and silence enabled generations of abuse. It was nominated for six Academy Awards and won Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture. (Read our earlier review.)

Top photo: Bigstock

Wonder Woman – The Superheroine Movie We’ve Waited For

06/02/2017

I am Diana of Themyscira daughter of Hippolyta Queen of the Amazons!

As a unabashed fan of superhero/comic book films, I’ve had much to enjoy in my lifetime; the X-Men films, Nolan’s Batman movies, 300, Marvel studios slate. But there’s been one pretty notable absence all these years; a comic book film centered on a female lead.  Which is why the announcement of a movie version of Wonder Woman and having it directed by a woman director Patty Jenkins (who’s last movie Monster won Charlize Theron the Oscar for Best Actress) was one for hopes, but also fears. Warner Brothers’ record for adapting DC Comics has been mixed over the years. What if the studio screwed up with Wonder Woman as they did with Suicide Squad and Batman Vs. Superman? Not only would it be unbearably painful to see such a beloved icon treated poorly, but it would also be harmful to the cause of big budget films starring women in general.

Gal Gadot and Chris Pine (Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

Well, I have good news for you; not only did Patty Jenkins not screw up with Wonder Woman, she hit it out of the park. Like Captain America – First Avenger what we see here is primarily a long flashback telling the story of how the hero(ine) came to be in our modern world.  We begin with her childhood on the hidden island of  Themyscira, peopled with such unforgettable figures as Diana’s mother Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielson of Rushmore and Gladiator) and her aunt the great general Antiope (Robin Wright of House of Cards).  The Amazons live in a women’s only island of beautiful scenery, millennial old code of honor, and martial training. But one day an outsider and the first man Diana ever sees, Captain Trevor (Chris Pine of Star Trek in his most charming role yet), accidentally breaks through and on his heels are an army of soldiers with guns. Paradise has now been touched by man and with it comes bloodshed and heartache.

Robin Wright (Photo credit: Alex Bailey/ TM & © DC Comics)

The impressive cast also sports David Thewlis (Harry Potter, The Theory of Everything) Said Thagmaoui (Three Kings, Conan the Barbarian), Lucy Davis (Shaun of the Dead), Danny Huston (Children of Men, 21 Grams), and more. But the heart and soul has to be Diana herself.  I admit I was skeptical when Israeli born newcomer Gal Gadot was cast in the role; she certainly looked the part but could she act I wondered?  Well, it turns out she can. My god, she can.  When she’s on screen her every move and gesture…she IS Diana embodying the part more than anyone else has.  At the first sight of her in running into battle in her iconic uniform the audience cheered.

Gal Gadot (Photo credit: Alex Bailey/ TM & © DC Comics)

And quite a battle it was!  Wonder Woman in the original comics began with Diana leaving her island home during WWII, but the movie pushes it into WWI and it’s actually a brilliant artistic choice.  A main theme of the film is Ares and mankind’s dangerous infatuation with war and what better illustration of the senselessness of humanity’s battles than the notorious meat grinder that was the first World War?  While there’s a great deal of ‘fish out of water’ humor when Diana first leaves Themyscria for the outside world, there’s a deeper conflict of Diana’s high ideals coming into contact with humanity and all its darkness. Hippolyta flat tells out her daughter, that humans don’t deserve her and it’s hard to argue with it.  But it’s not about ‘deserve’ and Diana, beautiful, brave, compassionate, and impossibly strong, is the big screen  heroine we’ve all been yearning for a very VERY long time.

Top photo: Gal Gadot (Credit: Clay Enos/ TM & © DC Comics)