Catalogue

Films

Item 1: Kill Bill Vol.1 (2003 Dir. Quentin Tarantino) This film is very useful as it relates to independence in women through the character of The Bride. The year it was made is useful as it is the middle ground between the other two films so we are able to be able to look at the portrayal of independence in women through the ages of film.

Item 2: Wonder Woman (2017 Dir. Patty Jenkins) The modern adaptation of the wonder woman comics during a period of time where feminism is widely discussed is useful as we are given a new perspective on independance. Especially being in the superhero genre, this film is almost a revolution in superhero films. Particularly in film, women have seen decades of woman being the weaker person in a situation and letting love be their downfall. Wonder Woman brings a strong woman role to the heavily male dominated genre of superhero films.

Item 3: How To Marry A Millionaire (1953 Dir. Jean Negulesco) The year of this film is important and vital as we are given a perspective on women from a time where women were still seen as second class citizens. The actor, Marilyn Monroe, was an early sex icon in society during a time where straying from a patriarchal family was shunned. For this era, having three women put money before love, until they eventually find it, would have stirred controversy and changed women’s position in society.

Internet

Item 4: The F-Word Aideen Johnston- Kill Bill- This is helpful as it gives a feminist perspective on a film that Tarantino believes in a feminist statement and reviews whether it is. It looks to my statement as feminism is typically linked with independant women. It also asks the question “If he is going to make a film about strong women, why is it so unrealistic?”

Item 5: Min.com- ”Kill Bill” and our troubled relationship with rape revenge movies- Melissa Hugel- This article is helpful as it questions how The Brides independence is represented by Tarantino. This can tie into the year of the film as it was made during the early 2000’s when true feminism was pushed down and independent women were given a distorted view on independence, women were still very much domesticated and the year of the film and the topic of the item compliment each other to further look at how the portrayal of independent women have changed.

Item 6: Variety.com- Uma Thurman explains how “Kill Bill” role empowers women- Leo Barraclough- This item is extremely useful as we get the actors perspective on how this is film is a benefit to her female audience, she elaborates on how her fans have told Uma about their experiences with her two films with Tarantino.

Item 7: Hollywoodreporter.com- Rise of the wonder woman- Tatiana Siegel- This item presents itself as helpful as Patty Jenkins (the director) is interviewed in it as well as Gal Gadot (Diana) so this will allow us to get the perspective of a female director during and creating a turning point for women in film, particularly in the superhero genre. This item will allow itself to create comparisons with the different directors of each film

Item 8: ew.com- Wonder Woman: EW review- Chris Nashawaty- The reason why this item is useful is that in this article, a view on the comics themselves. This is useful because it gives a past perspective on the character of Wonder Woman and it can also help to see if the portrayal of women has changed over the years.

Item 9: theguardian.com- Why Wonder Woman is a masterpiece of subversive feminism- Zoe Williams- This item is helpful as it gives contrasting views, but also contradicts them. The article sums up both views of the film that agree it’s for feminism or doesn’t believe it’s a good tool for the portrayal of women

Item 10: metro.com- Why Wonder Woman isn’t the feminist fantasy we’ve been told it is- This will be helpful as it gives a contrasting view to my statement, especially because there is a lot of talk about Wonder Woman being “liberating” for women. It questions the popular view on Wonder Woman

Item 11: anunapologeticfeminist.com- A feminist looks back at “how to marry a millionaire”- This item is useful as it gives a modern perspective on a film that could have been seen as a step out of the norm during the 50’s. Re reviewing with today’s ideals, rethinks the film and changes the tone of it. This is helpful for my statement to show the change of the portrayal of independent women

Item 12: theweek.co.uk- Sexism in Hollywood: And how women are fighting back- This item is helpful as it can give a different view of sexism in films, it look at the whole of hollywood as it gives a broad outlook on the issues in Hollywood. I feel that this would be helpful to set the tone of the essay and would be a good source to use even though it is in coordination to the rest of my items.

Item 13: theguardian.com- Marilyn Monroe: Feminist Icon?- Sharon Krum- I think that this item will be useful for my statement as this item reviews the fact that Marilyn Monroe was before the large feminist movement and mentions how her life has been reevaluated by modern day feminists

Item 14: spiked-online.com- Why feminists can’t enjoy Wonder Woman- Christian Butler- This source would be useful for my statement as it gives different example of why Wonder Woman might not be as feminist as the public might have been told it is. The item also talks about criticisms and contradicts them and gives a particularly biased view.

Item 15: espn.com- Closing the gender gap in Hollywood? These female directors are changing the game- Katie Barnes- This is another item that would also be useful in setting the tone of my essay as it gives a contrasting view to other items that highlight the issues in Hollywood surrounding feminism. This can be used to give a more positive view on Hollywood.  

Item 16: Movie poster for Wonder Woman

Item 17: Movie poster for Kill Bill Vol. 1

Item 18: Movie poster for How To Marry A Millionaire

Item 19: Image of Marilyn Monroe in How To Marry A Millionaire

Item 20: Image of Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman

Item 21: Image of Uma Therman in Kill Bill Vol. 1

La Haine 1995- Mathieu Kassovitz (needs improvement)

Kassovitz successfully reaches out to an unheard audience through the scenes in La Haine. The themes of crimes, drugs and violence were relatable in 1995 and still are even now. Despite being a foreign film, the universal themes can get any viewer to stop and think about the times they are living in.

Crime is a theme that is constantly present during the film. The situations of the main characters; Said, Hubert and Vinz are relatable to people with money struggles. Stealing from shops, selling drugs and taking drugs are ways in which the three friends get by in their living situation. The scene where Hubert takes drugs has an extremely powerful message behind it. The contrast between the smooth jazzy music and the reality of Hubert taking the drugs can show the audience how something that is seen as a taboo due the dangerous stigma to it can be some people's safe place from the commotion of poor living. Hubert himself as a character plays a huge part in Kassovitz motive to shed light on ignored issues such as; racism, drug abuse, violence and the lack of care for those in poorer living conditions.

The motive behind the riots in France is due to a policeman abusing and hospitalising a young arab boy called Abdel. Police brutality is common way after the film was produced, specifically in America. Despite times changing, issues that plagued society in the 90’s is still relevant to today’s issues.

The friendship between the three can be represented through the cinematography. The scene in which this is most significantly shown is the scene when they are in the train together. Said’s sitting in the front, Vinz in the middle and Hubert is at the back. This can symbolise their place in the group. Said’s placement can personify how despite not being the most clever or reliant, he can be seen as a leader as he is the middle man and almost keeps Hubert and Vinz friends. Hubert and Vinz can be seen to have personality clashes and Said prevents the two from breaking apart. Vinz’s placement personifies how he attempts to be leader but is held down by both Hubert and Said. He’s not as sensible as his other friends but is more pro active then Hubert. Huberts placement can represent his personality. He is more relaxed and carefree than the two.  

Deadpool 2016- Tim Miller

The target audience for Deadpool is 18-25 year old, this target audience was reached through typical methods such as adverts in cinema, on radio and the television, they were also reached through movie posters and on social media, despite these typical methods the marketing was extremely clever. One way in which the campaign stood out is the use of Deadpool himself. They used holidays such as valentines day to advertise as well. Deadpool is very sarcastic and this kind of humour stands out to young adults

20th century fox distributed the film. The fact that they had an advert on at the Superbowl and did a 12 days of Christmas campaign shows that a lot of money was put into the marketing for Deadpool. This would have an effect on the marketing strategies as they were more extravagant and cleverly thought out due to the budget. A high budget gives the marketing team a wider variety to advertise and entice the audience with.

In a way, the marketing campaign for Deadpool can fall into the hypodermic needle theory. The audience were informed about the film way before it was released in cinema, this kept the film fresh in their mind until they saw it. They were reminded about it during holidays such as valentines day and Christmas. This is an example of the hypodermic needle theory as the audience were constantly informed about it in all aspects of their life; on TV, on the radio, posters and social media sites such as Instagram.

Jackie Brown 1997- Quentin Tarantino

Tarantino centres the film around the protagonist, Jackie Brown, during her struggles with Ordell. She stands out from Ordell's other girls that he keeps in separate locations around America in order to help him carry out deals. The effect of focusing on Jackie Brown is effective as it makes her story and personality stand out from the rest of the other girls. It compliments her strong personality as she is the only person who can stand up to Ordell.

Tarantino uses her looks and strong personality to portray Jackie as Ordell's weakness. The relationship between them has a kind of tension that connotes that they had a past together. Jackie getting caught by the police is a turning point where she realises that Ordell only cares for himself. The rest of the film is almost as if she is avenging other people that worked with Ordell and ended badly. We can see a scene in which Ordell murderess one of his workers. This scene is extremely powerful and steps away from Tarantino's over the top gore. In this scene, we are watching the car at a wide shot, the black car at night time is extremely ominous and creates tension. We do not see anyone's reactions, the audience are left to feel and interpret their reactions through the tension of the scene. When the audience hears the gun shot from Ordell, the audience is left surprised and the quiet noises, such as the car driving away, the audience are left surprised and are the only reaction made from the actions in the film.

Melanie is extremely oppressed. Despite her not being married to Ordell and there is no obvious arguments, it is clear to see through her situation of living that she is trapped and chained to Ordell. She rarely leaves the house and when she does, she is murdered. Where she lives is a representation of what little she can do is capable of in her life because of her ties to Ordell. It is represented through the size of the flat and the little variety of shots of the flat. This could be a connotation of the oppression of women in a marriage as Melanie is orientated around Ordell and her home.