Jumping Claims: Jones’ Attempt at Revisionist Western Withers Under its Own Intentions
Try as it might, The Homesman, Tommy Lee Jones’ first directorial effort since his 2005 film The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, fails to deliver an accurate rendering of the miserable plight of women in the Old West. While some are sure to embrace the superficial revisionist attempt at providing us with a feminist subtext, Jones actually manages to accomplish the opposite with a film that only highlights a male perspective’s well-meaning but misguided interpretation of a story about women. As it completely sells out on its main female protagonist, it’s clear that the project is merely a vanity piece where a multitude of characters are only utilized to compliment his presence, as well as a moment of convenient (and false pathos).
A thirty one year old spinster, Mary Bee Cuddy (Hilary Swank) is a rare example...
Try as it might, The Homesman, Tommy Lee Jones’ first directorial effort since his 2005 film The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, fails to deliver an accurate rendering of the miserable plight of women in the Old West. While some are sure to embrace the superficial revisionist attempt at providing us with a feminist subtext, Jones actually manages to accomplish the opposite with a film that only highlights a male perspective’s well-meaning but misguided interpretation of a story about women. As it completely sells out on its main female protagonist, it’s clear that the project is merely a vanity piece where a multitude of characters are only utilized to compliment his presence, as well as a moment of convenient (and false pathos).
A thirty one year old spinster, Mary Bee Cuddy (Hilary Swank) is a rare example...
- 11/12/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Minor Spoilers
‘Who is behind the mask, the observer or the wearer?’ a question posed by milliner Stephen Jones, who created a series of masks inspired by The Lone Ranger to tie-in with the film’s release. It is an interesting idea, that we are hidden from view in a mask yet paradoxically more visible than ever. No-one knows for sure where masks came from. We can trace their existence back to man’s earliest ancestors, but for what purpose? Entertainment? Disguise? Protection? In cinema the mask has become visual shorthand for the hero, or more accurately the superhero. The Lone Ranger spins this notion on its head somewhat, because although the man in the mask, aka John Reid (Armie Hammer) is ultimately the victor, he is at first the fool.
The Lone Ranger’s mask is fashioned from the leather waistcoat worn by his brother Dan (James Badge Dale...
‘Who is behind the mask, the observer or the wearer?’ a question posed by milliner Stephen Jones, who created a series of masks inspired by The Lone Ranger to tie-in with the film’s release. It is an interesting idea, that we are hidden from view in a mask yet paradoxically more visible than ever. No-one knows for sure where masks came from. We can trace their existence back to man’s earliest ancestors, but for what purpose? Entertainment? Disguise? Protection? In cinema the mask has become visual shorthand for the hero, or more accurately the superhero. The Lone Ranger spins this notion on its head somewhat, because although the man in the mask, aka John Reid (Armie Hammer) is ultimately the victor, he is at first the fool.
The Lone Ranger’s mask is fashioned from the leather waistcoat worn by his brother Dan (James Badge Dale...
- 7/30/2013
- by Christopher Laverty
- Clothes on Film
Yes, friends, there is no typo in the episode title. (And don’t let the first few minutes of the show fool you!) Though Josh had planned, many months ago, to discuss the 1996 live-action remake of 101 Dalmatians this week, Mike pulled a fast one, a good old-fashioned bait-and-switch. So, instead of spotted dogs, the topic this week is the greatest president America has ever known: Abraham Lincoln, the subject of a new film from Steven Spielberg, appropriately titled Lincoln. Though Gabe couldn’t join us for this impromptu review, Mike and Josh did welcome into the show Peter Labuza of the excellent Cinephiliacs podcast to discuss Pierre Trudeau, John Ford, Woodrow Wilson, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Were Josh, Mike, and Peter all as ecstatic about Lincoln as most critics and audiences are? You’ll have to listen to find out!
Note: at one point in the show, Peter references an...
Note: at one point in the show, Peter references an...
- 11/24/2012
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Just to add even more to the barrage of Best you’ve certainly received already, we have another version for you. Catch my list here, if you haven’t already.
Every year around this time we get the barrage of “top ten” lists, and every year around this time I feel out of the loop. Not having the privilege of living in the vicinity of a major metropolitan area, many of the critics’ favorite films of the “year” do not actually see the light of day in my part of the country until well after the new year, leaving me to play catch up about a month or so later.
Unfortunately, this is yet again the case in 2011, subsequently seriously handicapping my own formation of any “best of” list in a timely manner. Despite this set back, the change over from one year to the next is an irresistibly retrospective wellspring,...
Every year around this time we get the barrage of “top ten” lists, and every year around this time I feel out of the loop. Not having the privilege of living in the vicinity of a major metropolitan area, many of the critics’ favorite films of the “year” do not actually see the light of day in my part of the country until well after the new year, leaving me to play catch up about a month or so later.
Unfortunately, this is yet again the case in 2011, subsequently seriously handicapping my own formation of any “best of” list in a timely manner. Despite this set back, the change over from one year to the next is an irresistibly retrospective wellspring,...
- 3/12/2012
- by Christopher Lominac
- AreYouScreening.com
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