(Photograph owned by Rachel Feldman. Photograph of Feldman and cinematographer Nancy Schreiber shot by Erin Brown.) By Special Guest Writer Rachel Feldman I have grey hair, no longer menstruate, and am a Hollywood director. For 35 years I endured employment discrimination and exclusion in my industry. Luckier than most, I managed to carve out a decent career, with some great jobs albeit in fits and … Continue reading Don’t Shut the Door.
Year: 2020 Runtime: 80 Minutes Director: Sarah Moshman By Erica Richards “Nevertheless” hits the ground running at full speed and does not hold back. So, prepare and buckle up—otherwise you will be left in the dust. This is one of those documentaries that I passionately believe every person can benefit from watching and should watch, if you are able to. If for nothing else than … Continue reading Review: Nevertheless
For me, 2019’s most divisive film was “Bombshell.” which chronicles the downfall of right-wing propagandist Roger Ailes (John Lithgow). Ailes, a well-known predator, was eventually ousted at Fox News, the ‘fascist’ juggernaut he created. Numerous women came forward with horrific stories of sexual harassment and abuse.
“Bombshell” highlights the story of three characters – two real women and one who is the amalgamation of stories. The real women Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) and Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) have a history of perpetuating the far-right ideology of Fox News. Kayla (the stellar Margot Robbie) is a fictional portrayal of many women who encountered Ailes. Continue reading The “Bombshell” Backlash is Problematic
During LFF 2019 I encountered many short films, there were many that I enjoyed but there was one that stayed with me long after the festival had ended. This film was “Rehearsal” written and directed by Courtney Hope Thérond, who very kindly agreed to talk to ITOL regarding her film and the it’s production. During our interview we discussed what inspired her to make the film, the issues concerning consent and what filmmakers inspired her. We would like to extend our thanks to Courtney and wish all the best of her luck with her future projects! Continue reading Exclusive Interview with director Courtney Hope Thérond
A young woman arrives in an idyllic poolside estate overlooking the desert with her wealthy, older boyfriend. She is scantily clad and coquettish–working a lollipop in quite the lasciviously suggestive way. What seems like a hedonist fantasy at first (an older, wealthy, married man all alone in a beautiful house with a young sexy woman and a weekend filled with their vices of choice: drugs, alcohol, sex) gets upended when Richard’s (Kevin Janssens) sketchy pals, Stan (Vincent Colombe) and Dimitri (Guillaume Bouchède) arrive unannounced. This sticky situation is further aggravated when, during a night of partying, Jen (Matilda Lutz) proceeds to drunkenly flirt with them all. Continue reading ITOL Top 50 Films of the Decade, Entry No. 16: Revenge
Amidst the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, it as become glaringly obvious how pervasive toxic masculinity, harassment, and abuse are in the film industry. With film and television as not just art forms, but avenues of escapism, how do we watch cinema more responsibly?
Following the scathing Weinstein report, MANY men in Hollywood – and some women – have been accused of sexual harassment and assault. This is not a new thing, but we are certainly not remaining as complacent as before. Louis C.K., Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose, Bryan Singer, R. Kelly and so on are facing exile from the entertainment industry. Continue reading Lessons In Responsible Viewership: A Personal Essay on #MeToo & #TimesUp
This Halloween will probably see many of us revisiting some classic horror films, and it’s more than likely that one of those films will be “The Birds” (1963), a horror film from Hollywood’s ultimate master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock. And, while “The Birds” is an effective horror (a small coastal town becomes under attack from birds for no apparent reason), what is perhaps more horrific is the story behind the scenes regarding Hitchcock’s abusive treatment towards the star of the film, Tippi Hedren. Continue reading Hitch’s Girl: Investigating Alfred Hitchcock’s Mistreatment of Tippi Hedren
While the ratio of film school graduates along gender lines is roughly 50/50, the percentage of the top 1,200 grossing films in the last ten years is around 4%. The response by TimesUp is the 4% challenge, announced at a panel and in a headline-grabbing impassioned speech by Tessa Thompson. Continue reading The 4% Challenge
By Juli Horsford Since “IT Chapter 2” is coming out this month it seems like a great time to talk about one of its stars: Jessica Chastain. To be honest anytime is a great time to talk about Chastain. Can you tell that we are slightly obsessed? If you don’t know who she is then sit back because you’re about to get a crash course … Continue reading Spotlight: The Chastain Component
In Their Own League 