Dargis #3: What Women Want

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In the same outspoken 12.14 interview, N.Y. Times critic Manohla Dargis has responded harshly and (I think) hilariously to a quote from Hollywood.com's box-office analyst Paul Degarabedian in a 10.25 Washington Post article by Ann Hornaday.

"What women like, at least for now, are traditional narratives," Degarabedian said. (Note: PD always says stuff like this, repeating status-quo views on tastes and trends.) "There's no Bourne Identity with a woman starring in it right now. It's almost as if in real life, women want to be empowered and in control, but on-screen they seem to like the old-fashioned damsel-in-distress, love-struck female.

In response to which Dargis says, "Fuck him! What an asshole! Yes, that's what I want! That's exactly what I want. If Angelina Jolie had been cast in a movie as a good as The Bourne Identity with a filmmaker like Paul Greengrass, I would have gone out to see it, and I'm sure I wouldn't be alone. That is absurd. That's blaming female audiences - you get what you deserve? Is that what he's saying?

"It's a vicious cycle," Dargis also says. "We're not going to movies because there aren't movies for us. Therefore we're not seen as a loyal moviegoing audience. My point is that if there are stories about women, women will come out for that.

"That's why [women] go to a movie like The Devil Wears Prada and make huge hits. They want to see women in movies. People in the trade press constantly frame that as a surprise. This, gee whiz...Sex and the City's a hit, Twilight, hmm...wonder what's going on here? Maybe they should not be so surprised. In the trade press, women audiences are considered a niche. How is that even possible? We're 51 percent of the audience."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on December 14, 2009 at 1:55 PM

comment #1

dinovelvet says ...

I guess somebody needs to forward her the trailer for Salt

Posted by dinovelvet at December 14, 2009 2:29 PM

comment #2

SnarfTheFierce says ...

This. Is. Awesome! I've never had much of an opinion about Dargis, but good Lord if she isn't among my immediate favorites.

Posted by SnarfTheFierce at December 14, 2009 2:55 PM

comment #3

Sabina E says ...

that Jezebel interview made my fucking day. I forwarded it to many pals and they loved it.

Posted by Sabina E at December 14, 2009 3:10 PM

comment #4

Ponderer says ...

I forwarded it around, too. That interview was a badass Pauline Kael kind of moment.

Posted by Ponderer at December 14, 2009 3:14 PM

comment #5

BurmaShave says ...

Paul Degarabedian justifies the Armenian genocide. Milquetoast Satan.

Posted by BurmaShave at December 14, 2009 3:47 PM

comment #6

Jonathan Spuij says ...

Did she actually use all that profanity?

Posted by Jonathan Spuij at December 14, 2009 4:32 PM

comment #7

Momus says ...

I so hope she did. :P

Manohla rocks, as usual. Her "Women in the Seats but Not Behind the Camera" article tells you everything you need to know about the lamentable state of the present-day so-called film industry.

Posted by Momus at December 14, 2009 4:48 PM

comment #8

Sams says ...

I wasn't a fan of Dargis at the start. I found her reviews obtuse and confusing. But over the last few years I've come to appreciate her style and taste and now really relish reading her reviews. She is now at the top of my list of critics. She tells it like it is and perhaps nowhere better than in this interview.

Posted by Sams at December 15, 2009 3:26 AM

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frankfreddy says ...

This. Is. Awesome! I've never had much of an opinion about Dargis, but good Lord if she isn't among my immediate favorites.

Posted by frankfreddy at January 14, 2010 12:26 PM

comment #13

jayn says ...

Very nice article thanks!

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Posted by jayn at January 20, 2010 2:14 AM

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atish says ...

Hence, a "Zelig" would be someone who changes their mind frequently. If anything, the votes are anti-Zelig, as no one seems willing to buck the trend in the Best supporting male, female and in the director slot.
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Posted by atish at January 21, 2010 10:01 PM

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doublexjohn says ...

However, just as he thinks he's headed for a promotion, his manager Dan (Alan Alda) informs him that he is hiring the talents of Darcy McGuire (Helen Hunt) instead, to broaden the firm's appeal to women.

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Posted by doublexjohn at January 22, 2010 12:18 AM

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glamor says ...

lol like like she has responses harshed a bit, but maybe he deserves it

Posted by glamor at January 22, 2010 5:28 PM

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comment #18

Mandy221 says ...

Great article - I think women want the same thing as everyone else is to be loved. I work for a cheap health insurance company and I know most of the women that work with me are looking for love like myself.

Posted by Mandy221 at January 27, 2010 12:25 PM

comment #19

pamelazz says ...

I remember reading words like "unwillingness to play the game" and "aloof". Can someone please find it and post it here? It's odd that whenever there's talk of an African American winning an Oscar, he's always the one with the take down campaign.best voip provider

Posted by pamelazz at February 3, 2010 8:56 PM

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girls swimwear says ...

Yes I agree that all people want to be loved. It seems like it will be a great show. I think all people are really the same when you get down to what they really need.

Posted by girls swimwear at February 11, 2010 6:30 PM

comment #22

credit card processing says ...

I think women dont know what they want these days haha. Just joking - I think women want to be loved not obsessed over but really loved in a genuine way.

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christy20 says ...

I think women want to be loved and want someone who actually cares about them. I believe the people all want the same things unless they have an agenda.

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comment #26