The film industry is a significant part of American culture, and has influenced audiences for nearly a century. In such an important and influential industry, how are women being portrayed?
Well there in no doubt that strong, intelligent actresses have always dominated the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress awards. Last year Natalie Portman (above) received Best Actress starring in Black Swan and Best Supporting went to Melissa Leo in The Fighter.
Yet the most astounding upheaval in recent years had to be at the 2010 Academy Awards when Kathryn Bigelow (below) beat ex-husband James Cameron for Best Director. Her film, The Hurt Locker cleaned house by taking a total of six Oscars including Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Director.
Only four women have been nominated for Best Director, and of them Bigelow was the only to take home the award. For this reason I decided to rent The Hurt Locker to see for my own eyes what so many critics have claimed to be a “near-perfect movie.”
I have never been one to enjoy war movies but The Hurt Locker is intriguing in a non-blockbuster kind of way. It covers problems that American soldiers face everyday that I have never even considered. From the first scene the audience is catapulted into a war that the majority of Americans are not exposed to and maybe do not quite understand.
Even though 2010 might be a bit late for the first woman to win Best Director at The Oscars, I am glad it was Bigelow. Instead of producing a series of predicable and cookie-cutter romantic comedies, she decided to direct a plot that had substance and used that to communicate the war in the middle east to her audience.
So as you watch the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday February 26, try look past the fashion show that The Oscars are so well known for. Focus on the talent and determination that women in film industry are producing, and witness more history being made.
Photos courtesy of Google