May 8, 2017

"Emma Watson has won the MTV Movie and TV award for best big-screen actor - the first gender-neutral prize the ceremony has given out."

Accepting the award, she said: "To me, it indicates that acting is about the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes, and that doesn't need to be separated into two different categories."

Of course, we don't need awards at all. But maybe the show-biz industry does. Would it do better if it drove gender differentiation out of the self-promotion we've been conned into watching all these years? 

You know, I had to do research to figure out if Emma Watson is the main Emma. Isn't there another Emma? Yeah, the Emma that won the Best Actress Oscar was Emma Stone. I'm really just not caring about movies anymore. Sorry. Awards going one way or the other or carrying old-fashioned or new-fashioned ideology aren't going to nudge me into the crowd of little people out there in the dark.

96 comments:

Bay Area Guy said...

If Laurence Olivier werecwinning the award every year, Emma Watson would be clamoring for separate categories.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

Don't forget Emma Thompson, with two Academy Awards.

Dagwood said...

Winning the MTV award must be akin to being voted president of the school math club.

Michael K said...

We watched "12 o'clock High" last night.

Great movie. I have not been to a recent movie in years.

Jim Gust said...

Yeah, I saw Beauty and the Beast. An OK film, not as good as the original cartoon. Emma Watson was far less compelling or believable as Belle than the cartoon version. Hard to believe that she won an award for mailing in that mediocre performance.

As to the gendered/genderless nonsense, I could not care less. But Emma will change her tune if, in a few years, womyn are not getting their "fair share" of the awards.

Emma Stone is a far superior actress to Emma Watson. As is Emma Thompson, whose body of work is far superior to either of them. I recommend Aloha, an outstanding ensemble cast in which Stone is the linch pin.

Memo to Emma Watson: Whining on film is not acting.

Robert J. said...

Emma Watson is not gender neutral. And for that I thank God.

Ann Althouse said...

"Don't forget Emma Thompson, with two Academy Awards."

Her, I can remember.

Back in the 90s: Sense and Sensibility, The Remains of the Day, Howards End.

I really enjoyed the good movies that were around then!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ann Althouse said...

Sense and Sensibility and Howards End were both movies where Emma Thompson played alongside another actress who was stunningly beautiful. I'm not normally transported by the beauty of the female actresses, and the kind of beauty in the actresses of today leaves me not just cold but really bored, but the co-actresses in those movies — Kate Winslet in S&S and Helena Bonham Carter in Howards End — were amazing. Emma was great in that setting. I love the point in S&S when she — the much less emotive woman — breaks down and cries. That's one of my favorite things I've ever seen in a movie.

WisRich said...

Does this mean less awards and shorter awards shows?

One can only hope.

Hagar said...

I do not care how good the movie is; I am not going to a multiplex theater with hard dirty plastic too small seats and the sound turned way up to drown out the noises from the teenagers making out in the seats behind me.

MayBee said...

Emma was great in that setting. I love the point in S&S when she — the much less emotive woman — breaks down and cries.

That is a great scene.
Another of hers that gets me every time is in Love Actually, when she realizes the beautiful necklace she found in her husband's pocket wasn't *her* Christmas gift. So she goes in the bedroom to pull herself together for the children. So restrained! So heartbreaking. The opposite of the scene in S&S, but equally compelling.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

I'm having trouble keeping the Emmas straight.

And awards shows have bored me for forever.

Kate said...

I'm with @Jim Gust. Emma Stone has chops. Emma Watson was an inanimate dishrag in B&B. I'm much more offended that she won than I am over the genderless category.

And then we bring up Emma Thompson! Her screenplay for S&S made her acting look dull, and she's an exceptional actress (of any gender).

What a miserly time to love movies.

Ann Althouse said...

I never saw Love Actually.

eric said...

Maybe movies aren't as good today because they are more concerned about diversity and political correctness than they are about making a great movie.

Nonapod said...

To me award shows are such strange indulgences in narcissism, especially the ones based primarily acting. How deeply insecure are these people that they have to give awards out for make-pretend? Honestly, I wouldn't care about these silly pageants if they weren't so sanctimonious, constantly lecturing us all about the great sins and failings of the racist, xenophobic, homophobic, sexist, cis-gendered masses.

Unknown said...

Ann I am convinced you care about films. You ignited a determination to view everything directed by Bergman. I love his sappy medieval works, and 'Fanny and Alexander' is amazing, 'Persona' dark and alluring. I actually did a rework of 'Virgin Springs'. I was convinced the youngest brother was an innocent one, caught in the treachery of his brothers. I had to write a story in which the father stops his vengeance, rather his wife halts his vengeance, in order to adopt the youngest brother. They lost so many children and now God gave them a young one to shape and mold. My girlfriend and I just rewatched 'Mysteries of Lisbon', an epic costume period piece, astounding. Intrigue and storytelling on a Dickens, Dumas, and Turgenev level. If you have not watched 'Mysteries of Lisbon' you must.

n.n said...

Bob:

Mother Nature should be noted for Her forward insight when She cast women to play the female role. An actor that is the physical, psychological, and evolutionary complement to men in the male role. Let's call her "actress" to appreciate the contrast.

Ron said...

so can we now not worry over how many of each gender wins what?

MadisonMan said...

Emma Thompson was very good as P. L. Travers. In the context of Emma Watson, Emma T was Sybil Trelawney, as probably everyone under the age of 30 knows.

richlb said...

There is also an Emily Watson. And an Emma Roberts. It's like the Chris's.

Anonymous said...

""Don't forget Emma Thompson, with two Academy Awards."

Her, I can remember.

Back in the 90s: Sense and Sensibility, The Remains of the Day, Howards End.

I really enjoyed the good movies that were around then!"

Yes, very good movies! Emma Thompson was also in Brideshead Revisited, which I enjoyed. Nanny McPhee was a favorite of my grandchildren.

Richard said...

If we can also have only one category of award, that is an award show I could watch. On second thought, no, I still wouldn't watch it.

Ann Althouse said...

Yes, Emily Watson. That's what so annoying about Emma Watson.

Emily Watson was great in "Breaking the Waves." Nothing today seems to take risks like that.

iowan2 said...

The spouse and I had a breather to what has been a very busy 7 day a week schedule, for the last couple of months. We were looking for something to reward and relax ourselves and looked for a dinner and and movie option. Dinner, we could figure out, movie? Not a single one deserved our two hours of time. There is no such thing as acting anymore near as I can determine. Remakes of, Furious-Star-Beast-etc. CGI, and plot lines that were exhausted 30 years ago. Local theater is way more entertaining.
Looking at ways to cut cable tv, and still get my college sports from September thru the first Monday in April. I don't think the entertainment industry knows the Abyss they are staring into.

Ann Althouse said...

"Ann I am convinced you care about films..."

Yeah, I do care, but it's a caring that's currently manifested in the form of refusing to see any of the stuff that's shown in theaters. It's that stuff I meant when I said "I'm really just not caring about movies anymore."

I believe the movies today are fake. The fakeness has many aspects, but I'm especially repelled by computer-generated effects and plastic surgery.

Deb said...

Emma Thompson is magnificent. I am listening to her reading of The Turn of the Screw. Wonderful. Especially since Richard Armitage reads the introductory chapter.

J. Farmer said...

"Best Actor" and "Best Actress" are actually good for the gender wars, because they essentially establish a quota of one man and one woman winning each year. One you go gender neutral, it will turn into bean counting. I can already see the #OscarsSoMale hashtags. And when are these gender neutralists going to call for merging the NBA and WNBA or abolishing gender categories at the Olympics.


@hagar:

I do not care how good the movie is; I am not going to a multiplex theater with hard dirty plastic too small seats and the sound turned way up to drown out the noises from the teenagers making out in the seats behind me.

Where in god's name are you going to the theatre?

Michael K said...

My two favorite Emma Thompson movies were "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Dead Again" both with her then husband Kenneth Branaugh. Both terrific movies.

I saw "Dead Again" in the theater and was half way through it before I realized Branaugh was playing two roles. He is just terrific.

Ann Althouse said...

Loud sound with very exaggerated sound effects and way too much music that's too loud and too conspicuous. I hate that too.

Everything is too slow and simultaneously too fast. You know what I mean? The pacing is horrible. They're so afraid you'll get bored that they never get you interested in the first place.

Also, I hate the stories. I rarely go, so this may be totally off, but I just hate to be presented with a character that I'm supposed to care about because she (or he) is put in danger and we see closeups of her big eyes darting around trying to look worried and afraid. There are enough problems in the world. Why am I supposed to get up to speed on this character's fake problems? It's obviously only something to launch sequences of chases and traps and scary falls and jumps. So boring.

MayBee said...

I don't know what the Oscars would do if there were pressure to remove genders. J Farmer is dead on when he envisions the hashtag hate.
And what about the broadcast? If not enough women are nominated, who is going to tune in to see the red carpet fashion? The show itself could surely use some time-trimming, but not at the expense of the big star categories. So they'd have to have nominations by film category, I suppose, like The Golden Globes does.
It also seems risky with women complaining about not making the money their male counterparts do, to open up the possibility that not as many women get nominated. Wouldn't that prove they aren't worth the money?

In a way, it's delightful to see the SJWs put themselves in a quandry. But then, I don't think they will recognize it, just like all their own jets and yachts apparently don't contribute to global warming.

wildswan said...

Manchester by the Sea is now on Amazon Prime. It is worth the time.

Paddy O said...

"Where in god's name are you going to the theatre?"

1962, apparently.

Paddy O said...

wildswan, what is Manchester by the Sea about? All the previews for it were basically comprised of different shots of Casey Affleck looking sullen. I can see why people might find that interesting, but there must be something to the plot besides, "ways Casey Affleck became sullen and how he liked to gaze off in the distance accordingly."

Unknown said...

Ann did you watch 'Mysteries of Lisbon' there are still people making great films. I read a latest novel 'Laurus' by a Russian author. It is driving my latest thoughts.

Left Bank of the Charles said...

I think Emma Watson has leapfrogged Emma Stone, at least for the moment, on the strength of the billion dollar haul for Beauty and the Beast.

It's been a long haul in Hollywood for Watson. First she played the girl who ultimately didn't get the boy in the Harry Potter series. Then she was in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, where she played the perk. And she has been in several box office bombs.

Unknown said...

Manchester by the Sea is a great one

J. Farmer said...

@Michael K:

My two favorite Emma Thompson movies were "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Dead Again" both with her then husband Kenneth Branaugh. Both terrific movies.

Wow, I have not thought of Dead Again for years. I remember my parents renting it from our local Blockbusters. I was about 10 years old, so it must have been 1992. I loved the movie and remember rewatching it immediately because I was so bemused by the ending. It inspired a lifelong love for noir.

That said, my two favorite Watson roles were In the Name of the Father with Daniel Day-Lewis and in the HBO movie Wit.

Unknown said...

Ann you must not give up. Manchester by the Sea is there

Unknown said...

You know what sold me on Manchester by the Sea. The Coward Robert Ford. Nick Cave and Jesse James.

J. Farmer said...

And she has been in several box office bombs.

The Circle seems to be heading in that direction.

Unknown said...

Brad Pitt did so good in the Coward Robert Ford. And so did this kid in Manchester by the Sea.

buwaya said...

Re Emma Thompson, I suggest the BBC "Fortunes of War" based on the Olivia Manning novels. She with Branagh in their outing. Very forgotten these days, as is Olivia Manning.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

it indicates that acting is about the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes, and that doesn't need to be separated into two different categories.

Yes and no. Yes, great acting is being able to put yourself into the character, the role and make the audience forget who YOU are and be drawn into the story. Great acting is trans gender

However, the is the need to separate into categories as not all things are exactly the same. Men's roles or women's roles are not interchangeable in most cases. Films are divided into categories. You don't have comedies with Woody Allenesque type stars competing with Sir Lawrence Olivier type actors. Musicals, versus Documentaries etc. Music awards are also categorized. Jazz doesn't compete with Country Western or Death Metal.

There is a need for categories.

buwaya said...

We were required to watch the "Harry Potter" due to kids.
Emma Watsons best bit in those is her first scene in the first movie, where she did extremely well. The rest, meh.

MarkW said...

TV (HBO, Amazon, Netflix) is superior now anyway. Since TV series don't have a make-or-break need to fill a lot of multiplexes in a few short weeks, they don't have to blow their budgets on major stars who (it's believed) have the name recognition to bring people into the theaters. Instead, TV productions can invest their budgets in everything else to make quality shows and can afford to wait for people to find them. And there are virtually no damn comic-book superheros. So give me more Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Man in the High Castle, Stranger Things, etc, etc and I really don't give a damn what happens at the multiplex or who wins awards.

Bill, Republic of Texas said...

Strange this movie thread popped up today. Earlier today we got an email from Redbox for a free movie rental. We looked at the movies and nothing jumped out at us. Then we started to read a few synopses and got bored. We used to be avid movie watchers too.

I guess they can't even give it away anymore.

Ann Althouse said...

"I guess they can't even give it away anymore."

I have a post somewhere in the archive of what you'd have to pay me to see various movies that were playing at the time. Different amounts for different movies. One of them I think I needed something like $1,000 to sit through.

rhhardin said...

Awards to actresses are for looking adorable and helpless, to actors for admiring and protecting.

It's a different skill.

Women actually acting are tedious, too much like real life.

Ann Althouse said...

Ah, yes, here it is, January 24, 2016, the day the Oscar nominees were announced:

"If I had to see all the best picture nominees.... You'd have to pay me. For some of them, you'd have to pay me a lot. I'd put them in order. "The Revenant" — I would see this if I were paid $20. "The Big Short" — I'll see it for $30. "The Martian" — $35. "Spotlight" — $50. "Bridge of Spies" — $100. "Brooklyn" — $500. "Mad Max" — $600. "Room" — $2,000."

Ann Althouse said...

What was "Room"?

"In Akron, Ohio, 24-year-old Joy Newsome and her 5-year-old son Jack live in a squalid shed they call Room. They share a bed, toilet, bathtub, television, and rudimentary kitchen; the only window is a skylight. They are captives of a man they call "Old Nick", Jack's biological father, who abducted Joy seven years prior and routinely rapes her while Jack sleeps in the closet. She tries to stay optimistic for her son, but suffers from malnutrition and depression. She allows Jack to believe that only Room and its contents are real, and that the rest of the world exists only on television...."

Dust Bunny Queen said...

We rarely go to a movie theater anymore. However, we saw a trailer for Dunkirk about the evacuation of the soldiers from Dunkirk beach during WWII. It looked interesting, hopefully will be more focused on the history and accuracy and not be (yet another) preaching at us movie.

It also seemed to be one of those films, like Saving Private Ryan, that you need to see on the "big screen" with the BIG sound effects. We may break tradition and go to the movies!

rhhardin said...

Look at even Emily Blunt, great in Live Die Repeat, Edge of Tomorrow.

A non-helpless warrior who teaches Tom Cruise.

Cruise winds up trying to find a way to do things without her getting killed, because she's adorable and helpless.

rhhardin said...

To the extent Blunt rebels against Cruise's protection, she just becomes a difficult woman.

Anonymous said...

I just watched Manchester by the Sea a couple of days ago, very very sad. It's a realistic portrayal of people messing up their lives and not living happily ever after.

Unknown said...

In Columbus, Ohio 21-Pilots made some noise.

Professional lady said...

Our library has a very good selection of DVDs. Costs $1 to check them out. I frequently go to the library and find nothing at all that I'm interested in. On the other hand, if I start watching a movie and it's not worth my time, I don't sit through it and am happy to give the library $1 anyway. Every now and then there's a movie that's worth watching. Last movie that I thought was really worth the time was "Hacksaw Ridge" - and I don't usually watch movies with a lot of violence. I also thought "Brooklyn" was really good. I will have to give "Manchester by the Sea" a try.

FullMoon said...

Hagar said... [hush]​[hide comment]

I do not care how good the movie is; I am not going to a multiplex theater with hard dirty plastic too small seats and the sound turned way up to drown out the noises from the teenagers making out in the seats behind me


Beer, wine, and recliners around SF bay area.

Known Unknown said...

"put yourself in someone else's shoes"

Unless that person is a different race. Then, it only works one way.



FullMoon said...

Maxine Waters got a special Award for resisting Trump.

Unknown said...

Ann trust me 'Mysteries of Lisbon' elevates things to a different level

Known Unknown said...

I am not going to a multiplex theater with hard dirty plastic too small seats and the sound turned way up to drown out the noises from the teenagers making out in the seats behind me

Sounds like you need a Marcus Theatre experience.

Every reserved seat at ours is a dreamlounger.

Known Unknown said...

Maxine Waters got a special Award for resisting Trump.


They both wear wigs, don't they?

Unknown said...

It is like reading the 'Count of Monte Cristo' for the first time.

Known Unknown said...

""If I had to see all the best picture nominees.... You'd have to pay me. For some of them, you'd have to pay me a lot. I'd put them in order. "The Revenant" — I would see this if I were paid $20. "The Big Short" — I'll see it for $30. "The Martian" — $35. "Spotlight" — $50. "Bridge of Spies" — $100. "Brooklyn" — $500. "Mad Max" — $600. "Room" — $2,000.""

The Big Short was entertaining. Mad Max was awesome. Room was pretty good, but once (spoiler alert) they escape the movie drags (I realize that is the entire point of the film, too, is being in Room versus being in the real world easier or harder to deal with?)



readering said...

Remember a lot more films are made than just blockbusters. Althouse might be interested in a film I watched on DVD this weekend, Equity, a piece of summer 2016 counter-programming about the finance industry written and directed by women and with female leads and storyline. Of course it didn't do boffo bo:

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=equity.htm

Titus said...

Why go to the movies when there is Netflix and On Demand?

I loved Moonlight-great fucking movie.

William said...

I saw LaLa Land. It stars Emma Stone and won, in a screwed up way, the Oscar for best picture. It's a good movie, but it's more a musical about musicals than a musical about romance. Emma Stone is fine, but she's no Ginger Rogers. There's a happy ending but it's more a post modern happy ending than a romantic happy ending. I'm not sure if the movie subverted rather than celebrated the concept of Hollywood musicals.

CStanley said...

I'm a big fan of Emma Thompson too although I always get her name and Emma Watson's mixed up.

And based on appearance I used to always confuse Emma Thompson with Natasha Richardson...I guess for a while after watching Parent Trap (which came out when eldest daughter was of the age to enjoy it so we watched the DVD numerous times) I had just assumed that was Emma Thompson and never bothered to check.

So then by weird coincidence I learned of my mistake upon the death of Natasha Richardson and then soon afterward I was watching Love Actually which stars Emma Thompson and Natasha Richardson's widower, Liam Neeson, and again had to sort it all out for myself again ("Wait, is that Liam Neeson and his wife starring together in this film, made before she died...or is that Emma Thompson?)

Another funny thing is that Natasha Richardson looks much less like her real life sister, Joely, than she does Emma Thompson IMO. And neither of them are difficult to distinguish from the Redgraves, who are also related.

William said...

In the Middle Ages when the peasants came in from the outlying villages to see the cathedral, they were knocked out. They didn't believe a building could be that big, and there were all those colors in the stained glass windows that were like nothing they had ever seen on earth. Th cathedral was not just a celebration of God but a celebration of man's ability to create splendor.........Just so with big budget sci-fi movies. In the really good ones, you get a sense of awe and wonder at not just the universe we inhabit but at the universes we can create. The movies are not an exposition of the human condition but an escape from the human condition.......I don't think Emma Stone would look good in a tight t shirt running away from aspace monster. Emma Thompson would look even worse. Emma Watson would be acceptable, but she's no Megan Fox..

buwaya said...

"The Martian" — $35.

This was quite good, saw it with #1 son.
The book is better.
Neither are for everyone though.

Unknown said...

Nice thoughts William did you see Cassini crash into Jupitar?

David Baker said...

If I may reiterate:

Oh, what to do about Emma Watson. She can’t dance, she can’t sing, and she can’t act. But she’s cute, and she was passable playing snotty super-Anglo Hermione Granger in Harry Potter; the gay wizard. (Did the Lady Rowling know he was a raving lily, even at age ten? Dodging “Professor Doubledoor (sic)” was one thing, but Harry Pa-Tur?)

So now comes “The Circle,” a movie about the internet of things, co-starring the ever-snotty Hermione Granger. I haven’t seen The Circle, so I’m taking my cues from the NYT movie review. They didn’t like it, although they easily spared Hermione any and all sexual connotations. Essentially, I believe, because she’s asexual...

Unknown said...

Sorry Saturn

readering said...

Emma Watson originally slated for LALA Land but fell through and went for Beauty instead. Was very upset with her management team after Emma Stone got all that critical acclaim. Of course she got the big bucks, but she already had those from Potter.

David Baker said...

Here it is, a complete reiteration of the asexual Emma Watson from May 1st…

Did they read my review?

MAJMike said...

Another example of a self-congratulatory circle jerk.

mikeski said...

Emma Thompson also played Erstwhile Hillary opposite John Travolta's Erstwhile Bill in Primary Colors.

Bill said...

Both Emma Thompson and Emma Watson are what the Brits call "luvvies".

Birches said...

Oh brother. Emma Watson's performance in Beauty and the Beast had nothing to do with putting herself in someone else's shoes. It had everything to do with Hermione Granger playing Belle. Notice how terribly Watson's next movie bombed. The public doesn't care for Emma Watson the actress, they care about the character of Hermione Granger. And Hermione Granger doesn't transfer very well to social networks. I don't write this with malice. I really liked The Perks of being a Wallflower and Watson was NOT playing a Hermione like character.

S&S is a wonderful film. One of my favorite scenes is when all the Dashwood women, except for Emma Thompson's character, all run crying to their rooms. She is left in the empty stairwell with a cup of tea meant for her mother. She sits down on the stairs with such a feeling of exhaustion. I love it.

Btw, I saw Guardians of the Galaxy Friday. I loved it, so go ahead and tell me to get off your lawn.

Pianoman said...

Wait, wait, wait.

Gender NEUTRAL?

But I thought that Caitlyn Jenner was a WOMAN.

Not a NEUTRAL person. A WOMAN.

FEMALE.

So if Caitlyn Jenner appeared in a film, and was to be nominated for an award, then shouldn't the category be "Best Actress"?

After all -- Caitlyn is a WOMAN, right?

I'm so confused. Where is the current Leftist Gender Style Guide located, comrade?

Jim Gust said...

"Bridge of Spies" was an excellent movie, one I won't have to be paid to see again. Had the advantage of being true.

Saw "Mr. Church" on DVD, a 2016 film with Eddie Murphy in a non-comedic role, very enjoyable. Sentimental, but not overly so for my taste. Also based on a true story (improbably).

And I admit I enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy so much, so unexpectedly, that I went to Volume 2.0 yesterday. Good enough as a sequel, not as good as the first one.

So, although I agree that the general quality of films is in decline, there are the occasional worthwhile entertainments.

Thorley Winston said...

I loved the first Guardians of the Galaxy (had a subscription to the original series in middle school) and I’m planning to catch the sequel this next weekend. Wonder Woman also looks like it could be really good (I was kind of "meh" on BvsS and Suicide Squad). Ghost in the Shell was okay and I’ll probably catch Fast Nine when it comes out on HBO. Otherwise I’m not planning on giving the studios anymore of my money until the next Star Wars film.

Thorley Winston said...

Oh brother. Emma Watson's performance in Beauty and the Beast had nothing to do with putting herself in someone else's shoes. It had everything to do with Hermione Granger playing Belle. Notice how terribly Watson's next movie bombed. The public doesn't care for Emma Watson the actress, they care about the character of Hermione Granger. And Hermione Granger doesn't transfer very well to social networks. I don't write this with malice. I really liked The Perks of being a Wallflower and Watson was NOT playing a Hermione like character.

Kind of like how no one really wants to watch Nick Offerman, they want to see Ron Swanson ;)

I did have a chance to watch Daniel Radcliffe in a non-Harry Potter role in a film called Imperium where he played an FBI agent that went undercover to investigate a white supremacist group. I thought that he was rather good in it but it seemed like everyone else was a head or two taller than him and I had a tough time believing that the group he was infiltrating would take him seriously when he claimed to have been in the marines.


MadisonMan said...

What CStanley said Natasha Richardson and Emma Thompson.

I can only guess that our daughters are of similar age.

hombre said...

I enjoyed Beauty and The Beast and she did a good job, but giving her "the best act person" award for the role was akin to giving Maxine Waters a standing ovation at the ceremony.

Portlandmermaid said...

"Ann trust me 'Mysteries of Lisbon' elevates things to a different level."

The repeated recommendation of Mysteries persuaded me. I just reserved it at the local library.

Ann Althouse said...

"Remember a lot more films are made than just blockbusters. Althouse might be interested in a film I watched on DVD this weekend, Equity, a piece of summer 2016 counter-programming about the finance industry written and directed by women and with female leads and storyline...."

It's still a thriller. I'm fine with non-blockbuster movies, but I dislike being prodded to be thrilled. And I must say — Meade will back me up on this — I have very low tolerance for the subject of finance. I viscerally loathe it. I do not find it entertaining at all and spend as little time as possible on anything financial, even relating to making money for myself. I can barely tolerate it and structure my life to avoid it.

readering said...

!! Althouse, sounds like you are proof of my advice to people asking me about law school that you can major in basket-weaving and go to law school if you have the LSATs.

(But still hope you advised students to consider courses like accounting and corporate finance).

Leora said...

I remember being annoyed that Linda Hunt won Best Actress for playing a male character in The Year of Living Dangerously in 1986. It seemed to me it should depend on the part not the actor.

Jim Gust said...

So, yay for genderlessness, but meanwhile, the NYTimes is bitching about the fact that there are no men writing the Senate health care bill.

Please, liberals, make up your minds. If you have minds.

readering said...

Senators drafting health care bill a bad analogy. 6 nominated for MTV award, half women (meaning half men).

damikesc said...

And when are these gender neutralists going to call for merging the NBA and WNB

Don't you mean just abolishing the WNBA? WE know that, literally, none of them have a shot at even hitting the D-League.

And an Oscar nomination, by and large, means "Tedious tripe that I have better things to do in my life than to watch"

David Baker said...

After just watching the movie "Gandhi" in the middle of the night, I'm in the mood to protest something. So why not Emma Watson for her selfish and egregious acts against art and theater. That she be hounded and mocked into obscurity.

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