For me, 2010 was about reemergence of the female hero and all the different forms she took, from a traditional hero character to just a kick arse female role. It's not as though there haven't been great female roles in the past, but this year I noticed it early and the variety was vast, from 12 year old assassins to psychopathic grannies. Not only that but the young ones just about blitzed the old girls. That could be a testament to the directors, and definitely the writers but in the end you can lead an actor to water...
Here is a list of my 10 fave female heroes from 2010.
(Just as an aside, I've noted if the director and/or writer was female in bold)
Jennifer Lawrence's Ree in Winter's Bone. It helps when the film is so beautifully shot and meticulously researched but Jennifer played Ree with the confidence of a much more experienced practitioner and made it easy to understand the determination that absolute desperation inspires. Magnificent.
(D. Debra Granik - A Woman! Script by Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini. Based on novel by Daniel Woodrell)
Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Who doesn't want to be Salander I ask you? Whip smart, tough, self sufficient, bisexual, flawed - the epitome of the female hero. No rules for Salander, she looks after herself thank you. Noomi was pitch perfect in the role, making the other poor actors look like bland accessories.
(D.Niels Arden Oplev - Not a sheila, Screenplay by Nikolaj Arcel and Rasmus Heisterberg
| the book was of course by Steig Larsson) | |
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Rachel Weisz as Hypatia in Agora. What a great character and Rachel gave a really moving and assured performance. Historically what's changed? Even now a woman who rejects male advances and declarations of love is denounced, even moreso if she does it pursue her own ideas.
(D. Alejandro Amenábar, written by Amenábar and Mateo Gil)
Annette Bening's stunning performance in The Kids are Alright. This was an acting Masterclass (hope Meryl attended) and there isn't anyone out there doing work this great with such ease right now. Although Julianne Moore is a brilliant actor and her role probably didn't permit her, she had no hope of shining next to Annette. Please Oscar, please!
(D. Lisa Cholodenko, writers Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg.) Great script, good story.
Tilda Swinton in I am Love. I AM LOVE this movie! Lo Sono L'amore. Say it out loud! What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, evening... anytime really. Tilda's face when she first tastes Antonio's food is the best piece of acting I saw all year. One look says it all.
(D. Luca Guadagnino. Written by Luca Guadagnino and Barbara Alberti. Tilda was a producer)
Jacki Weaver as Janine Cody in Animal Kingdom. I never really thought of Jacki as much of an actor, always preferring Lynette Curran in those roles, but she really nailed it here, really. And it had to be her, because that's her persona, the giggling child/woman seemingly unaffected by reality, but there's always more going on than the obvious. So if all those years in the industry were just training for this one performance, it was worth it. And now a great career can begin.
(D. David Michôd, written by David Michôd. just for the record producer was Liz Watts)
Lina Leandersson as the vampire girl Eli from Let the Right One In. This girl looked and behaved exactly as a 12 year old would if they didn't have a mother to nag them to brush their hair and put shoes on, undead or not. Brilliant performances by both young players but at 13 Lina showed incredible maturity as an actor. She's the best vampire I've come across.
(D. Tomas Alfredson. screenplay by John Ajvide Lindqvist, based on his own novel)
Chloë Grace Moretz as Hit Girl from Kick Ass. Not only was this movie a pleasant surprise but watching a sweet little girl kick the shit out of supposed tough guys was jump up and down in my seat stuff. i usually love villains but these guys, Mark Strong etc, were terrible. Was it the father/daughter relationship that was so appealing or was it that she let rip with some of the year's most colourful onscreen language that made me warm to her so easily?
(D.Matthew Vaughn. Writers Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman based on the comics by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.)
Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning as Joan Jett and Cherie Currie in The Runaways. Fantastic rock chick biopic. These girls truly channeled the characters. Both Kristen and Dakota are no strangers to the screen and perhaps are so at home I was never impressed by anything I'd seen them in but this was great work by both of them. Considering The Runaways weren't around very long (4 years I think, but they were huge in Japan you know), the film is chockers with drama and the costumes and make up perfect.
(D. Floria Sigismondi written by Floria Sigismondi, based on Cherie Currie's memoirs)
Joan Rivers as Joan Rivers in
Joan Rivers - A Piece of Work. What a startling performance Joan gave in this drama about a year in the life of Joan Rivers.
(D.
Ricki Stern and
Anne Sundberg, written by
Ricki Stern)
Providing strong evidence that the best women's roles are written and/or directed by women.