Hello everyone! My name is Jenna and I am super excited to be joining the Shameless team!
Every other Friday –-starting today— I will be posting a film review via video blog.
Click below to see my take on The House Bunny.
Agree with me? Disagree? Have a movie to suggest? I wanna hear it all ;)
Plus: Does Sex Ed teach us what we really need to know? Also: Sook-Yin Lee gets direct, the scoop on sororities, and becoming a feminist man.
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17 comments
you rock, hands down :)
Posted by Diandra
October 10, 2008, 1:48 PM
That film sounds cheesy as fuck. I think I'll give it a miss and put my brain in a blender instead.
Posted by Soberr
October 10, 2008, 7:48 PM
Good review that movie looks movie looks bad on all levels not just for feminists.
Posted by Rootbeerlord(lawrence)
October 10, 2008, 8:25 PM
Nice review!
Welcome to Shameless Jenna!
Posted by Cecelia
October 10, 2008, 8:50 PM
"the film's contempt for women" -- great line!
jenna-- you just may be the mama of my revolution!
Posted by Sheetal
October 10, 2008, 10:44 PM
Great review! You not only gave us a good idea of the plot and views from a feminist perspective, but you also told us what YOU THOUGHT of the film --which is awesome (felt like a friend giving me a movie tip). I also love that you chose House Bunny as your first review! Why not dive right in to the offensive stereotypes and damaging cliches?! Rock on, Jenna! Can't wait for the next review :)
Posted by D. Cole
October 10, 2008, 11:14 PM
Jenna to Heff: "Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of this..." That was wicked.
Awesome video. Welcome! :)
Posted by Erin E.
October 11, 2008, 7:28 AM
I aggreed with you before I even saw the movie. Just the posters gave it all away and made me so depressed. Did you really even expect it to be pogressive?
I guess the question that comes out of this for me is where these masses of girls who clearly want to indulge in fantasies of being attractive, sexually affirmed and loved can find an alternative to this outlook. Nobody wants to police anybody else's sexuality, which is what you'll be blamed for for criticising a movie that's clearly about policing yours. Ultimately you just end up repeating the same unhelpful point. House Bunny is sexist but people, girls especially, continue to watch it. What's the alternative? What does that look like? I likes Amilie (sp?) a few years ago, "Away From Her" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" all of which show more three dimentional females who in their own ways pursue a least romantic fulfillment without losing their character to become cliches. But it's hard to think of a movie where space is created for girls to flaunt sexuality and be affirmed and given recognition of their powerful sexual womanhood. Most of the movies I can think of just are more about romance than excibiting and finding a sexual comfort zone (especially very publicly as is the case with the Bunnys.) That's the void this movie fills. Which movie is the Anti-house-bunny portrait of the sexually loud female? Any suggestions?
Posted by Myra
October 11, 2008, 11:59 AM
this review made my day.
Posted by Sarah
October 11, 2008, 1:54 PM
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and supportive comments!
Myra - You make some great points. Yes, any film can be criticized for its representation of female sexuality because people are going to judge it according to their own belief systems. That is why continuing a discussion and promoting a diverse array of films centering female sexuality is important.... lol this is sorta my lead in for giving you some movie suggestions. I am sure there will be people that disagree with me but i I do like "The Happy Hooker" and "Secretary"
I think "Secretary" is so awesome because the female protagonist enjoys being a sexual submissive, yet despite the judgement of others she embraces her sexuality. She's honest with herself and follows her own desire.
Posted by Jenna
October 12, 2008, 7:49 PM
I was definitely going to suggest The Happy Hooker too! I think it is such an interesting movie...
Or how about something like "The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls In Love"... I recall this being a really enjoyable story about two young women coming from different race/class/gender/sexual backgrounds moving together into really positive "sexual womanhoods"...
Okay -- what about a femme fatale like Sharon Stone's character in Basic Instinct? I think it's so complex! Because she feels pretty damn in control throughout it, but there are some highly problematic aspects (the representation of queer women as obsessive outlaws, the fact that the "famous" leg crossing shot was filmed apparently without Stone's knowledge)... but I do recall myself feeling like I saw something of value in the film's presentation of Stone's sexually liberal(liberated?) character, and that the fact that she was a "bad girl" as quite a comment on how women of a particular sexuality fit into dominant societal gender/sexuality schemes... I wish I remembered the film better...
Posted by Sheetal
October 13, 2008, 12:37 AM
Well done Jenna,
Keep up the fab fem film reviews forever...
Posted by J. Balmer
October 13, 2008, 10:05 AM
Awesome, Jenna.
I wish Mr Hefner could see it...
Posted by loganberry
October 15, 2008, 11:59 AM
Oh. :) I just want to say that I like your videos.
Posted by Jaumes
October 19, 2008, 10:26 PM
AMAZING review. you are so witty, and it just seems like you are having a conversation with a friend, not just talking to a webcam. you've got this video blogging down!
Posted by julia caron
November 6, 2008, 11:57 PM
I have good news and bad news. The good news is, girls do all this stuff for nothing. The bad news is, the stuff i actually see is painfully elemetary. whaaaaat a. girls do annoying things at guys so that "guys get it" not girls. most guys have to get that women want to be the center of laughs and attention...its our job to be funny and smooth and at the same time incredibly strong. the difference between males and females is that females remain as children through adulthood. males don't. GET IT??? i hope so young ladies and gentlemen. this feminist stuff is so ugly. instead of worrying about stupidities throughout our lives, just learn self defense and stop being wusses. most guys arent smarter than all girls, except the smartest guys exponentially surpass all women. got it. guys, get smart. be cool. and get shorty lol.
Posted by Jack
November 29, 2008, 6:49 AM
Wow Jack, thanks for enlightening us all with such a clear and concise post, it must be hard walking around with such a giant brain.
Posted by Jenna
November 29, 2008, 10:52 AM
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