Moviefone published an article celebrating the fact that old men are getting to direct films still! Apparently there's some sort of privilege attached to being an old white guy... who knew?! The site claims it's remarkable that these old farts are still being allowed to make films since Hollywood is so "fixated on the young." I would argue that old white guys in positions of power is nothing new, in fact, especially in an industry where only one woman has received the highest possible honor...

Patricia Riggen's film is just in time for Mother's Day, and it certainly isn't lacking any of that drippy sentimentality you would expect from a family portrait.  Ansiedad Gutierrez (Cierra Ramirez) has decided that the coming-of-age stories she is reading in her English class will provide her with a path to an adulthood in which she can successfully escape her childlike mother, Grace (Eva Mendes). After all, Mom did crown her with a name that translates to "anxiety." Contrarily, the texture of the film is soft...

Did y'all know one of the biggest discussions when Earth Day originated in 1970 was the now-taboo population boom? It's true! Since the 60's, the world's population has doubled to over 6 billion and the environmental, social, and humanitarian crises we're facing today can be largely attributed to unchecked growth in our numbers. This topic is uncomfy for people to talk about because all the issues surrounding it: access to family planning, religion, and gender inequality. The documentary Mother: Caring for 7 Billion aims to...

Patty Schemel, former drummer for Hole (among others), is a survivor. She found success in one of the biggest acts of the 90s, but along with her rock-star lifestyle came some dark moments, and while Patty played the shit out of the drums, life equally played the shit out of Patty. The story of her life and career is told in Hit So Hard, a documentary that opens in theaters on April 13th. A drummer holds every song together, and with her focused expression, steady arms,...

Director David Foenkinos' debut feature (based on his same-titled novel) stars Audrey Tatou as the ethereal Nathalie, who throws herself into her work after the death of her husband. Nathalie has no semblance of a personal life, as she prefers to live by formal interaction and is repelled by the advances of her arrogant boss. There is a shift in the film, however, which eradicates the narrative's predictability--the introduction of Markus (Francois Damiens), Nathalie's awkward and homely Swedish coworker. After Nathalie kisses Markus in a moment...

It’s been a good year for movies about female politicians. The first to receive a fabulous film treatment was “The Iron Lady,” aka Margaret Thatcher. Now the lens has turned to the woman who led Burma’s democratic revolution in the 1990s, Aung San Suu Kyi (dubbed the “Steel Orchid,” according to a line in the new film The Lady, out April 11). Of course, there are differences between these two female political forces. Thatcher was—how shall I put this?—not exactly loved by her constituency, while...

Outrage, devastation, an overwhelming sense of injustice—these are just a few of the feelings you’re likely to experience while watching Bully, the new documentary from filmmaker Lee Hirsch (read our interview with the director here). And you might want to bring a tissue or two. The poignant movie highlights one of the single-most terrible aspects of adolescence—bullying—and the lives and families of five kids who are heartbreakingly enduring it (or its aftermath). It’s one thing to read about bullying in the media, where it’s gotten a...

Growing up girl in America is tough. We are simultaneously told to be vigilant keepers of our sacred virginity and also to be ready to whip off our tops if the Girls Gone Wild camera crew shows up on spring break. We are deemed to possess a priceless, powerful, can't-get-it-back-after-you-lose-it gift from the big guy upstairs, but we're expected to cheat the system a little, too. The virgin/whore dichotomy is such old news that won't die. Therese Shechter's new documentary How to Lose Your Virginity attempts...

  Seventh grade isn't a great time for anyone, but it was my worst year in school. Why? Because I was constantly bullied and sexually harassed by some boys in school. I never talked to anyone about it (because it seemed to be par for the course), but those experiences affected how I felt about myself for years to come.  I overcame these experiences over time, but not everyone does. That's clear if you take a look at how many kids have committed suicide due to bullying...

The Hunger Games hit theaters last Friday with the third most successful opening weekend in North American history. One of the reasons I love the story so much is because of Katniss Everdeen, the strong female protagonist who volunteers to take the place of her sister, represents District 12, and proceeds to kick tons of ass. And in this age of blockbuster hits like Twilight that emphasize little more than the idea that every woman needs a man, an independent lady at the center of the...