5 Awesome Female Empowerment Films.

Dec 1

This is a transcript of the Force Five Podcast episode titled 5 Awesome Female Empowerment Films w/ Sunflower (2024) writer/director Mateusz Balcerek. To listen to this episode, use this link.

Note - transcript services may not be 100% accurate; if you have questions about a word or context, please listen to the episode or reach out to me at forcefivepodcast@gmail.com.

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And that for your future presentation.

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What's up, List Nords.

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I am your host, X VideoStore, ClerksCreenwriter, and fellow List Nords Jason Cleavering in this

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is Force5.

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A show where I force my guests to come up with a movie-themed top 5 list topic.

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And then we reveal our picks on air.

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This week we're diving into a topic that's as powerful as the films themselves, 5 awesome

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female empowerment films.

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These are the stories that give a voice to strength, courage, and resilience.

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They inspire us, challenge outdated narratives, and remind us that the best heroines don't

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need a cape, they just need a story worth telling.

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When I think about female empowerment in films, there are so many incredible moments that

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come to mind, and that's one of the challenges in a show like this where you have to just

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kind of pick 5 of them.

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There's the fiery determination of Norma Ray from 1979, taking on oppressive working

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conditions to start a union, Ripley taking on the xenomorph queen, the raw emotional defiance

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of Thelma and the weas as they choose their own fate.

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These aren't just movies, they're cultural touchstones, films that shifted perspectives,

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and left lasting imprints on audiences worldwide.

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And let's talk about how far we've come.

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Over the decades, Thelma has been evolving, albeit slowly, in a way that portrays women.

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There was a time when female characters were confined to side-kicks or love interests,

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with little agency and little depth, but now we've got richly layered protagonists who

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are strong not only in their actions, but in their vulnerability, their intelligence,

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and their complexities.

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Films like Wonder Woman, Black Widow, and Captain Marvel have made it clear that women can

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carry blockbuster franchises, while others like Hidden Figures and the Help tell important

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historical stories.

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And let's not forget the indie gems and hidden treasures that have championed these narratives

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long before Hollywood caught up.

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But of course, this journey is not over.

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For every amazing female driven film that breaks through, there are countless others that

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deserve more attention, and part of the fun of a list like this is shining a light on

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those movies that may have slipped under the radar or reigniting love for the classics

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that we all hold dear.

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I'm hoping that by the end of today's episode, you will not only have a few favorites

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confirmed, but also walk away with some new titles to add to your watch list, because at the

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end of the day, movies are about connection, connecting with characters, themes, and sometimes,

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even with ourselves.

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And the films we're celebrating today have a unique way of making people feel seen, inspired,

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and ready to take on the world.

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But of course, I'm not tackling this alone.

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I'm not ready to take on the world alone.

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Joining me this time we have Matt Balsarek.

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In 2022, he was on Forbes Europe's 30 under 30 list for his work in marketing, and since

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founded Sounds Better Productions.

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His short film Sunflower is in contention for the 2025 Oscars, which you'll hear more about

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in the episode.

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If you're a long time listener to Force 5, thank you for sticking around.

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It's an honor to be in your headphones right now, and if you're new to the show, welcome

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in.

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Welcome to being a list nerd.

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5 podcast@gmail.com.

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platform you're listening on, and please rate the show.

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Here's Matt Balsarek in five awesome female empowerment films.

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Welcome back to the Force 5 podcast.

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This is Matt Balsarek, a writer, producer and director whose newest short film Sunflower

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is currently in competition for a possible Oscar nomination come 2025.

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Matt, how's it going this afternoon?

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I'm great, how are you?

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Thank you so much for having me.

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I'm good, yeah man, I'm excited to talk about your film and your journey.

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First, I think one of the most telling aspects of a director's influence is from their favorite

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films.

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So what are some of your favorite films of all time?

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Oh, favorite films of all time.

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That's a tough one, outside.

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Maybe that just narrowed down to this year.

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I'll say this year, Challengers will be on top of that list.

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I just love how dynamic it is and just pacing and storytelling.

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It's just amazing.

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I've just seen a couple of more recently that I loved to like the substance.

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Obviously that everyone is talking about, you know, the great one.

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But you have all time, it's actually sometimes I tell everyone that it's Shrek.

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I love Cartoon movies.

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So I think of all time that will be Shrek.

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I used to love Shrek and when I worked at the video store, it's the movie that would play

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on the TVs at the video store and it played on the TVs in a loop for about a year.

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And so I feel like my life was Shreked out.

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But I haven't seen it in like 25 years, so maybe I should go back and rewatch it.

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Yeah, I think it's something that I watched like once a year, but I know like every single

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word and every part of this film.

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I just love this film.

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That's awesome.

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I'd like to know more about your cinematic origin story.

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So when did you first realize you wanted to be involved in movies?

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When did you first realize you wanted to be a director or a screenwriter or both?

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Well, I first realized I wanted to be in film TV.

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I remember that actually very vividly when I was just seven years old.

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My mom took me to the dancing of the stars to the audience.

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And it was a small drawn to like what's happening behind the screen, like behind, you know,

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like the stage, then what's happening on the stage.

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And I think that was the day when I was like, yeah, like that's what I wanted to do.

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And since then I've been, you know, doing shorts as a part of school and then doing bigger

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productions.

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And HDS, a lot of unscripted concerts too and then moved on to the film.

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So you sing as well?

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I did sing for sound time.

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And Paul and I was actually a child actor slash TV host for several years.

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And I was hosting like a lot of like music festivals around the country, which was super fun.

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And then I just decided to move more into producing.

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But I still want to, you know, like that creative part of me still stays.

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So I do direct sometimes and writes and so I did with some power.

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So obviously like a childhood dream now from seven years old.

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And finally, starting to come to fruition really, really kind of be realized.

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That's amazing.

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I want to get into sunflower.

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But first I got one question that I always ask of creative people and I always get really

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interesting answers.

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If you had the ability to write, direct, whatever, make a movie based on any existing property,

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any budget you can think of, what would you choose?

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I think that would be something related to Harry Potter.

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Oh, okay.

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I would do something similar to that, but in like maybe a different world or like a sequel

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prequel of that, I think that would be my dream.

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I always, I love this film so much and the story itself, how it was built.

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Like if I could be a part of that universe, I would just absolutely love that.

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All right.

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The Harry Potter spin-off series directed by Matt Balserick.

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Let's see it.

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That'd be awesome.

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All right.

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Like I said, I intentionally buried the lead here because I know that your film, Sunflower,

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directly influenced today's topic, which is five awesome female empowerment films.

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So let's talk about sunflower a little bit.

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What is the film about and why should people see it?

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Well, it's actually the story of my grandmother that she's been telling us and this times

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every single Christmas, every family celebration we've been hearing in so many times.

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She just experienced the war in 1944 being still like very young kid.

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She doesn't remember that those events very vividly in her mind, but there is a couple

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of elements that she still remembers.

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They were playing a game of hide and seek at her house almost every day.

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And that was the way of explaining to kids that they need to hide from danger, hide from

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soldiers coming.

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And one day my grandma experienced her grandfather being murdered in front of her eyes when she

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was hiding under the bed.

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And since then her mother was using sunflower to explain the concept of death and like

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use it as a metaphor kind of with petals representing every family member and those

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were leaving the family or being murdered in other terms.

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But we wanted to tell that story from a bit different perspective.

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I just didn't want to do another like a word drama that's super happy that we see all those

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times.

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I wanted to make it lighter.

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I wanted to make it more from kids perspective.

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That's why we don't even mention like the time we don't mention the location because the kids

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who is not young.

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That's not the topic that they would think about.

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They would mostly trying to understand, comprehend like what's happening around them.

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And that was like the subject that was like fascinating to me and I just love going into

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the kids.

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Vision of the world and how they understand and how they learn.

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And yeah, that was the origin for the start of sunflower and also for that reason we mixed

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like stop motion animation with live action and to build that world within the imagination

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of the kid.

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Yeah, I was going to say the stop motion sunflower is really cool.

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I love the way that we see the sunflower in that movie as you see them devolve essentially

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and then eventually act as a sign of hope in the same movie, which is yeah, really cool.

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That was a goal and make it lighter as well.

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Like you have like sort of different vision of the world that you normally have.

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Yeah.

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And speaking of the child perspective, the child actor that you got was amazing.

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A film like this can be made or broken on the strength or lack of strength of a child actor

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and she was awesome.

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Her name is Martina Zazula.

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Yes, Martina Zazula.

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We've auditioned so many kids for that role.

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I was terrified of working on set with a six-year-old kid.

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And you know, like because of the time constraints and all of those scenes including her pretty

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much like every single scene includes the kid in our film.

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So it was a challenge, but then right when we got on to set, I think in the first hour,

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I still remember that event, sorry, vividly.

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She said, well, I actually asked her can you move a little bit to the left when she was hiding

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under the bed and she said, my left or camera left?

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And that's when I knew like, okay, I'm working with a pro and set.

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And she just wrote so much energy onto this set.

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Like honestly, we're shooting like mostly at night.

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And she was just so energetic, so positive, so powerful.

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I love working with her.

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That's great.

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And that scene that you talked about with your grandma, you know, like the child hiding under

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the bed, it's really well done.

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It's a really well shot movie, well lit movie.

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It's, I can't wait to see what this does.

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Or just having an amazing, amazing team.

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I know it's true honor to work with them, starting with obviously the DP who helped me

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from the very beginning, he brought all of this life into this story and he, he proved

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his, he worked on amazing movies as well.

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He, his mentors, he enters Camille's, he worked on West State story.

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His recent film, Robin Oomin, I think, won a tryback up film festival two years ago.

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So amazing, amazing word before.

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So it's currently in competition for the 2025 Oscars to see if it becomes one of the

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finalists.

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What does that process look like?

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Do you submit it and you submitted it as a Poland's entry, correct?

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Yes, yeah, it's correct.

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So now we are on the long list amongst, I think, 180 films this year.

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And we're just trying to get it in front of the Academy members' eyes and trying to make

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them watch our film.

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See what they think about it.

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And I think next month, mid December, there's going to be a voting for the short list

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over the top 15 films.

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And January down to five for the nomination.

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Well, I wish you luck, my friend.

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I hope that it works out for you.

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Thank you.

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Obviously, I was able to watch it.

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Where can other people watch this or when can they see it?

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So it's not available out there yet, just because of all the regulation about around it.

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But depending on the next steps of the whole process of the Academy steps, it might be

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a bit of a bone January.

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Okay, cool.

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Well, I will keep listeners posted for that.

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All right, Matt, well, let's talk about some more female empowerment films.

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Did you have any criteria when you were coming up with your list?

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Were there any sub-themed that you found yourself focusing on or was it just women empowerment

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in general?

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I've been actually struggling.

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I've been thinking, should I just focus all time, any movies, recent movies, Oscar-winning

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movies, or just those from general audience?

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I think I've got a diffuser from very different genres.

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So every single movie is totally different from each other.

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It might be also questionable if it is about female empowerment.

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I've been talking about it with friends and even starting actually with the movie The Substance

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that I've just mentioned a few minutes ago, I still don't know if it's a female empowerment

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story.

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We've been just like discussing between each other.

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Like, is it female empowerment?

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Is it not?

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Have you seen it?

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I have not.

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It's on my list of things I need to watch.

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Okay, so, well, I'm not going to spoil it for you.

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That's basically, I think the whole conversation about societal expectations and going against

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them, sort of, or trying to go against them, but not necessarily winning with the system.

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That's something I've seen in that film that was very powerful from that perspective.

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It was pretty cool.

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Well, there are so many different aspects of female empowerment and we'll get into some

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of that.

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And these lists obviously are not gate-kept by anybody.

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So your list could be whatever you want it to be.

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There's no real rules.

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It's whatever you think it should be on your list.

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Matt, are you ready to get into our list?

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Yes, let's do it.

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You know what's going to happen?

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I know what's happening right now.

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I know what's going to happen.

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No, no, no, no.

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You just made the list.

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I'm going to kick us off here with my number five, which is from 1996, directed by

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Hugh Wilson.

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It's a film called The First Wives Club.

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Stand back.

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The wives have arrived.

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Don't see the raves.

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The first wives club is great fun.

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Great stars.

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Stop.

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Middler Hawn and Keaton are a comedy dream team, says Rolling Stones.

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Family.

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Gene Shannett calls it a sparkling, grown-up comedy.

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And Rex Reed cheers.

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Everyone will want to join this club.

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Happy days.

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The first wives club, now playing in theaters everywhere.

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Are you familiar with this one?

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I am not actually.

293

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All right, great cast.

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The way that the movie starts out, and by the way, as I described this, it's not going

295

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to sound like a comedy, but it is a comedy.

296

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The plot could be, like, if you just read the plot, it would sound like a drama, but it's

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not.

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So it starts out with four women, 1969.

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They're hanging out.

300

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They are about to graduate from college.

301

00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:33,960

We have Cynthia, Brenda, Elise, and Annie.

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OK.

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And they make a pact over some champagne that we're going to be in each other's lives forever.

304

00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:43,880

Then we fast forward 30 years, and it hasn't exactly happened that way.

305

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They've kind of gone their own separate ways and they don't stay in touch.

306

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But they do come back together almost 30 years later under really terrible circumstances.

307

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Cynthia's funeral.

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Cynthia has committed suicide because her husband left her for a much younger woman.

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So the remaining three girls, they come to the funeral, they're reunited, and they found

310

00:18:06,120 --> 00:18:10,240

out just through talking that they have very similar stories.

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They've all had, they've all backed up and helped their husbands out and made them become

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successful.

313

00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:22,220

And then all of their husbands kind of took them for granted and have either separated,

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divorced, or are cheating on them.

315

00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:29,400

And so these ladies are like, you know, we can't take this anymore.

316

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And they come up with a plan to exact justice forming the first wives club and their plan

317

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is to destroy their exes.

318

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And I'm not going to say what their plan is to extort the men because it is the climax of

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the film, but it is absolutely empowering.

320

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A great cast here.

321

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You got Bet Middler.

322

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She plays Brenda.

323

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She's a woman who's kind of struggling financially after her divorce.

324

00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:53,000

Goldie Hawn plays Elise.

325

00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:56,160

She's an aging actor who's not getting the parts she used to.

326

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She's going in for like Botox treatments and trying to really land these young woman roles.

327

00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:07,040

And now she's being offered roles of like crazy moms and she is not having it.

328

00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,080

And then there's Diane Keaton who plays Annie.

329

00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:11,760

She's kind of the audience surrogate.

330

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She's a woman whose husband is cheating on her with a much younger woman.

331

00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:17,520

Great cast overall.

332

00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:19,040

Sarah Jessica Parker is also in it.

333

00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:22,880

Dan Hadaya, Stocker Channing, Elizabeth Berkeley in an early role.

334

00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:23,880

Rob Reiner.

335

00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:28,840

She's the all-offant's first on-screen role as a producer for a movie.

336

00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:29,840

It's a really funny movie.

337

00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:33,960

I mean, when I say that plot, these women come together to get revenge at one of their

338

00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:35,680

friends' funerals who committed suicide.

339

00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:38,640

It does not sound like a comedy, but I assure you it's comedy.

340

00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:40,080

It could have been a lot darker.

341

00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:44,800

The source material was a lot darker, but this removed a lot of that serious stuff and

342

00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,280

leaned more into a kind of slapstick vibe.

343

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But I think it's really fun.

344

00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:53,720

And it's a film about regaining self-worth, self-respect, and refusing to be defined

345

00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:54,720

by others.

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You're going to see this theme pop up a lot on my list, but it's about female solidarity

347

00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:00,800

and sticking together.

348

00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:05,680

There's a fight against ageism, like you were mentioning with the substance.

349

00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:09,520

One of the characters is an actor who's trying to push back against those stereotypes.

350

00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:12,720

And overall, I think it's a movie just about taking back control.

351

00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:17,720

So if you're looking for a comedy that's got some female empowerment, I think the first

352

00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:21,440

Wives Club is a good choice from 1996.

353

00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:28,160

For me, I think the number five is 9 to 5, so from 1980.

354

00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:29,160

9 o'clock.

355

00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:30,160

Well, a gift is for $11.30.

356

00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:31,160

Oh, so Mr. Hart?

357

00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:32,160

It's called the Frank.

358

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$2.45.

359

00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:34,160

Do I need to get a gift?

360

00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:35,160

Fourth block.

361

00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:36,160

What?

362

00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:37,160

The whole company knows you're having a fair five.

363

00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:47,640

I'm going to get that gun on, and I'm going to change you from a rooster to a hand with

364

00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:48,640

one shot.

365

00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:53,520

Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, 9 to 5, ready to be cheap.

366

00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:58,000

Now playing at a select theater near you, if I remember, so Dolly Parton movie.

367

00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:01,800

I've just actually seen recently a new documentary about it, which is really, really good.

368

00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:05,160

I think it's coming out soon somewhere.

369

00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:10,400

But I think just Dolly brings so much joy and different perspectives on this time, and

370

00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:15,120

obviously the songs that she brought into it and just super like empowering in a sense

371

00:21:15,120 --> 00:21:21,440

that, and those times obviously all the women were, you know, like getting any cool pay and

372

00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:26,080

working 9 to 5 as those assistants and corporate setting, and they were trying to get out of

373

00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:28,720

it and fight against men.

374

00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:32,200

And what's interesting is that they were talking to a lot of like women this time and like

375

00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:38,960

seeing like all of those societal problems that arose from that, and now we're trying

376

00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:41,760

to fight with that through that film.

377

00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:46,000

And I think that was something that really powerful from my perspective.

378

00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:52,000

Just talking about it finally for the first time and such a big movie and obviously Jane Fonda

379

00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:55,600

and Dolly Parton being being amazing in this film.

380

00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:59,600

It's got a great support in cast too, Lily Tomlin in there.

381

00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:01,000

Yeah, that's correct.

382

00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:02,000

That's correct.

383

00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:03,000

That's correct.

384

00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:04,520

This is a great film.

385

00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:09,440

I don't come back to it often, but whenever I do, it's just a very good watch.

386

00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:10,440

All right.

387

00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:12,000

9 to 5.

388

00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:15,600

Well I'm going to take us to a real different place with my number 4 here.

389

00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:20,880

We're going to go with a more recent film and in my opinion one of the best action films

390

00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:29,480

ever made with Mad Max Fury Road from 2015 directed by George Miller.

391

00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:31,480

My name is Max.

392

00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:35,720

My world is reduced to a single instinct.

393

00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:36,720

Survive.

394

00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:51,000

As the world fell, it was hard to know who was more crazy, me, or everyone else.

395

00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:54,000

I want a day.

396

00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:57,320

What a lovely day.

397

00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:02,880

If you've never seen Mad Max Fury Road, despite the name, it's not really a Mad Max movie.

398

00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:07,040

It's a Furiosa movie.

399

00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:10,600

She's an Imperator for this guy, Immortan Joe.

400

00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:14,000

And her mission is to take this thing called the War Rig.

401

00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:18,960

It's a giant diesel truck that's fitted with all kinds of weapons.

402

00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:23,680

And she's supposed to take this war rig to go and trade produce and water for gas and

403

00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:29,720

ammo with two other heads of different areas in this kind of post-apocalyptic land.

404

00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:33,400

And she needs to go see the bullet farmer and the people eat her.

405

00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,920

But Furiosa does not intend to make those trades.

406

00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:42,380

She instead intends to flee with Joe's five wives to this place that she knows as the

407

00:23:42,380 --> 00:23:47,240

green place where she grew up before she was kidnapped and brought to the Citadel.

408

00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:54,120

So like I said, one of the best action films ever made in my opinion, the entire film is

409

00:23:54,120 --> 00:24:00,160

essentially one long chase scene from one end of the lands to the other with incredible

410

00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:05,240

practical effects and really great performances from everybody involved.

411

00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:09,160

It comes down to being a feminist movie.

412

00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:14,960

There's an Indioire article that's called Oops, I made a feminist manifesto by Sarah Stewart

413

00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:20,000

and she writes in the end, the movie basically sets up the start of a matriarchal society as

414

00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:24,640

an antidote to the barbarian warlike tribes that came before.

415

00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:30,520

And Furiosa really is the difference between the testosterone soaked chaos of the first three

416

00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:35,000

and then this one and the prequel, which is also really good called Furiosa, which I think

417

00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:36,480

came out earlier this year.

418

00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:40,160

She's just really, really good as this fleshed out moral center of the movie.

419

00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:42,480

It's about liberation from oppression.

420

00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:48,280

It's about female community again, the reclamation of power in the subversion of these traditional

421

00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:56,760

gender roles and even the wives who at first are just kind of meek women who don't have

422

00:24:56,760 --> 00:25:01,920

much to say or do they all get their chance to shine individually during this movie.

423

00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:06,680

So despite the name Mad Max, yes, it takes place in that universe.

424

00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:11,200

Yes, he's in it, but this is a Furiosa movie from the start.

425

00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:12,200

It is a great movie.

426

00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:13,200

We agree.

427

00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:16,600

I never thought about it about Fimman Parman, but he now, it totally makes sense.

428

00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:20,000

I don't know why I didn't even come to my mind.

429

00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:24,400

Yeah, for me number four will be a legally blonde.

430

00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:27,840

I'm going to make an amazing warrior.

431

00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:30,440

Welcome to Harvard Beauty and Brains.

432

00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:31,440

I have a 4.0.

433

00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:32,440

Why?

434

00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:33,440

There ought to be a law.

435

00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:35,440

You don't run into Harvard law.

436

00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:36,440

What?

437

00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:37,960

Like a tarp?

438

00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:38,960

This Friday.

439

00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:39,960

I object.

440

00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:40,960

I try.

441

00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:42,960

America goes blind.

442

00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:52,960

Hey, it's Corpus.

443

00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:54,960

I've a dentiary support.

444

00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:55,960

Come again.

445

00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:56,960

Don't ask.

446

00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:57,960

Now you're thinking like a lawyer.

447

00:25:57,960 --> 00:25:58,960

No biggie.

448

00:25:58,960 --> 00:25:59,960

Legally blonde with PG 13 starts Friday.

449

00:25:59,960 --> 00:26:00,960

A theater is everywhere.

450

00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:01,960

So 2001 movie starring obviously Reese with her spoon as L Woods says we probably all know.

451

00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:06,960

I think it's just like such an iconic story of while Fimman empowerment wrapped in this

452

00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:08,960

like feel good comedy.

453

00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:14,960

It's just about you know like breaking state stereotypes, defying expectations.

454

00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:21,960

Stereotypically we obviously think about dumb blonde women, but then was obsessed with fashion

455

00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:23,960

beauty and her dog.

456

00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:29,960

But she kind of challenges that and ultimately just proves us wrong, which is which is really

457

00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:30,960

really cool.

458

00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:36,000

And I think that individuality that she also presents in that film like identity that she

459

00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:42,000

created for herself and obviously it's kind of like shaped by my her relationship after

460

00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:47,000

all, but still is like about like championing that kind of identity that you can create for

461

00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:48,000

yourself.

462

00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:54,000

Even against all the prejudices and you know, stereotypes out there.

463

00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:59,000

Yeah, this one's especially a good for this list because when the movie starts off and

464

00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:03,000

it's been a long time since I've seen it, but the movie starts off and she's I think she's

465

00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:09,000

just trying to be what she wants to be her fiance is like trophy.

466

00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:15,000

Yeah, I think she wanted to like meet his expectations sort of right that she thinks he has those

467

00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:18,000

expectations, but she creates them more.

468

00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:23,000

So, but then it's then it's becoming just about like proving him wrong like that she's not

469

00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:26,000

just as blonde, but girl, she's more than that.

470

00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:29,000

She's she can do anything she wants.

471

00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:33,000

It's hard for them.

472

00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:36,000

Yeah, joining Harvard just to prove him wrong and then kind of becoming her own woman along the way.

473

00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:37,000

Legally blonde.

474

00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:42,000

I considered legally blonde for my list and I'm glad I didn't choose it because you you have it on yours.

475

00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:46,000

All right, number three for me is my only animated film on here.

476

00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:50,000

I could have gone with a bunch of animated ones and I'll talk about some of those inter-honorable

477

00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:54,000

mentions, but I went with Brave from 2012 from Pixar.

478

00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:55,000

The Grey World.

479

00:27:55,000 --> 00:28:01,000

I am the rival of the princess.

480

00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:04,000

This is the king.

481

00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:07,000

She's the queen and then there's my brothers.

482

00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,000

Me?

483

00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:11,000

Devils more like I played you.

484

00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:12,000

Stop from the system.

485

00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:13,000

You're side of the family.

486

00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:16,000

What is this?

487

00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,000

This is highly irregular.

488

00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:21,000

Since you're seeing it and I was in there, see it for myself.

489

00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:22,000

What?

490

00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:33,000

It was originally known as the bear and the bow and it takes place in medieval Scotland and you've got princess Marida.

491

00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:42,000

She's set to be married to the winner of the Highland Games and the Highland Games are where like first born people from other clans come to compete.

492

00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:50,000

And Marida decides to throw her own hat in the ring because she's also a first born and she's a really skilled archer and she easily wins.

493

00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:57,000

But of course this causes a bunch of chaos in the kingdom because everybody's expecting one clan member to get married to another.

494

00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:09,000

And so her and her parents are fighting about this and she runs into the forest and her mother Eleanor follows her but finds herself at the home of a witch and she is transformed into a bear.

495

00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:14,000

Marida must bring the clans back together in an alliance by breaking tradition.

496

00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:24,000

She needs to turn her mom and her brothers back into human beings because her triplet brothers ate the enchanted cake and they are a great, great side characters in this movie.

497

00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:28,000

And then she has to battle the mythical savage bear known as Mordu.

498

00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:30,000

I think Brave is awesome.

499

00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:32,000

I think it's an underrated Pixar film.

500

00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:34,000

It was their first fairy tale.

501

00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:38,000

And I have great memories of watching this because it was one of the first Pixar movies that we showed my kid.

502

00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:46,000

And he always found the mom as a bear really funny because she's trying to adjust at one point to becoming a bear.

503

00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:50,000

And you have to eat fish and berries and all this stuff that she's not used to and it's really, really funny.

504

00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:52,000

But also has a great voice cast.

505

00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:57,000

You got Emma McDonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connelly, All Great.

506

00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:03,000

And then a lot of themes of female empowerment like Marida breaking the tradition of marriage.

507

00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:09,000

No more being kind of sold off to the winner of these games. Now anybody can marry whoever they want to marry.

508

00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:17,000

Relying on her own skills in order to save the kingdom and not just like with her bow but also with critical thinking as she reunites the clans.

509

00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:23,000

And this broke a lot of molds for Pixar as well. This was Pixar's first main female protagonist.

510

00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:31,000

It was said to be Pixar's first female director and unfortunately that didn't work out because of creative differences but would have loved to see that.

511

00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:39,000

So yeah, Brave from 2012 is my number three. This is a great movie. I love Brave too.

512

00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:43,000

The audio commentary.

513

00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:51,000

It's a dying art form but here at OneTrackMind I, your wonky and affable host, Ryan Lewis Rodriguez,

514

00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:59,000

analyze film through the prism of these embryonic forms of podcasting, one audio commentary at a time.

515

00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:07,000

Masterpieces, crapster pieces, live action, animation, cult classics, films literally no one has ever heard of.

516

00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:11,000

NoTrack is too small and noTrack is too big.

517

00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:17,000

Join me and my guests from the entertainment world as we keep these features alive every other Tuesday.

518

00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:23,000

Hey, who else is gonna discuss Bill and Ted's bogus journey one week and Citizen Kane the next?

519

00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:31,000

Us, that's who? Sure you have to put up with my voice but there's a certain give and take in this industry.

520

00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:37,000

That's OneTrackMind, part of the someone's favorite productions family and available wherever you get your podcasts.

521

00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:59,000

Not every killer is captured. Justice does not always prevail. Some killers slip away or hide in plain sight, leaving behind only questions and the lingering fear that they're still out there.

522

00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:15,000

I'm AC Roberts host of Wanted where we explore the chilling cases of killers who disappeared without a trace. In each episode we dive deep into the psychology of these elusive figures, unravelling what makes them tick and examining the mysteries they left behind.

523

00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:21,000

Who could they have been? Why did they kill? And how have they managed to evade justice?

524

00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:33,000

Join us every Friday as we dive into the dark corners of unsolved mysteries and uncovered truths. You can find Wanted on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

525

00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:45,000

Mine is actually also sort well. Is it animated? It's probably not fully animated but a little bit. It's Shape of Water. So 2017 Guillermo D'Otoro.

526

00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:57,000

If I told you about her, what would I say? Perhaps I would just warn you about the tale of love and loss and the monster who tried to destroy it all.

527

00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:23,000

If I spoke about it, what would I tell you? Read your door. One of my favorite directors. It's a story that can be interpreted, I think, as one of FEMA empowerment.

528

00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:35,000

It's obviously more about love and acceptance, challenging societal norms. And again, proving that she can do something more that they wouldn't expect her to do.

529

00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:45,000

Because they made when they made crease that relationship with a monster. But I think it's still about the empowered protagonist.

530

00:33:45,000 --> 00:34:07,000

Alisa is her name. So she was just a character with, she was mute. So works a mundane job against, she's a maid. And she kind of defies those expectations by asserting her own independence, showing her desires, moral carriage and that respect.

531

00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:19,000

And I think her actions obviously choosing to save the creature, the monster, risking everything. The whole family that she created, all the friendships that she had to protect him.

532

00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:35,000

Just demonstrate how strong she is as a woman. And goes against all the odds to reach her goals and create a new life that she wants for herself and for her family and for that creature as well.

533

00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:52,000

It's also kind of like interesting in a sense that obviously there's that FEMA alliance, so like, do them and working in, in, in, in this building, trying to unify what they think about love and, and, and work conditions.

534

00:34:52,000 --> 00:35:06,000

But I think that friendship that she forms with Octavio Spencer, I don't remember the character's name right now, but that showcases like just this strength of like how solidarity is important like between women.

535

00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:14,000

And how they jointly went on to, to, to resist male control and oppression within the workspace.

536

00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:30,000

And, you know, reach their own desires and, against both that. That was a great movie. I just, I love how it was like the story of it was just so different from what we had that year. And generally what we, what we have from searchlights.

537

00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:34,000

So it's, it's just such a good watch as well.

538

00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:47,000

Agreed. And a good segue from my number three, because they're both kind of fairy tale movies one more ancient and one more modern, but yeah, he's one of my favorite directors too. What's your favorite del Toro movie?

539

00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:57,000

Well, I would say definitely shape of water would be on top, but besides that obviously Pinocchio.

540

00:35:57,000 --> 00:36:10,000

And well, I do like also pan's laboring, but also to an extent, I don't fully love this film. Like there is parts of it that I love parts of it that I don't love.

541

00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:23,000

Like it's, it's very dark obviously. So it's, it's, it's kind of different from what we typically see, but he also like takes animation from like a different standpoint. Like he always makes them like darker and not very obvious.

542

00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:29,000

This movie kind of style, which I love about him. What's your favorite one?

543

00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:40,000

Pan's laboring is my favorite. Yeah. It is a, it is very dark. Like you said, and it is also a fairy tale, but yeah, that one just gripped me from the minute I saw it. I had no idea what to expect.

544

00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:51,000

I'm pretty sure he also worked on that movie, le Pupio. It was a short from Alice Robacard that was nominated for an Oscar, I think a few years ago.

545

00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:57,000

And then I think you might have been a producer on it, maybe, but still it was just, it was a great film as well.

546

00:36:57,000 --> 00:37:08,000

All right. Well, my number two is also pretty dark, pretty dark. We'll bring it back up for my number one. But my number two here is called Lady Vengeance. It's from 2005 directed by Park Chanwook.

547

00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:19,000

This is the third and final in the unofficial vengeance trilogy. It was preceded by sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Old Boy in 2002 and 2003.

548

00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:26,000

Have you seen this one before? Yeah, I've seen that one before. For those who haven't seen it, the movie starts with, with this woman named Gumbjah.

549

00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:38,000

She's being released from prison after 13 years. She was convicted of kidnapping and killing a five year old boy and gained no right in prison after becoming a kind of this model for prison reform.

550

00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:53,000

And her spiritual transformation got her released early, but Gumbjah is not really reformed. She was acting reformed in order to get out and exact her revenge upon those who framed her for this crime.

551

00:37:53,000 --> 00:38:01,000

And she's going to do so by using the connections that she made while in prison. And there are plenty of twists and turns in this movie.

552

00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:10,000

I'm not going to say much more about the plot because it is some of the themes even I won't be able to say because they are directly tied to twists in the movie.

553

00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:20,000

Just know it's a really fantastic slow burn revenge flick that delivers when it counts in a third act. Park Chanwook is an amazing director.

554

00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:32,000

And if you haven't seen any of his films listeners, you got to watch the vengeance trilogy. Not easy to watch, but really good. Stoker's great handmade ins great and then joint security area is a little more.

555

00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:40,000

It's a little lighter and it's probably a good place to start. And that's actually where he first worked with the main actor in this movie Lee Young A.

556

00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:51,000

She plays Gumbjah and she's amazing. She won the Blue Dragon Award for Best Actress That Year that's like South Korea's Oscars. And you see her transform on screen emotionally.

557

00:38:51,000 --> 00:39:08,000

It's a really special performance. The themes that I can talk about on display here, resilience and control because she reclaims agency in this world that has continuously oppressed her manipulated her kept her jailed for 13 years.

558

00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:20,000

Again, solidarity with women. She's the connections that she made in prison on her quest for justice here. And like I said, there's more, but I don't want to spoil anything. You're going to have to watch it. Not an easy watch.

559

00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:35,000

Grimey nasty people in Park Chanwook's worlds, but it is rewarding and it's a perfect example in my opinion of female empowerment. So, yeah, Lady Vengeance or sympathy for Lady Vengeance in some territories is my number two.

560

00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:42,000

Very cool. For me also, it's a very dark one here. Well, the one I mentioned before this substance is my number two.

561

00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:48,000

Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself?

562

00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:50,000

Yeah!

563

00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:52,000

Younger.

564

00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:55,000

Perfect.

565

00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:57,000

Beautiful.

566

00:39:57,000 --> 00:39:59,000

So smart!

567

00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:24,000

Again, questionable of its film, a few empowerment or what it leads, but it's a psychological thriller, body horror, whatever people call it these days, but film focuses on, you know, like the autonomy, societal expectations, pressures placed on the women.

568

00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:52,000

Paul for like a very, very unique and genre blending lens. I think I think the director here, like she she just so powerfully delivers something that I have not expected from this film and just like talking about like how women see themselves, how they fight with like the persona that they're creating within them as well, like how they portrayed themselves to the world.

569

00:40:52,000 --> 00:41:21,000

It's the film basically divides one person into two women and they just swap roles within their own life, which is so interesting to see in how, how that kind of like showcases breaking free from, you know, the societal norms and meeting expectations that people put on them and obviously the ageism is another element like that the industry, especially entertainment industry wants everyone to be young and then.

570

00:41:21,000 --> 00:41:48,000

Beautiful and sometimes that ends, but I think women is just women are in the center of that story very much so and it's a very female driven narrative and that respect just showcasing that autonomy control control over one's body bodies, big element of this film, how, how that changes depending on how you see yourself and what you do with yourself.

571

00:41:48,000 --> 00:42:02,000

Especially when it comes to like all the surgeries and changes that you can do to your body it's just talking about all of those like oppressive slash abuse relationships with people that you don't even see typically.

572

00:42:02,000 --> 00:42:11,000

But they're affecting you and how you perceive yourself and how you change yourself to me, the societal expectations for just really really cool.

573

00:42:11,000 --> 00:42:30,000

Why heard Demi more as amazing in that movie I haven't been able to see it yet see it is amazing if she's just so powerful in that film like honestly at first I didn't like this movie that much but then when I started thinking about it like what story tells it kind of like start understanding what is what is about.

574

00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:40,000

But it's it was a very very cool approach to something I have well I have not seen something like this before which which is pretty cool.

575

00:42:40,000 --> 00:42:47,000

Yeah, I mean it's made a lot of waves and people have been recommending to me left and right I just got to see it it's out of theaters now.

576

00:42:47,000 --> 00:43:03,000

I feel so for a recommend this film to watch like it's something you should see but it's not a recommendation I think like you should know I should recommend this film like just just the way it's like portrayed to the world like it's it's very visual very very visual.

577

00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:16,000

Well when it hits when it hits Blu-ray and 4k I'm sure I'll pick it up and give it a spin. All right Matt we're at our number ones here our grand finale here what we might think are the best female empowerment movies.

578

00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:25,000

I don't know that there is one in my opinion is better than 2000s Aaron Rockovich directed by Steven Soderberg.

579

00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:36,000

You're a lawyer hell no I hate lawyers I just work for this spring you may want to rethink your wardrobe a little yet ready for the truth you might want to rethink those times the whole truth.

580

00:43:36,000 --> 00:43:42,000

I may just think you can walk in there. I'm what we need they're called boob said and nothing but the truth.

581

00:43:42,000 --> 00:43:43,000

How did you do this?

582

00:43:43,000 --> 00:43:48,000

Seeing how I have no brains or legal expertise. I just went out there and performed 634 sexual favors.

583

00:43:48,000 --> 00:44:04,000

This stars Julia Roberts as Aaron Brockovich and unemployed mom of three who gets hired to work at a secretary as a secretary at a legal firm.

584

00:44:04,000 --> 00:44:17,000

She's got no experience and starts off with no respect from anybody but she's given the files for our real estate case and when she starts digging into them she notices there's some medical stuff in here and she realizes there might be more to the story in this film.

585

00:44:17,000 --> 00:44:33,000

This is the story in this place called Hinkley California and using only her grit and her determination she doesn't take no for an answer she starts digging into the case and finds out that the groundwater in Hinkley is contaminated and that the power giant PG&E could be responsible.

586

00:44:33,000 --> 00:44:40,000

So this is a true story that details Aaron Brockovich's efforts to hold PG&E accountable while holding her own family together.

587

00:44:40,000 --> 00:44:50,000

This is not a film just about one woman it's it should be an inspiration to all women to trust their instincts to take risks and to challenge those systemic injustices.

588

00:44:50,000 --> 00:45:09,000

Like I said, this is a true story when we first see her she's telling a story to a guy who's interested in her and she says she has 16 bucks in her bank account and no formal education but she accomplished what she did because of how determined she was.

589

00:45:09,000 --> 00:45:25,000

She also worked to break gender stereotypes at work at the firm Albert Finney placed her boss and in one of the very first scenes that she's there she tells her she might want to think about wearing some less revealing clothing and she basically says I'm gonna wear whatever I want.

590

00:45:25,000 --> 00:45:34,000

I think her quote is like as long as I have one ass instead of two I'll wear whatever I want and she uses that sexuality at times to get what she wants and it works.

591

00:45:34,000 --> 00:45:44,000

She rises up to the challenge of every bump that's put in front of her she gets over it from getting signatures for a lawsuit to going up against the team of highly trained lawyers.

592

00:45:44,000 --> 00:45:56,000

It's really an incredible story Susanna Grant wrote the screenplay she spent a year following Aaron Brockovich and her family around she did insane amounts of research on the case and the notes from the real files.

593

00:45:56,000 --> 00:46:03,000

Julia Roberts also did a bunch of research for this she was the first female to break the $20 million salary mark with this movie.

594

00:46:03,000 --> 00:46:17,000

And she earned it she's the first person to ever one to ever win the BAFTA critics choice golden globe Sagaward national board of review award and the Oscar in the same year.

595

00:46:17,000 --> 00:46:32,000

And the film was nominated for best picture best director best supporting actor for Finney and screenplay really really fantastic movie also a hell of a year for Steven Sotterberg who did not win best director for this movie but did win best director for traffic.

596

00:46:32,000 --> 00:46:43,000

So he was nominated for best director for two different movies in the same year which is pretty insane to me but Aaron Brockovich if you haven't seen it check it out very cool.

597

00:46:43,000 --> 00:46:52,000

So for me number one will be a film from Yerga Slandtemaus of 2023 poor things.

598

00:46:52,000 --> 00:46:55,000

I am Bella Baxter.

599

00:46:55,000 --> 00:46:58,000

I'm a flawed experimenting person.

600

00:46:58,000 --> 00:47:05,000

I seek outings in adventures. Bella so much to discover.

601

00:47:05,000 --> 00:47:08,000

You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.

602

00:47:08,000 --> 00:47:11,000

I am finding being alive fascinating.

603

00:47:11,000 --> 00:47:13,000

Bella.

604

00:47:13,000 --> 00:47:16,000

Why I keep it in my mouth if it is revolting.

605

00:47:16,000 --> 00:47:20,000

I must go punch that baby.

606

00:47:20,000 --> 00:47:30,000

We must experience everything not just a good degradation shall we see all right.

607

00:47:30,000 --> 00:47:35,000

Sadness.

608

00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:38,000

And we can know the world.

609

00:47:38,000 --> 00:47:41,000

I'm gonna be know the world.

610

00:47:41,000 --> 00:47:47,000

The world is ours.

611

00:47:47,000 --> 00:47:52,000

No more animals too much.

612

00:47:52,000 --> 00:47:59,000

Which is also a very interesting movie to watch but it's definitely a tale of female empowerment.

613

00:47:59,000 --> 00:48:04,000

Very surreal, dark humor.

614

00:48:04,000 --> 00:48:06,000

Dark humor in it.

615

00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:11,000

In a provocative way I would say a little bit but it's definitely a story of empowerment.

616

00:48:11,000 --> 00:48:18,000

Obviously starting from Bella's transformation played by Emma Stone.

617

00:48:18,000 --> 00:48:26,000

And autonomy is just she's resurrected with that new brain and body and obviously symbolizing that clean slate free from any societal expectation.

618

00:48:26,000 --> 00:48:37,000

But the way she behaves the way she is is becoming a part of all those conversations and general disagreements about her.

619

00:48:37,000 --> 00:48:47,000

And I think it's just this rebirth allows her to reject all of those notions of womenhood and morality and behavior.

620

00:48:47,000 --> 00:49:00,000

And allows her to like explore all those desires sexuality that obviously is a big topic of this film like the unapologetic desire that she portrays in the film.

621

00:49:00,000 --> 00:49:14,000

She's obviously very open to exploration of her sexual desires and relationships that she has that are against all of the societal norms and expectations of women's proper behavior.

622

00:49:14,000 --> 00:49:29,000

But I think that this unfiltered fight battle towards pleasure and connection is just like a statement of liberation to some extent from everything that she's been going through.

623

00:49:29,000 --> 00:49:39,000

And obviously the patriarchal structure as well like the confronting male authority, the dad in the beginning, then the other man that she's been with.

624

00:49:39,000 --> 00:49:45,000

It's just very interesting how it's portrayed and it's all attempting to impose their will.

625

00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:53,000

They are attempting to impose their will on her but she's fighting against that and turning those power dynamics.

626

00:49:53,000 --> 00:50:05,000

That even though those people may have money may have the power she's going against it and she's still on the winning side of all things which is super interesting for me.

627

00:50:05,000 --> 00:50:22,000

And finally obviously like that beams of evolution, beams of reclamation reclaiming her voice, someone who might seem like Bernie Naive childish but as she evolves, she becomes just a force of intellect, force of autonomy, force of women.

628

00:50:22,000 --> 00:50:35,000

So women feminism her journey is like you know all about like reclaiming her voice both literally metaphorically as well after being silenced by societal and personal circumstances.

629

00:50:35,000 --> 00:50:46,000

But it's I think deriving all from like this hunger for for knowledge and rejection of of ignorance at some points maybe.

630

00:50:46,000 --> 00:51:03,000

It's just so interesting how how it's being portrayed in this film and and the Argos just created a totally different world in this film that I really really appreciate and it's such a powerful critique of of the society.

631

00:51:03,000 --> 00:51:14,000

Very visual again and I really appreciate that film so if you haven't seen it definitely watch that it's funny how many parallels there are between poor things and Aaron Brockovich.

632

00:51:14,000 --> 00:51:19,000

Yeah, I think about it. They're very similar characters, but also different portrayal.

633

00:51:19,000 --> 00:51:27,000

Yeah, how fitting that we ended our list with two Oscar winning actresses for the roles that they played. That's great.

634

00:51:27,000 --> 00:51:35,000

Oh yeah, to Sarah Tosker here. Yeah, no kidding. We've got 10 films on the board. We did not cross over on any of them. That's amazing.

635

00:51:35,000 --> 00:51:47,000

I do want to talk about some honorable mentions that I had and if there were any that you wanted to mention we can get to that as well. But first let's recap our lists for the listeners and I will go first on that.

636

00:51:47,000 --> 00:51:59,000

So you got number five. I had the first wives club at number four. I had mad Max Fury Road from 2015 at number three. I had brave from Pixar at number two.

637

00:51:59,000 --> 00:52:14,000

I had Lady Vengeance and at number one, I had Aaron Brockovich from 2000 for me was on the fifth position. That was nine to five. Then I had some legally blonde.

638

00:52:14,000 --> 00:52:20,000

Shape of water. The substance and poor things.

639

00:52:20,000 --> 00:52:36,000

All right. It's tough whittling these things down to five. Were there any films that you wanted to throw out there is I had so many on my list. Literally I was thinking that's why I had to like now thing which one I selected for the places because honestly I didn't like rank them before.

640

00:52:36,000 --> 00:52:51,000

But I had like 12 on my list that I was thinking about. But obviously like sometimes like it's not like a clear female empowerment story like it's it's kind of like a question like is it about female empowerment is it not.

641

00:52:51,000 --> 00:52:59,000

But there's just so many good movies around it and obviously I was thinking about even before about like hunger games or.

642

00:52:59,000 --> 00:53:07,000

That was probably maybe as a female empowerment movie but I think my list was just.

643

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It was that I personally love and I think they're just very fulfilling when comes to the story. Were there any that you wanted to mention as as ones that like if we had a top 10 you would have thrown in there.

644

00:53:18,000 --> 00:53:26,000

Yeah, definitely. I think hunger games would be on that list. I was thinking about hidden figures as well such a great movie.

645

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I was a dying lady, super jazz but these are Marley cliche movies that I think just everyone knows already and have seen so I just wanted to come up with a list that it's a little bit off typical list.

646

00:53:39,000 --> 00:53:45,000

Yeah, yeah, I could see that. I had a couple that I wanted to throw out there. I mentioned I could have put a bunch of animated ones on here.

647

00:53:45,000 --> 00:53:53,000

Moana was an easy one. Moana was also on my list of those 12 movies. Yeah, I was thinking about Moana. That's a great one.

648

00:53:53,000 --> 00:54:03,000

And then Mulan which the only reason I didn't choose Mulan is because I just used Mulan for a similar theme not too long ago so I didn't want to throw that out there.

649

00:54:03,000 --> 00:54:11,000

And then one that came close I'm glad that you had Reese with their spoon represented with legally blonde. I almost went with the Reese with their spoon movie wild from a couple years back.

650

00:54:11,000 --> 00:54:13,000

I think that was really good too.

651

00:54:13,000 --> 00:54:16,000

I was also thinking about wild that's such a good movie.

652

00:54:16,000 --> 00:54:26,000

And then there was another one with Holly Hunter that I think it's called living out loud that that one crossed my mind to Danny DeVito and Queen Latifa.

653

00:54:26,000 --> 00:54:29,000

I almost chose that one but had to get cut.

654

00:54:29,000 --> 00:54:35,000

I was also thinking about how could have sex. I think I don't know if you've seen that film. I think it was 20 last year maybe.

655

00:54:35,000 --> 00:54:41,000

It's definitely was like an festival circuit quite a strong one. Also quite good movie.

656

00:54:41,000 --> 00:54:46,000

But still I think not as strong as the other ones that we've talked about.

657

00:54:46,000 --> 00:54:56,000

Great list of female empowerment. Matt is there anything else other than sunflower that you want to promote or direct people to go see more of your work anywhere?

658

00:54:56,000 --> 00:55:00,000

Not right now specifically we're obviously working on the feature film right now sunflower.

659

00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:05,000

We're turning that into a feature next year so hopefully we're going to talk more about that soon.

660

00:55:05,000 --> 00:55:13,000

We're going to work on a new TV series and you are scripted show so I'm sure you're going to hear more from us.

661

00:55:13,000 --> 00:55:19,000

Sounds better productions very very soon. We are working on quite a few projects projects right now.

662

00:55:19,000 --> 00:55:27,000

Obviously sunflower being on top of our minds right now because of the award season and all of those conversations happening.

663

00:55:27,000 --> 00:55:32,000

But yeah stay tuned. I'm sure there's going to be more to come from us.

664

00:55:32,000 --> 00:55:40,000

All right you'll find links to everything in the show notes here so go check that stuff out and when sunflower is available I will let everybody know where you can watch it.

665

00:55:40,000 --> 00:55:45,000

Matt when you have that feature film coming out you let me know and we'll get you back on the show to talk about it.

666

00:55:45,000 --> 00:55:47,000

Well do thank you so much.

667

00:55:47,000 --> 00:55:54,000

What did we leave off that should have been on our lists? Let me know by emailing me at force five podcast at gmail.com.

668

00:55:54,000 --> 00:56:06,000

You'll find links to support guests and force five in the show notes to very easy and very free ways to support me are to review force five wherever you get your podcasts and tell your friends about the show.

669

00:56:06,000 --> 00:56:16,000

The force five theme song comes courtesy of Nate Spears outro music comes from cheesecake chat and the top five list bumper was produced by me with music from audio binger.

670

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You only get one life spend it with the people and the movies that you love.

671

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Yo check it I'm on a mic just to let you know about the force five in that radio show talking movies dropping all the data pros breaking down like current so I turn this course say you won't from blockbuster in the hits they got it all analyze and film stay never.

672

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673

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