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Showing posts with the label Greta Gerwig

Movie Review: Damsels in Distress (2011)

When “Damsels in Distress” begins, it is hard to ignore its “Mean Girls” leanings. After all they have quite a bit in common. A new girl arrives at school (Analeigh Tipton) where she is quickly taken under the wing of a female clique (Greta Gerwig, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Carrie MacLemore), which is headed by an intimidating blonde leader, Gerwig’s Violet. Slightly naïve and clearly out of place, Lily (Tipton) needs help navigating the world of a liberal arts college inhabited by the dimmest students imaginable. The only academic field apparently necessary to be accepted is writing your name on the application. However, throughout the course of the movie there are characters that emerge who seem incapable of even accomplishing that small feat. Not stupid and strikingly so, Violet is a rambling expression of big ideas, values and philosophies. Effusive and passionate, she quickly becomes the heart of the story as her idealism is shaken by betrayal. It’s easy to empathize with Vio...

Ep. 169 of War Machine vs. War Horse: Mistress America (Damsels in Distress vs. Lola Versus)

On this episode: Greta Gerwig's latest, MISTRESS AMERICA, has us talking about her influence in two prior starring roles in LOLA VERSUS and DAMSELS IN DISTRESS. In one, a breakup has her leaning on friends and in the other she seeks out people to help guide them to happiness. Britt from the pop culture blog Eclectic Pop guides us through The Greta Gerwig Effect. But first, an excerpt from a Following Films interview with Sam Levy, director of photography for MISTRESS AMERICA, about his work with writer/director Noah Baumbach.