Oct 8 2007Warner Bros. Done With Women Leads
How best to explain the recent box-office failures of The Brave One and The Invasion? You could say it was that they both looked really awful, or, if you were as astute as Warner Bros. production president Jeff Robinov, you'd notice the other glaring similarity that binds the two: female leads. You'd realize, despite overwhelming evidence that many female-led films over the years have succeeded, and that innumerable male-led films have bombed, that it's obviously the very presence of women as leads that is causing any and all losses in theaters.
Thus, logically, Robinov has reportedly said, "We are no longer doing movies with women in the lead," a statement women's groups are having issues with for some reason. I don't even know what to say that modern society, a constitutional amendment, and the unusual success of The View hasn't already shouted. This has to be a joke, right?
Warner's Robinov Bitchslaps Film Women [Deadline Hollywood]
Reader Comments
1. Willravel - October 8, 2007 3:45 PM
Someone's sleeping on the couch tonight.
2. Ethan Duke - October 8, 2007 3:51 PM
Maybe it's not women in general, but particular women, such as Nicole and Jodie.
Could it be that the films were lousy?
3. Rack hansen - October 8, 2007 3:58 PM
Well, there hasn't been a film with a female in the lead that has been financially successful.
Break even, yes. Make a little money, yes. You can make those as art films then and make more money.
4. Grace - October 8, 2007 5:13 PM
Female heroes can be fantastic leads if writers weren't lazy shits in Hollywood. I remember the Alien series was huge and let by Sigourney Weaver. The writing and directing was great for that series (let's exclude the 3rd and 4th ones for shits and giggles k?). Hollywood now is all about the bottom line, lowest common denominator. Some people like wallowing in their idiocy. These are the people we call High School Musical fans. However, for the rest of us with functioning neurons, we end up loathing everything about them. That's why weird quirky movies (many of which star women) are becoming more popular, they don't insult the audience's intelligence so much.
5. The Fried Piper - October 8, 2007 5:32 PM
Come on Grace, let's be honest. People didn't go to the Alien movies because it was "Starring Sigourney Weaver", now did they?
6. Grace - October 8, 2007 6:22 PM
No, they went because the movie itself was rad. But Weaver did add to it, you have to admit that.
That's how most movies are made, not because "well, if we have Angelina Jolie in it people will definitely see it!" It's more "this movie is, overall, a great movie."
Besides, if whoever's starring in it determined how many would go watch it, porn would be huge in the local cineplex.
7. LenS - October 8, 2007 6:34 PM
Sadly, he's correct. Few actresses can deliver box office. A while back, Julia Roberts had a good streak going. And Sandra Bullock could deliver modest box office for a while too. But they were the exception that proved the rule.
There's a very simple explanation. Women will go to films for certain actors. Men, however, just need any pretty girl in their films. And since Hollywood's got a zillion, there's no need for a specific one.
8. lulu - October 9, 2007 10:10 AM
Hmm...maybe they just need better writers. Come on people, you know if the story line sucks, the whole thing sucks. I doubt if it has anything to do with 'women'. Give me a break. And if they can't properly choose who will be the best role for these movies, they obviously can't handle making them.