AlterNet.org: Movie Mix

Is 'Taking it to the Streets' Worth the Bruises, Tear Gas and Arrests?

Mark Engler, AlterNet — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:01 PDT

The 1999 protests against the WTO were dramatic enough to inspire a new feature film, but did they actually make a difference?

FLOW: The Film that Will Change the Way You Think About Water

Tara Lohan, AlterNet — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:00:01 PDT

The Sundance hit "FLOW: For Love of Water" is taking the country by storm and waking people up to our water crisis.

Sex on the Beach: What 80s Bikini Comedies Tell Us About Gender and Class

Greta Parry, PopMatters — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:00:01 PDT

Though 1980s beach films seem objectifying and antifeminist, they offer a utopian space where class and gender hierarchies begin to dissolve.

The "Battle in Seattle" and Beyond

Stuart Townsend, AlterNet — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:00:01 PDT

How do we create meaningful protest?

Does "Working Girls" Still Work?

Ariel Dougherty, On The Issues Magazine — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:00:01 PDT

Is a film about prostitution made in 1986 relevant to the realities of sex work today?

Hollywood Gets Muslims Wrong, Again

Wajahat Ali, Huffington Post — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:00:01 PDT

"Traitor" tries to combine blockbuster plot mechanics with important, philosophical musings about our complex post 9-11 world: it fails.

Women Film Critics: An Endangered Species?

Jennifer Merin, The Women's Media Center — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:01 PDT

The lack of female voices in film criticism is a manifestation of an industry that favors male-oriented movies and audiences.

Protest over Use of the Word 'Retard' in Stiller's 'Tropic Thunder' Misses the Target

Annabelle Gurwitch, AlterNet — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:00:01 PDT

We can't let art turn into syrupy, sanctimonious after-school specials just to avoid being labeled as offensive.

George Clooney to Make Movie About Gitmo Detainee Salim Hamdan

Amol Rajan, Arifa Akbar, Independent UK — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:00:01 PDT

The film will be based on The Challenge, by journalist Jonathan Mahler, which portrays the fight for a fair trial for Osama bin Laden's driver.

Out-of-Body Image: Women See Themselves Through Eyes of Others

Caroline Heldman, Ms. Magazine — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:01 PDT

This sort of self-objectification impairs women's body image, mental health, motor skills and even sex lives.

The 'Chick Flick': A Primer on Love

Chelsea Kaplan, The Frisky — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:00:01 PDT

Romantic comedies or dramas can teach us a host of lessons about dating and relationships.

I.O.U.S.A.: A Surprisingly Entertaining Look at America's Debt Crisis

Jessica Mosby, The Wip — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:00:01 PDT

If you're willing to shell out the cash to see I.O.U.S.A., you'll be surprised at how enjoyable a film about America's economy can be.

Why Every Politician Should Go See "Swing Vote"

Arianna Huffington, Huffington Post — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:00:01 PDT

"Swing Vote" offers a cynical and entirely apt commentary on the sad reality of real-life politics.

Want to Learn About Politics? Go to the Movies

David Sirota, Creators Syndicate — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:00:01 PDT

Many filmic treatments of Washington present a more hard-edged political reality than most of today's so-called journalism.

Hollywood: Not a Good Place for Women With Opinions

Melissa Silverstein, Huffington Post — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:00:01 PDT

Katherine Heigl regularly speaks up about sexism in Hollywood. For that, she is labeled ungrateful and her career has been declared dead.

Batman's Take on 9/11 Era Politics? Drop the Fearmongering

Michael Dudley, City States — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:01 PDT

"The Dark Knight" warns against what happens when a society abandons its principles out of fear.

Did Hollywood Execs Finally Get the Memo That Women Can Carry Movies?

Marjorie Rosen, Women's eNews — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:01 PDT

A bountiful crop of summer movies starring women is outshining the usual male-driven action flicks. Let's hope studio heads get the message.

John Cusack: Bypassing the Corporate Media

Joshua Holland, AlterNet — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:00:01 PDT

Cusack's anti-war polemic, War, Inc., continues to defy expectations, despite the traditional media's dismissive reception.

Sci-Fi Heroes Take on the System

Roya Rastegar, ColorLines — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:01 PDT

Two new indie features blend science-fiction and political critique.

Will Smith's 'Hancock' Fiasco

Eileen Jones, AlterNet — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:00:01 PDT

"Hancock" is supposed to be a wry commentary on the pressure of being Will Smith, but the message gets lost in a big-budget Hollywood train wreck.