Descend from heaven. Charlie's Angels Review
It has only been twenty years since the movie Charlie's Angels, based on the 70s TV series, starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu was released. Much has changed during this time. It is hardly possible now to imagine the main heroines who triumph in a fight with a strong rival and single-handedly defeat ten, but at the same time create the impression of frivolous persons who depend on male attention and adore typical “female” things. And although many, for various reasons, like to re-watch the film about special agent girls, we must admit that it is clearly outdated. This is exactly what it seemed to Elizabeth Banks, who wrote the script herself and directed the remake of the original tape.Now "Charlie's Angels" is not just the codename of the legendary troika of spies, but a whole international organization. Offices are scattered all over the world, there are many more angels, and the stakes have increased. The spies, played by Kristen Stewart and Ella Balinska, and their boss, played by Banks herself, will have to prevent a terrible danger. The criminals have stolen an innovative device that, if desired, can be reconfigured to create a non-marking murder weapon. The developer of the lethal apparatus (Naomi Scott) also joins the angels. She had enough humiliation of male bosses to understand: it's time to stop suppressing her own voice, it's time to rely only on herself.  “I didn't start making films because I consider myself the greatest director in the whole world. I did it because I had something to say”- this is how Elizabeth Banks commented on her decision to re-shoot the legendary franchise. The main goal, Banks said, was to prove that women can and should be trusted and that they should be taken seriously. This idea was clearly lacking in 2000s Angels, where spies embody many stereotypes about women. Dressed in form-fitting outfits that flatter their shapes, the agents used their attractiveness to trick male villains. They were funny even when they were in mortal danger. And in any situation - perfectly beautiful. But, they say, new times require new heroes, or rather, heroines. Are they really new? Unlike those "Angels", Elizabeth Banks' wards shine not only with beauty, but also with ingenuity. Here they are on their own, not the mythical Charlie. The spies make plans to prevent a catastrophe on a global scale, which can be provoked by an invention created by a woman - a newly minted companion of the angels. So the new angels have to fight hard. If "Angels" of the 2000s is not a comedy, not a melodrama, then the new "Angels" is a real action movie.  However, despite their phenomenal fighting skills and emancipation, the girls still sport tight, bulletproof outfits and are conventional beauties, although they hardly need to seduce anyone. Even though the new angels are far from the kitsch of the original film, it still looks strange, because in the director's chair was not a man, but Elizabeth Banks. According to the theory of the "male gaze", developed back in the 1970s by Laura Mulvey, the visual style of Hollywood films assumed a view of the woman as an object of desire and pleasure. It turns out that the woman was always portrayed exactly as the male director saw her. Therefore, the cinema critically lacked the "female gaze". For this, among other things, feminism is fighting - for the representation in culture of real female experience. But the new "Angels" positioning themselves as feminist cinema this experience is hardly reflected and is again shown women in the usual stereotyped image. Yes, the angels have grown noticeably, have become more serious and independent, but for some reason they still squeak with joy, talking about their wardrobe. The only merit of "Angels" as a feminist cinema is in raising the problem of internal misogyny, that is, misogyny. Women's friendship turns out to be stronger and stronger than prejudice.  However, the overall message of the film is too aggressive for any simple and peaceful thoughts to be noticed behind it. "Women of all countries, unite" - the angels almost shout to us from the screen, having laid all male opponents on the shoulder blades. It's hard to imagine the average woman who watches this movie and decides to become a feminist. But it is much easier to imagine the average male viewer who, after the session, will think: how tired of these evil feminists who want to destroy men! Therefore, "Angels" once again confirm that the cinema lacks the image of ordinary women and the situations they face in everyday life. Paradoxically, just such situations are much more dangerous than superhero problems, which are too far from reality and no one cares anymore. The Topic of Article: Descend from heaven. Charlie's Angels Review. |
