Set sometime after the Civil War, and apparently contained within the same universe as 2012’s Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight introduces us to Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson), a bounty hunter on route to the town of Red Rock to cash in on his deadly efforts. But on this cold day in…
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After first watching the trailer for Joy, I had little idea of what the film was about, except that it starred Jennifer Lawrence as Joy—a strong, successful woman who, at some point, cuts her hair. And since its release, the debate as to what this film is really about has not settled, with reviewers each…
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There are literally thousands of historical films that document the tragedies and triumphs of men. From war epics to biopics about world leaders, scientists and rock stars, according to the cinema the history of mankind is considered to be more important than the history of womankind. That’s not to say that there aren’t a…
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The highly anticipated The Force Awakens, the seventh film in the Star Wars franchise, introduces its viewer two new lead characters. and a new era for the cult sci-fi hit. Set thirty years after the defeat of the Galatic Empire in Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens follows Finn (John Boyega) and Rey (Daisy…
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Fans of the James Bond franchise have spent years eagerly awaiting Spectre, the latest installment in the perennially-beloved spy film series. Currently the second-highest-grossing film in the Bond franchise, Spectre revives the action-packed fun of the Roger Moore era. Though the film struggles to match the brilliance of Skyfall (2012), the film’s strong cast, visual…
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Over the last week, I have obsessively binged on Jessica Jones, the superhero that insists she is just trying to ‘make a goddamn living in this goddamn world.’ Jones, played excellently by Krysten Ritter, is a sarcastic, hardboiled alcoholic who resists being labeled as a heroine. After a brief stint as a superhero, she…
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Every day in Australia, police face 657 cases of violence against women. Every week, 2 women are murdered, often by somebody they know. While watching Hitting Home, Sarah Ferguson’s new documentary on Australian domestic violence, my friend wonders aloud, ‘Has it always been this bad?’ I answer: ‘Yes.’ It’s just that this year, we’re paying…
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With the long-awaited new Star Wars film The Force Awakens being released next month, hopes are high that there could be improvements in Star Wars’ depiction of women. The Star Wars franchise has had issues with its lack of representation, however the portrayal of Leia Organa (most famously by Carrie Fisher) as rebellious and quick-witted…
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With the latest instalment now in cinemas, Kate Voss takes a look at the history and evolution of the Bond girl, and what it means to be a woman in James Bond’s universe. Very few film franchises over the past fifty years have been more packed with more pure masculinity than the James Bond films. While these…
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It’s time for Marvel to stop erasing their strong, intelligent and brilliant female superheroes from the Cinematic Universe. In 2016, two Marvel movies are set to be released and yet again, neither of these movies will have a female protagonist. This is a repetition of why the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been continually criticised by…
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In honour of Halloween 2015, Lip’s Arts editor and film critic Bridget Conway takes a look at Guillermo Del Toro’s latest offering: the delightfully gothic, super creepy, and surprisingly deep Crimson Peak. Happy Halloween, Lipsters! Crimsom Peak is the brainchild of acclaimed writer and director Guillermo Del Toro. In true Del Toro style, the film…
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What will most likely draw audiences to The Lobster is its gimmick. The protagonist, David (Colin Farrell), is sent to a dreary hotel where he has forty-five days to select a life partner, or he will be turned into the animal of his choosing (a Lobster). The world that writers Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou…
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An official investigation into gender discrimination in Hollywood could be the first step in a class action lawsuit against major Hollywood studios. Fifty female directors have been asked by The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to detail any mistreatment they may have experienced in relation to their work. The investigation is in response to a formal…
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There are many aspects of London Road that are just plain weird. This musical-turned-film is based on the true events surrounding the serial murders of five female sex workers in 2006 by Steve Wright, taking interviews about the crimes verbatim and turning them into snazzy show-tunes. But perhaps what is most unique about London Road…
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