One of the most complex and perilous issue facing Mexico-US relations in the twenty-first century are the treacherous drug cartels, corrupting every aspect of day-to-day life in border cities like Tijuana and Juarez, and the intricate infiltration of these cartels by FBI agents. This complicated issue is incredibly difficult to grasp, let alone to translate…
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In 1988, the musical landscape was forever changed when hip-hop group NWA (N****s With Attitude) hit the charts, radios and stages across the globe. A story whose telling is long overdue (as Ice Cube rightly points out, there are plenty of Elvis films out there), Straight Outta Compton charts the politically-charged history of one of…
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The Girls on Film Festival is back again in 2015 after the incredible success of its debut last year. This year’s program features an eclectic mix of universal classics, home-grown gems, foreign language films and unique documentaries that will surely delight even the most casual of film fanatics. Highlights of this year’s line-up include…
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Hey Hollywood producers, here’s a radical idea: did you know that women can be action movie stars? Over the last year or so on Lip, I have been exploring my favourite female action heroes in a regular piece called Kickass Feminists on Film. Apart from being an eye-opening exercise, it is becoming harder and harder…
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It’s a sad fact, but most Australians don’t want to watch Australian films. Many will claim that Aussie films are boring, dull and poorly made, and it’s easy to blame audiences for their lack of devotion to their local film industry. However, it’s more accurate to blame the industry itself for the films it makes….
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Over the past year, we’ve seen people in the entertainment industry draw attention to ageism directed towards actresses. And whether it’s Maggie Gyllehaal speaking out about being told she was ‘too old to play the lover of a man who was 55’ at 37 years old, or the writers of Inside Amy Schumer discussing their…
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Sherlock Holmes is one of the most prolific fictional characters ever created, with the numerous adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels reaching audiences through the mediums of television, film, theatre, comics and even video games. In recent times the famous detective has been portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch in the popular BBC series Sherlock, Johnny Lee…
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Everyone knows that complex and empowering female characters are difficult to find in mainstream films. But there are some who have stood out and become the changing faces of feminism in cinema. In this regular column, Jade Bate looks at her favourite film heroines who are strong, empowering and kick ass. Before he was spewing…
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A new report released this week has told us what we already know. Hollywood is a boys’ club. The research suggests that being a straight, white male is the perfect recipe for success in tinsel town. The study from the Media, Diversity & Social Change Initiative at USC Annenberg is the most comprehensive analysis of…
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Trigger warning for the trailer below: misgendering, transphobic low-level violence Next month About Ray will be released in the US, adding to the stories being told about trans folks right now – the key word being about and not by trans folks. About Ray looks like it will not only be a great film, but…
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However you feel about Amy Schumer’s comedy, it’s hard to deny that she is controversial. But, her ability to use comedy to bring feminism, as well as other current issues, to the forefront is provoking discussion. And that’s a win — not just for comedy, but for the feminist movement, as well. Women in comedy…
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As the West and Japan grow more enchanted with each other, our cultural landscape is exposed to new and unique interpretations of the female. This three-part series by Marie Davis explores the characterisation of women in shonen anime and manga, and their relationship with their burgeoning Western audience. (Part One and Part Two.) My first…
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As the West and Japan grow more enchanted with each other, our cultural landscape is exposed to new and unique interpretations of the female. This three-part series by Marie Davis explores the characterisation of women in shonen anime and manga, and their relationship with their burgeoning Western audience. Read Part One here. As Japanese culture…
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The Terminator franchise is one that both proves and disproves the rule that sequels are never as good as the original. There’s Evil Dead, Alien and Terminator in this rather particular category. The further this franchise lurches on, the more the cynics of the world are vindicated; sequels are a cash grab, nothing more. Given…
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