You know things are shifting a bit when Entertainment Weekly has a column that spotlights female directors at the box office the week after Kathryn Bigelow won at her Oscar.
They note in the that Betty Thomas (former actress on Hill Street Blues) who has been a director since the late 80s first on TV and then in films, had her latest film, Alvin and the Chipmunks – The Squeakquel recently cross the $200 million mark at the US box office. In fact, as of March 11, according to boxofficemojo the film has grossed $217,501 here and pratically the same amount overseas.
Betty Thomas is also a very interesting director to look at because she has never been relegated to the girl director ghetto. She’s always made commercial mainstream family comedies (Dr. Dolittle and the Brady Bunch movie) with a little raunch thrown in with the Howard Stern film Private Parts.
Her venture into traditional drama — 28 Days with Sandra Bullock — did not fare as well but it is an interesting film. I’m guessing she got that film made post the success of Dr. Dolittle. Wondering what film she’s going to do next.
Just another reminder of the diversity of female talent out there.
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I like Betty Thomas a lot. And I may be one of the few who loved 28 Days and is not afraid to admit it. I frankly think that was Sandra’s best work (more so than the Blind Side). The tone Betty was able to keep with the comedy and the drama and the great writing by Susannah Grant, along with the great supporting cast – just made for a really good film.
Gotta agree on Thomas. She seems to fly under the randar while directly some films with good grosses. And her films have generally not been relegated into that female romcom ghetto.