Features, Weekly Update

Weekly Update for June 5: Women Centric, Directed and Written Films Playing Near You

Films About Women Opening This Week

Spy — Pick of the Week

Melissa McCarthy finally gets the star vehicle worthy of her in “Spy,” a jet-setting caper that hilariously deconstructs the James Bond mythos while allowing a woman who’s always been underestimated to show the world what she’s really capable of. Mousy but ultra-competent CIA analyst Susan Cooper (McCarthy) heads to Europe in pursuit of the arms dealer (an equally great Rose Byrne) who killed her 007-esque partner (Jude Law). McCarthy gets to get down, dress up, lean in (in the Sheryl Sandberg sense), and prove she’s much more badass than anyone thought possible. (Inkoo Kang)

Purchase tickets for “Spy.”

Testament of Youth — Written by Juliette Towhidi — Pick of the Week

In a just world, Alicia Vikander would be an instant Oscar contender for her star-making performance in the powerful World War I drama “Testament of Youth,” based on Vera Brittain’s memoir mourning the “lost generation” whose lives were cut short in the trenches of France and Germany. Vikander’s Vera leaves her coveted position at Oxford University to become a nurse at the frontlines. In my review for TheWrap, I wrote that, “with deft, nimble touches, screenwriter Juliette Towhidi (“Calendar Girls”) breezily establishes the socio-cultural milieu that Vera grows up in and hopes to contribute to. ‘Do we have a suffragette on our hands?’ teases [her new romance] Roland, and Vera, waiting for her life to begin, affirms, ‘I will be, given the chance.’ The historical specificity serves not only to emphasize Vera’s forerunning… but also to illustrate how the Great War shaped the beliefs of and gave hard-won experience to an engaged, political mind.” (Inkoo Kang)

Purchase tickets for “Testament of Youth.”

Pearl — Co-Written by Dana M. Patton (Opens June 9)

Consumed by a horrific event in her past, a woman (Dana Patton) is driven to violent retribution, and soon discovers that there can be no getting even. Her only ally: a meth-making genius who manipulates her for her own ends, while she wages a vigilante campaign against a powerful drug lord and his thug army. (Press materials)


Films About Women Currently Playing

Gemma Bovery — Co-Written and Directed by Anne Fontaine

I Believe in Unicorns — Written and Directed by Leah Meyerhoff

Hot Girls Wanted (doc) (available only on Netflix) — Directed by Jill Bauer and Ronna Gradus

Gloria — Written by Sabin Berman

Survivor (also available on VOD)

Barely Lethal (also available on VOD)

You’re Sleeping, Nicole (Tu Dors Nicole)

Heaven Knows What

Aloft — Directed and Written by Claudia Llosa

Tomorrowland

When Marnie Was There

The Mama Sherpas (doc) — Directed by Brigid Maher

Mad Max: Fury Road

I’ll See You In My Dreams

Pitch Perfect 2 — Directed by Elizabeth Banks; Written by Kay Cannon

Every Secret Thing — Directed by Amy Berg; Written by Nicole Holofcener

In the Name of My Daughter

Hot Pursuit — Directed by Anne Fletcher

Piku — Written by Juhi Chaturvedi

Sister Code

Welcome to Me — Directed by Shira Piven

Far From the Madding Crowd

Marie’s Story

The Age of Adaline

Clouds of Sils Maria

Woman in Gold

The Divergent Series: Insurgent

It Follows

Films Directed by Women Opening This Week

An Open Secret (doc) — Directed by Amy Berg

Documentary from Oscar nominated director Amy Berg about five child actors whose lives were turned upside down by multiple predators & convicted sex offenders. (Press materials)

Purchase tickets for “An Open Secret.”


Films Directed by Women Currently Playing

Berkshire County — Directed by Audrey Cummings

Something Better to Come (doc) — Directed by Hanna Polak

Seeds of Time (doc) — Directed by Sandy McLeod

The Farewell Party (Mita Tova) — Co-Directed and Co-Written by Sharon Maymon

(Dis)Honesty: The Truth About Lies (doc) — Directed by Yael Melamede

Sunshine Superman (doc) — Directed by Marah Strauch

Dark Star: H.R. Giger’s World (doc) — Directed and Written by Belinda Sallin

One Cut, One Life (doc) — Co-Directed by Lucia Small


Films Written by Women Opening This Week

Dawn Patrol — Co-Written by Rachel Long

After the brutal murder of his beloved brother, a small-town surfer seeks revenge against the gang of merciless thugs he holds responsible. However, when another tragedy brings him face to face with the consequences of his actions, he must seek forgiveness from the very people he despises most. (Stars Scott Eastwood, Rita Wilson) (Press Materials)

Purchase tickets for “Dawn Patrol” here.


Films Written by Women Currently Playing

The Connection — Co-Written by Audrey Diwan

She’s Funny That Way (Squirrels to the Nuts) — Co-Written by Louise Stratten

Adult Beginners — Co-Written by Liz Flahive

White God — Co-Written by Viktória Petrányi and Kata Wéber

VOD/DVD Releasing This Week

Jupiter Ascending — Co-Directed and Co-Written by Lana Wachowski

McFarland, USA — Directed by Niki Caro; Co-Written by Bettina Gilois

Upcoming TV Premieres By and About Women

Sense8 (Netflix) — Co-Created by Lana Wachowski (June 5)

Odd Mom Out (Bravo) — Created by Jill Kargman (June 8)

The Fosters (ABC Family) (June 8)

Major Crimes (TNT) — Starring Mary McDonnell (June 8)

Becoming Us (ABC Family) (June 8)

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Weekly Update for April 22: Women Centric, Directed and Written Films Playing Near You

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