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)
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
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
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)
