One sentence summaries and Bechdel Test evaluations of recent movies I’ve seen

Posted by Sappho on May 30th, 2011 filed in Movies

Thor: One sentence summary: A rash and impulsive young Asgardian needs to grow up, recover his powers, and rescue Asgard from disaster. Bechdel Test: Right from the start, this movie looks set to pass the Bechdel Test, as young scientist Jane Foster talks about all kinds of things other than men with the female friend who is accompanying her on her scientific expedition. The only question: Will we ever find out her friend’s name? The Bechdel Test, after all, requires that two named women talk about something other than a man. This namelessness turns out to be widespread. Not only do we not know Jane’s friend’s name, but we also don’t know the name of the older male scientist who is giving guidance on her thesis project, nor do we know the name of the Asgardian Thor addresses only as “brother,” while he, “brother,” and several others wander around Asgard and discuss whether to attack the Ice Giants. Eventually, it turns out that at least one of these characters was left nameless for a reason. All is revealed, and the movie does indeed pass the Bechdel Test.

Ah, but you want to know how good the movie was? I’ll just second Ta Nehisi Coates:

… I did not find it transcendent (Batman Begins did it on that count.) I thought Asgard looked rather plastic, and the love story was, as always, tacked on. But here is the thing: They kept the train on the tracks. The narrative felt smooth enough that I could just sit back and take in the fight scenes, the effects and laugh at the jokes.

This sounds like meager praise. Except it’s exactly what I ask out of a summer blockbuster, and it’s exactly what I often find missing….

The Brothers Bloom: One sentence summary: Two brothers have perfected the art of the scam, but one wants out, while the other wants to bring his brother back into the game. Bechdel Test: This one’s an interesting case, because there are two named women, and it is apparent that they talk repeatedly about things other than a man, but their conversations take place off screen, being revealed by the on screen conversations of just one of them, while the other is nearly silent on screen.

The Yellow Rolls Royce: One sentence summary: A yellow Rolls Royce is owned, in succession, by three different people, who have different adventures loosely connected to the car. Bechdel Test rating: The first two vignettes have only one named woman, but the third does indeed have two women who talk about something other than a man, namely the fact that they’re traveling in a part of Europe that’s on the brink of war. The third vignette also sees the most dramatic character arc, as the rich and spoiled Ingmar Bergman character changes her stripes.

An American in Paris: One sentence summary: Watch Gene Wilder dance. Bechdel Test: Are you kidding? There are two named women, but they’re the two rivals for Gene Wilder’s attention, and they never talk to each other. The sexual politics of this movie are also awful. Gene Wilder, romantic comedy style, forces his attention on a woman and persistently refuses to listen to her “no,” and, romantic comedy style, this actually works. Moreover, it’s pretty clear that the reason he doesn’t want the other lovely lady is a combination of the fact that she has more money than he does and the fact that she’s making the moves; this starving artist above all wants a woman who will boost his manly ego. So, if you want to enjoy this movie, forget the skewed gender roles, and watch the dancing. Fortunately, you get lots of opportunity for that, and Gene Wilder does it quite well.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides : One sentence summary: Captain Jack Sparrow seeks the lost Fountain of Youth, while arguing with and trying to rescue an ex-lover. (Or I could, by analogy with the last one, say, “Watch Johnny Depp swing around and perform interesting stunts,” as Pirates of the Caribbean movies are as heavy on Captain Jack Sparrow stunts as Gene Wilder musicals are on Gene Wilder’s dancing.) Bechdel Test: Not really. The ex-lover is more interested in carting the mermaid around to harvest her tears than in talking to her. Other unusual features: Fanged mermaids: Are they predators, or victims?