Elaine May: A Woman Scorned But Not Defeated
This week’s director spotlight falls on someone who you may not hear about often but who has shaped what you find funny: Elaine May. She had an unbelievably successful career as one half of the legendary comedy duo Nichols & May. Like her partner, Mike Nichols, Elaine would go on to become an important director in the New Hollywood movement of the 1970s, but their careers would reach very different ends. Her fourth and last film, Ishtar, lost the studio a lot of money and she was laughed out of the director’s chair. Rumors of diva behavior have followed her for 50 years, but it's her wit and vision that should be remembered from her career.
Agnes Varda: Compassion & Commentary on Film
Agnes Varda is arguably the most important director to come out of the French New Wave even if her name is often overshadowed by Godard, Truffaut, or even her own husband, Jacques Demy. She brought documentary experimentalism, social commentary, and compassionate care for her characters. Commonly referred to as the mother of the New Wave, Varda’s achievements should not be swept under the rug especially, when you consider that in her 90 years of life, she never stopped producing compelling work; something many of her peers cannot say.
Barbra Streisand: From Actress to Director
When most people think of Barbra Streisand, they think of her illustrious acting career in movies like Funny Girl or The Way We Were. You might also think about her singing career which has spanned over 50 years, but what most people seem to forget is that Barbra Streisand is an incredibly accomplished — and important — director. She may only have directed three films in her career, but they each represent a milestone for female directorial recognition.
Mario’s Musings (Anniversary Edition): Captain America: The First Avenger
The 90s feel like five years ago to someone like me. There are so many events over the course of the 2000s and 2010s that I remember like they were yesterday. So when you tell me that a movie like the first Captain America is turning ten years old, it blows my mind.