Jan Lisa Huttner is an amazing movie reviewer. She not only tells you if the film is good or not, she tells you exactly why.
Picking 50 films to review from the past 10 years isn't hard, until you throw in that the films must be by women filmmakers. This makes the choices harder to find. Fortunately, Jan has been writing reviews for a very long time, she already had a lot to chose from. If I had to go back and try to find female helmed films, I'd be in big trouble. Below is a description of the book and Jan's accomplishments.
Book Description (Amazon)
What accounts for the lack of movies by women filmmakers in your multiplex? As readers of this compilation will quickly discover, many wonderful films written and/or directed by women have been released in the past decade. Despite all the obstacles, many women have, in fact, completed their films, and that is not the problem. The films are there, but what's missing is the audience. Through our support for women filmmakers, we can redefine what consumers everywhere get to see on their movie screens. In the words of Martha Lauzen: "If we change media messages, we can change the world."
About Jan (Amazon
Jan Lisa Huttner is an award-winning author/activist who writes regular columns as well as freelance articles for multiple print and internet outlets. A member of AAUW Chicago, Inc. for over 25 years, Jan has served AAUW at branch, state, and national levels. In 2004, she was asked to coordinate a new AAUW-Illinois project called WITASWAN (“wit-uh-swan”): Women in the Audience Supporting Women Artists Now! In 2008, these activities lead to the creation of International SWAN Day, now celebrated annually on the last Saturday of every March all around the world. Jan received her B.A. from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland (the “Great Books” school), and Masters Degrees in Psychology from Harvard University and the University of Chicago. In addition to her commitment to AAUW, professional memberships include the Association for Women Journalists, the Chicago Film Critics Association, the Illinois Woman’s Press Association/National Federation of Press Women, and the Women Film Critics Circle.
It's a joy to read through the list of films and Jan's take on them. Most reviewers do a very small synopsis and then review, Jan does a very thorough review with insight and style that few can duplicate.
There are also some little gems I'd forgotten about amongst her reviews.
13 Conversations about one thing, The Runaways, and one of my favorite documentaries Heir to an Execution are all great films and all made by women.
As Jan has stated above, there are films, good films, being made by women. However, a filmmaker can make the best film in the world, it won't mean anything if no one goes to see it. It's butts in seats that gets the attention of studios and producers.
This book is a must read for movie buffs and especially for women who aspire to create good films, or even any film.
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