It’s kind of amazing that more than ten years after directing Monster, Patty Jenkins has not directed a feature film. But they’ve given Wonder Woman to her to direct after Michelle McLaren left the project. Happy to report it did not turn into the usual man replaces woman story and it’s nice to see SOMEONE noticed Jenkins. I was reading today about Damien Chazelle making his second feature a year after Whiplash. So yeah.
I have no idea how this thing is going to turn out. I hope it’s more like Monster and less like every other superhero movie that gets released except those by Christopher Nolan.
Hollywood Reporter gets the scoop, and hat tip to Hollywood-Elsewhere
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http://variety.com/2015/film/news/wonder-woman-michelle-maclaren-wb-1201473481/
She wanted big epic, they wanted small character driven
“Also, I hope the studio doesn’t get its hands on this, dumb it down, make it more palatable for the masses”
You know you’re talking about a super-hero movie, right? 🙂 Let me just say, don’t get your hopes up.
Honestly, I see nothing wrong with her moving over to television. Its a sad fact, but women filmmakers (writers, directors, writer/directors….actresses, producers, editors, cinematographers) get way more opportunities to do groundbreaking and original work in tv. Way more interesting projects than what they would be greenlit to do in film. “The Killing” (for all its flaws) was an excellent series…moody, suspenseful, with an excellent central performance by Mirelle Enos. I’m happy to hear that Jenkins will be helming another film…saddened to hear it will be another prefab super-hero movie. Hopefully her keen eye will elevate the material, and create something special. Also, I hope the studio doesn’t get its hands on this, dumb it down, make it more palatable for the masses, and then ultimately put the blame on Jenkins when it gets slaughtered by the critics and/or audiences.
Everyone here seems to be hating on Chazelle, not even subtly. Fuck that. Again, Jenkins writes her own shit, and hasn’t written anything since ’03. She went to TV. She doesn’t seem suited for superhero nonsense anyways. I hope she doesn’t taint her catalog with this fucking garbage. She should write something nuanced and intelligent instead of playing this game. I like her first film a great deal, and it’s a bummer she hasn’t made something since, but I’m not 100% convinced that is because of some conspiracy to keep a female director down. Why isn’t it possible that this particular director just hasn’t caught the spark a second time, and has instead made the unfortunate choice to dip into the cowl and cape pool?
Are we subtly hating on Chazelle now? I’m confused.
Happy for Jenkins but I was really looking forward to MacLaren. She’ll get another shot.
“She makes a monumental, classic little indie”
That’s a little bit over the top in my opinion. “Perfectly decent little indie” works fine for the movie. “Monumental, classic, for the ages” and whatever else you might think of are the words that perfectly describe Theron’s performance.
Damien Chazelle’s done nothing wrong (unless you’re of the opinion that Whiplash isn’t worth half the adulation bestowed upon it…), it’s just that he gets these opportunities, and Patty Jenkins hasn’t been afforded nearly as much respect. He makes a perfectly decent little indie about boys boys boys then gets the chance to start work on another film mere months after its release. She makes a monumental, classic little indie about girls and look how long it takes for her to get back to work on film.
I would also like to point out that Patty Jenkins hasn’t made another movie primarily because she wrote her first three projects (Monster and two short films) and hasn’t written anything else since then. That tells me she likes autonomy on her projects, which explains why she couldn’t go along with the Marvel assembly line and suggests a similar round of disagreements may be on the way with DC. She’s managed to stay busy since Monster, though, having directed episodes of Arrested Development, Entourage, Betrayal and The Killing. I get the feeling if she is going to make another movie, she’s gotta write something. Wonder Woman is gonna be a debacle no matter who gets involved because A) Zach Snyder’s shared universe is already a huge bummer and will certainly become more annoying after Batman Vs. Superman and B) DC has no idea what the fuck they’re doing with their film projects.
Allison nailed it. Chazelle is directing his third feature this year. Also, I don’t think it’s fair to lump him into this point. What did he do to deserve being the whipping boy?
Very happy about this news. Monster is a very solid little film and Jenkins is overdue for another movie. I’m hoping this turns out well.
Also excited that Chazelle is working on another film. Whiplash was sensational and I hope his follow-up at least comes close to it.
Although I never go for dubbing, here’s the exquisite US trailer for Ghibli’s essential WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-sixU3ZrXg
Damien Chazelle also directed Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, so wouldn’t this be his third feature?
Swell news. MONSTER is alright, but I adore her work on THE KILLING. Now see how McLaren gets recruited to helm CAPTAIN MARVEL and it’ll be quite the happy ending…of sorts.
Interesting choice. Monster was one of my favorite films for the 00’s.