Robinov Still in Chick Flick Biz

It's silly to suggest that a major studio would turn its back on movies starring women. Here's Warner prexy Jeff Robinov's response:

Poor execution and bad timing at the end of the most recent horror cycle were part of the poor reception for the horrific "The Reaping" and "The Invasion," which both Kidman and co-star Daniel Craig refused to promote. As for Neil Jordan's brainy twist on the vigilante genre, "The Brave One," Robinov said he is "proud of the movie," which Foster continues to support around the world. "It's tricky," he said. "It may have been too rough for women, and we didn't get the reviews we had expected."

Action features starring women remain a hard sell for many moviegoers. But Robinov said he is still willing to put a femme star into an action role. "But, like any other movie, it has to be the right movie with the right actor and the right filmmaker at the right time," he said.

Jeffrey Wells makes an important distinction in his story about the unsubstantiated rumors that Robinov had put a halt to movies with women stars:

Would Robinov be saying "no more movies with women in the lead" if WB had recently made a film as good and successful as The Silence of the Lambs, Aliens, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or Kill Bill? Not likely. If a sweeping statement is required, Robinov should actually be saying that Warner Bros. "is no longer doing female-starring thrillers and actioners produced by Joel Silver." Silver, after all, produced The Brave One, The Invasion, Gothika and The Reaping.

Agreed. Warners greenlit three violent action pics starring female stars with femme appeal--Jodie Foster, Hilary Swank and Nicole Kidman, respectively--and then marketed the movies like Joel Silver movies. There are myriad reasons why each of these pics failed to thrive. A brainy twist on the vigilante genre, The Brave One may have been too disturbing for moviegoers, who remain uncomfortable with realistic stories about women with guns or angry women who take revenge on violent men. (Angelina Jolie with guns in a fantasy action pic is another matter.) The Brave One required careful handling and may have needed a slower release plan. Selling Foster as some kind of action hero may not have been the best approach. Audiences did buy her in Panic Room and Flight Plan, probably because in both she was a frightened mother defending her child. That's one of the only ways that audiences will forgive a woman with a gun.

The Reaping and The Invasion were both expensive B-pictures that were poor vehicles for any star, and were badly timed at the tail end of the recent horror cycle. Their fate had nothing to do with Swank or Kidman's performances. One thing that Warners and Silver should keep in mind with any movie aimed at women--they tend to be more discerning, read reviews, don't show up en masse opening weekend, and look for movies to be well-executed. Ouch.

UPDATE: Many many responses to this story, which has struck a nerve. Sasha Stone weighs in. And here's Carrie Rickey. Salon. Huffington Post. Spout. And New York.

Comments

[Ironic Indicator]

The funniest thing about it all is that the week this ridiculous foot-in-mouth statement came to prominence, the #1 picture in the country was the latest RESIDENT EVIL. Starring, and the more astute among you probably figured this out, women. Plural. So much idiocy, so little time. This entire episode is the funniest thing out of WB since BATMAN AND ROBIN.

[yea go figure]

men and boys play video games and watch action films with female leads. most famous being lara croft of course, but she is simply one of many. look at what girls watch, if its targeted at them its always a girl as the main character. funny that eh? sexist much?

plus it all boils down to a conspiracy theory where people are ignoring a massive market. greed conquers all. especially now that there are plenty of women in business and such.

do not ignore independent films. how many of those are action based or targeted to teens? the opportunity is certainly there. whether the talent is another question. the desire is another thing. judging one desired path as superior is simply an opinion. for every speilberg i'm sure there are dozens or hundreds of failed male directors. it can be a dangerous insecure career choice.