Comments on: AT THE MOVIES: Nine http://www.jackdylan.ca/1071 Illustrations Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:47:53 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: jack http://www.jackdylan.ca/1071/comment-page-1#comment-2300 jack Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:35:40 +0000 http://www.jackdylan.ca/?p=1071#comment-2300 Thanks Jay, I very happy that you read it, but more so that you like my coat. -- You're certainly right to point out Fellini's later work; I should have at least thrown a reference out there out there to Juliet of the Spirits as an example of how Fellini tried to address the feminine perspective. From what I've read, it (Juliet of the Spirits) is sometimes considered to be the female equivalent of 81/2, a mid-life crisis from the point of view of a woman. And I certainly could see that, though it's no where near as strong a film in my opinion. "Nine" I think, confronts these issues in a much more simplified, though entertaining, way. (I can't imagine audiences sitting through Juliet of the Spirits these days). I haven't seen "City of Women" though I've heard that it's not the directors shinning moment, and possibly even that he was going a bit crazy in old age when he made it. --- Personally, I don't find 81/2 to be a sexist film, I think there's a lot in there to provide a knee jerk reaction but if you read between the lines it doesn't take much to see that it's really not at all. It lays out nicely a portrait of the male ego, and that in itself, provides ample fodder for attack; but it's not unkind to women. I like "Nine" because it wrestles with these issues in much the same way that an argument between the sexes often goes. -- It makes you think, "maybe she does have a point". Even if you (the guy) have a good point too. Thanks Jay, I very happy that you read it, but more so that you like my coat. — You’re certainly right to point out Fellini’s later work; I should have at least thrown a reference out there out there to Juliet of the Spirits as an example of how Fellini tried to address the feminine perspective. From what I’ve read, it (Juliet of the Spirits) is sometimes considered to be the female equivalent of 81/2, a mid-life crisis from the point of view of a woman. And I certainly could see that, though it’s no where near as strong a film in my opinion. “Nine” I think, confronts these issues in a much more simplified, though entertaining, way. (I can’t imagine audiences sitting through Juliet of the Spirits these days). I haven’t seen “City of Women” though I’ve heard that it’s not the directors shinning moment, and possibly even that he was going a bit crazy in old age when he made it. — Personally, I don’t find 81/2 to be a sexist film, I think there’s a lot in there to provide a knee jerk reaction but if you read between the lines it doesn’t take much to see that it’s really not at all. It lays out nicely a portrait of the male ego, and that in itself, provides ample fodder for attack; but it’s not unkind to women. I like “Nine” because it wrestles with these issues in much the same way that an argument between the sexes often goes. — It makes you think, “maybe she does have a point”. Even if you (the guy) have a good point too.

]]> By: Jay Watts III http://www.jackdylan.ca/1071/comment-page-1#comment-2285 Jay Watts III Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:50:45 +0000 http://www.jackdylan.ca/?p=1071#comment-2285 Most feminist critiques of Fellini I've read (it's been a while - I gave up on that most galling of activities a long time ago: the reading of perspective-based critiques) is guilty, at best, of cherry-picking from his ouevre, missing the interesting gender (er) dynamics of films like Jiulet of the Spirits or even City of Women, in which you'd be hard-pressed to make the argument that Mastroianni's aging lothario is anything close to glorified. All of that said, nice piece, Mr. Dylan. (And nice camel hair coat, too.) Most feminist critiques of Fellini I’ve read (it’s been a while – I gave up on that most galling of activities a long time ago: the reading of perspective-based critiques) is guilty, at best, of cherry-picking from his ouevre, missing the interesting gender (er) dynamics of films like Jiulet of the Spirits or even City of Women, in which you’d be hard-pressed to make the argument that Mastroianni’s aging lothario is anything close to glorified.

All of that said, nice piece, Mr. Dylan. (And nice camel hair coat, too.)

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