By Loose Lips Mag
@looselipsmag
Need a movie night flick or binge-worthy TV show? Look no further. Loose Lips’ roundup of six feminist titles is sure to make you laugh, cry, and fight the patriarchy all at once.
Kristi
Big little lies
ABOUT THE TITLE:
Based on the Liane Moriarty novel of the same name, Big Little Lies is about five first-grade mothers (Reese Witherspoon as Madeline, Nicole Kidman as Celeste, Shailene Woodley as Jane, Laura Dern as Renata, and Zoë Kravitz as Bonnie), who find themselves caught in the middle of a murder investigation. Set in the otherwise tranquil seaside town of Monterey, California, the story appears to follow doting moms, perfect family units, and breathtaking homes but as individual stories unravel on the screen, secrets and fractured relationships are revealed. The whodunnit is a dark tale with an ultimately big, soft heart for women-empowerment. Big Little Lies’ greatest strength is the exploration of female friendships and women-centric storytelling. The result is riveting.
WHERE TO STREAM: CRAVE (MOVIES + HBO)
REVIEW: 9/10
The way we’re able to consume this show aligns with the characters in the show themselves. It feels elite. Who can even afford Crave Movies + HBO?! Well, since cable is essentially obsolete and no one pays $200 for a sports cable package anymore, I thought I’d spring for the $20 per month “fancy Crave” subscription. Booyah!
Now that that’s out of the way, the storytelling and cinematography in this show is 10/10! (The diversity, however, is not so many out of 10. The only starring POC in the show is the ineffable Zoe Kravitz–who is perfect as Bonnie, by the way–and there’s not much in the way of LGBTQ or disabled storylines. But I digress.)
Say what you will about the behind-the-scenes controversy during season 2 – I absolutely devoured the continued story. BLL does away with “good feminist” tropes, showing instead flawed and dynamic characters (set to absolutely stunning cinematography, I might add) who bare it all–the good, the bad, the ugly. Not least of whom is Meryl Streep’s Mary Louise, who comes to stir up trouble in season 2. Producers Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman acquired the rights to adapt the book to screen in season 1, and continued the story for a second season. With Jean-Marc Vallee (Sharp Objects, Dallas Buyers Club) and Andrea Arnold on the team, the show’s comedically dark writing is complemented by haunting visuals. There’s enough sex, lies, deceit, and women’s rights issues to make you put away your bible for good.
good girls
ABOUT THE TITLE:
While the good housewife-gone-gangbanger storyline can seem simplistic, Good Girls is a feel-good, empowering romp about three women who accidentally find themselves involved in a money laundering scheme. Sisters Beth (Christina Hendricks) and Annie (Mae Whitman), along with lifetime friend Ruby (Retta), struggle to make ends meet in their households, catapulting them into dramatic (and sometimes hilarious) heist hijinks. At core, Good Girls explores themes of gender fluidity, deconstructed family roles, and financial freedom under the guise of a Breaking Bad-like crime drama.
WHERE TO STREAM: NETFLIX
REVIEW: 8.5/10
Originally, I was intrigued by Good Girls because I really loved Mae Whitman in The DUFF, and if there’s a 30-something woman who loves film & TV for teens more than me, PLEASE INTRODUCE US, because I am feeling very weird about it. Anyway, I loved The DUFF and I’ve watched enough Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul to think I know a little about the American criminal justice system, so Good Girls was the perfect marriage of my film & TV content cravings. Teen idols? Check. Crime drama? Check. Comedic timing? Check. Feminism. Check check check. While the show is a feel-good, very binge-able and digestible, it touches on more serious themes, like how to parent gender non-conforming kids, economic inequity, and how to handle your creepy AF work supervisor. Created by Grey’s Anatomy writer Jenna Bans, the script reads as an homage to women who have (or are about to) flip the bird to their shitty husbands and/or male bosses.
Brittany
Killing Eve season 2
ABOUT THE TITLE:
Killing Eve is a BBC British spy thriller television series with two seasons now under its belt. The show follows Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), a investigator with MI5 (the UKs CIA I’m guessing?) who is given the task of capturing Villanelle (Jodie Comer), a beautiful, brilliant, bratty psychopathic assassin. As the chase between the two intensifies, as does their mutual obsession.
Killing Eve is based on the Villanelle novel series by Luke Jennings. Each of the show’s seasons features a different female showrunner. Genius Phoebe Waller-Bridge helmed season one.
WHERE TO STREAM: CRAVE
REVIEW: 8.5 /10
Whooooooaa boy, I love this show. Truthfully, because I really love a good “watching a character totally unravel” moment. Killing Eve season two has some interesting A, B, and C plotlines. A, is Eve and Villanelle’s cat-and-mouse chase that is now laced with some serious sexual and psychological fascination that came to ahead when Eve attempted to murder Villanelle at the end of season one. The B plotline is following the new assassin in town called “The Ghost” (didn’t care, very unfinished storyline here), and the C plotline is Eve and Niko’s desperately tense and deeply complicated marriage (thanks to Eve’s sneaky and bizarre behaviour!). Without giving away any more spoilers, I’ll leave you with this: what makes Killing Eve so great is watching two women obsess over each other, in such a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat-way, without witnessing them, in the midst of their unrelenting lust, forego their careers, lives, responsibilities…mostly. They are both determined to either kill each other, or fuck each other–sometimes it’s hard to tell–but also complete the mission at hand. And the mission gets more and more complicated as the season progresses. Some critics have said that the ending to Killing Eve season two is disappointing because it didn’t take the show anywhere and we’re back to where we started. But, guys? It’s a cat-and-mouse themed show! That’s the whole damn point in my mind. We go round and round with these characters until one of them dies. Killing Eve, and Sandra Oh’s hair, do it well and you know I’m along for the fucking riiiide. Here’s to hoping for season three, because if you’ve watched, we cannot be left with a cruel cliffhanger like that forever.
Addendum: There are few things I’d like to discuss with fellow Killing Eve fans, so please slide into my DMs if that’s you. Why is Konstantine so likeable? How is Kenny SO cute, and why can’t Eve be nicer to him? Was anyone else deeply disturbed but also admittedly delighted when Eve fucks Hugo with Villanelle panting in her ear piece? And finally, Carolyn hungover sucking on a hookah pipe at breakfast hour is me, everyday?
Shrill
ABOUT THE TITLE:
Shrill, the 2019 Hulu Comedy is based on “Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman” by Lindy West, which, I have not yet read but must immediately!
Shrill, the show, follows Annie, (played by the brilliant Aidy Bryant, SNL) depicted as a fat young woman in Portland, who’s looking to change-up her life; but not her dress size. Annie is a journalist working for what I presume is like an IRL Vice x Bust x Buzzfeed hybrid, while juggling a shitty boyfriend/hook-up situation, ill parents, a psycho boss, friendships, and an overwhelming, but honest amount of backhanded comments and unsolicited advice, particularly surrounding her weight. Through season one, we see Annie enter a sort of transformation, especially in relationship to success and self-worth. “She starts to realize that she’s as good as anyone else, and acts on it,” getting the agency she deserves.
REVIEW: 9.5/10
This is a perfect show, the end. Okay, not the end, but wow, Shrill is a true delight. Aidy Bryant’s unique comedic style and clever dialogue delivery are unparalleled and I cannot think of an actor more perfect for this role. What I most love about this show however, is the solid representation that is given without tokenization. Every character has a purpose and a storyline that provides a healthy progression to the show’s plotline, and I love that in the age of made-too-quickly streaming service originals. There are many other details that have been celebrated by critics like, Anne’s sex scene (finally a sex scene representing fat bodies!). The only downside to watching Shrill is having to do it on a janky website, because for whatever reason, Hulu keeps throwing some serious shade to Canada. Addendum: Since writing this, Shrill has now become available on Crave!
WHERE TO STREAM: HULU AND CRAVE
Tayvie
nappily ever after
ABOUT THE TITLE:
While searching for a movie to watch one night, I stumbled upon Netflix Original Nappily Ever After, and for this I have no regrets. The movie follows Violet as she works through the destruction of both her personal and professional life. In the wreckage that follows, she drunkenly shaves off all of her natural hair. In her search for a perfect life, she realizes that what she had to achieve this, had actually distanced her further from herself. With very real depictions of what it means to accept yourself, your situation, and your loved ones, Nappily Ever After is the Black woman transformation story that needed to be told.
REVIEW: 8/10
After the movie came out, Black Twitter rejoiced with many women recounting that they finally felt seen in their hair reclamation. This makes me so happy! The film realistically conveys how healing is non-linear, and oftentimes, much deeper than we expect. I felt incredibly proud to see a woman self-discovery movie that did not only surround romance, but actual inner trauma. While some scenes felt they lagged on, overall this movie was a beautiful blend of comedy and an eye-opening narrative. P.S. There is also the SWEETEST little girl who comes into play. She’s the sassy 10-year-old we all need as our side-kick.
WHERE TO STREAM: NETFLIX
on my block
ABOUT THE TITLE:
On My Block is one of Netflix’s newest editions to their streamable originals. This witty, charming, and realistic show depicts the lives of four teens as they navigate what it is to grow up in the hood. Their loyal friendship is met with seemingly impossible obstacles, including gang wars, shootings, and drive-by’s, all of which is met with an incredulous amount of strength. Without many cliches and stupid high school references, this show is a look into the reality of hood life, all through the lease of a hilarious group of friends. Throw in a treasure hunt for gang money, a striking representation of the Latino community, and some cute romance, and you have one of my favourite shows.
REVIEW: 9/10
The reason I love On My Block SO MUCH is for the show’s main character, Monse. She grows up in Freeridge with a single dad, following the unexpected leaving of her mother. As she navigates her own problems, and those of Cesar, Ruby, and Jamal, she never fails to be a strong girl who refuses to give up space. Even going as far to walking to a gang leader, she has no filter for what she feels– almost to a fault. Without Monse’s dynamic in the foursome, On My Block would leave out a powerful, woman-led narrative. I watched two seasons of the show in three days because it is the epitome of binge-worthy. Go watch!
WHERE TO STREAM: NETFLIX
Kristi and Brittany are the co-founders and co-editors of Loose Lips Mag. Together with intern Tayvie, they’re building their feminist media empire—leaving the patriarchy, charcuterie boards and empty bottles of wine in their wake. Loose Lips Media is grateful to operate on the unceded Coast Salish territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.
