10 Male Directors that Directed Badass Women on Film
Men can direct strong female characters too
On July 13th, 2018, it was reported that Marvel finally found its director for the long-awaited Black Widow movie in Australian director Cate Shortland (“Lore”, “Berlin Syndrome”). Throughout the past year, Marvel has been on a long search looking for a director to helm the film. At one point, 70 female directors were being interviewed for the job.
Being that we exist in the #MeToo movement and the intense third wave of feminism, Marvel hired a female director. It has become a trend to have more women behind the camera and tell stories these days. This is good, becuase the world (espically the film industry) needs to have equality between everyone, but I beleive the industry is taking things a little too literal. It seems that during this movement (especially after success of “Wonder Woman”), only women can direct films about women and vice versa. Personally, I wanted the Russo Brothers (who are men) to direct the Black Widow movie, but since we’re living in this time, I knew that wasn’t going to happen. It’s as if that if a filmmaker isn’t of the same gender as their character’s then the film itself isn’t accurate (and therefore the film is sexist, has the male gaze, and/or sexist becuase the male director took a job away from a female director).
I don’t believe in this idea. I believe that women can and should direct if they want to, but I do not believe that they and only they can direct female lead movies (especially female lead action movies). So here’s a list of 10 directors in Hollywood that made movies with strong and badass female characters (I stayed with the theme of action movies since the Black Widow movie will be an action moive). Oh yea, they’re also all men.
1. James Cameron, Sarah Connor (“Terminator 2”)
James Cameron is known for his science-fiction geekness and crazy demands on set but he also created the Mother of the Future. Yep that’s right. The Terminator franchise (only T1 and T2) are science-fiction action/horror movies but they’re also great character pieces that relove around Sarah. We meet Sarah (Linda Hamilton) first as an average waitress and then we watch her transition into a strict, intense warrior with only one mission on her mind: to stop the future from happening.
Sarah is tough, badass, and extremely ripped (girls lets be honest, she was all of our body inspirations at some point in our lives) but also flawed and made mistakes along the way. In “Terminator 2" she’s introduced as a fearless warrior but by the end of the film we (and she) learns that she actually is afraid of some things and that’s the beauty of being human.
Also if I can have any character from a movie be my bodyguard it’s Sarah Connor. She’s the Mother of the Future! And no one can say otherwise.
2. George Lucas, Leia Organa (“Star Wars”)
A long time ago (early 1970s), a man named George Lucas wrote a story and in that story, a young girl saves two men during her own rescue mission. Let that sink in.
I don’t think there is another female character that’s more important and influential than Leia Organa in “Star Wars”. The first film came out in 1977 and if having a ‘strong female character’ is rare now, imagine what cinema was like in the 1970s. Within the first film alone, Leia is a leader of the rebel alliance, refuses to submit to torture techniques by Darth Vadar, takes over her resure mission (Luke and Han really didn’t know what they were doing, sorry), and assisted in the rebel attack on the Darth Star. Not to mention her incredible sass throughout the film
It really is becuase of Lucas’ (and the late Carrie Fisher’s) creation of Leia that has lead to the growth of these tough female characters. Without our space princess from another galaxy, who knows where we would be in terms of women on film.
3. Ridley Scott, Ellen Ripley (“Alien”)
- Scott’s Ripley concules what is called the Badass Holy Trinity (Sarah, Leia, and Ripley)*
Originally, this role was written for a man but thankfully Scott decided that the story would be more interesting if the protagonist was a woman. Ripley isn’t defined by her relationship to men or the men around her (as oppose to the other two on this list thus far). Like Sarah, Ripley also has a great arch in “Alien” and the sequel “Aliens” (which was directed by James Cameron). In “Alien” she was simply, part of the crew. Nothing more, nothing less. Completely equal to her other crew members. But as the film progresses she doesn’t do what pretty girls in horror movies do (die in stupid ways), she becomes the hero, and we (men included) root for her.
- fun fact: Sigourney Weaver was so beloved in “Aliens” that she was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress
3.5. Ridley Scott, Thelma and Louise (“Thelma and Lousie”
Now these two characters are completely different to Ripley (which just shows how great of a director Scott is). Today, “Thelma and Louise” is still a classic feminist film and there’s a reason for it (even though a man made it!). Both characters are completely different (Thelma, the good wife that always listens and Louise, the strong willed sassy one) and both have huge transitions by the end of the film. It also deals with very serious themes and actions, some of which are incredibly personal and real to women. Scott acknowledges that and sends a message to the world with this film.
The more you think about this film the more you love it. It’s horribly realistic yet you find yourself laughing at times and, maybe even crying.
Personally, it’s one of Scott’s (and cinema’s) greatest films.
4. David Leitch, Lorraine Broughton (“Atomic Blonde”)
Charlize Theron kicking ass for two hours? SIGN ME UP. “Atomic Blonde” follows Lorraine (Theron), a spy (M16 agent to be specific) in Berlin at the end of the second world war. If that doesn’t sound entertaining I honestly don’t know what does. Charlize proves she one of the best female action stars of her generation (and the younger generation it lets be honset) with great action scenes but also a great story as well. This film flows beautifuly and you will be entertained throughout the whole movie (and then be motivated to go to the gym).
- The staircase scene is CINEMATIC HISTORY
5. David Fincher, Lisbeth Salander (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”)
The 2012 Awards season was one of the best in the last decade, particularly for women and one of those reason is becuase of Fincher’s adaption of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”. After years of speculating, we finally got to see Lisbeth Salander in the flesh (besides the Swedish version) and boy, was it something. Salander is dark, threatening, a bit scary, and mysterious. She’s a force to be reckoned with and you know this from the very first frame.
Rooney Mara owns this role with the helpful direction of Fincher. She is inviting yet standoffish, sexy yet dangerous. She’s everything Lisbeth is in the books and more (she’s so good that I am finding it SO HARD to accept Claire Foy in the role for the sequel, ugh and Rooney really wanted to do the sequal too).
This film is a rollercoaster and yes, is a great film overall but without Lisbeth, it wouldn’t be nearly as good as it is with her.
5.5. David Fincher, Amy Dunne (“Gone Girl”).
If you want to watch a film about an extremely dark, complicated, and sometimes distrubing story that features a dark, complicated, and sometimes distrubing female character, Fincher’s your guy. And if Lisbeth Slander didn’t convince you, Amazing Amy sure will.
“Gone Girl” is a complete hit. It’s a fantastic story that proves just how amazing Fincher still is. It’s entertaining, thought provoking, and leaves it’s audience guessing till the very end but the core of this story is it’s antagonist, Amy Dunne.
Amy is far from perfect and, again like the entire movie, keeps you guessing until the very end. She’s smart and has calculated every outcome that could possible happen and adapts seamlessly to any situation. The audience doesn’t know what is actually going on until Fincher allows Amy (Rosamound Pike) to show you.
And you will be shocked. Trust me.
6. Phillip Noyce, Evelyn Salt (“Salt”)
Like Ripley, the role of Evelyn Salt was actually orginally written as a man. But once Angelina Jolie expressed her interest in the story, Noyce changed the role to a woman and the rest was history.
“Salt” tells the story of a woman who may or may not be a Russian Spy in America. Word gets out that she’s a spy and even though she denies it, is being hunted by the American government while Salt is trying to find her husband who’s missing.
Like “Atomic Blonde”, “Salt” is another great action movie about espionage (which is what the Black Widow movie will probably be about). It features great action scenes with Salt (Jolie) as well as humanizing the maybe spy life of Salt. Evelyn is resourceful, smart, and strong. She can easily outsmart and beat her opponent even though she probably weighs at least 70 pouds less than them. But she’s also a genuinely good person (or is she?) that just wants her husband to come home.
7. Steven Soderbergh, Sawyer (“Unsane”)
The shock of 2018! The one that no one saw coming! Honestly, when did these guys make this?
If you’re a movie fan and haven’t seen this movie you should. It’s a story about a woman, Sawyer (Claire Foy) who is put into a mental institution because she believes she is being stalked. This film, like Fincher’s, puts you at the edge of your seat as he tells you this crazy, obsessive, disturbing story. But you can’t get enough of it.
The main reason you can’t close your eyes or walk out of the theater (even though you really want to) is because of Sawyer. From the first 15 minutes of the film, you’re invested in her story. You’re on her side, but then you start to think she’s making up the whole thing, and then you think that she’s actually telling the truth.
There’s no main hand-to-hand combat in this movie, but there is incredible dialogue. Sawyer’s weapons are her words and when she delivers her intense monologues, you feel intimidated, worthless, and weak. Even though she might be crazy, I don’t want to fight her. Not at all.
- btw I really couldof put any Soderberg film on this list, this is just his most recent one and it is so good*
8. Martin McDonagh, Mildred (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”).
The one and only Frances McDormand won her second Oscar with this role last March and there’s a reason for it. Mildred is a soilder. Mildred is a warrior on a mission. At all times she is wearing her navy jumpsuit, like a solider ready for war. She’s determined to make the police close her daughter’s murder case that’s remained unsolved for months.
As an audience member, you know that she is being unreasonable and harsh but you sympathize with her because this harness is coming from her grief. Her scowl alone will make you want to run to the other side of town, but you know she’s hurting inside. She’s stubborn, determined, violent, and strong. Strikingly similar to a hitman or an assassin in another movie. As the audience becomes accustomed to this side of Mildred, McDonagh then reminds us who she really is. Her face softens, her eyes widen with sorrow as she talks about her daughter. At the end of the day, she’s just a mother who desperately wants closure but unsure if she’ll ever get it.
With this film, McDonagh proves that he knows how (a certain type of) women work. He hits it right on the head and collaborated with the best actress for the part, and stuck gold.
9. George Miller, Furiosa (“Mad Max: Fury Road”)
Another woman steals the spotlight from a leading man in his own action move. Guys, I think I’m seeing a pattern. Without a doubt, Furiosa steals the show in the latest “Mad Max”.
Yes, the visuals are astonishing, the color scheme is crazy good. But for me, it’s Furiosa’s (Charlize Theron) story that I attached to, not Max’s. Again, she’s increbibly badass from her physic to her fight scenes but once you look into Furiosa’s eyes you can see her whole story. She’s tough, but fragile. Strong yet vulerable. Intimating yet heartbreaking at the same time. She’s human. Together, Miller and Theron created a human character.
10. Quentin Tarantino, The Bride (“Kill Bill”)
Do I really need to explain this one? Do I?
It’s a revenge story, about a mother look for her lost baby, and KILLING EVERYONE THAT STANDS IN HER WAY.
This film is crazy in all the right (and sometimes wrong) ways. It’s funny, it’s insane, it’s a freckin masterpeice.
That’s all I’m gona say. It’s just so good.
Also, don’t get on Uma Thurman’s bad side when she has a samurai sword (I MEAN COME ON, HER WEAPON IS A FRECKIN SAMURAI SWOARD)
I’m not saying all movies directed by women are bad or that all movies directed by men are good. I’m simply stating that men are capable, and have in the past, made great (not good, great) action movies with female heroines. It’s happened before, successfully. It can happen again and will happen again. So please, don’t call studios or male directors anti-feminist if they make a movie about a woman or beleive that women can only make films about women. It’s 2018, we shouldn’t only see gender, good filmmakers are good filmmakers that make great films. End of stroy.
