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The Women (2008)

Director: Diane English

Time Out rating

Average user rating

40 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

By rights it should take a female critic to demolish this shameless re-make of George Cukor’s evergreen 1939 classic, not this male reviewer. Like most of the bitchy characters in it, writer-producer Diane English’s directorial debut is apalling but not unlikeable. Sticking close to the original all-woman extravaganza’s structure – and its Anita Loos-inflected depression-era sexual politics – she casts perm-haired Meg Ryan in the Norma Shearer role, as homely, wealthy, wellie-wearing mum Mary, who is betrayed not only by her husband but by her own gang of Manhattan fashionistas, gossipers and power shoppers.

Following close on the heels of ‘Sex and the City’, it’s another exclusive female-only club movie. Its seductive dramatis personnae (Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Candice Bergen, Bette Midler) is introduced by an opening credit sequence shot below the knee to reveal each character’s distinctive footwear – by their shoes you shall know them – that acts as a brazen acknowledgment of the film’s embrace of conspicuous, credit-crunch escapist consumption.
As a director, English is club-footed, innocent of the beautifully fluid ensemble work that distinguishes Cukor’s delirious, witty, cat-fight of a movie. She’s better at the scenes of greater, more intimate, emotional intensity – such as where Mary’s best friend, Caché magazine editor Sylvia (Bening), talks sex with Mary’s neglected daughter (India Ennenga) – and includes some laugh-out-loud dialogue and ripostes. The acting, too, is often highly diverting, with the older pros – like Midler, with her touch of Mae West, and Bergen, with her echoes of Rosalind Russell – showing up the younger. Eva Mendes has the most thankless task as the ‘hate-figure’, gold-digger Crystal, a role previously, imperiously, played by Joan Crawford.

Where the film really stinks, however, in its assertion of pre-feminist ethics, despite its sophist self-knowingness. On Fifth Avenue, the little daughter of Mary’s fecund friend Edie (Debra Messing) grumbles, ‘I don’t like this store – take me home!’, to which Bening replies: ‘Remember this all your life! Nobody hates Saks!’. For all who think that Saks sucks, stay away. Or vice versa.

Author: Wally Hammond

Time Out London Issue 1987, 18th-24th Sept

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User reviews of this film

John Cooper said...

Posted on Sep 06 2010 14:14 The Time Out review is what one would expect from
a male reviewer scared to take on the holy cow of
English feminism . . . I don't think this is a particularly good film but at least the characters are candid about
the stresses and strains of being a `woman` in American society. In British society there is less emphasis on English women to look ` attractive` ( which no doubt helps to explain the recent influx of East European and Asian women to work for English Escort Agencies! ) Meg Ryan looks terrific ( I know it must have cost alot but what the hell . she got a result! However she should really look for scripts with better material . . as she is still a talented actress.( Ditto for
Annette Benning ) . . I actually found the pre-feminist
ethics more wholesome than today's post-feminist ethics
which ignores basic truths of male evolution .. ie. men are atttracted to women who look like Eva Mendes. I'm not keen to defend this film, but at least
it has more going for it than something like `Mistresses` or some vapid British product. . . There are some great lines . . . ` Her thighs look like they've been hit by
a meteor shower ` . . ( with reference to cellulite I presume ) . . . The problem with the film is not its
sexual politics . . but it's overlay of American sentiment . . where the hard-nosed New York women
tear each other apart, and then up laughing and crying with each other . . .. as is required in the formulaic American `girly` comedy. In short, not a great film,
but on the other hand, not a dishonest film . .( as anyone who has been shopping for shoes with a woman will know. )

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Will Rothery said...

Posted on Nov 10 2008 14:01 Frankly, to sum it all up in one word: shit.
When I walked into the cinema, with Max my girlfriend, we thought for a second to let go of the others hand - didn't want to appear too gagging for it in the cinema. But of course, we couldn't, we're too in love (me and Max Cartwright) and so sat down on the same seat. MHMHMHMHMMM!!
The film began with a pretentious opening scene, filled with sexual inadequacies about women attempting to drive in a straight line. And not crash whilst having the handbrake on. The first line disgusted me: "blahblahblahblah SHOES blahblahblahblah SHOES".
By the time the film had finished, and my make-out section with Max over, I ran out disgusted: into the arms of my ex... HEGGIE! Oh lord, the cruelty!!

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Liezl said...

Posted on Oct 11 2008 17:38 If you are a girl, you will surely enjoy this!
I think it's a great film!

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Mrs H said...

Posted on Oct 10 2008 14:26 This is a truly dreadful film. If you have more than a few brain cells to rub together, don't go anywhere near it. Save your time and your money. It's boring, insipid, trite .........I have nothing positive to say.

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sara said...

Posted on Oct 09 2008 15:16 this film is a piece of gobshite. don't go if you're sucicidal it will push you over the edge :) bye now

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flo said...

Posted on Oct 06 2008 22:47 why is this film being so heavily critisized?
i thought it was a really good film, perfect for me and my mates to go see. it made us laugh so much. it was very good. i would recommend it. definatley. the ending was fabulous. a real must.

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Jakamos said...

Posted on Oct 06 2008 16:45 And oh my god I forgot about Bette Midler (God in heels) she was great but again this goes against the film as she was reduced to a bit part pot smoking cameo and good have brought some much needed life to the whole film. Of well....

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Jakamos said...

Posted on Oct 06 2008 16:42 OK so it is not a great film, it's actually not really a good film but neither is it as bad as these reviews. I don't believe a film needs to be excellent to get a good review or otherwise get panned. It was slow in parts but had some nice humour and I liked the characters. Afterall it hasn't had the benefit of a huge TV series going before it to introduce you to the characters initially. However Jada Pinketts representation of a tough talking New York lesbian was pretty atrocious (and she is a great actress in just about everything else!!) I loved Anette Benning and Eva Mendes and nearly didn't fall asleep at the plot.....
Just not bad I'm afraid but a good afternoon at the flicks anyway and not asking for my money back!

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Sargantt :) said...

Posted on Oct 04 2008 18:48 either disaster movie or the women their both as bad as eachother to be honest , disaster movie is funny but basically it was a DISASTER ! and the women is good but boring so its up to you :)

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amyyBABES' :) said...

Posted on Oct 04 2008 18:46 i went to watch this a few weeks ago it wasnt as bad as we were expecting with all these bad reviews personally i wouldnt reccomend anyone to go and watch this if your under 30 as it isnt very good however we was joined in the cinema by alot of elderley people they thought it was really funny we spoke to two and they were very lovely people, :) but waht was the burning of the tampon all aboutt ?! was there any need ?! x

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Brix said...

Posted on Oct 02 2008 17:10 I'm going with all my girlie friends to the cinema and I don't know if i should watch the women or the disaster movie can someone tell me which one i should go 4

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Jakamos said...

Posted on Oct 02 2008 11:43 I am never put off by bad reviews (for some reason) and am going to see it on sunday (3 days away).
I hope against hope to have an alternave review as it has received overwhelmingly bad (and blunt) reviews thus far.

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bibo said...

Posted on Sep 30 2008 20:37 i have a rule that if i've paid to see a film i'll never leave until the finish, in The Women I spent the first half an hour looking for a watch to see how long was left,the second half an hour looking for somethingsharp on the seat to poke my face out with, and the second half at home instead of watching that shitpot of a film. First time i've ever broken my rule

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Jamrac said...

Posted on Sep 30 2008 20:32 I think that experiencing female circumscision would be a far better way of spending my evening than goin to see this festering pile of wank again. if that was too subtle i'll put it another way, if you go to see this after all the warnings, i hope the cinema burns down. :)

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ashhh said...

Posted on Sep 30 2008 17:37 absoloutly shit this film
i went with people of all ages and gender,
all thought it was shit
DO NOT see this film unless you want to waste your money :)

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