Mamet not so much with the writing, respecting or being interested in women.
But in his essay on "Bitches" it's clear he's really drawn to very strong women, including Lindsay Crouse who's no daisy.
Kaylee: H-how did you... g-get on...? Early: Strains the mind a bit, don't it? You think you're all alone. Maybe I come down the chimney, Kaylee. Bring presents to the good girls and boys.
'Objects In Space'
Buffista Movies 4: Straight to Video
A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.
DavidS - Jul 11, 2005 7:41:15 am PDT #5505 of 10002
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
Fay - Jul 11, 2005 7:42:34 am PDT #5506 of 10002
"Fuck Western ideologically-motivated gender identification!" Sulu gasped, and came.
Also, is it me, or are there not very many female protagonists in Mamet works, and for "not very many" read none?
Well, Oleanna's a two-hander - but I seem to remember reading an interview with him a couple of years ago wherein he was all "look, enough already with this business of the play being ambiguous! she's evil! he's right!" And the female character in the three-hander Speed the Plow isn't the most positive of creatures.
I think he's good with dialogue (although it's a fucking bitch to learn) and he brings up some very interesting and thought provoking issues. But I also think it's quite possible that he's a pillock.
How about Nurse Betty? That's got a female protagonist, but I've not seen it. I remember it got pretty good reviews?
Jessica - Jul 11, 2005 7:43:19 am PDT #5507 of 10002
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
The only one of his I can think offhand with a gender-balanced cast is Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and even that's very much the guys' play.
JohnSweden - Jul 11, 2005 7:46:23 am PDT #5508 of 10002
I can't even.
I have an unhealthy affection for Mamet's Heist, the Gene Hackman caper movie. The dialogue is very snappy and stagey and it just appeals to me, in spite of how oddly all the people behave in the movie. I think the terrific supporting actors like Delroy Lindo and Ricky Jay really hook me too.
Jesse - Jul 11, 2005 7:47:08 am PDT #5509 of 10002
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
Mamet not so much with the writing, respecting or being interested in women.
In which case, I'm just as happy to have no female characters than lame or evil ones.
Jessica - Jul 11, 2005 7:48:55 am PDT #5510 of 10002
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
Nurse Betty is Neil Labute (ptooi!), not Mamet. It has its fans. I am not among them.
(I think the reason why Mamet's lack of interest in women doesn't offend me is that, unlike LaBute, he doesn't pretend fo be a feminist. He's a guy who writes about GUYS, period.)
Scrappy - Jul 11, 2005 7:50:48 am PDT #5511 of 10002
Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
I think he's a great writer--I'm just sorry my gender doesn't seem to interest him at all.
Frankenbuddha - Jul 11, 2005 7:50:50 am PDT #5512 of 10002
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"
How about Nurse Betty? That's got a female protagonist, but I've not seen it. I remember it got pretty good reviews?
That's not Mamet, but Neil LaBute. I'm not sure he (LaBute) actually did the screenplay to that one though.
I love the Rebecca Pidgeon (sp?) character in STATE AND MAIN, but I would have loved anyone who replied to a question about having kids with "I never much saw the point of them." From a grade school teacher, no less.
Beverly - Jul 11, 2005 7:54:32 am PDT #5513 of 10002
Days shrink and grow cold, sunlight through leaves is my song. Winter is long.
For palate-cleansing Val Kilmerosity, I recommend Thunderheart.
Oh yes. Plus, Graham Greene, yum. That was a damn hot duo, there. Um.
Val is also hit or miss with me, but I love him so very much when he hits: Top Secret, Tombstone, Real Genius.
Yupyupyup.
Dudes, Willow.
For sheer fun and physicality, that would be a yeppers.
Vonnie K - Jul 11, 2005 7:55:45 am PDT #5514 of 10002
Kiss me, my girl, before I'm sick.
Also, is it me, or are there not very many female protagonists in Mamet works, and for "not very many" read none?
The Lindsay Crouse character in House of Games rocked, although she's not particularly likable. I like the Catherine Winslow character from The Winslow Boy very well, but of course, she's not a Mamet creation. Plus, I kept thinking how much more I'd have liked the character if she were played by someone like Cate Blanchett instead of Rebecca Pidgeon.