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| a weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves |
Welcome to another Thursday Movie Picks post. As usual, I am yet again writing it last minute but this week I've also struggled to come up with three films that fit the theme of femme fatales as I've already used films whose characters would have been the perfect fit. That being said, I still managed to think of three characters/films.
Ex Machina (2015)
While she technically is not a female as she is A.I., Ava (Alicia Vikander) definitely fits as she quickly learns to seduce and use her charms to get what she wants.
Get Out (2017)
When it comes to the horror genre, Rose (Allison Williams) is the first that comes to my mind that fits the theme. Poor Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) can't even begin to imagine what's coming when he reluctantly accepts to go to her home to meet her family.
Promising Young Woman (2020)
If there's something we can all agree about, it certainly is that this film handles the femme fatale character in a new, unique way as the main character Cassie (Carey Mulligan) teaches lessons to men with predatory behaviour.
I still want to see Ex Machina. My husband owns it on blu ray but I've never watched it which is ridiculous because it has Oscar. Great choices for the other two as well!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a fan the first time I watched it and rewatched it mainly for Oscar. Not surprised I enjoyed the film more the second time haha.
DeleteI'll start with the one I liked best which surprisingly for me was Get Out. You know I'm not much of a horror guy and I had put off watching it because of that but happened upon it just as it beginning a couple of weeks ago and decided to give it a shot. It was really much more suspense than flat out horror which is much more my jam. The character you picked is definitely a femme fatale I just wish the actress who played her had been a little less colorless.
ReplyDeleteI've forgotten most of Ex-Machina honestly. I was fine the once but I'll never return to it.
Promising Young Woman is one I want to catch but I haven't gotten to it yet.
I went all in for classic noir since it is rife with poisonous femmes. I could have done a list of a dozen or more but kept it to four.
Murder, My Sweet (1944)-Private dick Philip Marlowe (Dick Powell) is hired by lumbering Moose Malloy (Mike Mazurki) fresh from the slammer to track down his former girlfriend Velma. Simultaneously he's commissioned to accompany flashy playboy Lindsay Marriott (Douglas Walton) to buy back a stolen necklace. When the exchange goes wrong and the playboy is murdered Marlowe can't leave the case alone, and soon discovers it's related to Malloy's. As he pursues answers he is drawn deeper into a complex web of intrigue by the sweet Ann Grayle (Anne Shirley in her final film) and her detested stepmother, the mysterious and potentially lethal Helen (Claire Trevor). Suddenly the detective finds his own life in increasing jeopardy. A seminal film in the noir canon which turned the already famous Claire Trevor into the acknowledged Queen of Noir.
Hangover Square (1945)-In Victorian London composer George Bone (Laird Cregar) is struggling to complete his concerto, the stress of which is causing periods of blackouts where he fears he is committing unspeakable acts. Instructed by his doctor (George Sanders) to relax Bone begins to frequent a dance hall and becomes obsessed with the beautiful but duplicitous saloon singer Netta (Linda Darnell). Netta leeches onto the hapless musician manipulating him with false promises to extract songs to further her career. When George realizes he’s being played for a fool destruction is eminent for all. This was famed villain Cregar’s shot at leading man stardom which he desperately craved. A big man who tipped the scale at over 300 lbs. he went on a crash diet to lose 100 of those before production began leading to a heart attack and his death at 29 shortly after the film’s completion.
Too Late for Tears (1949)-With the cops in hot pursuit fleeing robber Danny Fuller (Dan Duryea) frantically tosses a valise full of cash from his car with it fortuitously landing in the passing car of Jane and Alan Palmer (Lizabeth Scott & Arthur Kennedy). The Palmers at first plan to return the money but then Jane realizes she can escape her humdrum life and transforms into a rapacious and ruthless schemer who will do whatever is necessary to keep the loot no matter the cost or who will have to pay.
Human Desire (1954)-After instigating a fight brutish Carl Buckley (Broderick Crawford) is canned from his railroad job. Bitter and frenzied he coerces his young wife Vicki (Gloria Grahame) to use her wiles on her former paramour Mr. Owens (Grandon Rhodes) now Carl’s boss to try to gain his job back. It works, but Carl in a jealous rage convinces himself that Vicki and Owens are involved romantically and murders the man, forcing Vicki to become his accomplice. Sick of her husband's violent ways, Vicki seduces Jeff (Glenn Ford), one of Carl’s coworkers, and ensnares him in a plot to murder her husband but that path may lead to doom for them all.
I'm so glad you enjoyed Get Out. I also love that it's not the typical modern horror but instead is so suspenseful.
DeleteI yet again haven't seen any of your picks.
I love your first two and wanted to love the last pick, but had some issues with it. They definitely fit the theme!
ReplyDeleteI also had issues with Promising Young Woman. It was doing so well but all of a sudden it started going so wrong.
DeleteLOVE that you picked Promising Young Woman, because Cassie was one of the first I thought of for the theme. I also 100% agree with Ex Machina being listed. Ava fits the category to the T.
ReplyDeleteCassie was also one of the first I thought of.
DeleteEx Machina works really well and is an upsetting film but she gets what she wants. I have not seen the other 2 but "Get Out" is one I do want to see.
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend Get Out. As for Promising Young Woman, you can skip it without missing much.
DeleteOooh! I love Get Out! Such a creepy yet intriguing film!
ReplyDeleteI know right!
DeleteThe only film in that list I haven't seen yet is Promising Young Woman which I hope to see before the end of the year. I have seen your other choices and they're spot on.
ReplyDeleteIt's a very faulty movie. I hope it'll work better for you.
DeleteWe match with Promising Young Woman - it's a perfect pick this week.
ReplyDeleteEx Machina is one I am extremely curious about!
You should check it out, it is so good!
DeleteOoh great choices! I really need to see Ex Machina again sometime soon. That movie was such a pleasant surprise.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Delete