The film industry is male dominated. People often challenge this notion by listing a bunch of films that star women, or by explaining that Kathryn Bigelow won an Oscar for directing 'The Hurt Locker'. These examples prove the point. If I said to you "Name ten great movies that have men in the leading roles," it would be easy, because nearly all films do.
While 'Bridesmaids' got the press coverage, pushing the fact that the cast were all women, it is writer's like Diablo Cody who are doing the real work to show us how we've been missing the voice of an entire gender for most of cinematic history. It's not that 'Young Adult' is a particularly brilliant film, although it is very good. What makes it stand apart from nearly every American film I've ever seen, is how strongly written Charlize Theron's character 'Mavis' is. I feel like I am watching a woman from a woman's point of view, and it's not buried in a 'woman's genre'. This is new territory. It is also worth noting that Jason Reitman directed this, as well as 'Juno'. He is tapping into a reservoir of talent that has, for the most part, been disregarded over the years.
Cody's writing is refreshing and unique. The structure and pacing of the film is expertly crafted. Mavis (Charlize Theron) has a goal, to win back Buddy (Patrick Wilson) -- and that is her (and the film's) only concern. She drives back to the town she grew up in, to win him back, and is remarkably nonplussed about the impact it might have on his marriage or newborn child.
The intriguing thing about the movie is that it's clear that the character's goal is doomed right from the beginning. It's like she's purposefully heading into a car crash. Even though I've never been a woman, nor have I tried to break up a marriage, I relate to her. Why? Because there's something beautifully human about her. A side of humanity we've all been at one time or another. Diablo Cody writes very subtle moments into the film where Mavis shows her vulnerability, where we realise she's not a careless bitch, just human. Just struggling. It occurred to me; I've not seen this too many times before, not with a female lead.
When people speak about the lack of women in leading roles, the comeback from those who disagree is often that "we have enough chick-flicks as it is". The view being, of course, that women just like to watch (and make) "Chick flicks". The intriguing thing about Diablo Cody is that two of her films, "Juno" and "Young Adult" have been about having babies; yet, they've not been predictable or chick-flick-ish at all. You may think that "Young Adult" is not about having a baby -- but when you see the film, there'll be a startling moment towards the end when you realise that it is hugely about that very thing.
"Juno" was her break-out hit, a mini-masterpiece. "Jennifer's Body" was average at best. "Young Adult" was subtle and intriguing. These three films, while not necessarily better or worse than films that would have been made by her male counterparts; do show a unique female voice. They leave us wondering, who else is out there like her? How different could the future of cinema look? We're ready.
