No Pretty Women need apply

October 2, 2007 12:29 PM

Looking for good movies for a "Girls' Night In."

Looking for movies that aren't "chick flicks" for a group of women between 23 and 40 years old. We're much more "Thelma and Louise" than "Beaches." The age range means that there are probably some really good ones, like The Commitments, that the younger of us may have missed.

Here's my list so far:
June Bug
The Commitments
Flirting (excellent)
Dancer in the Dark
The Professional with Jean Reno. (So cute for a an aging French dude.)
The Gods Must Be Crazy
Little Man Tate
Me Without You
The Hours

We're pro subtitles and things that will cause lots of conversation over our wine glasses. Any thoughts?

posted by thebrokedown to media & arts (40 comments total)

"Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown" by Pedro Almodovar. You will choke with laughter!
posted by Wilder at 12:37 PM on October 2, 2007

You do know the Professional is about a hired killer and revenge and of course has nifty exit wounds and such right? Cute little Ms. Portman aside.

Try Man in the Moon or Then and Now.
posted by Freedomboy at 12:40 PM on October 2, 2007

Business of Strangers - Stockard Channing, Julia Stiles; was not at all what I'd thought it was going to be. Very conversation-producing.
posted by rtha at 12:42 PM on October 2, 2007

Before Sunset and The Spanish Apartment. Although, Before Sunset might be a little more in the "Beaches" category.
posted by whoaali at 12:44 PM on October 2, 2007

the pillow book? features a naked ewan macgregor if you're into that.
posted by juv3nal at 12:45 PM on October 2, 2007

Yeah, thanks, Freedomboy. I threw that in because it is just a really good film and has some interesting interpersonal relationship things going on. You forgot to mention the sexual tension between the preteen and the killer!
posted by thebrokedown at 12:46 PM on October 2, 2007

(Somewhat) recent ones I have loved:
Little Children
Amelie
Factory Girl
Eternal Sunshine...
Big Fish
Dot the I
The Shape of Things
Before Sunrise/Before Sunset
posted by Ruby Doomsday at 12:47 PM on October 2, 2007

I say anything with Catherine Keener: Friends with Money, Being John Malkovich.

What about Sofia Coppalla films: Vigin Suicides, Lost in Translation, Marie Antionette
posted by lannanh at 12:48 PM on October 2, 2007

You forgot to mention the sexual tension between the preteen and the killer!

You should watch the extended cut of the original French version (Léon).
posted by inigo2 at 12:48 PM on October 2, 2007

I've seen countless subtitled movies, but none of them have really stuck with me like "Crazy".

It may be questionable as a good movie-night movie but it's a documentary, has subtitles and probably will provoke discussion.
posted by triggerfinger at 12:50 PM on October 2, 2007

Mulholland Drive

That'll give you lots to talk about over wine.
posted by sour cream at 12:51 PM on October 2, 2007

Nikita?
posted by Martin E. at 12:51 PM on October 2, 2007

also Diva. (Sorry about the wiki-link in last reply--it has spoilers.)
posted by Martin E. at 12:54 PM on October 2, 2007

Gosford Park
Mrs. Brown

...and a few Asian films, all subtitled:

Farewell, My Concubine
Chungking Express
The Scent of Green Papaya
posted by jquinby at 12:54 PM on October 2, 2007

"The Illusionist" It's an extremely clever film.
posted by Phalene at 1:00 PM on October 2, 2007

Lovely and Amazing
posted by porn in the woods at 1:03 PM on October 2, 2007

Paris, je t'aime

(LOVED The Professional, HATED Junebug)
posted by clh at 1:08 PM on October 2, 2007

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Happy Endings
posted by breaks the guidelines? at 1:09 PM on October 2, 2007

8 Women!

The Ice Storm
Clockwatchers
Bound
The Lives of Others
Notes on a Scandal
The Abyss, with both endings if possible.
The Princess and the Warrior
YES
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:11 PM on October 2, 2007

oh, and Conversations With Other Women and Tape.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:12 PM on October 2, 2007

If you are doing The Commitments, you should also check out The Snapper,, which is the second of Roddy Doyle's trilogy based on that Irish family (The Van is the third). All of these movies are hilarious, but The Snapper is especially great.
posted by kimdog at 1:28 PM on October 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

Crossing Delancey
posted by Kensational at 1:29 PM on October 2, 2007

Strangers in Good Company is about a busload of old women stranded in the middle of nowhere in an abandoned farm house. It's very good, and sort of "old girl power"-y (Careful not to get "The Comfort of Strangers.")
posted by booth at 1:39 PM on October 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

9 to 5
The Spanish Prisoner
The first La Femme Nikita
posted by history is a weapon at 1:39 PM on October 2, 2007

Claude Chabrol is very good at making thought provoking but also wildly entertaining films that might go down nicely for a movie night like you describe. I especially recommend Masques or La Ceremonie. There is some violence in both of these, but it sounds like that's not necessarily a deal breaker.

Yuri Mamin's Window to Paris is a delightfully strange Russian comedy about a family that finds a secret window in their Moscow apartment that leads to Paris.

There are a few movies I think of as "very male" that might make for interesting viewing for your female group: 8 1/2 and The 400 Blows are the first ones that jump to mind, but I'm sure there are others.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 1:54 PM on October 2, 2007

Gazon Maudit aka "French Twist"

Pan's Labyrinth
posted by Martin E. at 1:58 PM on October 2, 2007

Seconding Pan's Labyrinth, Lives of Others, Mulholland Drive and Little Children (the last 2 will give you plenty to talk about)

and two little films -- Marion Bridge and Sweetland

Nowhere in Africa.
Dirty Pretty Things
Japanese Story
posted by nnk at 2:10 PM on October 2, 2007

and Heaven and Blue
posted by nnk at 2:12 PM on October 2, 2007

Children of a Lesser God
posted by Martin E. at 2:13 PM on October 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

How about the Big Blue/le Grand Bleu? Moving and beautiful film, slightly kooky, Jean-Marc Barr, Jean Reno and Rosanna Arquette
Or The Last Seduction with Linda Fiorentino - excellent antidote to vapid chick flicks
posted by Marzipan at 2:18 PM on October 2, 2007

"You Can Count On Me" is one of my favourites.
posted by backwards guitar at 2:19 PM on October 2, 2007

Antonia's Line is a Dutch movie about a family matriarch that most men would dismiss as a chick flick, but most women will realize is runs deeper.

also, Bobby, only because I've been recommending it to EVERYONE since I watched it 4 months ago. The older women in the group may be more affected, but I was born 17 years after RFK's assassination and it still moved me.
posted by kidsleepy at 2:19 PM on October 2, 2007

Les visiteurs: Hilarious. The performance of Valérie Lemercier is delightful.
Le bonheur est dans le pré: Exquisite feel-good movie. My wife rents it at least once a year and I enjoy it.
posted by bru at 2:24 PM on October 2, 2007

I beg you to watch House of Sand. I will not say anything about it except that you should watch it knowing very little or nothing about the plot, location, or the real-life relationships between the actors.
posted by loosemouth at 3:41 PM on October 2, 2007

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions. Now I just have to decide on the wine....
posted by thebrokedown at 3:43 PM on October 2, 2007

Your list is long enough, and most of my faves are already up there, but I wanted to add Sleep With Me and The Upside of Anger because they've both elicited the most fascinating post-movie discussions with friends.

(Slight derail: I've found that my female friends, even the ones who generally avoid films that are the least violent, all seem to LOVE The Professional. As do I. I've often wondered why. Is it the way the violence is handled? Or the strength of the character-portrayals? Should I be posting this as a separate AskMeta query? Probably....)
posted by squasha at 6:18 PM on October 2, 2007

Almodovar make a lot of good discussion films, Talk To Her, is a truly brave and thought-provoking film. As is Volver, which is much more comfortable and charming.
posted by biscotti at 9:02 PM on October 2, 2007

An Unmarried Woman
the original Heartbreak Kid
" ' Born Yesterday

the Rosalind Russell Auntie Mame and The Front Page

Most of Jean Harlow's films--whose onscreen persona was that she liked men and having fun, but could take care of herself (unlike her real life)
posted by brujita at 10:10 PM on October 2, 2007

I Heart Huckabees?
posted by electroboy at 7:35 AM on October 3, 2007

Oldboy by Chan-wook Park (won 17 awards & had 8 nominations)

"After being kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must find his captor in 5 days." This quotation indicates what the film is about, but it doesn't capture what it's about. So don't let this description put you off!
posted by lioness at 3:35 PM on October 3, 2007