I'd rather whip something else, but you know.
October 19, 2011 1:20 PM Subscribe
I think I'm about to be heartbroken. Please recommend movies similar to Whip It for me. Possible spoilers inside.
Things I liked about that movie:
-the girl doesn't get the guy, and while it kinda sucks, it's okay in the end
-strong female characters
-strong female friendships and relationships
-awesome soundtrack
-pursuit of a passion outside of shopping or boys
-and of course, the always awesome Juliette Lewis and Kristen Wiig
Please, no typical chick flicks, movies where the girl doesn't get the guy she wants but gets a different guy, the cad turns out to be amisunderstood romantic, etc. I want movies that feature independent, powerful, self-actualizing women.
I welcome your suggestions, MeFis! I think it's about to be quite a long weekend and I'd like to not spend it at the bar drowning my impending sorrows :)
Things I liked about that movie:
-the girl doesn't get the guy, and while it kinda sucks, it's okay in the end
-strong female characters
-strong female friendships and relationships
-awesome soundtrack
-pursuit of a passion outside of shopping or boys
-and of course, the always awesome Juliette Lewis and Kristen Wiig
Please, no typical chick flicks, movies where the girl doesn't get the guy she wants but gets a different guy, the cad turns out to be amisunderstood romantic, etc. I want movies that feature independent, powerful, self-actualizing women.
I welcome your suggestions, MeFis! I think it's about to be quite a long weekend and I'd like to not spend it at the bar drowning my impending sorrows :)
I liked Roger Michell's The Mother. The female protagonist is not your typical Hollywood self-actualizing chick - no independent bakers or chefs in sight - but she definitely changes for her own good during the course of the movie. She is NOT wealthy or goodlooking, which I found refreshing. The movie meets (1), (2), and (5) of your list above. Realistic in the best sense of the word, that life is good AND bad, and most people just aren't that heroic. And there's Daniel Craig, too.
posted by Currer Belfry at 1:32 PM on October 19, 2011
posted by Currer Belfry at 1:32 PM on October 19, 2011
You want Spring Breakdown. (Trailer not fully representational of female awesomeness)
posted by yellowbinder at 1:37 PM on October 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by yellowbinder at 1:37 PM on October 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Have you seen Fried Green Tomatoes? It's not completely free of cheesy male/female romance, but I think it fits most of your criteria.
posted by juliplease at 1:40 PM on October 19, 2011
posted by juliplease at 1:40 PM on October 19, 2011
Bit of a different direction, but Winter's Bone was one of the best movies I saw last year.
posted by mannequito at 1:48 PM on October 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by mannequito at 1:48 PM on October 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Coco Before Chanel hits at least a few of your criteria.
Also, Out of Africa.
posted by argonauta at 1:51 PM on October 19, 2011
Also, Out of Africa.
posted by argonauta at 1:51 PM on October 19, 2011
A League of Their Own? I always thought of Kit as the protagonist of that movie*, and she doesn't have a love interest.
*I am a younger sibling. THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, DOTTIE, I LIKE THE HIGH ONES.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 1:53 PM on October 19, 2011 [9 favorites]
*I am a younger sibling. THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, DOTTIE, I LIKE THE HIGH ONES.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 1:53 PM on October 19, 2011 [9 favorites]
I liked Waiting to Exhale covers
-strong female characters
-strong female friendships and relationships
-awesome soundtrack
and the rest is gravy
posted by infini at 2:12 PM on October 19, 2011
-strong female characters
-strong female friendships and relationships
-awesome soundtrack
and the rest is gravy
posted by infini at 2:12 PM on October 19, 2011
I have no idea how easy it would be to get hold of Puberty Blues where you are, but it's an iconic Australian film amongst those of us who were growing up in the 70's.
I won't drop any spoilers, but I think it fits your requirements.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 2:21 PM on October 19, 2011
I won't drop any spoilers, but I think it fits your requirements.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 2:21 PM on October 19, 2011
You know, The Help actually fits a lot of your requirements. The girl doesn't get the boy. They are pursuing a lot of important political things outside of romantic relationships. And the female characters and relationships are very strong. There is a lot that is not politically correct and all with the book and the movie but I think it'd be a good choice for this weekend.
posted by thankyouforyourconsideration at 2:22 PM on October 19, 2011
posted by thankyouforyourconsideration at 2:22 PM on October 19, 2011
I Capture the Castle is great and has all these elements...
posted by Nibbly Fang at 3:18 PM on October 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Nibbly Fang at 3:18 PM on October 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Hanna fits your criteria (though it is radically different than Whip It). Sunshine Cleaning has a great sister relationship.
posted by bluefly at 3:33 PM on October 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by bluefly at 3:33 PM on October 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Easy A! Pretty much fits all of your criteria, except maybe number one (I don't want to give away the plot). Definitely has awesome female characters, a fun soundtrack, and is about more than relationships. And funny, too!
posted by wsquared at 4:29 PM on October 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by wsquared at 4:29 PM on October 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sex and the City (the TV episodes, not the movies-they suck)
---> strong female characters/friendships, rarely get the guy
posted by costanza at 4:59 PM on October 19, 2011
---> strong female characters/friendships, rarely get the guy
posted by costanza at 4:59 PM on October 19, 2011
Gas, Food, Lodging. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. The Runaways.
+1 on Easy A.
posted by artlung at 5:17 PM on October 19, 2011
+1 on Easy A.
posted by artlung at 5:17 PM on October 19, 2011
Response by poster: What swell pals you are. I've got a list and am on my way out to the movie store as we speak. Leaving the thread open in case others have additional suggestions. Thank you all!
posted by stellaluna at 5:34 PM on October 19, 2011
posted by stellaluna at 5:34 PM on October 19, 2011
Oldie but goodie - My Brilliant Career.
posted by gudrun at 5:58 PM on October 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by gudrun at 5:58 PM on October 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
HEARTBURN
posted by DMelanogaster at 7:11 PM on October 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by DMelanogaster at 7:11 PM on October 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Heathers! "You know what I want? Cool guys like you out of my life."
posted by pineappleheart at 8:02 PM on October 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by pineappleheart at 8:02 PM on October 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
Ladies and Gentlemen the Fabulous Stains
Antonia's Line
posted by brujita at 8:49 PM on October 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Antonia's Line
posted by brujita at 8:49 PM on October 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Shoot, if we're going down The Fabulous Stains road, what about Times Square?
posted by pineappleheart at 8:58 PM on October 19, 2011
posted by pineappleheart at 8:58 PM on October 19, 2011
This fits all your criteria but is a boy-free zone, pretty much - The Descent. Horror film, but it IS October...
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 9:01 PM on October 19, 2011
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 9:01 PM on October 19, 2011
Or Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion. Or Little Darlings. Or 9 to 5.
I'd stop if I could, but I can't.
posted by pineappleheart at 9:29 PM on October 19, 2011
I'd stop if I could, but I can't.
posted by pineappleheart at 9:29 PM on October 19, 2011
Oh! Finding Normal - yes, there is some romance involving one of the leads but it's very low-key and not really a plot point.
posted by likeso at 3:45 AM on October 20, 2011
posted by likeso at 3:45 AM on October 20, 2011
Oh good grief. It's Leaving Normal. Bit of a spoiler, huh.
posted by likeso at 3:47 AM on October 20, 2011
posted by likeso at 3:47 AM on October 20, 2011
Maybe you'd like Bring It On. I think it's a lot more what you're looking for than you might expect from a cheer-leading movie.
posted by RobotHero at 1:13 PM on October 20, 2011
posted by RobotHero at 1:13 PM on October 20, 2011
The Girl in the Cafe--Kelly Mcdonald. Released 2005
One of the best, non-predictable romances I've seen in years. The young woman playing the lead is headstrong, if idealistic and just can't understand why world leaders can't change the world (specifically solve world hunger). She accepts an invitation from a high diplomat (whom she met at a coffee shop) to attend a G-8 global conference in Iceland. They share a room together and start in separate beds. The movie watches two people from very different worlds fall in love and develop mutual respect for one another. Engrossing from start to finish and not traditional in any way. That's my pick.
posted by Sonrisa at 9:22 PM on October 20, 2011
One of the best, non-predictable romances I've seen in years. The young woman playing the lead is headstrong, if idealistic and just can't understand why world leaders can't change the world (specifically solve world hunger). She accepts an invitation from a high diplomat (whom she met at a coffee shop) to attend a G-8 global conference in Iceland. They share a room together and start in separate beds. The movie watches two people from very different worlds fall in love and develop mutual respect for one another. Engrossing from start to finish and not traditional in any way. That's my pick.
posted by Sonrisa at 9:22 PM on October 20, 2011
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posted by Gator at 1:25 PM on October 19, 2011 [1 favorite]