On October 11, 2024, with a streaming release on the 18th, Netflix released 'Woman of the Hour', which has earned rave reviews from critics, currently holding at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes alongside a Critics Consensus that reads, "Deftly directed by star Anna Kendrick, Woman of the Hour uses an incredible true story as the foundation for a powerful examination of the intersection between systemic misogyny and violence." In the film, "An aspiring actress crosses paths with a prolific serial killer in '70s LA when they're cast on an episode of "The Dating Game." Based on a true story." The ensemble cast includes Tony Hale, Kelley Jakie, and Max Lloyd-Jones. But what did the critics say?
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com says, "Kendrick plays Sheryl, a struggling actress in Los Angeles in 1978, who is introduced in another sexist audition in which it seems like her body matters more than her talent. An agent gets her an unexpected gig on a hit show! It just happens to be as a contestant on “The Dating Game.” Kendrick reveals how the institutionalized behavior on a show like “The Dating Game” encourages sexist behavior. Sure, people like the cheesy host (a perfect Tony Hale) would argue it’s all in good fun, but there’s something coded in language like “get the girl” that both infantilizes women and makes them possessions. When Sheryl starts rewriting her questions to make them more interesting, the host rolls his eyes, pushing her out the door when it’s over in a hurry. Sheryl’s episode of “The Dating Game” would become one of history’s most famous game show chapters because of who else was on it: Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto). A few years later, the authorities arrested Alcala after discovering he was a serial rapist and killer. Some estimates place Alcala’s crime spree at over 130 people. And there he was on “The Dating Game,” trying hard to “get the girl.” Adding, "Kendrick moves back and forth in time and perspective, capturing in chilling detail a few of Alcala’s crimes that occurred before and after his relatively brief but memorable interaction with Sheryl. She proves to have a firm grip on the thriller genre—it feels like she could handle a legitimate horror film—in scenes in which Alcala goes from charming to vicious. She also handles the behind-the-scenes half of the film well, revealing the ins and outs of one of several cultural phenomena based on gender tropes. Kendrick doesn’t hammer that point too bluntly—she’s not blaming “The Dating Game” for Rodney Alcala—but her film deftly reveals how one exists alongside the other and how often authorities looked the other way when true evil was sitting right there on TV. They might have been too busy watching “The Dating Game.”
Nicolas Rapold of Financial Times notes, "Resisting the bloodlust of many serial-killer movies, Woman of the Hour resonates beyond its 1970s setting through its attention to routine sexism that persists now, and the subtle ways Cheryl and other women support one another."
 |
| Photo by Josh Chiodo on Unsplash |
Matt Maytum of Total Film praises the film, stating, " But despite the flashes of fun, there’s an ever-present undercurrent of tension in the studio, from the ticking-clock countdown to the show starting, the glare of the studio lights, and the demands of live broadcasting. There are also smaller-scale toxic scenarios with men that Sheryl and the women of the film have to deal with - from the aforementioned host, who asks Sheryl not to play too smart on stage when she can just smile and laugh, to a pushy pal unable or unwilling to read signals. And beyond that, there are more sinister accusations that go unheeded. As Rodney, Daniel Zovatto is an unnerving presence throughout. Clearly able to turn on the charm (hence the spot on one of The Dating Game’s three tall stools), he’s never too far from dropping the mask and revealing the predator underneath. With his long, lank, black hair, he’s like a young Vincent D’Onofrio crossed with Jack White. He verges on being the protagonist, given that he glides like a shark through all the story strands."
No comments:
Post a Comment