WEIRDLAND: Screen Feisty Heroines, Veronica Mars

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Screen Feisty Heroines, Veronica Mars

STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS: Many film scholars and critics have commented on the inadequacy of roles for women in American cinema in recent years, especially compared to the feisty, independent women seen in screwball comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. This seems particularly true when we think of Preston Sturges's comic heroines.

Who can forget Barbara Stanwyck in The Lady Eve or Claudette Colbert in The Palm Beach Story, whose blend of street smarts, flirtatious cunning, and solid inteligence puts them miles ahead of their men.

Then there's Jean Arthur's Mary in Easy Living, who exhibits that rare quality in American film comedy: a balance between complete innocence and a native intelligence that sees immediately to the heart of an issue, a moment, a person. -"Three More Screenplays by Preston Sturges: The Power and the Glory, Easy Living, and Remember the Night" (1998) by Andrew Horton

It Happened One Night (1934): -I asked you a simple question, do you love her?, -Yes, but don’t hold that against me, I’m a little screwy myself

"This seriocomical ritual of a feisty but vulnerable heroine didn't originate with the official masterminds at the big studios - this formula came from Frank Capra and other directors who, like him, started out on the margins of the movie industry: George Stevens, Gregory La Cava, Leo McCarey and Preston Sturges." -"The Runaway Bride: Hollywood Romantic Comedy of the 1930s" (2002) by Elizabeth Kendall

The focused, purposeful Veronica has lost none of her sarcasm in the intervening years, though she claims to have mellowed out. "People say I'm a marshmallow," she says during the opening credits. Veronica's private eye days are seemingly beyond her. "I don't -- really do that anymore," she says with hesitation when ex-boyfriend, naval man and Neptune resident Logan (Jason Dohring), accused of murdering a singing sensation, requests her help.

"Veronica Mars" is a light, comedic drama that mixes the ingredients of mystery, photography, goofiness and noir for an entertaining experience on the big screen. Ms. Bell brings intelligence, smarts and a toughness to the title role, giving the character an appealing gloss and fearlessness. She possesses charm, quick-wittedness and easy-going charisma too. I found "Veronica Mars" to be a lovely, engaging surprise. "Veronica Mars" is a clever, pleasant and enjoyable film that does most things right (save for the appearance of the mega over-exposed James Franco.) Sadly, in this film year, it may be the only one with a female lead character that does. Source: www.popcornreel.com

Kristen Bell makes sure we maintain our attention, as she’s such a beguiling and charismatic lead. Veronica Mars is a feisty individual, with bags of charm and all of the zinger one-liners. It’s illusory and absurd at the best of times, and considering the entire case is one heavily scrutinised by the press and very much in the public eye, what the leading suspect gets up to is difficult to believe in to say the least. He’s convicted of murder and he’s going out to nightclubs with lookalikes of the deceased victim, and his ex-girlfriend. Source: www.heyuguys.co.uk

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