The Lara Croft Rule

Editor’s note: This is part of a series of posts that highlight repeatedly recycled film topics. I’ll post a link to these within some of my reviews in order to save words and keep from driving myself crazy writing the same thing over and over.

The more I think about this one, the more I think of more films that follow this rule. If the female lead is wearing layers, check to see if there’s a white t-shirt or tank top as the base. If she does, those layers will slowly disappear. By the end of the film, she’ll be one pitcher of beer away from a wet t-shirt contest. Sexist? Obviously. I call it the Lara Croft Rule only because Lara’s base layer is so renowned. Examples? How about “Career Opportunities,” “Those Who Wish Me Dead,” “Twister,” and “Uncharted?” Can you think of more?

A Few Words About Bruce Willis

Film fans by now are likely aware there was an announcement that longtime action hero Bruce Willis would be stepping away from acting due to “aphasia.” If that’s code for dementia, I feel for Bruce and his family. Having dealt with it up-close, I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. It also throws a huge plot twist into unflattering perceptions about his recent choices of films (these films should still be assessed apart from his health issues). Cashing huge checks to play token roles in a plethora of mediocre movies reeks of exploitation. The question now becomes: who was exploiting who?

The Schwarzenegger Problem

Editor’s note: This is part of a series of posts that highlight repeatedly recycled film topics. I’ll post a link to these within some of my reviews in order to save words and keep from driving myself crazy writing the same thing over and over.

An action movie. The star is not American. The script calls for an American. The star plays the American but makes no effort to sound like an American. Because it’s an action movie. This. my friends, is the Schwarzenegger Problem. I can give you 100 examples of dramas in which British actors nail various American dialects, but action flicks apparently spend too much on pyro and not enough on voice coaches. It’s not just Arnold. Liam Neeson is the worst current perpetrator. It’s an unnecessary distraction. Just fix the script. Give him an immigrant backstory. Why is this so hard?