Women's Voices for Change

Women's Voices for Change is not a Tomatometer-approved publication. Reviews from this publication only count toward the Tomatometer® when written by the following Tomatometer-approved critic(s): Alexandra MacAaron, Cecilia Ford
Rating Title/Year Author
7/10 Misbehaviour (2020) Alexandra MacAaron 'Misbehaviour' tells parallel stories about two sets of young women trying to improve things. Both the feminists and the contestants want more and better opportunities - they're just using diametrically opposed methods of getting there. EDIT
Posted Jan 22, 2021
5/10 Happiest Season (2020) Alexandra MacAaron really wanted to like 'Happiest Season.' On the one hand, there should be more inclusive titles in every genre, including holiday. On the other hand, inclusivity alone doesn't make a film great or even all that good. EDIT
Posted Jan 22, 2021
9/10 Farewell Amor (2020) Alexandra MacAaron It may be true that, "absence makes the heart grow fonder." But, it's also true that people are constantly changing and evolving. How wonderful, if unlikely, that two changed people might remain in love - or slowly rediscover it - after 17 years. EDIT
Posted Jan 22, 2021
5/10 The Prom (2020) Alexandra MacAaron Alas, The 'Prom' is a little too slick. Murphy loses the camp that made the story's silliness acceptable on Broadway. It's easy (and fun) to leave common sense behind when you're watching a staged show. It's harder onscreen. EDIT
Posted Jan 22, 2021
8/10 Herself (2020) Alexandra MacAaron Written by the film's luminous star Clare Dunne, and respectfully directed by Phyllida Lloyd, 'Herself' tells the story of Sandra, a working-class Irish woman who has two angelic daughters and a monster for a husband. EDIT
Posted Jan 22, 2021
6/10 Rebecca (2020) Alexandra MacAaron Whether it was a deliberate choice or a happy coincidence, I think the new 'Rebecca's' raison d'etre is actually Kristin Scott Thomas as Mrs. Danvers. EDIT
Posted Oct 27, 2020
8/10 Black Is King (2020) Alexandra MacAaron A hero's journey. A celebration of African redemption. A spectacular ninety-minute music video. A glorious affirmation served up in a time of violence, hate, and social unrest. 'Black is King' is all this, and more. EDIT
Posted Oct 20, 2020
9.5/10 What the Constitution Means to Me (2020) Alexandra MacAaron This will enlighten you on Constitutional theory. It will also deliver solid entertainment, heartfelt personal stories, sublime performances, and a taste of what we lost when live theater was shuttered seven months ago. EDIT
Posted Oct 20, 2020
9.5/10 The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020) Alexandra MacAaron Writer, director, producer, and star Radha Blank's semi-autobiography of an artist's early midlife crisis is smart and funny and simply great entertainment. I love this f*cking movie! EDIT
Posted Oct 17, 2020
9/10 The Glorias (2020) Alexandra MacAaron We haven't reached the end yet, as the final scenes of the real and glorious Gloria Steinem in 2017 resignedly reinforce. "Are we there yet?" No. But The Glorias gives us hope. EDIT
Posted Oct 6, 2020
5/10 I Am Woman (2019) Alexandra MacAaron 'I Am Woman' is a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. But it lacks the drama and depth of other rockstar biopics. Helen Reddy and her anthem to feminism deserve more. EDIT
Posted Oct 6, 2020
7/10 Summerland (2020) Alexandra MacAaron Summerland is sweet but fairly predictable. The English coast and countryside are gorgeous. And, the film's ending is uplifting and gratifying. All in all, the film is a little too lightweight, despite its excellent cast, but definitely enjoyable. EDIT
Posted Sep 16, 2020
9/10 Cuties (2020) Alexandra MacAaron "Cuties" is complicated and at times disturbing, but not for the reasons cited by its critics. It's an effective argument against exploitation, not exploitive in itself. EDIT
Posted Sep 16, 2020
7.5/10 Radioactive (2019) Alexandra MacAaron How do two porcupines make love? Very carefully. I was reminded of this joke as I watched the first twenty minutes of Radioactive, the creative and satisfying Madame Curie biopic directed by Marjane Satrapi. EDIT
Posted Jul 28, 2020
9/10 Relic (2020) Alexandra MacAaron If ever there was a horror film written from the heart, it's Natalie Erika James's debut. Relic deals with one of life's "real" horrors in an utterly fresh and genuinely frightening way. EDIT
Posted Jul 21, 2020
9/10 Athlete A (2020) Alexandra MacAaron Cohen and Shenk allow victims an opportunity to share their harrowing stories. They shine a light on a cruel, manipulative system that created a toxic environment in which young victims were so accustomed to abuse they doubted their own experiences. EDIT
Posted Jul 14, 2020
8/10 Miss Juneteenth (2020) Alexandra MacAaron It's Channing Godfrey Peoples's memories of Juneteenth celebrations that inspired her first feature film, the sensitive, moving, and ultimately uplifting mother-daughter story of 'Miss Juneteenth.' EDIT
Posted Jul 6, 2020
5/10 Shirley (2020) Alexandra MacAaron Aside from appreciating the fine acting of Moss, Stuhlbarg, and Young, I found "Shirley" to be a great disappointment. That said, it did inspire me to reread "The Lottery," which is something I can wholeheartedly recommend. EDIT
Posted Jun 26, 2020
9/10 Clemency (2019) Alexandra MacAaron 'Clemency' is a powerful character study of a woman whose professionalism seamlessly masks her character. We see her dreams; we see her self-destructive after-hours behavior. Yet, we never see her crack on the job. EDIT
Posted Jun 26, 2020
8/10 Military Wives (2019) Alexandra MacAaron You may feel you've seen this movie before. But, the main message, one of solidarity in a time of uncertainty, resonates in 'Military Wives.' There's a quite wonderful sense of sorority. EDIT
Posted May 26, 2020
8.5/10 A Secret Love (2020) Alexandra MacAaron There is nothing but respect and genuine affection here. If anything, the film evokes a sense of admiration and wonder for any couple that can maintain the love and sense of sheer joy for and about each other. EDIT
Posted May 26, 2020
9/10 The Assistant (2019) Alexandra MacAaron The film follows a junior assistant as she tries to expose her boss and his reign of sexual terror. What happens is more disturbing. Because, what happens is . . . nothing. EDIT
Posted May 8, 2020
9/10 Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) Alexandra MacAaron The female solidarity is striking. The women know that their relationship is doomed from the start. Not only is it impossible to imagine a lesbian life together, but Marianne is actually creating the object that will separate them forever. EDIT
Posted Mar 10, 2020
6.5/10 Troop Zero (2019) Alexandra MacAaron If you can excuse a bit of cinematic aimlessness at the beginning, you'll enjoy the story of star-struck Christmas Flint and her band of space explorers. EDIT
Posted Feb 25, 2020
8/10 Taylor Swift: Miss Americana (2020) Alexandra MacAaron 'Miss Americana' offers a compelling and compassionate portrait of an extraordinarily talented woman who has grown up and remained remarkably unspoiled under the harshest possible spotlights. EDIT
Posted Feb 25, 2020
8/10 The Photograph (2020) Alexandra MacAaron I was afraid I was in for a sappy romance. The Photograph, written and directed by Stella Meghie, turned out to be decidedly romantic and not at all sappy. It's beautiful to watch (and not just because of its unusually handsome stars). EDIT
Posted Feb 25, 2020
The Post (2017) Cecilia Ford Though there are a few too many shots of Streep entering rooms where she is the only woman, the film tries to underscore how unusual and thus lonely her position was. EDIT
Posted Jan 8, 2020
Jane (2017) Cecilia Ford Thrilling. Heartbreaking. Incandescently beautiful. EDIT
Posted Jan 8, 2020
Three Identical Strangers (2018) Cecilia Ford A new addition has joined the already impressive roster of feature-length documentaries this year. EDIT
Posted Jan 8, 2020
Untouchable (2019) Cecilia Ford Valuable as it is to hear from the victims, I welcome more understanding of the social and psychological factors in our culture that have allowed men to behave badly, some very badly, for far too long. EDIT
Posted Jan 8, 2020
9/10 Little Women (2019) Alexandra MacAaron Greta Gerwig's 'Little Women' succeeds marvelously in retelling Jo March's - and Louisa May Alcott's - stories for a very fortunate new generation. EDIT
Posted Jan 3, 2020
8/10 Honey Boy (2019) Alexandra MacAaron "Honey Boy' is terribly sad but a beautiful film. And one that is worthy of the fine reviews it has received, as well as serious awards consideration. EDIT
Posted Dec 20, 2019
9/10 Queen & Slim (2019) Alexandra MacAaron Queen & Slim is a tremendous tribute to the human spirit. And although it dramatizes themes of desperation and injustice, it is hauntingly beautiful. Its heroes - and heartbreak - will stay with you long after the credits roll. EDIT
Posted Dec 10, 2019
8/10 Last Christmas (2019) Alexandra MacAaron It's a bit of a mash-up (and not always in a good way). It's also genuinely heartwarming and adorable. It's very much the kind of movie that gets lukewarm (to lousy) reviews but leaves audiences feeling quite satisfied and even a bit weepy. EDIT
Posted Nov 12, 2019
8/10 Harriet (2019) Alexandra MacAaron As true-life abolitionist and conductor on the underground railroad Cynhia Erivo will take your breath away. If the movie is at times formulaic, it is nevertheless a beautiful and emotionally rewarding tribute to the real Tubman. EDIT
Posted Nov 6, 2019
7/10 Sister Aimee (2019) Alexandra MacAaron Samantha Buck and Marie Schlingmann's new film "Sister Aimee" is, by their own admission, 94.5% imagination. What "Sister Aimee" does have in spades is a truly marvelous cast. EDIT
Posted Oct 15, 2019
9/10 Judy (2019) Alexandra MacAaron At once a celebration of an iconic star's courageous last stand and a cautionary tale about a brilliantly talented young girl whose childhood was stolen by an industry that eventually abandoned her. EDIT
Posted Oct 15, 2019
9/10 Downton Abbey (2019) Alexandra MacAaron If you were among the millions of fans who suffered Downton withdrawal, by all means get thee to your local cinema this weekend. Downton Abbey, the movie, is bigger, if not exactly better, than ever. EDIT
Posted Sep 17, 2019
5/10 Vita & Virginia (2018) Alexandra MacAaron Lovely to look at, and the content is interesting from both historical and literary perspectives. But, the relationship at its center is never quite as all-consuming as it should be. EDIT
Posted Sep 17, 2019
9/10 One Child Nation (2019) Alexandra MacAaron Wang was aware that she might face resistance and actual danger as she uncovered the truth about China's one-child policy - 35 brutal years of the country's history that it now seems determined to forget. EDIT
Posted Aug 30, 2019
5/10 Otherhood (2019) Alexandra MacAaron There are smart, mature, women-centric originals on streaming services. But, there are been duds too. For every shining OITNB, Handmaid's Tale, and Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, there's the other end of the spectrum. In this case, it's called Otherhood. EDIT
Posted Aug 26, 2019
9/10 Blinded by the Light (2019) Alexandra MacAaron Today, the U.S. faces renewed divisiveness and hate as it grapples with issues of immigration, racism, nationalism, and xenophobia. With this in mind, "Blinded by the Light," Chadha's exuberant new film, provides a most welcome respite. EDIT
Posted Aug 26, 2019
8/10 Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché (2018) Alexandra MacAaron Thanks in large part to Pamela B. Green's lovely and loving film, Alice Guy-Blaché is no longer behind the scenes. She is front and center, exactly where she should have been for the past century. EDIT
Posted Jul 25, 2019
9/10 Maiden (2018) Alexandra MacAaron If "Equal Pay for Equal Play" is such a newsworthy issue in 2019, imagine how much more difficult it was for female athletes to be taken seriously 30 years ago. EDIT
Posted Jul 19, 2019
7/10 Ophelia (2018) Alexandra MacAaron The new costume drama 'Ophelia' tells the famous story from Hamlet's on-again, off-again girlfriend's point of view. And then it turns it on its head. EDIT
Posted Jul 12, 2019
9/10 Late Night (2019) Alexandra MacAaron 'Late Night' deals with more substantive topics, like diversity, the #MeToo movement (and what it means when the workplace aggressor is a woman and her targeted subordinate a man), and especially ageism. EDIT
Posted Jun 19, 2019
8/10 Booksmart (2019) Alexandra MacAaron 'Booksmart' is a funny, entertaining, and very smart celebration of the deep friendship between two academically gifted girls who decide to make up for four years of non-stop studying with one epic night of partying EDIT
Posted Jun 6, 2019
8/10 Rafiki (2018) Alexandra MacAaron 'Rafiki' is visually compelling, and the story it tells, although by no means unfamiliar, so engaging that it's easy to overlook the film's very fine performances. EDIT
Posted May 28, 2019
6/10 Wine Country (2019) Alexandra MacAaron The cast and creative team are tremendously smart and talented. There are wonderful moments, but as delightful as they are, they feel like individual skits rather than a cohesive whole. A very pleasant roadtrip that could have been funnier. EDIT
Posted May 21, 2019
7.5/10 Long Shot (2019) Alexandra MacAaron Female presidents of the United States may be in short supply (or, sadly, in no supply) in the real world, but they've become surprisingly common on screens big and small. EDIT
Posted May 16, 2019