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6.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Female remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Female is one of those movies that starts with a lot of promise. Alison Drake is running a massive automobile factory, and she’s doing it with a cold, iron grip. It’s actually pretty refreshing to see a lead character who isn't apologizing for her ambition for the first half hour. 🏢
Then, George Brent shows up. And suddenly, the whole boardroom tension just... evaporates. It’s like the movie suddenly realized it needed to be a romance instead of a character study. I found myself wishing she’d just fire the guy and get back to the assembly line issues.
Speaking of the factory, those scenes are surprisingly tactile. You can practically smell the oil and hear the clanging of the metal. It feels grounded in a way the rest of the film doesn't. 🔩
There’s this one sequence where she’s staring at a desk calendar, and the camera lingers for way too long. I’m not sure if it was a budget constraint or an artistic choice, but it made me want to get up and grab a coffee. It felt like the film was waiting for me to catch up to its feelings.
If you've seen The Simple Life, you know that transition from professional stakes to domestic ones can be jarring. Here, it feels like the movie just gives up on the 'tough-minded executive' bit. It’s a shame, really.
I’m not saying it’s bad, but it’s definitely uneven. Some of the side characters feel like they wandered in from a different set entirely. There’s a guy in the background of the meeting scene who looks like he’s trying to remember if he left his stove on. I couldn't stop looking at him. 🤷♂️
The dialogue shifts from sharp to mushy in about two seconds. It’s jarring. One minute she’s talking about market shares, and the next she’s talking about his blue eyes or whatever. It’s a weird pivot.
Is it worth your time? Only if you’re a fan of the era or just want to see some classic sets. Otherwise, it’s a bit of a relic. Kind of like the cars they’re building, I guess. Keep your expectations low and you’ll be fine.