Searching for Debra Winger (2002)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Rosanna Arquette

Writer:

Rosanna Arquette (experiencer)

Release Date:

13 July 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Rosanna Arquette talks to various actresses about the pressures they face as women working in the entertainment industry.

Plot Keywords:

Interview | Actress | Stereotyping | Female Stereotype | Motherhood

Cast

Patricia Arquette	...	Herself
Rosanna Arquette	...	Herself
Emmanuelle Béart	...	Herself
Katrin Cartlidge	...	Herself
Laura Dern	...	Herself
Roger Ebert	...	Himself
Jane Fonda	...	Herself
Teri Garr	...	Herself
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Herself
Melanie Griffith	...	Herself
Daryl Hannah	...	Herself
Salma Hayek	...	Herself
Holly Hunter	...	Herself
Diane Lane	...	Herself
Kelly Lynch	...	Herself
Julianna Margulies	...	Herself
Chiara Mastroianni	...	Herself
Samantha Mathis	...	Herself
Frances McDormand	...	Herself
Catherine O'Hara	...	Herself
Julia Ormond	...	Herself
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Herself
Martha Plimpton	...	Herself
Charlotte Rampling	...	Herself
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Herself
Theresa Russell	...	Herself
Meg Ryan	...	Herself
Ally Sheedy	...	Herself
Adrienne Shelly	...	Herself
Hilary Shepard	...	Herself (as Hilary Shepard Turner)
Sharon Stone	...	Herself
Tracey Ullman	...	Herself
JoBeth Williams	...	Herself
Debra Winger	...	Herself
Alfre Woodard	...	Herself
Robin Wright Penn	...	Herself

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

France:100 min | France:97 min (Cannes Film Festival) | USA:99 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:12 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France

Company:

Immortal Entertainment

Trivia:

Screened as one of "out-of-competition" films at the Cannes Film Festival, May 2002. Director Rosanna Arquette says she made the documentary when she was struck by the fact that Debra Winger, who earned three Oscar nominations, had left the profession in her 30s.

Quotes:

Debra Winger: For me, when it started to be these schedules, like you get the script and you had to go to work in 4 weeks, 3 weeks, I got lost. It's like, what happened to my 3 months of preparation?

Movie Connections:

Features The Red Shoes (1948)

Soundtrack:

Fell In Love At 22

Surprisingly insightful

I actually just read about this documentary in Entertainment Weekly, so was surprised to see it on Showtime tonight. I was ready to slam it for being shallow, but was pleasantly surprised at its refreshing insights.

Rosanna Arquette directs this documentary about the role of women in Hollywood when they are no longer a starlet; the effects of age on the actress' career. What was most impressive about the documentary was the incredible number of actresses interviewed. From Sharon Stone to Martha Plimpton, Holly Hunter to Charlotte Rampling the many actresses (both fairly obscure and mainstream) express some interesting views without sounding like they are complaining about the `lack of strong roles for women' – a phrase that has become cliché. While I am not a fan of Salma Hayek in the least, she came across as very strong, voicing the need for female writers, directors, etc. (and backed up her word by doing that with Frida.)

Arquette's earthy style made the documentary flow very smoothly, and it was refreshing to see no pretensions. On many occasions, she very humbly expressed her adoration and respect for her subjects. She also put many of her interviewees together in groups which not only opened up the dialogue, but showed genuine camaraderie. Even Roger Ebert makes an appearance discussing how the movie going men tastes in movies have changed.

The one complaint I have is that I never really followed Arquette's vision. After listening to the amazing insights provided by actresses, I didn't see a clear correlation with the thesis.

Definitely worth a look, but definitely estrogen-laden so it may not be for all. But for someone who generally leans towards the `anti-Meg Ryan' films this was indeed interesting and thought provoking.

--Shelly