Tell It Like a Woman

This film is essentially a series of short films, whose only connection is a general theme of hardship for women.

Each of these stories are important. The real life people and situations that this film is based on are important.

However, in my opinion, it doesn't work as a movie. There's a lot of talent both in front and behind the camera, and I really respect the intent of the film, but I found myself detached, and impatient.

I don't think this film is going to highlight the issues it wants to, and I find it hard to believe it would convert anyone to its cause.

Had it not been for an Oscar nomination for best song (a good song btw!), I feel this film would have gone largely unnoticed.

Wow, this mess of a... feature presentation (one hesitates to call it a film) plays like a screening at a mid-level shorts festival where organizers slapped together two hours worth of Shorts ranging from okay-ish (the Indian one) to embarrassingly on-the-nose (e.g. The Jennifer Hudson one). That screening (the one you might just be walking out of at that hypothetical festival) might be called Women's Voices or something like that, but that's really all they have in common. Annoyingly, if the idea was to represent a female experience, said experience is based all in cliché and narrow views of what female subjectivity can be. You get: woman as mothers, as occupied with housework, as victims of abuse, as having mental health issues (several times), as beauty-obsessed. That's all you could come up with? Feminists would say: thanks for nothing.

And at this point, I think the Academy is actively trolling poor Diane Warren by handing her Oscar nomination after nomination for mediocre songs written for poor movies, never with any chance of winning.

7 short stories ranging from all different backgrounds and ages of women, some very profound ones based on true stories. Addressing topics of mental health, addiction, prison, what it's like to be a mother, poverty, family issues, homelessness, suicidality, outstanding female doctors who go above and beyond, women helping women escape from domestic violence, the pressure of societal beauty standards, embodying your true self, the trans experience, and many more. Yes, there should be trigger warnings. If you cannot stomach seeing what we go through, don't watch it. If you can, look at it from our point of shoes for a moment. We all have issues, that is the only thing that's universal. I think people don't understand the point of this film is what you take from it. It's in the bloody title. Tell it like a woman. Watch how we write women, how we feel as women, what we deal with as women, how society treats us as women, how we heal as women, how we show compassion as women, how we self sacrifice as women, how we come together as women, how we change the world as women, how we see the world as women. There are so many movies that portray women in poorly written, poorly filmed, one sided ways. This is not that. These women are complex, well rounded, they evolve and learn and change. And honestly the people who write these negative views, in my opinion, lack depth.

This is a movie of numerous stories about struggling women and its mediocre. Directed by Catherine Hardwick and starring women throughout most of which is sad with choppy acting. The humble aspect is how its got a lot to do with people not as able to help themselves much! Easily among the weakest of nominated films filled with uncomfortable scenes, really bad acting, and only a few wins. I am sure Diane Warren is happy a song from this is nominated otherwise it probably wouldn't get much attention. I'm surprised Cara Delevine was willing to play a homeless person deeply uncomfortable she's had way better roles at least wonderful actress Marcia Gay Harden helped out that was great! Solid for some aspects not much more.

Watched it to check boxes on nomination nods, otherwise would have never even heard of it. And with good reason.

Seven badly written stories (some barely ok, others just painfully awful), mostly stereotypical and melodramatic, devoid of emotional weight. By the time it's finally over, there isn't one memorable scene, line or character.

It's insane it can now claim to be an Oscar-nominated movie, especially when compared to remarkable films (Nope, Northman, Woman King) which were completely snubbed by the Academy this year, but here we are. Alas, not even perennial nominee Diane Warren is able to save this tragedy, since 'Applause' is as bland as cellophane, better suited to a High School Music sequel that no one asked for.

I just wonder what the hell were Jennifer Hudson and Marcia Gay Harden thinking...