‘Birds Of Prey’ Is A “Feminist Film” That Offers “A Real Look” At Misogyny, Ewan McGregor Says
You can’t spell superhero girl gang movie without “feminist” — figuratively, of course. But it seems obvious that theMargot Robbie-ledBirds of Preywould be a feminist film. It has a mostly female-cast, it is written and directed by women, and it is a movie about a comic book character stepping out from under the shadow of Batman’s most famous rogue. It’s in the title itself:Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn. But starEwan McGregoris confirming thatBirds of Preyis a “feminist film” that offers a “real look on misogyny.”
McGregor plays the film’s villain, Black Mask, a character who has never had quite a good relationship with women in the comics. But in an interview with the French-language outletPremiere(viaCinemaBlend), McGregor says thatBirds of Preyleans into that and uses the violent, women-hating Black Mask to show the worst sides of misogyny.
“There is in the script a real look on misogyny, and I think we need that. We need to be more aware of how we behave with the opposite sex. We need to be taught to change.
Misogynists in movies are often extreme: they rape, they beat women…and it is legitimate to represent people like that because they exist and they are obviously the worst. But in the ‘Birds of Prey’ dialogue, there is always a hint of everyday misogyny, of those things you say as a man you do not even realize, mansplaining…and it’s in the script in a very subtle way. I found that brilliant.”
McGregor’s description of the movie’s feminist bent is already supported by what we’ve seen in thetrailers– not just in Harley ridding herself of her ex-boyfriend and gathering a group of female comrades, but in the film’s bright costume choices. Robbie notoriouslyhated Harley Quinn’s hot pantsand gratuitous shows of skin inSuicide Squad, and her wardrobe inBirds of Preyis already a step up — practical and empowering and so very, very cute.
Jurnee Smollett-Bell,Mary Elizabeth Winstead,Rosie Perez, andElla Jay Bascoall seem like they play equally fleshed out parts inBirds of Preyas well, with origin stories and cool costumes to match.Chris Messinajoins McGregor on the villains' side as serial killer Victor Zsasz inBirds of Prey.Cathy Yandirects a script fromBumblebeewriterChristina Hodson.Birds of PreyopensFebruary 7, 2020.
