Warner Bros without the sisters...

If a film bombs without a trace at the box office and the lead actor was a woman. What would you do? Well, it's simple really, don't finance films with women leads. That's the latest blue sky thinking from Warner Bros executive. The reason they have got their boxers in a twist is that the film The Brave One tanked at the box office.

So, they are indulging in that time-honoured tradition called "blame the woman"... I saw a trailer for that film and frankly, it looked....bad. It seemed like a hand-wringing morality tale and even though it had the stunning and wonderful actor, Jodie Foster, it just didn't entice me.

But instead of Warner Bros wondering whether it was piss-poor writing (men) that kept the punters away from this sub-Death Wish flick or even lousy direction (man) but nay, it is the fault of Jodie and obviously she must shoulder the blame....

Ah, sexism is alive and kicking in La-La land. And what I would like to know is when the next film that tanks at the box office and the lead star is a bankable bloke, will they send out an edict stating no more finance for flicks with male leads? Yeah....right and then I woke up..

I remember reading somewhere that there were more women screenwriters in the 1930s and 1940s as opposed to now. There was some really juicy dramatic parts for women. Iconic goddesses still remembered today from Katherine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Lena Horne, Rosalind Russell, Barbara Stanwyck, Jean Harlow, Louise Brooks ....the list is endless. Many of the films I have seen in the past year, the characterisation of women in many of these flicks has been lack lustre and under demanding. And Hollywood seems full to brimming with young women with the stereotypically plastic skinny look. They could be clones of each other.

I suppose the industry would argue that they are giving the punters what they want. I for one would love to see more developed, 3-dimensional crafted parts for women. There are some damn good fine actresses out there but alas, Warner Bros wouldn't want them anyway near the lead role. Maybe they will bring back the good old casting couch as well.....

Hollywood has a long long long way to go regarding equality and to quote Goldie Hawn : "There are only three ages for women in Hollywood: babe, district attorney, and driving Miss Daisy."

Quite!