Movie Recommendations: Miranda's CherryPicks
CherryPicks founder & CEO Miranda Bailey’s Top Women-Made movies. - via thecherrypicks.com
Hello CherryPicks readers!
I’m so glad to have you in our circle. As a filmmaker (producer, director, actress, distributor— heck, film “everything-er”), as someone who identifies as female and loves working with women, I've whipped up a collection of some of my favorite films directed by women.
Some of them I’ve worked on, some of them I wish I’d worked on. Some are very well known and have won awards, and a few are tiny gems I think more people should know about. I hope you will check out all of them (available streaming) and join me and CherryPicks in celebrating women who make movies!
Harriet
Director: Kasi Lemmons
I’m not sure why this didn’t get the attention and award love it so deserved. Aside from being a true-life story about one of the most important women in history, it is ACTION-PACKED! Even my 12-year-old son and his buddy loved it—and these are serious action geeks. I loved it for the historical story that I was not privy to growing up, one that’s been left out of or breezed over in so many of our history books.
In a World...
Director: Lake Bell
This was Lake’s first feature film as a director and she killed it! She plays a voice-over artist competing in a man’s world. Aside from being an original story idea, she is the queen of voices—her accent perfection is not to be dismissed. She also wrote and starred in it. And, since I produced her second film (I Do… Until I Don’t), I can tell you: that means she did not sit down for the entire shoot. She’s a personal hero of mine after watching her work! See this film, the one that made me HAVE to work with her.
It might still be a man’s world, but the future is female...
The Farewell
Director: Lulu Wang
I never understood my immigrant in-laws’ secrecy surrounding a recent death in our family...which is a long story I won’t get into. But as an American, I didn’t get it. That is, until I saw The Farewell. I identified so much with Billi (Awkwafina) and was so moved by her journey to understanding why certain traditions are upheld. This film is a wonderful way to get out of our self-absorbed American ideals and open up to realizing the world is vast and everyone is different, but we all grieve and we all love.
Need more Awkwafina in your life?
Honey Boy
Director: Alma Har’el
Watching Alma Har’el’s film about his life and, wow, talk about daddy issues. As someone who has massive dad issues myself, this film really hit home. With the brilliant cinematography and editing, it’s really one of the best films of 2019.
The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Director: Marielle Heller
I produced and acted in this film, but that’s not why it's on the list. Mari Heller has “that thing” you hope for when you work with a first-time director. She NAILED IT! My husband thought it was too risqué, but the women I know loved it. Because we know how awkward a girl’s first sexual experience is. Add in the drama of it being with her mother’s adult boyfriend and the funny of Kristen Wiig. Ladies know this film is the real deal.
Wonder Woman
Director: Patty Jenkins
I CANNOT BELIEVE this movie was left out of the 2018 Oscar Best Picture/Best Director race. Lame with a capital "L"—because I was on the edge of my seat during this comic book hero-action flick—which I felt went above and beyond, finding what so many male directors miss. Sorry, men reading this, but Patty Jenkins is a ROCKSTAR!
Unlovable
Director: Suzi Yoonessi
There is no doubt that director Suzi Yoonessi has her very own stylistic voice. She can take a heavy topic like sex addiction and reflect on it from a female perspective with a pop-colored tone that I loved. I look forward to when Suzi is given more money to really shine with her unique cinematic sensibilities.
Wine Country
Director: Amy Poehler
Not every critic loved this film, but me and my girlfriends sure did. We all watched it and “Marco Polo’d” about it- trying to decide which one of us was which character. Maybe it's because I love wine, maybe it's because I love Amy Poehler, or maybe it's because I love Netflix, but I thought this film was a blast.
They
Director: Anahita Ghazvinizadeh
This artsy film digs into the gender identity of a 14-year-old as they explore the possibilities of transitioning. It is a coming-of-age story unlike any other. Most people who haven’t been to Cannes or tiny art house theaters haven’t heard of this film but it’s really gorgeous and cool (and it’s on Amazon Prime).
A Girl Walks Home at Night
Director: Ana Lily Amirpour
Ok, I'm not exactly a horror film fan...but there are a few of them that are brilliant, and this is one of them! An Iranian Vampire Western—can’t get more original than that concept. The whole movie is in black and white. I’m not sure if that made it more creepy or less, but I was transfixed. So grab someone’s hand to hold, but warn them you might need to squeeze it tight during the brilliantly-filmed tense moments.
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