So every so often a story comes along that I've really enjoyed, yet it gets a lot of flak for weird reasons. I like to explore these reasons but it devastates me when something that I care very much about gets no appreciation. Some things I can let slide; Sucker Punch is not one of them. Allow me to address five major complaints that I've read (mild spoilers within): 1. "It destroys female relationships." You mean, the way they learn to trust each other and fight together? Or the way that Sweetpea shows up to help even when she said she was out? Or the way that Blondie spilled their plan because she was scared out of her wits and only wanted to tell Gorski (but Blue showed up and you can see the sinking feeling all over her face)? Or because people died, because this is war on an individual abusive scale and if no one got hurt it would undermine the risks they took? Or because Gorski protected them as best she could by trying to distract and pacify Blue? Or how each and every death affected the characters and none were swept under the rug?
2. "It objectifies the female characters." No, BLUE objectifies the characters, time and time again, with his actions and dialogue ("So I'm going to take my toys, and I'm going to go home."). The characters themselves are in a position where not playing along puts them in danger ("It sickens me that I have to resort to threats with you girls") and they smile and look appealing forcefully only when the men are around (Amber appeals to the mayor because he's her client, but she coughs discreetly at his smoke and obviously isn't enjoying herself. Sweetpea smiles stiffly and disarmingly when Blue closes his office door as she's waiting to get the map. Rocket keeps the cook sitting down even though we know she has no interest in him.). And most of all, when it's just them, they aren't pouting or leaning seductively, they're just relaxing together, standing realistically. When they're fighting, they aren't moaning or revealing themselves, they're--dare I say it--fighting. Their focus is on surviving through and through, and when they have to be charming to survive, they use it, because they literally have nothing else. May I also mention that they're still wearing more fabric on their bodies than Victoria's Secret or Sports Illustrated models today? 3. "The girls have no personalities." You must've missed Babydoll's regret and determination, or Sweetpea's aggressive protectiveness to not let ANY of them get hurt, or Amber's cheerful loyalty and warmth, or Blondie's hesitation and fear. You must have missed how Sweetpea doesn't even consider hearing Babydoll's plan until she finds out that she protected her sister from the cook, and even then, Baby waits until Sweetpea, the obvious leader, gives the okay to proceed with the explanation. And you definitely must have missed how Gorski has been trying to shield and help them the entire time, how the pep talk she gives Babydoll is to keep her alive, how she mutters it just between the two of them, and how she glances to Blue to make sure he didn't suspect anything. Or again, how she tries to get between him and the girls at the end of the movie in the dressing room. 4. "It gives them no actual power." And what power do you expect them to have, as weaponless girls trapped in an institution? Or a brothel, for that matter, as Babydoll sees it? This movie shows that with wit and imagination and literally nothing else, they fought and fought for even the CHANCE to escape, to acquire a small inventory of items that would help them. I hate to point this out, but some people actually are in helpless situations. Abusive relationships have similarities. Everything is taken from them, yet they don't give up. As for more obvious power, in the "brothel" version Blue is the boss, because that is where his power lies. But when the police bust in and restrain Blue in the asylum, through all his pleas, the only thing Gorski needed to say was "Get him out of my sight," and BAM, he was gone, no questions asked. She was the authority there. And the only reason Babydoll imagined Blue as the authority was because Gorski didn't know what was happening under her radar, and thus could do nothing to stop it. But to even the other men in the room, she was the leader, and what she says goes. 5. "It makes no sense." It's up for some interpretation, but if it was made for you, you'll pick up on it. The asylum was reality--that was the only place with actual blood (Baby's sister and the tray with the lobotomy pick). Because of Blue's perversion and the way they had no power but plenty of unwanted attention, the brothel was how Babydoll felt about the asylum, even so far as Gorski being tricked and so being part of Blue's control with the rest of them. And all the fantasy sequences were Babydoll imagining her and her friends successfully acquiring the items. It's a layered reality that keeps them out of danger (until the knife, which was out of her control), because that's what Gorski taught them. "What's happening now, that world you control? That can be as real as any pain." It's just positive visualization, that's all. It's all they've got. It keeps fear at bay. It keeps the danger from silencing them, from keeping them down. I do fight for equality, and this is a strong character-driven movie. People who say it's not are missing the points, overusing their use of the word "misogynistic" when this movie is all about strong bonds between these women. Everyone I talk to doesn't like this movie because it "looks cool" or "turns them on"; we like it because it makes us feel strong and capable. What's the problem with that?
2 Comments
Ems
3/27/2016 03:23:31 am
I loved this the first time I read it, and I love it now. It took me a second watch-through to come to terms with this movie. There was so much more to it than I'd anticipated when I set out to watch it that first time and it overwhelmed me. I can definitely understand why it's important to you, and you raise so many great points about the themes people criticise about it.
Reply
Stewart
3/27/2016 04:54:43 am
Hey, Deer Steps!
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorCarrie is a burgeoning writer in North America. She thinks about stories 23/7 because everyone needs some time off. She enjoys apples, giving and receiving feedback, and couch-fort gaming with loved ones. Archives
April 2016
Categories
All
|