Male action heroes have it easy. Often they are just an average Joe having a very, very bad day. And when the story reaches that call to action, audiences have traditionally not had a problem accepting the idea of a male protagonist saving the day.
Women, on the other hand, have to go to hell and back to be considered action heroes.
Sarah Connor was stalked by a robot assassin in “The Terminator” before emerging as a guerrilla warrior in “T2: Judgment Day.” Ellen Ripley was the lone survivor from the slaughter of the Nostromo in “Alien” before leading a battalion of space marines in “Aliens.” And Imperator Furiosa’s tumultuous history, only hinted at in “Mad Max: Fury Road,” is now on screen in “Furiosa,” which opens at The Triplex this week.
It is a peculiar double standard to make women face such trauma before they get to carry a gun, but it arguably produces better movies. There will always be a place in our hearts for John Rambo, John McClane, and John Wick, but there is something electric about watching the moment when someone’s world shifts and they are forced to leave their former self behind. It raises an important question: Why do we choose violence?
And while most traditional, male-led action flicks are so proudly dumb that they never come close to posing the question, it is one that more action films should answer. Violence is inherently traumatic. It leaves scars. The payoff of a movie that acknowledges this is deeply cathartic, often thanks to the women that are brave enough to tackle the scary, emotional content that boys are too afraid to touch.
Now Playing
“Run Lola Run”
The techno-thumping indie classic returns for its 25th anniversary.
The techno-thumping indie classic returns to the big screen in a brand new restoration on June 7. As influential today as it was 25 years ago, Tom Tykwer’s “Run Lola Run” is a time-bending take on a robbery gone wrong, starring Franke Potente as a woman who has 20 minutes to get 100,000 Deutschmarks if she wants to save her boyfriend’s life.
“Rub Lola Run” plays as part of The Triplex’s Limited Engagement Series from June 7 through 13.
“Evil Does Not Exist”
An eerie meditation on the power of nature from the director of “Drive My Car.”
From Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, the Oscar-winning director of “Drive My Car,” comes “Evil Does Not Exist,” a meditation on the balance between the natural and modern world. As a company announces plans to build a glamping site in a remote, rural village, the mysterious power of nature begins to manifest itself in startling ways.
“Evil Does Not Exist” plays as part of The Triplex’s Limited Engagement Series from June 7 through 13.
Pride Docs
Documentaries and talkbacks chronicling activism in the LGBTQIA+ community.
The Triplex is celebrating the history of gay-rights activism with a series of documentary screenings and talkbacks this June. Join us on June 11 for “Before Stonewall,” June 12 for “After Stonewall,” and June 13 for “Rock the Boat,” when we will be joined for a conversation with director Robert Huston.
Coming Soon
“The Feeling That the Time For Doing Something Has Passed”
A cringe comedy that digs deep into millennial angst, “The Feeling That the Time Has Passed” is a hilarious debut film from writer/director/star Joanna Arnow. Executive produced by Sean Baker (“The Florida Project”), “The Feeling That …” follows Ann, a morose 30-something New Yorker navigating her career, family, and her casual long-term BDSM relationship with Allen (Scott Cohen, “Gilmore Girls”).
Scott Cohen comes to The Triplex for a talkback following the 7:15 p.m. screening on June 14!
“Inside Out 2”
It is getting a little crowded inside Riley’s head. The long-awaited follow-up to Pixar’s 2015 original, “Inside Out 2” follows Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust as they deal with a new class of emotions brought on by Riley’s preteen years, including Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy, and Ennui.
“Inside Out”
Celebrate Pride with a raunchy comedy told through a queer lens. “Bottoms” follows PJ (Rachel Sennott, “Shiva Baby”) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”) as they hatch a plan to start a female fight club in order to lose their virginities—and scramble to contain the fallout when it works.
“Bottoms” plays late night on June 15.
