Bechdel Test Movie List

/bech·del test/ n.
1. It has to have at least two [named] women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man

[[2]] Red (2010) [imdb]

This movie passed 2 of 3 tests. It was entered by Squirrelette on 2010-10-26 02:48:19.

Reviews

Comments

Squirrelette said:
I was so looking forward to this because Helen Mirren plays a secret agent with great panache, but she only talks to the other female character about a man!
Message posted on 2010-10-26 02:48:19
Ryan said:
Rating is correct, but honestly considering the story line, what else would the two of them talk about?

They're running from a male agent in life or death situations and shes in love with a male ex-agent trying to save them and clear their names. Nothing they could possibly talk about that doesn't involve some sort of male character fits in the context of the movie. Now it would have been much easier had their been a third female character who played a larger role in either the good or bad "side" for them to discuss.
Message posted on 2010-10-28 08:21:50
Helga disagreed with the rating and said:
Actually, they talk about Mirrens work as an assasin in the beginning. It's a very short dialogue but nevertheless about something else besides a man.
Message posted on 2010-11-01 20:32:11
Blue disagreed with the rating and said:
I missed it the first time because the qualifying conversation is very short, but it does pass.

SPOILERS

Sarah (Moses' girlfriend) has a conversation with the mother of the dead New York Times reporter. It's a short conversation, but it's two women talking about the dead female reporter and her investigation.

The second conversation is really more of two lines, wherein Sarah asks Victoria about what 'wet work' means.

It's a scanty pass, but Red does pass with 1 1/2 conversations about something other than a man.
Message posted on 2010-11-04 19:43:54
dp said:
@Ryan With your reasoning you can defend any movie that fails the test. " Of course it makes sense that they talk about men, because men are important for the plot". Why, isn't that what the Bechdel test is all about, highlighting that pattern? Let's turn it around. Male characters talk to each other about something else than women. Although there are strong female characters that drive some of their motivation. Next, let's try and imagine a movie where an elderly retired female hero gets a young guy. Ha!
Message posted on 2010-11-22 00:43:49
K E Maitland disagreed with the rating and said:
One of the things forgotten about this movie is the fact that half of the conversations had between the men are about women - and in romantic context (will she leave me? she shot me for love or else there would have been a bullet in my head), not a sexist one.

Ultimately, the guns are irrelevant. The whole point of RED how important one's loved ones are: romantic love (Parker/Willis, Mirren/Cox), Paternal love (Willis/Freeman, Willis/Borgnine, Urban/family), love between friends (RED team).

While I why I love this film - that and the fact that it was shot in Toronto and Helen Mirren is gorgeous in a white dress welding a gun...
Message posted on 2011-03-08 18:33:21
E disagreed with the rating and said:
Sarah and Mrs Chen have a conversation about Mrs Chen's daughter. Should pass on all three counts.
Message posted on 2012-02-06 12:51:58
Kelly Garbato disagreed with the rating and said:
I agree with Helga - when Sarah and Victoria first meet, they discuss Victoria's work "killing people." It's only two lines of dialog, but it passes. They have a longer conversation later in the movie, but it's about Francis and Ivan.
Message posted on 2013-08-04 03:06:54
V Jenoc disagreed with the rating and said:
This movie features two conversations of women that are not about men (Sarah/Victoria, Sarah/Mrs Chen)...!
Message posted on 2019-02-19 17:12:34

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