Bechdel Test Movie List

There are two named female characters (Lisa Vito, a main role played by Marisa Tomei, and Constance Riley, a minor character). The two never speak to each other.

Given that Marisa Tomei won an Oscar for her performance of Lisa Vito this is a movie where the Bechdel test result is instructive.

I dont disagree with the rating, but the cast of this movie is very small. The way the movie is framed the two named female characters have no reason to talk to each other. If they did, they would still be talking about the defendants who happen to be two male characters.

I still think this movie should get an honorable mention because Marisa Tomei's character spends the most memorable part of the movie talking about cars.

Not only that but Joe Pesci's character doesn't downplay her knowledge or act like he knows more about cars than she does. He even tells people she knows everything there is to know about automobiles. Not a lot of movies do that. Male characters almost always downplay the intelligence or the competency of the female characters around them. While he may question how much she knows about being a lawyer or being in a court room, he doesn't question how much she knows about cars.

I agree that her knowledge and skills are not denined or deminished here. I also agree the way the movie is constructed the women wouldn't have reason to speak. The Bechdel test is a useful tool but needs context .Not all passes and fails are equel.