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]] Up in the Air (2009) [imdb]

This movie passed 2 of 3 tests. It was entered by Tracey on 2009-12-22 02:57:08.

Reviews

Comments

Tracey said:
This film almost passes all three tests, but the only substantial conversation between two female characters is one in which each describes her ideal man. There are many other short interactions between female characters, and the female characters actually outnumber the male characters in this movie.
Message posted on 2009-12-22 02:57:08
brian said:
Natalie also fires a female employee in St. Louis, but she is listed in the credits only as "Terminated Employee."
Message posted on 2010-01-05 19:02:44
Alison Scott disagreed with the rating and said:
This film passes all three tests. The woman Natalie fires is called Karen Barnes and she is referred to later in the movie.
Message posted on 2010-01-31 12:12:35
Cos said:
I agree, it fully passes. (spoiler alert) The conversation between Natalie and Karen turns out the most significant firing in the movie, and has significant plot effects.
Message posted on 2010-02-16 04:09:12
Cos disagreed with the rating and said:
Oops, I mistakenly didn't check the box earlier.

This movie passes all three tests. (spoiler alert) the conversation between Natalie and Karen is the most significant firing in the movie, and has significant plot effects.
Message posted on 2010-02-16 04:11:13
JK said:
Do we know for sure that Karen Barnes, who commits suicide, is the same woman who threatened to commit suicide when Natalie fires her?
Message posted on 2010-04-22 00:00:26
TP disagreed with the rating and said:
Natalie and Karen speak. This should be a happy face instead.
Message posted on 2010-07-30 22:00:51
Mehal disagreed with the rating and said:
If we follow Chekov's Rule (A gun shown in the first act must be fired in the third) then yes, Karen Barnes is almost certainly that woman. Why mention a suicidal worker then have a completely different worker actually commit suicide by the same method later on?
Message posted on 2013-03-17 21:54:29
K said:
Natalie refers to Karen Barnes as "Miss Barnes" when they first meet. She is also named later. Despite the fact that she's credited as "Terminated employee", she's definitely a named female character.
Message posted on 2014-05-25 16:36:27
Probably Joel disagreed with the rating and said:
I disagree with the rating and as Cos mentioned, the conversation between Natalie and Karen Barnes is a very significant portion of the plot that lead to the climax of the film.

Sometimes even a named character is credited arbitrarily for clarity, so using the credits as a guideline can be inaccurate. For instance, Pulp Fiction credited the coffee shop owner as "coffee shop" for laughs, but it doesn't mean he is a coffee shop, right?
Message posted on 2015-06-29 15:27:43
Watchdog disagreed with the rating and said:
So then why is it still not changed? I've seen the movie yesterday and there are for sure the two named women talking about the firing... ;)
Message posted on 2016-09-12 15:01:00
larisa5656 disagreed with the rating and said:
This movie definitely passes all three criteria. Natalie and Alex talk about Alex's appearance and their life expectations, though the latter topic is bookended by discussion of Natalie's ex-boyfriend. More significant though is, of course, the firing conversation between Natalie and Karen.
Message posted on 2017-06-01 15:00:52
Ben disagreed with the rating and said:
The movie passes all 3 criteria. Natalie and Karen Barnes have a conversation about her firing. Although the character Karen isn’t listed on IMDb, the name appears in the screenplay: www.cinefile.biz/script/upintheair.pdf.
Message posted on 2023-10-04 13:31:50

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