The “best pro-women film” ever made, according to Ridley Scott
Out of all the directors still knocking about today, not many carry the kind of legendary weight Ridley Scott does.
Sure, some of his recent stuff’s been a bit hit-and-miss, but that doesn’t take away from what he’s already pulled off. This is the bloke behind Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator – proper classics that’ve earned their place in film history. Then there’s all the stuff that his works have inspired, which is another discussion entirely.
Even as he approaches his 90th birthday, Scott is still very active in the film industry and sharper than ever. The great thing about this is that he can give his opinion on the current crop, bringing decades of insight and knowledge that you’re not going to find anywhere else. This often results in him getting grumpy about the state of modern filmmaking, but that’s ok. He’s earned the right to moan.
Letterboxd exploited the multiple-time Oscar nominee’s longevity by asking him what he thought of Coralie Fargeat’s headline-grabbing body horror The Substance. The film stars Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, the former of whom worked with Scott on G.I. Jane and the latter of whom will appear in his upcoming film The Dog Stars. Giving his opinion on their 2024 collaboration, Scott expressed his mixed opinions on the finished product.
“The Substance, from the director’s point of view, is a very good big Kubrickian idea,” he said. “If you really want me to say what I think, [Fargeat] kind of lost control of it. That end scene, where they sprayed the room with blood, they simply didn’t know what to do. But I think it was a brave idea about the sickness of facelifts and changing your appearance. Never change your appearance, just stay fit. Because you can always tell. With Demi, we made a very, very good film with G.I. Jane. I think it is the best pro-women film honestly ever made, even better than Thelma & Louise.”
Released in 1997, G.I. Jane stars Moore as Jordan O’Neil, a woman who participates in the heavily male world of special operations military training. No, her name isn’t ‘Jane’. Yes, it’s ok that you thought it was. O’Neil must not only complete the gruelling regime set for her by her commanding officer (Viggo Mortensen), but also a raft of sexist abuse levelled at her by her male counterparts. The role was something of a lifeline for Moore, who had appeared in the critically panned Striptease the year before. She has called it her only performance she doesn’t mind watching back.
Scott’s claim that G.I. Jane is more ‘pro-women’ than Thelma & Louise – which he also directed – is a bold one. The tale of two best friends who find themselves while on the run from the law is widely regarded as a feminist masterpiece, even over three decades on from its release. Most people would put it above G.I. Jane every day of the week, but they don’t have the same level of insight as the man behind the camera.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which of the two films is ‘best’. The fact that both exist and were both directed by the same person who made Ellen Ripley a household name all those years ago proves that, for all his faults, Ridley Scott has done a hell of a lot for the portrayal of women on screen.
