NMR: On the next Geraldo: Whores and the people who hate them

After a pair of films featuring ladies as the hero, here's a pair of films where women are victimized for their supposed loose nature...

The Contender: I picked up this 2000 film because I've been on a Jeff Bridges kick lately and his portrayal of a president here earned him an Oscar nomination. While good, he takes a back seat to the film's primary plot about a woman (Joan Allen) who is going through the vetting process in an attempt to become the first female vice president. The acting is solid throughout the film thanks to a talented cast that also includes Gary Oldman, Sam Elliott, and Christian Slater. However, the whole story felt very dated. In the wake of Hilary Clinton and other prominent female politicians, the 'good ol' boys' club that Washington is portrayed as here just doesn't resonate in the same way anymore. In addition, I've been spoiled by other political films and television shows where the dialogue is much more snappy and lively than what is seen here. Still, if you like political thrillers and/or the actors seen in this film, I would suggest renting it. Everyone else probably won't care for this. Rating: *** 1/2

Easy A: This one really caught me by surprise. Usually I dismiss high school comedies because they're complete junk, but I heard enough positive things about this one that I decided to give it a chance and I'm glad I did. While the film's story isn't really anything special (a girl gains noteriety in her high school after pretending to sleep with a bunch of guys in order to help their credibility amongst their friends), the film's lead, Emma Stone, turns in a star-making performance here. Her comedic timing is impeccable and she delivers a number of great one liners. She also nicely dances that fine line of coming off as sophisticated and mature, while still seeming like a real teenager. She totally makes this film bearable. It also helps when the film casts people like Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson as her daffy parents. They add another level of energy to each scene they are in. Sharp dialogue and a wonderful cast make this the best high school movie since Mean Girls or perhaps even 10 Things I Hate About You. Rating: ****