Sigh

Apparently, Warner Brothers are no longer doing movies with women in the lead. No, really. This is such a gobsmackingly stupid statement that it’s difficult to know where to start. You’d think it must be a misquote taken out of context, but apparently not. You see, some films with female leads haven’t done so well at the box office recently, and… well, that’s about it. Apparently that’s what passes for sophisticated analysis in the multi-billion dollar film industry.

I’m sure there’ll be some sort of retraction along in a minute, but it does make you despair.

I caught some of BBC News 24’s coverage of the Stardust red carpet premiere the other night, and was a bit bemused when the entertainment reporter asked Ricky Gervais “How would you describe the film? Sci-Fi?” I’m left wondering whether the reporter had even the vaguest idea what film she was covering or just heard the word “Star” in the title. (Gervais made some cracks about Sci-Fi nerds just to help things along.)