By In a recent interview with Premiere Magazine, Ewan McGregor got to talking about his role in the upcoming Birds of Prey movie and explained what convinced him to join the project. “What interested me with Birds of Prey is that it’s a feminist film,” said McGregor. “It is very finely written. There is in the script a real look on misogyny, and I think we need that.”
Now, I don’t object to what McGregor is saying, but it’s kind of odd that DC would have a man explain how feminist something is. I suppose someone has to do the press tour and McGregor does sound like he’s being genuine here. It’s still kind of strange that Robbie isn’t talking up this point.
McGregor continues by laying out various ways Birds of Prey tackles toxic masculinity and misogynistic culture. “Misogynists in movies are often extreme: they rape, they beat women … and it is legitimate to represent people like that because they exist and they are obviously the worst,” he notes. “But in the Birds of Prey dialogues, there is always a hint of everyday misogyny, of those things you say as a man you do not even realize, mansplaining … and it’s in the script in a very subtle way. I found that brilliant.”
Birds of Prey is looking to be a pretty big redemption film for Margot Robbie’s take on Harley Quinn. Probably the best part of Suicide Squad, Robbie portrayed the psychotic mistress in a fashion that did the character justice. It just happened to be amid a film loaded with wasted potential and terrible plotting. I was happy that DC and WB gave the greenlit to Birds of Prey, but I’m still not sold on the film. The trailer didn’t look all that interesting to me.
I guess we’ll find out when it releases early next year.
Birds Of Prey Is a Feminist Movie According To Ewan McGregor [ComicBook]
