22/19
How much longer will they push this tired old pattern?
A high-powered CEO jeopardizes his career and family when he begins a torrid affair with his much younger intern. Jean Reno shot scenes for the film, but they were cut entirely from the finished film. Appeared in Graham Norton The Gossips: Nicole Kidman/Cynthia Erivo/James Norton/Chris McClausland/Benson Boone (2024). Female “empowerment” takes the form of a plot involving a much older woman pursuing a much younger man. This time, however, the guy looks old enough to be her grandson.
Aside from Lolita, of course
I know old Hollywood was full of older actors being cast against younger actresses, but the plot of the story had nothing to do with her age. And the older actor’s character was picking on her because she was younger. It seems like movies these days are lazy, with this same old older woman/younger man plot, but the older woman chasing the man is intentional, and her age is used as some sort of titillation and validation factor. It’s funny though when male characters are portrayed with much younger actresses, they’re perceived as dirty old men going through a midlife crisis. When an older woman does it, it’s seen as “chic” and “liberated”.
To prove to herself that she’s still worth it
As someone else pointed out here, what’s with the hypocrisy and double standards. This plot is getting really boring, but if they want to keep pushing it, then call it what it is. A dirty old woman trying to validate herself by chasing a younger man. I mean, that’s what women have said about men in the same situation. We haven’t heard in years that aging actresses are aging in so many movies (“unfairly”) compared to older actors who can still get great roles.
We see some creativity in storytelling
Hardly. Indeed, there are many great roles for older actresses. But why do so many of them have to do with this theme of hooking up with a much younger man? Surely there are better parts for women out there that have some substance rather than being reduced to this same old trope. We see some storylines where some of our great older actresses are cast, but there is not yet another young man involved.
Not just their attempts to validate themselves with younger men
We need to see women empowered through their abilities and offered as successful women.