The Women — an updated version of the legendary 1939 film of the same name about a wealthy New Yorker who leaves her cheating husband and bonds with other society women at a resort — doesn't open in theaters until next week, but some of the media are already releasing their reviews. So far, there've been positive remarks about Bette Midler's hilarious cameo and the "witty and warm ensemble" that includes (deep breath) Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, Jada Pinkett Smith, Annette Bening, Debra Messing, Natasha Alam and Candice Bergen.

That's a lot of fabulous ladies — how could this movie go wrong?

Some reviewers are taking the film to task on race issues. Specifically, they're asking, "Why are the roles of lesbian outsider and designated home-wrecker villainess relegated to the only women of color in the film?"

Sarah Warn and I have different takes on this issue, and we thought we'd offer both of our answers below. Read them and let us know what you think in the comments! … continue reading

Movie posters have a very simple yet very critical task: Make people go see the movie. With such a singular objective in mind, you wouldn't think the studios would futz it up so very badly so very often. Yet, there they go again. Please witness the new one-sheet for the new remake of the all-female '30s classic The Women.

Unlike the film's teaser poster, this one actually features the key cast in this tale of wife (and her friends) versus mistress. Sure, on its surface nothing seems terrible here; but just like staring at a Monet, things start to come out of focus with closer inspection.

First, what's up with Annette Bening's face? Seriously, not to become the crazy lady who can't stop complaining about the horrors of Photoshop, but — hello — horrors of Photoshop. She looks at once smooth and puffy. Also I can't believe she would ever actually wear a shade of eyeshadow that flirts so perilously with '80s powder blue. Banish the thought. … continue reading

I keep coming across lists I can't really improve on, so I'm just going to list them. In a list. Of lists. (A few of these are via Pop Candy, which is always a good source for lists and, well, just about everything else.)

1. 10 Star Wars toys that unintentionally look like other celebrities

When I was a kid, I often complained that my Princess Leia action figure just wasn't made right — it kept toppling over. And it annoyed me that her gun was so flimsy and useless, especially compared to Chewbacca's giant over-the-arm weapon. But at least the '70s toy version of Leia didn't look like Christian Bale:

And then there's Mon Mothma and Laura Bush:

The list includes other frighteningly spot-on comparisons, like Han Solo/Josh Brolin and Yak Face/Robert De Niro.

2. 13 movies worth preserving

EW.com readers recently named the films they'd like to add to the National Film Registry. I agree with Raising Arizona and The Women — and with the reader who submitted the latter and said, "I can't believe it's not already there." … continue reading

The other day I was perusing new movie posters when I came across the first one-sheet for the upcoming Katherine Heigl film 27 Dresses. Writing in lieu of her body; that’s kind of clever. But then I thought, hey, haven’t I seen that somewhere else recently? And voila: the new poster for The Women.

Since everything old is new again, I thought I’d dig a little deeper. And voila, again. Take a look at the German poster for the 1955 Marilyn Monroe classic The Seven Year Itch. Gee, if I someone had only told me that words made such good clothing, I could have stopped going to the mall years ago.

Here's a look at some other poster-alikes by category. … continue reading

“There’s a word for you ladies, but it is seldom used in high society ... outside a kennel.”

That classic line from the 1939 film The Women is the perfect example of why I love the movie. Earlier this year, Anna let us know that Diane English’s long-planned remake of The Women is on again, with a cast that almost seemed too good to be true.

Now comes casting news that pushes the lineup into fantasyland (but I read it on the Internet, so it must be true). Bette Midler, Lynn Whitfield, Debi Mazar, Ana Gasteyer, Carrie Fisher, Joanna Gleason and Cloris Leachman have joined the project, which is currently shooting in Boston.

If I lived anywhere near Boston, I’d be roaming the streets to find this film set. Not that I'm condoning calling in sick and getting some pictures to post here or anything. … continue reading

Here’s what we know about the characters so far.

Ah, 1994. I remember it well. Sandra Bullock was America's sweetheart after she drove a bus and flirted with Keanu Reeves in Speed; who could've predicted that the pair would reunite to absolutely zero acclaim 12 years later in The Lake House?

On TV, Friends began its long run on NBC, while on ABC, These Friends of Mine, later re-titled Ellen, featured Ellen DeGeneres as a bookstore owner who had a comically tough time dating men. I think we all know how that ended.

And little me kept repeating, "I’m getting verklemmt!" "You're terrible, Muriel!" and “La Croix, sweetie, La Croix,” to anyone within earshot.

Elsewhere in Hollywood ’94, writer-producer Diane English, who was riding high with Murphy Brown (remember?), was shopping a script for a remake of the 1939 camp classic The Women. Well, 13 years, a couple of directors, multiple casting changes and several false starts later, the movie is finally set to go into production this summer, with a cast that includes Eva Mendes, Jada Pinkett Smith, Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Debra Messing and Candice Bergen — quite a star-studded assemblage.

The original bitchfest starred an array of its era’s best female actresses — including Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Joan Fontaine and many more — as catty high-society ladies. … continue reading