Source: NADJA KLIER / Sony Pictures Entertainment
When Charlie’s Angels was a hit in the late ’70s and early ’80s, the intention behind it wasn’t necessarily to show strong women fighting off the bad guys. Instead, it was known as “Jiggle TV,” otherwise known as “tits and a– television.” Viewers were more focused on the running scenes and the beauty of the Angels (and that Farrah Fawcett hair) than they were on the actual stories. By the time the film revivals were made in 2000 and 2003, they were more about comedy and less about sex, but all of the women were involved in romantic situations and at times, sported very little clothing.
The newest film in the franchise, a total reimagining coming to theaters on November 15 with actress Elizabeth Banks behind the camera (and pen), is looking to change the way you see the Angels. It’s not about sex, it’s not about making you laugh, it’s about empowering bada– women.
In October I traveled to Berlin, Germany’s capitol, to visit the set of the newest Charlie’s Angels movie and to interview the cast. Kristen Stewart, of Twilight fame, plays Sabina Wilson, Aladdin breakout star Naomi Scott is Elena Houghlin, and newbie Ella Balinska portrays Jane Kano in the film. Sabina and Jane are a part of the Charles Townsend Agency, which has expanded from a small group of private investigators with three Angels to, 40 years later, a global intelligence, security and espionage agency with teams of Angels stationed around the world. There are also a number of Bosleys as opposed to one, and Banks, also featured in the film, is one of them; the first Angel to be made into a Bosley.
The film’s conflict comes when Elena, who is an everyday woman working for a tech company, notices dangerous malfeasance and attempts to blow the whistle on it. When her warnings are not taken seriously by those in charge, she takes her concerns to the Townsend Agency, and that’s where the fun begins. However, the “fun” in this film is far different from what we’ve seen from the shows and past movies. The film plans to be an international, globetrotting one that we haven’t had the chance to see women star front and center in. The Angels travel all over, from Berlin to California, Istanbul and Rio, kicking a–, taking names and allowing the Angels to be about strength and intelligence rather than being about eye candy. Banks and co. are sending a much deeper message in this project.
Source: NADJA KLIER / Sony Pictures Entertainment
“We’re destroying the patriarchy in this movie,” said Stewart during a brief break from filming. “It’s about a company that was created by well-intentioned men and then taken over by corrupt jerk-offs [laughs], so we’re taking the company back and reinstating its mission statement.”
Sabina, Elena and Jane are shown in ways that put a light on what they’re all good at, whether that’s being the brawn, the brains or the brave one.
“What’s so great is that each character has their own strengths and weaknesses,” said Balinska. “I would say I’m the most physically involved. I’m very automatic, very to the point, extremely pedantic and extraordinarily independent.”
The Angels are featured as talented at what they do. There are no training montages to prove their prowess, they just are presented as agents in the same way male special agents, à la Jason Bourne and Ethan Hunt, are introduced as believable CIA and government operatives. They are powerful figures, and tech-savvy, too. The modern-day Charles Townsend Agency is quite advanced, with all sorts of gadgets made into weapons (I was able to see the sketches for a few). There’s even a new and improved logo. Made in the form of digital angel wings dipped in gold, all of the women wear the logo as a tattoo in the film that they can communicate through. I was able to get a temporary tattoo during my time in Berlin to make me feel more Angel-esque.
Source: NADJA KLIER / Sony Pictures Entertainment
We’re getting a new Angel for a new day and time. As more of us are happily calling ourselves feminists and being more outspoken about certain issues and treatment, the newest Angels in the bunch are proudly representative of today’s woman. With that being said, expect a good ol’ time like in the prior projects, but be ready for a more woke Angel this time around.
“We all love the original. I think each film when it was made was for its time. That was what was so exciting about being able to bring it into the 21st century is that this is the film for now,” said Scott. “It’s one thing being a strong, empowered woman, but it’s another to be able to broadcast that for people to watch it and be like, ‘Now there is an amazing representation of what it means to be a bada– girl.”‘
