Shadow in The Cloud: When a Misogynist Co-writes "Feminism".

**TRIGGER WARNING: TALK OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

*This review was a tough one to write. I contemplated and agonized over it several days before deciding to do it. I really hate putting out negativity in general, especially for female filmmakers. Though my readers are few compared to some, I still have a voice, a platform and a responsibility to speak up when I don’t think something is right.

Happy New Year!

Shadow in The Clouds is a new action/thriller starring Chloe Grace Moretz as Maude Garrett, one of the few female pilots of WWII. Co-written and directed by Roseanne Liang, what started out as something relatively fun and adventurous crashes and burns midway through it’s far-fetched, absurdist ending and it’s attachment to an accused abuser.

Ain’t Nothing Like ALL the Misogyny

Opening with a 1940’s-esque theatrical cartoon about plane Gremlins (gee I wonder what creature Maude will be fighting), the film opens with Maude cautiously approaching the B-17 bomber, “The Fools Errand”. As Maude approaches the plane, she sees something resembling a tail, pulling back up into one of the hatches, yet, for some reason still boards.

Maude is supposedly sent on a top secret mission to deliver a military package somewhere, yet even what the plane’s mission is to begin with, is eluded. The next thirty minutes is spent by Maude, who is forced into the ball turret of the plane, managing the non-stop bullet spray of misogynistic comments shot at her by possibly the most insensitive group of troglodytes ever to exist.

From plentiful sexual innuendos, homophobic aspersions, all the way to threats of physical violence, no insult is beyond them. This group is so hostile, one would think they had never known a woman in their entire lives, let alone been birthed by one. The needless assault went on for so long it made me think that a Hollywood man must have written it, as I wasn’t aware who wrote it until I looked it up.

Low and behold, not just any Hollywood man but Max Landis, who himself, was recently accused by at least 8 women of emotional, physical and sexual abuse and rape. According to Variety, one accuser alleged that “Landis held her down and raped her, and would deliberately humiliate her because he wanted to have sex with her while she was crying”.

Made more sense, until I realized Liang co-wrote it and apparently penned extensive re-writes on it.

Are You Not Entertained?

Source: Vertical and Redbox Entertainment

Max Landis’s name belongs on a “feminist film”, the way Harvey Weinstein belongs facilitating a victims of sexual assault support group. What were Liang, Moretz and producers thinking? Did #MeToo mean nothing to them?

For countless decades groups and groups of people have been trying to do something about the narcissistic, racist and misogynist people in control of what gets made into a film. Yet artists still give away their power with “it’s just the way it is” or “there’s no jobs so I have to jump at anything”. It is very true that jobs are far less plentiful in the industry for women and anyone not acquiescing to all demands from higher up, generally, get blacklisted.

Unless you’re Max Landis, or any plethora of white male filmmaker. Landis continues to have a career regardless of the accusations or the crappy films he makes, which proves to me that the innumerable victims of the entire gamut of abuse, over the existence of the film industry, do not matter to those in charge and, clearly, not to all artists or consumers either.

Numerous mega stars have shown us who they are, from rapists to child molesters. Yet most people still continue shaming the victims stating they are “out to get money” or gain notoriety. It happens much too often and on too great a scale for that. How many accusers had to come forward just to get Weinstein and Cosby in a courtroom? It shines a bright spotlight on just how messed up we are as a society.

After all, none of these people would have jobs in a world where we as consumers and artists demanded better. In the same way that we boycott companies who make products with slave labor and by destroying nature, we must also boycott entertainment created by those who humiliate and discriminate. For it is the almighty dollar that speaks the loudest.

In All Honesty…

I was so excited to see a commercial project led by a woman and directed by a woman, but anything good that I could’ve said about it was overshadowed by the abuser who co-wrote it. Any merit that it may have had as a “feminist film” has been flushed away by the collaboration with Max Landis. Yes he was purportedly removed from producing this film and the filmmakers and stars supposedly “moved away” from Landis, but that is nowhere near enough. You cannot be a feminist and support a misogynist. Period.

Liang herself was quoted in The Hollywood Reporter, in regards to early backlash of the film stating “I would want to know a little bit more about why those people are intent on erasing my contribution to this movie and deciding that one person, who didn’t make the movie, did make the movie.” I can’t speak for my fellow critics, but I’m not doing that.

In fact, I’m holding Liang and Moretz accountable for their misguided decisions. Why would Liang even want her name associated with Landis at all? If Liang re-wrote most of the script, why not just make a new one entirely to override any WGA writing credit stipulations? Also, why the drawn out show of misogyny if she, a woman, purportedly wrote much of the script? She could have easily represented/illustrated Maude’s abuse by the military cave men in half that time. It was so long that it got uncomfortable and painful to watch.

In interviews, Liang seems to want immunity from criticism because she had lots of women working on this project, but as a fellow woman in film, I felt betrayed that Liang and Moretz would even consider this script. There are plenty of struggling female screenwriters out there who, I’m sure, would’ve contributed a much better concept and overall story.

Ultimately, it was Liang’s and everyone else on the production list’s decision to continue with this project and this writer refuses to look away from that. No amount of special effects; feminist casting or hiring, takes away from the blaring fact that this was once an idea/story hatched by a misogynist abuser. We cannot be willing to collaborate with monsters for any reason.

Of all people I personally understand how hard it is for women to get jobs in this industry, but none of us should sell our souls just for a gig. There are people who have suffered and endured spiritual death by the sadistic actions of Landis and we cannot ignore that. Ever. Not for any credits, money or recognition.

The filmmakers efforts would be more aptly placed working together to establish a new way of filmmaking and supporting underrepresented artists without the contributions of known abusers. Landis still gets credit and has upcoming projects. One can’t say that for the innumerable, unknown screenwriters still yet to even get their foot in the door.

And all for what? The film is a ridiculous premise with a silly monster that has ludicrous, super-power longevity and all for a “mission” that turns out to be so stereotypical for women it’s insulting. None of the male characters have any worthwhile characteristics or development to deserve being seen let alone living to the end. This isn’t a story that needs telling.

Why didn’t they write a new script about the story about one of the many female fighter pilots of WWII pictured in the credits? This end result is nowhere near worth insulting those real pilot’s service nor re-triggering and disrespecting Landis’s victims for.

Words can’t express the level of disappointment and exasperation I feel for the entertainment industry and the people involved in holding it up as it currently is. I don’t claim to have all the right answers but the level of toxicity behind commercial movie production is breathtaking. I’ve heard so many stories over the years from colleagues and friends, about the horrors they have endured working in Hollywood and the film industry that are mostly left out of the press.

I am shocked and deeply saddened that we as a society still support it. When will enough be enough? How many human victims will it take for real change to occur? When will humanity and morality outweigh our need to worship money and fame? It’s such a shame because there is so much beauty to be known and created that is silenced and rots under greed’s heavy hand.

It is CRUCIAL that filmmakers and audiences alike have the courage to stand up for what is right and not roll over to fear or accept “that’s just how things are”. Taking the easier path upholds the toxic norm, allowing the privileged to continue keeping the 99% under their boot and that is something I am unwilling to accept. Together, we can create change for the better, but only if we are willing to step outside of our own egos and weather the growing pains that change creates.

We cannot afford to allow the “gremlins” of toxic masculinity and greed to control our world. I’m willing to go the distance. How about you?