- charlotte gallagher
- culture reporter
Hollywood star Kirsten Dunst says she grew up in an era when there was a “huge pay gap” between herself and her male co-stars.
She was paid less than her male co-stars, even though they were more successful at the box office in films such as Jumanji (1995) and Bring It On (2000). He said there were few.
“I was so young and at the time I was just like, 'What are you doing?'” she said.
“I was 17 and still learning my taste in movies. I didn't even think to ask,” she added.
Dunst previously called the pay disparity with Tobey Maguire, her co-star in Spider-Man in 2002, “extremely extreme.”
Director Alex Garland, who directed Dunst in his latest film, “Civil War,'' agreed that the issue was a big one, but added, “No one questioned it, and the male executives didn't question it.'' “These were all inherited opinions and were not taken into consideration.”
Dunst plays a war photographer documenting the United States in conflict and collapse.
Starr said the dystopian film was “very much a warning” of what was to come.
The actress added that the film “has a lot to make people think” and is “a very moving and realistic piece about journalists.”
Dunst, 41, says it's refreshing that her character is the protagonist of an action movie rather than a “damsel in distress.”
In the movie, U.S. government forces are fighting a separatist group called “Western Forces” led by Texas and California.
The civil war that gives the film its title appears to have been caused by the president, played by Nick Offerman, tearing up the Constitution by serving a third term (he is not allowed to serve as president more than once). do not have).
Similarities have been drawn to current U.S. politics and events such as the January 6 riot in which supporters of Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
But Garland, who is also the film's screenwriter, says it's not just about the United States.
“Although the film is set in America, the film is actually about two things: it's about journalists, and it's about polarization. Populist politics that lead to extremism and extremism. It's about polarization.”
Garland, who wrote “28 Days Later'' and “Ex Machina,'' added: “That's what's happening in America, but it's also happening here in this country.'' [the UK] And it's been happening here for a long time, and it's happening all over Europe, the Middle East, Asia. You can list the countries where it applies. ”
He added that journalism was “under attack” which he felt was “strange, scary and dangerous”.
“When you're told, 'Don't trust the BBC,' you put yourself in a position where you can be attacked and criticized for what your own impartial news organization says.”
The director has stated that he was trying to introduce “old-fashioned journalists” who record what is happening without bias or opinion, leaving the interpretation of their actions to others.
“'Civil War' moves forward in a way that a film of this scale would never do,” he wrote, “with compassion for its protagonists and a dark, wandering intelligence, while at the same time keeping the audience engaged at every moment.” It includes a full-fledged effort to excite people.
“Each leg of the journey alternates between pin-drop suspense and mesmerizingly frenetic gunfights, often staged with a mesmerizing surreal edge.”
John Nugent of Empire gave the film four stars, writing, “This film never lets up, always grips, always stirs the senses, always brutally persuasive. Whatever your reaction, this is undeniably confident, intense, and gripping filmmaking.” highest level. “
However, Adrian Houghton of the Guardian was less enthusiastic, giving it three stars overall. Civil War is “obviously anti-war, but it's not specific at all,” she said, “and studiously avoids any direct correlation to current politics, or, as it turns out, any politics.” .
“That distance makes for a frustrating watch at times because it's fueled by adrenaline levels rather than emotion,” she concluded.
'old man'
Dunst grew up in front of the camera, starting her career at the age of three.
When it comes to gender discrimination in the film industry, she says pay disparity isn't the only issue.
One of Dunst's leading roles in her early 20s was in Sofia Coppola's 2006 Marie Antoinette biopic.
Although she played the role, she said the film was “scorched” by film critics.
“The people who saw that movie were my generation, they weren't film critics. Film critics were old people. So for me, the people who enjoyed Marie Antoinette are now adults. They're like, “I loved this movie,'' but they weren't the ones writing the reviews.
“We grew up in a world where people were kind, people created things, and things were done that way.”
But Dunst believes times have changed. She said, “I hope the way I'm carving my own path will be helpful to other actresses.”
Civil War will be released in the UK, US and Canada on April 12th.