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[Hugare]

GAF, I've just watched "The Substance" (great movie, btw)

I've noticed something, tho: every guy in the movie was an asshole. Even the ones that appeared for like 5 seconds.

This is something that I've been noticing frequently, and man, it's getting so tiresome.

I've watched a tv series recently called "Why Women Kill", and like the title implies, every men is a piece of shit in it. Every single one of them (well, except the gay one, of course)

I asked my gf: "can you remember of a single movie of the past 5 years or so where there was a male role model? Not an asshole or some weak individual?". She couldn't answer. And I couldn't either, hence why I'm asking here.

I'm honestly worried about how this may impact young boys, with the lack of men that they could be inspired by in media, while being represented as bad individuals simply by being ... male.

 

[FunkMiller]

The heroic male certainly has taken a battering culture-wise in recent years.

The ideology now prevalent in modern Hollywood doesn't really allow for positive depictions of men, given that the attitude has firmly become 'it's time to get revenge on the men for all those years of misogyny in the movies and TV.'

This anger induced over-correction has singularly failed as a strategy - both in Hollywood, and in other arenas that have taken the spotlight very recently.

The right strategy is always to understand your audience, and what they want. Not try to dictate what the audience should have because of your own agendas.

Again, this applies to those other arenas as much as it does to Hollywood.

 

[nkarafo]

Certainly don't watch this

 

[Hugare]

The heroic male certainly has taken a battering culture-wise in recent years.

The ideology now prevalent in modern Hollywood doesn't really allow for positive depictions of men, given that the attitude has firmly become 'it's time to get revenge on the men for all those years of misogyny in the movies and TV.'

This anger induced over-correction has singularly failed as a strategy - both in Hollywood, and in other arenas that have taken the spotlight very recently.

The right strategy is always to understand your audience, and what they want. Not try to dictate what the audience should have because of your own agendas.

Again, this applies to those other arenas as much as it does to Hollywood.

Exactly

Not only that, but by making your movie, game or whatever with recent bias, you'll make it feel dated really soon.

The best of entertainment is created not as time capsules, but as timeless creations. LOTR may look dated, but it's timeless. Same for 2001, The Godfather and etc.

Instead of focusing on the stories, they are focusing on a checklist of topics that they want to tackle. Souless creations everywhere that will be easily forgotten in time.

 

[Germuso]

John wick

 

[kunonabi]

Godzilla minus one

 

[Rran]

Godzilla minus one

I've seen some people complain that the male lead isn't emotionally strong but it makes for a compelling arc. Good character.

Also Godzilla himself was pretty cool too.

 

[intbal]

I gave up on movies several years ago. TV too.
But people I listen too said this one had what you might call "good male representation".
I don' t know. Didn't watch it. Maybe ask around.

 

[Doom85]

I asked my gf: "can you remember of a single movie of the past 5 years or so where there was a male role model? Not an asshole or some weak individual?". She couldn't answer. And I couldn't either, hence why I'm asking here.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Avatar: The Way of Water
Avengers: Endgame
The Batman
Black Adam
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Blue Beetle
Bullet Train
Deadpool and Wolverine
Doctor Sleep
Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Dune Parts 1 and 2
Everything Everywhere All at Once
The Flash
Ghostbusters Afterlife
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
John Wick 3 and 4
Jurassic World Dominion
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1
Mortal Kombat
NOPE
No Time to Die
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Shazam 1 and Shazam: Fury of the Gods
Shang-Chi
Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2
Spider-man: Across the Spider-verse
Spider-Man: No Way Home
The Suicide Squad
Thor: Love and Thunder
Top Gun: Maverick
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

All of these have at least one significant male character who is not weak and/or an asshole.

 

[MisterFalcon]

If you only watch Youtube videos ripping into movies and TV they hate you'd get the impression there is nothing but anti-male stuff out there.

 

[Digital-Aftertaste]

not recent but Blue Ruin is a fantastic flic

 

[ForAcademicPurposes]

Saving Private Ryan comes to mind.

 

[bitbydeath]

Boy Kills World was good, came out last year.

 

[John Bilbo]

The Holdovers

 

[jufonuk]

The heroic male certainly has taken a battering culture-wise in recent years.

The ideology now prevalent in modern Hollywood doesn't really allow for positive depictions of men, given that the attitude has firmly become 'it's time to get revenge on the men for all those years of misogyny in the movies and TV.'

This anger induced over-correction has singularly failed as a strategy - both in Hollywood, and in other arenas that have taken the spotlight very recently.

The right strategy is always to understand your audience, and what they want. Not try to dictate what the audience should have because of your own agendas.

Again, this applies to those other arenas as much as it does to Hollywood.

Dont forget all female characters are perfect from the off have no obstacles to face can do and know everything and need to guide the clueless male by the hand also the female characters learn nothing and do not need to change.

I do not hate women just clearing it up. I just hate the bland characters with no development or depth to them other than I’m the best and perfect.

One of my fave characters ever is Ellen Ripley. She was flawed, scared, out matched but fought through it over came her adversity had to get over the depth of her crew mates and then came back in aliens to prove everyone wrong when they all said she was making her story up. Not only that she has to mourn the death of her daughter. She quickly became the leader/adviser to a team of space marines. A soldier, A surrogate mother to an abandoned child and overcame her prejudices (though Ash was a sneaker fucker) I’m so glad she did that in only two movies well maybe three, that those movies were stop after that and no reboots etc were made. Well maybe one today is supposed to be good I’ll check it out….someday.

Ok cheers bye.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

Everything with Peter North basically.

 

[jufonuk]

Shot caller. It’s 2017 but that had an amazing representation. The sacrifice the character makes.

 

[Bitmap Frogs]

oh man this reminds me i recently watched the biopic about enzo ferrari expecting cars, engineering and beautiful italian design and more than half the movie are his troubles with women....

 

[Dr.Morris79]

Well that's odd, I just literally watched this video



Came here, and see this thread.

But this has been a theme for years now. In the UK it's pretty damn awful. My sons old school was fucking terrible for demonising boys.

As for 'new' films that don't? No idea. Godzilla Minus one? I don't really watch a lot of new stuff as most of it is complete 'modern' dog poo, because of this very reason, even my wife hates most new shows and films. The feminization of society really isn't helping anything

I do remember the good old days though, when men were allowed to just man out

 

[Dr.Morris79]

The Holdovers

Good call actually! I did watch this, brilliant movie!

Another was Green Book. Probably the only few 'newish' movies that stick out to me.

 

[pachura]

Tom Cruise keeps the tradition of old-school testosterone-filled action flicks with Top Gun: Maverick and Mission Impossible's
Such an irony himself being controlled by The Church of Scientology and in the closet

 

[Hugare]

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Avatar: The Way of Water
Avengers: Endgame
The Batman
Black Adam
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Blue Beetle
Bullet Train
Deadpool and Wolverine
Doctor Sleep
Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Dune Parts 1 and 2
Everything Everywhere All at Once
The Flash
Ghostbusters Afterlife
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
John Wick 3 and 4
Jurassic World Dominion
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1
Mortal Kombat
NOPE
No Time to Die
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Shazam 1 and Shazam: Fury of the Gods
Shang-Chi
Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2
Spider-man: Across the Spider-verse
Spider-Man: No Way Home
The Suicide Squad
Thor: Love and Thunder
Top Gun: Maverick
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

All of these have at least one significant male character who is not weak and/or an asshole.

90% of the list is made of superhero movies, which is ok, but imo they doesnt have the same representation "power" as something that's not fantasy. Most heroes arent even human. Batman is, but I wouldnt say Bruce is a role model (certainly not the one from The Batman)

And the other 10% has some debatable choices, imo. "No Time to Die" and "Top Gun: Maverick" were great, tho!

The Holdovers

This is a good one. Very down to earth and relatable.

Shot caller. It’s 2017 but that had an amazing representation. The sacrifice the character makes.

not recent but Blue Ruin is a fantastic flic

Yeah, both aren't from the 2020's, but I'll look for them. Never heard of them before.

A great one from the 2010's would be Warrior. Amazing movie.

Godzilla minus one

Yeah, we could pick a bunch of examples from asian cinema. But in the West its a different story.

Dont forget all female characters are perfect from the off have no obstacles to face can do and know everything and need to guide the clueless male by the hand also the female characters learn nothing and do not need to change.

I do not hate women just clearing it up. I just hate the bland characters with no development or depth to them other than I’m the best and perfect.

One of my fave characters ever is Ellen Ripley. She was flawed, scared, out matched but fought through it over came her adversity had to get over the depth of her crew mates and then came back in aliens to prove everyone wrong when they all said she was making her story up. Not only that she has to mourn the death of her daughter. She quickly became the leader/adviser to a team of space marines. A soldier, A surrogate mother to an abandoned child and overcame her prejudices (though Ash was a sneaker fucker) I’m so glad she did that in only two movies well maybe three, that those movies were stop after that and no reboots etc were made. Well maybe one today is supposed to be good I’ll check it out….someday.

Ok cheers bye.

I mentioned to my gf Ripley and Sarah Connor as examples of good women leads that werent perfect, and for being so, were so much more relatable then recent female leads in movies.

I've watched "Blink Twice" and the finale was just ridiculous. A bunch of women with top model bodies kicking ass of some men that are built like athletes. At this point its no different than a fantasy movie.

Back then, the story came first then agenda. Today its the other way around. Maybe I wouldnt mind so much if the writting wasnt so lazy.

 

[jufonuk]

Im trying to think . The only one that comes to mind is “one more life” But that’s a portrayal of a guy from ww2

Unless it’s a Jason statham style geezer/lads film or peaky blinders I can’t really think.

Maybe tulsa king or Yellowstone ? Both I haven’t really seen too much.

 

[MaestroMike]

I liked iron claw

 

[DetectiveBananas]

Top Gun Maverick is probably the better example i can think of where they don’t diminish his character to prop up weaker characters. He’s unapologetically his true self and that’s okay.

 

[jufonuk]

Old Dads written by Bill Burr, maybe that one?

Nope

Best films of the 2020s

My favourite films released in the UK after 1 Jan 2020, in rough year order

www.imdb.com

john Wick 4 according to IMDB

 

[The Cockatrice]

stop watching indie movies then. most horror movies are female centered. big movies still have male heroes as pointed out by above replies. hell the biggest movie of all time in recent years has two white males.

 

[Hookshot]

Barbie

 

[jason10mm]

stop watching indie movies then. most horror movies are female centered. big movies still have male heroes as pointed out by above replies. hell the biggest movie of all time in recent years has two white males.

It's not about just having a man in it, but rather highlighting masculine virtues and the positive traits men display within their traditional roles and how men really bond with each other.

It's not for kids but the show LIONESS has this. Written by Taylor Sheridan so naturally that's the case. The leads (Zoe Saldana) husband in particular models strong masculinity despite being mostly support for her.

 

[Oberstein]

OP is right, it's a trend that's only gotten worse over time.

In fact, directors have put women in the spotlight before, without belittling the male protagonists.

Now they feel obliged to degrade them to show that women are strong... which is stupid and the result of bad writing.

 

[The Cockatrice]

It's not about just having a man in it, but rather highlighting masculine virtues and the positive traits men display within their traditional roles and how men really bond with each other.

It's not for kids but the show LIONESS has this. Written by Taylor Sheridan so naturally that's the case. The leads (Zoe Saldana) husband in particular models strong masculinity despite being mostly support for her.

Those movies are generally bad movies tho so the whatever trend Disney and Netflix are pushing it'll die.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

Every strong female character is a man in female skin, from a writer's perspective.

That's why those characters suck, too.

The answer is no. There's no space for cool men anymore because Hollywood writers are rabid feminists, soyboys with mental issues, or AI.

 

[RaduN]

Yeah, ton of them. 90% of them TV series and movies i saw past few years.

 

[Drake]

One of the bigger ones in recent memory is Top Gun: Maverick. Just a movie filled with a bunch of heroic, strong men with a good patriotic story. It's funny that for the most part Hollywood refuses to make these types of movies anymore, but when they do they make $1.5 billion.

 

[analog_future]

Some good films, some bad films, but there's literally endless examples.


Over the last 2-3 years:

• Dune, Dune: Part Two
• Bad Boys: Ride or Die
• The Fall Guy
• Argylle
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
• Avatar: The Way of Water
• John Wick: Chapter 4
• Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
• Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I
• Creed III
• Fast X
• Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
• Top Gun: Maverick
• Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness
• Jurassic World Dominion
• Black Adam
• Nobody
• Uncharted
• Shang Chi
• No Time to Die
• Free Guy

etc.. etc.. etc..

 

[jufonuk]

Nobody is a good film

 

[Hugare]

Some good films, some bad films, but there's literally endless examples.


Over the last 2-3 years:

• Dune, Dune: Part Two
• Bad Boys: Ride or Die
• The Fall Guy
• Argylle
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
• Avatar: The Way of Water
• John Wick: Chapter 4
• Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
• Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I
• Creed III
• Fast X
• Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
• Top Gun: Maverick
• Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness
• Jurassic World Dominion
• Black Adam
• Nobody
• Uncharted
• Shang Chi
• No Time to Die
• Free Guy

etc.. etc.. etc..

As I said in some other post, most of these are comic book/fantasy stuff.

It's fine, but I would like to see more exemples of male representation in down to earth movies that young men could relate to.

Hell, I'm even missing the old romcoms from the 90-00's. Men were assholes in some of them, but at least they always redeemed themselves in the end or the woman realised that he wasnt so bad after all.

 

[analog_future]

As I said in some other post, most of these are comic book/fantasy stuff.

It's fine, but I would like to see more exemples of male representation in down to earth movies that young men could relate to.

I mean, most big movies today are comic book/fantasy stuff. It's what people pay to watch.

With that said, even from my initial list there's still:

• Bad Boys: Ride or Die
• The Fall Guy
• Argylle
• John Wick: Chapter 4
• Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I
• Creed III
• Fast X
• Top Gun: Maverick
• Jurassic World Dominion
• Nobody
• No Time to Die
• Free Guy

If you want to keep going, you can add:

• Glass Onion
• Knives Out
• Ford v. Ferrari
• The Greatest Showman
• The Equalizer
• Horizon: An American Saga
• Monkey Man
• A Man Called Otto
• A Haunting in Venice
• Death on the Nile
• 1917
• The Call of the Wild
• The Way Back
• Bullet Train
• The Gentleman

And these are just in the last few years.


Again, there is nothing that even comes close to resembling a lack of male representation in Hollywood.

 

[John Bilbo]

It's fine, but I would like to see more exemples of male representation in down to earth movies that young men could relate to.

The Highwaymen. Well the men in it are not young but relatable.

The Devil All The Time
The Pale Blue Eye
Ford v Ferrari
The King
The Northman

I'm just listing my favourite movies of these past years it seems. The movies listed have a lot of evil and temptations in their worlds but I think the men in them try to navigate within such a world the best they can. I hope they are close enough to your seeking.

 

[Hugare]

I mean, most big movies today are comic book/fantasy stuff. It's what people pay to watch.

With that said, even from my initial list there's still:

• Bad Boys: Ride or Die
• The Fall Guy
• Argylle
• John Wick: Chapter 4
• Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I
• Creed III
• Fast X
• Top Gun: Maverick
• Jurassic World Dominion
• Nobody
• No Time to Die
• Free Guy

If you want to keep going, you can add:

• Glass Onion
• Knives Out
• Ford v. Ferrari
• The Greatest Showman
• The Equalizer
• Horizon: An American Saga
• Monkey Man
• A Man Called Otto
• A Haunting in Venice
• Death on the Nile
• 1917
• The Call of the Wild
• The Way Back
• Bullet Train
• The Gentleman

And these are just in the last few years.


Again, there is nothing that even comes close to resembling a lack of male representation in Hollywood.

Yeah, great examples

I particularly love the Guy Ritchie movies (men are usually not role models in his movies tho lol. 90% are criminals, but I see what you mean)

Maybe I'm just consuming a lot of junk lately. I wouldnt call The Substance junk, tho.

 

[SlimySnake]

I dont watch as many movies as I used to but here we go:

Civil War- Two female reporters. Two male reporters. Female reporter has a breakdown. Male reporters dont.
Deadpool and Wolverine - Two male heroes.
Dune Part 2 - Male led film
Kingdom of the planet of the Apes - Male and Female lead. Male lead does more work.
Twisters - Male and female lead. Female saves the day at the end but the male lead is badass and his masculinity is what attracts the female lead to him.

Avatar, Top Gun, Oppenheimer, Mission Impossible, The Batman, Dune Part 1 were all released in 2023 an 2022 and also feature decent male leads.

 

[SlimySnake]

Watch Taylor Sheridan TV shows.

- Yellowstone - cowboys and indians
- 1883 - 19th century cowboys and indians
- Mayor Of Easttown - 21st century gangsters and police
- 1923 - 20th century cowboys and action heroes.

 

[Trilobit]

Top Gun Maverick was a breath of fresh air. I loved how unapologetically masculine they were.

 

[The Cockatrice]

It's fine, but I would like to see more exemples of male representation in down to earth movies that young men could relate to.

Unless I'm missing something all males relate to heroes. Males dont watch down to earth sappy shit. We dream to sit on a bench at night in winter bleeding out after saving the world. That is what men relate and in that regard most big movies, the best ones and the ones that sold the most are white male fantasies. Like I said, stop watching crap stuff Netflix/Disney shoves.

 

[Bojji]

I gave up on movies several years ago. TV too.
But people I listen too said this one had what you might call "good male representation".
I don' t know. Didn't watch it. Maybe ask around.

It's not bad.

 

[Coconutt]

Certainly don't watch this

Ugh I was thinking of this movie when I saw the thread title, basically man bad the movie. To answer op probably the top gun sequel.

 

[thegame983]

The Apprentice
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8368368/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_The%20Apprentice

 

[jason10mm]

Again, there is nothing that even comes close to resembling a lack of male representation in Hollywood.

It's not just male representation, it's POSITIVE MALE ROLE MODELS, particularly in stuff aimed at kids.

How many kids shows/films have absentee or punch-line dads while the mom does all the heavy lifting? Where do you see MEN being recognized for their sacrifices, their struggles, their relationships with other men? It's not entirely absent for sure, but I think you are FAR more likely to have an absent or low quality dad in a show than a mom these days. Most of this, I think, it because the writers had poor relationships with their fathers and themselves never really had to overcome anything other than some college admissions/job rejections and of course a rough dating scene. But the number of vets, police, blue collar type men in the writing field is probably rock bottom and that lack of a diverse perspective definitely shows. There is also a DEFINITE trend in dunking on men to prop up the women because they can't really show a woman being an awesome housewife, mother, or wife, she's gotta be a business woman, assassin, politician; thus basically a male role going against other male characters.

 

[GymWolf]

Scary movie 2 maybe?? Dude has more balls than soul.

 

[jason10mm]

Watch Taylor Sheridan TV shows.

- Yellowstone - cowboys and indians
- 1883 - 19th century cowboys and indians
- Mayor Of Easttown - 21st century gangsters and police
- 1923 - 20th century cowboys and action heroes.

I mentioned Lioness previously, but I would add it to the list. Despite being very female fronted, the male roles are often better characterized. In the second season for example we see Zoe Saldana going off on numerous screaming rants about how good she is while all the males just kinda watch her with bemusement. An odd change to her character from s1 but I think they are trying to show her internal stress.

There is a nice scene where the father character very calmly explains how he views transgender issues to his daughters in a way that doesn't denigrate anyone and respects "both sides". It serves as a bit of a mouthpiece about the issue but ALSO models how a dad can provide guidance and maybe even a course correction to his kids without belittling them or making them feel ostracized. Excellent bit of writing as it develops characters while injecting some balanced social commentary. Then they stumble a bit because the teen daughter walks in on her parents having sex and acts all traumatized about the very notion of sex as if this girl didn't get pregnant in the previous season but I'll allow it

Lioness also has about the best lesbian representation EVER in Jill Wagners soldier character. Not only has the actress put in THE WORK in getting jacked for the role, but they play her very much as "one of the boys" who gives and takes about her sexual orientation exactly how a self assured BADASS would react. No preaching, no heavy handed sermon (well, not too heavy handed at times), just a "yeah, its a thing, deal with it" which makes sense coming from a heavyweight like her. Though I do miss the bombshell Wagner of the Blade TV show era (anyone remember that little gem????) her metamorphasis is well earned. More of hollywood needs to realize that when you LOOK the part you don't need to have so many scenes TALKING about how tough you are.