Elizabeth Banks Calls Out Spielberg For Never Using Female Leads; Completely Ignores "The Color Purple"

Independent- Elizabeth Banks has named and shamed a huge Hollywood director she believes doesn’t make enough films focusing on women: Steven Spielberg.

Speaking about the director at the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards last night (14 June), Banks said: “I went to Indiana Jones and Jaws and every movie Steven Spielberg ever made. And by the way, he’s never made a movie with a female lead. Sorry, Steven. I don’t mean to call your ass out, but it’s true.”

While the sentiment of Banks’ comment came from the right place, The AV Club points out that she is not strictly correct: The Sugarland Express (1974) bore a top-billing for Goldie Hawn while Whoopi Goldberg is the lead of 1985’s The Color Purple. Additionally, aside from Mark Rylance’s turn as The BFG, young star Ruby Barnhill is arguably the lead of the maestro’s 2016 Roald Dahl adaptation.

You come at the king, you best not misogyny! Score one for truth in the face of sexism. Sure, as Independent points out, Spielberg’s 3 movies with female leads over a 40 years of filmmaking isn’t exactly… balanced. But it’s not never! The Color Purple is a seminal portrait of African-American female struggle in 20th-century America. It stars Whoopie Goldberg (a woman) as the LEAD, Oprah Winfrey in her film debut, and many other strong, beautiful, independent, daring female actors. (Notice how I didn’t say “actresses” because it’s outdated and sexist?)

For Elizabeth Banks to blatantly ignore this tour-de-force film, this masterpiece of female acting, is both racist and sexist. Have I seen it? No. But I’m not the one accusing arguably the greatest director of all time for never making a movie with a female lead. “Sorry Steven, I don’t mean to call your ass out.” What?! Of course you do! Well guess what Elizabeth–I’m calling your ass out, you… liar. Or maybe you just didn’t know about The Color Purple, but exclusionary detailing (lying by omission) is still lying.

Do your homework. Watch The Color Purple. Then tell me that the guy who also made Jaws, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, and countless other masterpieces is sexist. Until then, I, along with my good friend Harrison Ford, the U.S. military, holocaust survivors, dinosaurs, and sharks will not be seeing any of your movies. Good day!