Do you make a mental note, "Yeah, I've got to see that!" when you first lay eyes on a billboard for a new movie? No? Oh. I would think that's the intended purpose of movie posters. You know, publicizing, promoting, giving a hint about the genre, evoking fear, depicting humanity, causing smiles or winks of romance — there has to be a reason the studios and distributors go through all the bother, right?

It's fun to try to figure out what the movie marketing types are selling. With that in mind, I'm taking a look at a few new posters that have just been released. No, unfortunately, none are lesbian films … sigh … but I'm including the few that have women of interest in the cast. But be forewarned: I can't help looking for lesbian subtext in these things! Hmm, maybe it's the titles that do it?

Battle in Seattle

Now, this movie poster tells me one very important thing: There's not a damn thing funny about this movie! This poster screams serious drama, doesn't it? It also seems to be screaming Charlize Theron is hot even when she looks like your next-door neighbor! Fine, maybe it's just me that heard that scream.

Admittedly, when I first read the title I really wanted this movie to be a romantic comedy. I dreamed of an adorably contrived little battle between two lesbians from Seattle. One, a cute barista in a café that serves Seattle's Best coffee, versus another barista that serves Starbucks. The two press and pull and pour themselves into finding true love through lattes and the perfect espresso. … continue reading

Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress Helen Hunt has emerged from the where-the-hell-have-you-been cold case files! Phew. It's dark and moldy in those little boxes in which Hollywood tosses its female stars of yesteryear. Hunt will soon be seen in Then She Found Me, a comedy with drama and a little romance, also starring Matthew Broderick, Colin Firth and the Divine Ms. M, Bette Midler. But what's even nicer than seeing Hunt in front of the camera is that this new film features Hunt behind the camera, as well. Then She Found Me is Helen Hunt's feature film directorial debut, and it is has received its fair share of positive press from earlier film festivals. The film is at last winding its way to a general release in April.

The movie has been adapted from a novel by Elinor Lipman of the same name, and Hunt helped to pen the screenplay. Writer, director, and star? Is that the new Hollywood version of the triple threat?

In Then She Found Me, Hunt plays an unassuming schoolteacher who finds out that she is the biological daughter of an abrasive talk show host (played by Midler) who placed her baby for adoption at birth. The pairing of Hunt with Midler as the unlikely mother-and-daughter combo is enough of a draw for me to buy a movie ticket for this one, but the story also seems interesting in that modern-day complicated twist sort of way. You see, Hunt's character is ending a relationship with a pretty annoying guy (Broderick) and beginning a relationship with a flawed but nice enough guy (Firth) who has a daughter enrolled at the school where Hunt's character teaches. Hunt's character learns that she is pregnant with her ex's baby, though she is still trying to see where her relationship will go with the new guy. Talk about dyke drama! Oh, wait — I don't think there are any lesbian characters in this; just lesbian icons. Well, anyway, here's the latest trailer:
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