[Analysis] Catwoman (2004) Deconstructed

 

Halle Berry stars as Catwoman. © 2004 Catwoman Warner Bros. Pictures.

People tend to write Catwoman off as a bad film which completely missed the mark of adapting the story of the popular DC Comics character. However, when you peel back the layers of the film, dig deeper, and re-examine the film closely through an analytical lens--you will discover the film's layers of relatability, relevance, and substance.

Fun Fact: Catwoman was the highest-grossing female-led superhero film until it was dethroned by Wonder Woman in 2017.

Within Catwoman's 1 hour and 44 minutes runtime, the film touches upon a myriad of topics: 

1. Career Passion

    Many people aspire to have a career in a field that they're passionate about. However, often, many individuals find themselves grappling with reality and a touch choice. To either pursue their passion career even though they may not make as much income from it or to pursue a profession with a high-income. In the film, the main character, Patience Phillips (portrayed by actress Halle Berry) had a passion and desire to be an artist more akin to a painter. There were multiple paintings littered around her studio apartment and given the context within the film, Patience wasn't exactly content with her current job position. She works at a cosmetics company called Hedare Beauty as an artist and graphics designer. 

2. Workplace Culture

    The workplace culture at Hedare Beauty is stressful and hostile. The workplace environment isn't inviting or stimulating either. This is a relatable element in the film because, in the real world, some of the work environments that people find themselves in are toxic not only to their mental health but also their physical health, as well. Furthermore, Patience was publicly humiliated by her boss George Hedare in front of all of her coworkers when he fired her for rightfully standing up to him. Although, her public, blunt, and direct method may not have been the best approach in a corporate setting. Instead, it would have been more appropriate to talk to him privately in his office, but by that point in the film, Patience was fed-up. Even though she voiced many of her coworkers' shared sentiments towards George Hedare, as a consequence, she now found herself jobless. This particular scene in the film is relevant because people are often afraid to speak up about issues or problems going on within the workplace due to fear of retaliation or losing their job--even if it's the right thing to do. 

3. The Beauty Industry and Beauty Standards

    The beauty industry is a booming and robust industry and for consumers, products hailing from the beauty industry play an important factor within their lives. Naturally, people want to feel good about themselves or even dress to impress. Additionally, every country has its own respective beauty standards or idealized vision of what is considered beautiful. The media from print, to broadcast, and digital often depicts a country's idealized standard of beauty, and when an individual doesn't fit the beauty standard(s), that person may try within their own power, to seek out ways to fit the country's respective idealized beauty standard(s) or may even start to have themselves.  

4. Ageism

    Another subject the film touches upon is ageism. Laurel Hedare the wife of George Hedare the company's-owner is replaced as the face of the company with a much younger woman simply because she was considered old now that she had turned forty. This is a prime example of ageism. Even now, people are not hired for job positions due to their age. 

5. Consumerism

    Beau-line a new beauty cream product created by Hedare Beauty, to reverse the effects of aging was intentionally created with addictive qualities and negative side effects that would encourage and incite consumerism. If a consumer stopped using the product after a prolonged period of time, their skin would deteriorate.

6. Unethical Business Practices and Corporate Image

    Laurel Hedare (played by actress Sharon Stone) decided to proceed with the launch of Beau-line, even though a scientist named Dr. Ivan Slavicky (played by actor Peter Wingfield) at one of the Headare Company's R&D (Research and Development) labs, warned of its drastic negative side effects on consumers. This was a highly unethical business decision to go ahead and sell consumers what Patience Phillips/Catwoman refers to in the film as, "A disease in a jar". Once the truth about Beau-line hits the media, the corporate image of Headare Beauty will plummet sharply.

7. Interpersonal Relationships

    The interpersonal relationships you form with people both inside and outside of the workplace are valuable. Sally (played by actress Alex Borstein) and Lance (played by actor Berend McKenzie), are two of Patience Phillips' friends who are both encouraging towards her and looked out for her at work. Additionally, Detective Tom Lone (played by actor Benjamin Pratt) is another essential relationship that Patience Phillips formed during the film. The detective is her love interest, and he also placed his trust in her, which allowed him to see and identify the true culprit behind the murders that took place in the film. Which, thus, allowed for a framed innocent person (Catwoman) not having to spend time behind bars.

8. Reinvention and Rebirth

    On the night that Patience Phillips died, she was reborn as Catwoman when an Egyptian Mau cat breathed new life into her. Her mannerisms and disposition changed. Patience became more confident, assertive, and sure of herself. She was no longer the timid, meek young woman viewers encountered at the start of the film. People often whether in their personal or professional life want to or aspire to reinvent themselves at some point.

9. Women's Roles in Society

    The film sheds light on what roles women play in society whether it's in the workplace, how they should conduct themselves in public, and in their personal life.

The key takeaway lesson here is as an individual it's important to form your own opinions. Don't be swayed by the publics' or critics' opinion(s). Watch and examine a film on your own terms and ultimately decide for yourself how the film stands on its own. Catwoman by no means is a perfect film as it has its own set of flaws. Moreover, there are way worse films than it in existence but Catwoman has relevance, relatability, and substance as I've showcased above, you can glean from it.