The ‘Ishtar’ effect: When a film flops and its female director never works again

This month, four very different films directed by women arrive in theaters in wide release — Angelina Jolie-Pitt’s period romance “By the Sea,” Catherine Hardwicke’s female friendship drama “Miss You Already,” Jessie Nelson’s Christmas comedy “Love the Coopers” and Patricia Riggen’s survival tale “The 33.” In an industry where, according to research conducted by The Times, USC and others, only 4% of studio films are directed by women, this should be an indicator of a positive counter-trend, a fist-bump-worthy, feminist moment in cinema. Read More…