WCW: Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster is one of my favorite actresses of all time, so it was a shock to find out that we haven’t actually done a Woman Crush Wednesday featuring her historical roles! So, dig in, my friends! We are taking a little tour of Ms. Foster’s greatest costumed hits! Except I’m going to make an executive decision and omit a lot of the early stuff she did, because it’s mainly little kids clothes in Westerns and the costumes are almost indistinguishable from one another.

Paper Moon (1974)

Things start to get more interesting once Jodie hits her teens. She starts taking on more challenging roles and the budgets get bigger, so we at least start seeing some interesting costuming content that isn’t “Grubby Little Tomboy.”

Bugsy Malone (1976)

I loved this film as a kid, but I haven’t watched it in decades, so I have no idea how it holds up. Jodie Foster plays the world-weary Tallulah, nightclub owner Fat Sam’s girlfriend. Oh, right, I should mention that this film is cast entirely with kids before anyone comes out swinging about a VERY underage Jodie dating a nightclub owner. Their machine guns shoot marshmallows. It’s fucking epic and Foster absolutely steals the show out from under everyone else. Scott Biao, who?

The Blood of Others (1984)

A WWII film in which Jodie Foster plays Hélène Bertrand, the central figure in what sounds like an overwrought romance with an emotionally immature man. But somehow we are supposed to think it’s “romantic” because she keeps getting rejected by this guy and then dies a tragic death so he can finally learn about true love? I’m sure if anyone can make this dreck watchable, it would be Foster, but reading the synopsis on Wikipedia made me want to scream “HE’S NOT WORTH IT!”

Mesmerized (1985)

Hoo boy, another one where the synopsis made me immediately narrow my eyes: “An orphaned New Zealand girl married to an older, wealthy businessman *(John Lithgow – yikes, another red flag)* learns to deal with his strange sexual desires.” Apparently, we have hit the phase in every woman’s acting career where they must endure creepy older men acting out the creepy fetishy desires of creepy older directors. I think I will pass, even if the costumes look interesting enough.

Sommersby (1993)

The costumes look ok, but it’s packed with top talent (Richard Gere, Bill Pullman, and a cameo of James Earl Jones. And obvs. Ms. Foster) so it is probably worth a watch. I remember this film being a big deal when it came out. It’s an adaptation of a French film, *The Return of Martin Guerre* (1982) which was set in the 16th century, but this version is set just after the Civil War. Foster plays Laurel, the wife of a man who went off to fight and came back utterly changed to the point where she begins to believe he’s an imposter.

Maverick (1994)

I was OBSESSED with this movie when it came out (I was 16, don’t judge), and even more obsessed with Jodie Foster’s portrayal of Annabelle Bransford, Bret Maverick’s love interest/rival. Also, I would wear the shit out of everything she wears in this film. I’ve been meaning to do a review of this film for ages, so I should probably get off my ass and just write one.

Anna and the King (1999)

Another film I was obsessed with when it came out. It introduced me to Chow Yun-Fat and how insanely sexy he is (ok, he’s not Yul Brenner hot, but he’s up there). I also loved the costumes, which is no surprise because they’re designed by Jenny Beavan. I know this film is insanely controversial on several fronts, so go ahead, tell me how much I suck for loving it.

A Very Long Engagement (2004)

Set during WWI, this film is about Mathilde (Audrey Tatou) and her quest to find out what happened to her fiancé after he was supposedly killed in battle. Jodie Foster plays Élodie Gordes, who is also caught up in untangling the mystery of what really occurred. The film won a bunch of César awards in 2004, including Best Costume for designer Madeline Fontaine (who costumed *Amelie* and is probably best known to us historical costume nerds as the designer on Versailles).

What’s your favorite historical film role of Jodie Foster’s? Tell us in the comments!

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5 thoughts on “WCW: Jodie Foster”

Heather says:

March 6, 2024 at 7:34 am

Sommersby and Bugsy Malone are my favs and well worth watching again. I think Ms Foster is one of our best actors. She is so intense in everything. I am also drooling over that ivory colored frock she is pictured in above! It’s exquisite.
LadySlippers says:

March 6, 2024 at 8:03 am

I absolutely adore Jodie and go out of my way to watch anything and everything she’s in. Her performances are so amazing. Nell is a favourite of mine…..Little Man Tate was the first time I could see a director’s view of things and how it might differ from another director.

Sommersby was very interesting as she falls in love with Ricahrd’s character all while knowing this wasn’t her husband and lied to say he was. Definitely a case of truth is stranger than fiction. But Jodie and Richard’s love story is so tender and beautiful. You just gotta see it.

Maverick was also a huge favourite. It would have been better if Icky Man wasn’t in it but I do have to give props to their chemistry. (gags) My only complaint of Jodie is, she does support Icky Man. But no one is perfect, right?
Kat says:

March 6, 2024 at 10:32 am

I similarly grew up with Bugsy Malone and recently rewatched it; it definitely still holds up. My favorite detail will always be the cars that had bicycle pedals to power them (because of course a bunch of preteens aren’t going to be driving real cars) but somehow despite being only 14, Jodie did the world weary lounge singer slash gangster’s moll act so well.
Maggie affra says:

March 6, 2024 at 12:12 pm

Mesmerized is based off the real life murder of a husband by his wife.
Lily Lotus Rose says:

March 6, 2024 at 8:14 pm

I enjoyed Summersby and Maverick. I had no idea she was in A Very Long Engagement! Great WCW choice!