The Spice Girls might have coined the phrase but the ladies in the following ten films exhibit far more Girl Power than Sporty, Scary, Baby, Ginger and Posh. From recent films such as Hard Candy, Erin Brockovich and Million Dollar Baby to classics like Carrie and Aliens, this top 10 features great female characters performed by the very best actresses at the top of their games.

Curtis Hanson has remained the quiet genius amongst Hollywood directors, releasing films infrequently over a career spanning nearly 40 years. In the late 1980s he’s remembered for the Hitchcockian “The Bedroom Window” and pot boiling thriller “Bad Influence” by those lucky enough to see them. More people caught “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle” and “The River Wild in the early 1990s. But he finally received the recognition his directing prowess deserved when he released the massive critical hit “L.A. Confidential”. This was followed three years later with “Wonder Boys” which, for me, is his greatest achievement. Michael Douglas has rarely been better in the role of disgruntled writer Grady Tripp who has to deal with the various social problems of his friends and associates while trying to come to terms with his own neurosis. The film features a great script by Steve Kloves who brings Michael Chabon’s characters to vivid life. Robert Downey Jr.’s small but perfect performance is worth the price of admission alone.

Caroline (‘Caz’) Ames, over at Lets Go To The Movies, has been busy thinking about one of her favourite actresses lately. Julia Roberts, Hollywood’s biggest female star, who Caz lovingly refers to as ‘Jules’, has consistently put out hit after hit in a career spanning over twenty years since her debut in 1987.
Caz says, ‘I have just always loved her loads. Still to this day I watch her movies over and over, while hoping she will keep making more.’
Caz clarifies her list as one decided on ‘how enjoyable the movie …