Jurassic Park's Dr. Ellie Sattler Should Be the Template for Women in Blockbusters

With the release of Jurassic World, the long awaited new entry in the popular Jurassic Park series, there has been some backlash regarding the unfortunate way the lead female Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) was written and directed. I don't want to add to that discussion but here is an article that perfectly describes just how awfully the character was written.

What I do want to talk about is the great work of screenwriters David Koepp and Michael Crichton, director Steven Spielberg and most of all Laura Dern as the female lead in the 1993 original Jurassic Park. Dern plays Dr. Ellie Sattler, an expert paleobotanist who along with Sam Neill's Dr. Alan Grant comes to Jurassic Park to give their okay in exchange for some funding. Even though Jurassic Park is 22 years old, it does a lot of things right when it comes to gender politics. So here are some reasons why Dr. Sattler should be the template for female characters in blockbusters.

Good at her job
You know what annoys me the most about female characters in blockbusters? They are often touted in the dialogue as such accomplished people with important jobs or skills--and we never get to see anything like it. Dr. Sattler, on the other hand, is not only intelligent and good at her job but the audience is shown her being competent. There are scenes where Dr. Sattler not only contributes to the discussion and is right but the other (male) characters acknowledge that she's right and take her opinion. And I love the part where she sticks her hand in the large pile of feces to diagnose an ailing dino. That's what scientists do and want to do. They could have made Dr. Sattler an assistant or intern; but she's own her person and professional.

Calls out sexist comments and acts on it
Modern screenwriters do this thing where they have a male character say something sexist, then the female character does an "excuse me?" but still goes along with what the guy said. Dr. Sattler gets told by 70-something John Hammond that he's better off doing some dangerous task and she replies "we can discuss sexism in survival situations when I get back." It's possibly the best line in the movie because she then goes and does her thing. It's not even a question for her. She doesn't put up with sexism because she's just too above it all.

Dresses normally for the situation 
One of the criticisms that feminists have with women in action movies is that their costumes are less practical and more suited for the male audiences. Tight blouses, short skirts and high heels just look glaring onscreen during intense action scenes. It's impractical and unrealistic. The most feminine people I know always dress appropriately for the situation. Dr. Sattler, in pure 90s fashion, is all khaki shorts, tank tops and boots. She's believable in action scenes because she looks like she should be there.

Has fun and cares about things 
The scene where Dr. Sattler and Dr. Grant first see the Brachiosaurus and the Parasaurolophus is one of the most beautifully directed scenes of wonder. Watch it below:

Their joy and excitement is palpable. Dr. Sattler is also having fun. She's not a wet blanket because she reacts how everyone would. Throughout the film, Dr. Sattler is engaged with what's going on. She's not a cipher or a victim. Thanks to Laura Dern's infectious performance, she is just as memorable and crucial to the story as Dr. Grant or Dr. Malcolm. Dr. Sattler's emotional journey isn't forced to cliche.

"RUN."

Her kickass-ness isn't random or unrealistic 
There comes a time when Dr. Sattler has to kick some ass. But you know what, she doesn't turn into Ellie Sattler, Warrior Queen. But she can take care of herself without becoming distractingly fearless. Her vulnerability makes her a better character. Like I said above, she's real and reacts like real people do. The way she handles her action set-pieces are cool but not too showy. Spielberg is obviously a master filmmaker and he balances the different attributes of her character well. Dr. Sattler is her own person and her reactions feel genuine to the character. And that is a major triumph for Jurassic Park.

Filmmakers should look to Jurassic Park for how to write and direct their female leads. It's not that Dr. Sattler is "cool" because she loves dinosaurs or because she calls out sexism. What's great about her is that she is three-dimensional, with opinions, a sense of humor and agency.

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