Tilda Swinton, Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Reese Witherspoon in neo-noir. Naomi Watts has been in some. Virginia Madsen is notable in a few. You might be able to add the two Arquettes for a few.
And Jodie Foster should be added for some notable roles.
A good many of the roles are weak or stereotyped for both sexes. There are lots of married women who have had it with their policemen husbands. There are a fair number of women in positions of authority in government organizations. Then there are women who are put upon and beaten sometimes. In "Internal Affairs" the partner to Andy Garcia is a woman, senior to him, and she's described as a dyke. Garcia's wife is awfully frustrated with him. Another woman is hit in the face. One could go on and on about how the movies handle the female roles.
Tilda Swinton is excellent in both "Deep End" and "Julia". Jodie Foster stands out in the "The Accused" (1988). There are many women revenge movies.
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