"Joy" is a Tease
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 10:06AM 
The movies for adults are coming. The movies for adults are coming.
One of the greatest things about summer movie season is that about halfway through it, when you're totally sick of all the explosions and super powers and CGI and lack of great "characters" for actors to really sink their teeth into, invariably the actressy and Oscar-type trailers and posters begin to emerge as "this too shall pass" appetizers. This morning we get our first look at David O. Russell's Joy which reunites him for a third round with his Silver Linings Playbook stars Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro. Yet again 24 year old Jennifer Lawrence is playing a role that might well be better suited for an actress ten years her senior (she's playing the character from 20-40 I believe) but what can you do? Since Russell likes to work with the same actors repeatedly (one of our favorite traits in any director unless it starts hampering their creativity *cough* Tim Burton) he's also invited back Elisabeth Röhm (so good in her small part as Jeremy Renner's wife in American Hustle) and some recurring background players, too.
We're not doing a Yes No Maybe So since this is but a teaser (it's mostly music montage) but it looks promising and perhaps I've underestimated it Oscar-wise? The entire reason I resisted it is that I hate to go with the totally obvious a year in advance as most pundits do, because history does not actually support Oscar favorites staying Oscar favorites each and every year. There is far too much volatility within each Oscar season for that to happen (thank God AMPAS isn't the Emmys!). No filmmaker or star or craftsman dominates continually in their category unless their names are Meryl Streep and John Williams.
Here it is. What'cha think?
Reader Comments (45)
It´s look like a mess! And dont get me wrong: I really hope so! Cant stand the overpraised Lawrence and Cooper anymore!
I don't know if the movie looks good or not but this is sure one exciting teaser!
Looks like they want Nat to update the Best Actres chart what with this and KATE THE GREAT yesterday.
Not totally sold.
The music montage with a classic 70's song is kind of a overused gimmick, it just has the "been there done that" feeling.
And the amount of overpraise David O. Russell got with his two last movies, just left me sceptical about he making a good film again until he finally gets an Oscar for best director and ceases to try pleasing the Academy.
I liked Russell's last three films but this teaser didn't do anything for me. In saying that, it's just a teaser and I'm sure a meatier trailer will be better... or at least I hope it will be.
I'm intrigued-it's not as exciting as The Dressmaker, but still fun. I'm still waiting for that annual Little Children/Gravity/Birdman trailer to come out that will absolutely floor everybody. I haven't seen what is clearly the "Best Trailer of the Year" yet.
I love the fact that you never go for the obvious predictions a year in advance. The actual Oscar nominations seldom reflect the obvious choices that pundits make at the beginning of the year. I remember rolling my eyes last year when so many wags were predicting Angelina Jolie as best director; just because she's Angelina Jolie. Or when people thought that best actress was going to be a war between Kidman and Watts as Grace Kelly and Princess Diana. You knew better.
Nevertheless, it looks like the Russell-Lawrence energy just might catch on one more time before the Academy "retires " them.
Most excited about the possible return to form (with the help of a good director) of both Diane Ladd and Virginia Madsen.
You had me at Jennifer Lawrence, so YES!
That's Dascha Polanco (OITNB) near the beginning!
Okay. I'm intrigued.
Come on with these people all like "I'm over David O. Russell" and "Jennifer Lawrence is too young for these parts". Really?! She is a great actress and David O. Russell is consistently making superb Hollywood films. I can't wait to see a full trailer for this and then the movie itself.
The only vibe I get is sweaty. Yelling. JLaw too young for part.
"Perhaps I've underestimated it Oscar-wise?"
Perhaps!
I'm most excited to see that Isabella Rossellini is in a major film. Her presence adds to all her films.
I admit I had no idea what kind of form this film would take, so for me the teaser is good for how revelatory it ends up being in that regard. It look like a gritty and ironic portrait of the life a woman and a lot of the shots reminded me that O. Russell generally knows what he's doing. I still don't know what sort of film this will end up being, but if I was confused earlier, now I'm excited.
I wasn't sure what the trailer for this would actually look like, but I'm a little intrigued. I can't see it being anywhere near as good as The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle were.
Lawrence looks very front and center in this, which will be interesting to see. She was kind of a moon orbiting everything else in American Hustle. Entertaining, certainly but it was pretty clear the movie had very little idea what the do with her in that movie, narratively speaking. Despite all of her laurels for Silver Linings, she's a lot more backgrounded in that as well. More backgrounded than one might expect, sight unseen, from a movie featuring a Best Actress in a Leading Role performance. It's really Cooper's story. So, in that regard I'm interested to see her take the reins in a Russell movie that really seems like it's going to be legitimately centered around her character. Can't wait.
His movies are always a bit messy, but they work.
Russell has three David Lynch actresses in his cast.
Jennifer Lawrence is a threat to win. Remember when she almost beat Lupita? Two Best Actress Oscars before 25? The backlash will be of Swank-ian proportions!
Too young for the role is better than too old for the role. Imagine if they got Julia Roberts acting as a 22 year old..yuck.
I love that I don't know what it's about except this young woman's journey, with all sorts of intriguing flashes that leave me hungry for more. That seems the definition of "teaser"!
I'm so YES on this one, even if you're not officially asking ;)
The choice of music is a bit on the nose, but the imagery and vibe are great.
Re: Russell may not be the gonzo bomb thrower he was for the first ten years of his career, and I understand why people wish that guy would come back, but looking at his last couple of movies, it's exactly what movie nerds always claim to want from mainstream film, but then turn on the minute they get it. Anyway, hopping off my soap box, yes, I'm really looking forward to this.
A story credit for Annie Mumolo? Catching that name in the credits made it a yes for me. I have no idea what this movie could be about and I appreciate that this gave away very little.
Russell's films have gotten progressively worse since The Fighter (my favorite of his), so there's no excitement on my part. I shall wait for advanced word to recalibrate my level of interest.
D.O.R. always delivers. Period. Part of me does wish he would move on from his current troupe but you can't deny he brings out the best in them. American Hustle was close to if not career best work for the four principals. No argument that it was Lawrence's best. And come on, Isabella!!!! How could I not be a Yes?
Madsen. Ladd. Rossellini.
yep yep yep yep yep yep.
looks great!
here for this.
Stop bitching at Lawrence. She is a marvelous movie star and this what this movie needs.
Very hot and cold on David O. The Lawrence running around with kids thing seems odd, but we shall in context.
We used to have films about people who invented the telephone and the electric light bulb...now we have one about the person who invented the Miracle Mop. (Somebody ought to run this one in a double bill with "Flash of Genius," the 2008 film with Greg Kinnear playing the guy who invented the intermittent windshield wiper.)
I'm between a "maybe so" and a "NO" on this one...but who'm I kidding; I'll probably see it anyway, if only from pure curiosity...and because I really like Isabella Rossellini in anything.
Bill_the_Bear: Oh, I remember that. It was pretty clearly misjudged and hilarious in it's naivete. This one seems like it might be cynical enough about it's subject that I'm a maybe so, leaning yes. (The right Oscar nom and 75% or more on RT and I'll be interested enough.)
"We used to have films about people who invented the telephone and the electric light bulb...now we have one about the person who invented the Miracle Mop."
Ah yes, that Alexander Graham Bell biopic is a treasure. Unfortunately, Hollywood is still greenlighting plenty of biopics based on how "important" the subject is, rather than how interesting a movie his or her life might make.
Suzanne: There are three stories that are kind of about comic books that I think could make really interesting movies, especially the last one.
1. The Creation of the 90s Spider-Man Clone Saga. (Marketing controlling the company, narrative over reach and an eminently riffable result. Have Lewis "Linkara" Lovhaug introduce and conclude the main story and end with a choice of watching Atop the Fourth Wall's Maximum Clonage review in the theatre for maximum gut punch and we're great to go. After all, why make a movie about the 90s Clone Saga if there's no option of laughing at the sight of the trainwreck?)
2. The creation of Image Comics. (Look up the story. It's packed with drama and in such a comics oriented blockbuster scene, I can't imagine a studio wouldn't want to do it.)
3. The mainstreamification of Jhonen Vasquez. (Nickelodeon gave this guy a series. A major cartoon network gave "darkly comic murder-fest guy" A SERIES. It's a very good series, yes, and it certainly should have lasted much longer than it did, but that it exists at all is kind of INSANE. C'mon Hollywood, you're making the comic book blockbusters, so why not give us at least ONE comic book related prestige biography? And if you're going to make one, PLEASE make it this one? Primary time period of 1998-2003 with an epilogue in July 2015.)
She is definitely reading too young for this - again. I think JLaw needs to learn to say no to DOR.
I need more to make a full complaint.
We know that she can carry a film at this point, and carry it very well at that. With that said I'm not feeling her in this trailer - maybe it is the age thing? not sure. Cooper bits look great though - and he was my MVP for American Hustle too.
If the behind the scenes rumors are true, this may well be the last time Lawrence and O'Russell work together, hopefully the tense behind the scenes stuff added to her performance and didn't take away from it.
Anonny - Oooooooh, what are the behind the scenes rumors???
I actually must admit I'm intrigued. She has a presence that's for sure. I can never believe her as a mother though. Her age really comes through whenever she's acting with children (that are supposed to be her own).
Looks great!
I would have sworn that another DOR film used "You Can't Always Get What You Want" in the trailer (and not only that, but a very similar choral version). Given that nobody else has mentioned this, I guess I'm misremembering. Maybe it was another Oscar baity film? Anybody know?
Philip H -- i haven't heard specifics but JLaw and David were apparently at each other's throats. Which wouldn't be new for him with actors at all (see Lily Tomlin/George Clooney etcetera) But it's the first we've heard of of that happening with his beloved JLaw
I just alway wish there were "more" to JL... Do not understand her massive popularity with Oscar
JLaw alws reminded me o a younger Ellen Barkin,... esp so in American Hustle
They shld really play mom-daughter sumday
It is wonderful that Jennifer is lead of this film instead of supporting like she was in her previous Russell films. Too rarely great directors have solo female leads in their film. And this looks just my cup of tea.
Jennifer being too young bothers me, but not too much. And I love her so a bit miscast is not the worst in my opinion if she gets great roles. Not sure of this Oscar changes however. I just hope it is well reviewed and does well in box-office.
Yeah, factually there have been issues with him and Bale, Clooney & Tomlin - although I am sure there are more. Heck we only know about the Tomlin & Bale ones because of leaks/hacks.
Rumored that there were loud screaming/yelling matches between Lawrence & ORussell during filming. Studio said no, it was all method acting but kinda hard to believe them after the Tomlin video and the Sony Hack info on how he treated Adams during American Hustle. Lawrence does not strike me as someone who lets others treat her like shit so I absolutely believe she would fight back like Tomlin & Clooney did and that he would unsurprisingly not take that very well.
GET IT, J-LAW!
That is all.