Open Thread. Best Amy Adams Performances?
Sunday, July 8, 2018 at 9:16PM by Nathaniel R
With Sharp Objects debuting tonight on HBO (Yes, we'll cover it here), let's talk Amy Adams. Why should film twitter have all the listing fun? Talk Film Society asked people to list their 3 favorite performances were and I was stunned how quickly I came to my definitive answer.
- Junebug (2005)
- The Fighter (2010)
- Enchanted (2007)
You've got her full range displayed; endearing dramedic instincts, stealth pathos with deep soul beneath the exteriors of women who seem ordinary at first glance, her star charisma and comic invention are all over her best work.
And to make the question a bit more interesting. Is there a performance of hers other people love that you just don't? My vote there is for The Master (). I think she's terribly miscast and I couldn't ever figure out the draw of what she was doing or how people figured it was earned within the film -- especially for an actual Oscar nomination. Those are hard to come by ["for other people" - self-editing note] But to each their own in opinion-land, right?
Reader Comments (75)
Amy Adams is such a gem and i can't wait to see "Sharp Objects." She seems like she would do great character work with a long form character.
I'd say her top performances are
Junebug
Enchanted
Those two are just so strong. Then, fighting it out for third:
Arrival
Miss Pettigrew Lives for A Day
American Hustle
Those three performances are so strong. Not many have cited Pettigrew, but it's a lovely, lived in performance, that's both charming and funny. She hits all the right notes.
I think Amy's great, and really deft in comedies. I'd love to see her buck the trend and, like Penelope Cruz or Helen Hunt, win an Oscar for a comedic-ish performance.
i loved her in junebug so so so much, but i'd have to say she's third to me that year after rachel weisz then michelle williams. possibly the most incredible best supporting actress lineup we've ever seen !!
(speaking of weisz, teaser for THE FAVOURITE just debuted!)
I know it's not a popular opinion, but the reason she didn't have a shot at winning for Junebug was Weisz committing category fraud. I love Weisz - a much stronger actress than Adams - but she belonged to the best actress race.
1. Junebug - Iconic. Shoulda beat Weisz.
2. Enchanted - Also iconic. Shoulda been nominated.
3. Her - Magical. Such a warm, lived-in performance, even if it's rather small.
A close 4th was Drop Dead Gorgeous. Doubt and Arrival are okay, but not as memorable as the performances above. I've always felt her work in The Fighter, American Hustle, and The Master were overrated and a little try-hard.
I'm curious, Nathaniel: Have you seen Drop Dead Gorgeous? It seems like a movie that might be outside your wheelhouse, but with it having sooo many great actresses, I think you still might enjoy it.
Cal - agreed.
Evan -- i have seen it. I'm not particularly crazy about it. Feels very forced in its comedy to me. But i love Amy & Kirsten in it!
I haven't seen Enchanted or Miss Pettigrew, both of which I'd love to see soon. So my list would probably be like:
1) Junebug
2) The Fighter
3) Arrival
4) American Hustle
5) Her
I think she was fine in The Master and I remember her being...fine, I guess?...in Doubt but I can't remember a single moment of her in that film, so I guess her performance wasn't very memorable to me.
Any Adams is my favorite living (and maybe all-time?) actress, so this is tough. But my list would have to be:
5. Nocturnal Animals
4. The Master
3. Junebug
2. Enchanted
3. Arrival
Gonna echo what a lot of people have said. My top 3 are Arrival, Enchanted and Her. I adore her in Miss Pettigrew and she's such a gift to The Muppets.
Wow, I killed it with the typos today.
*Amy
*1.
I'm a huge fan of hers. She is a master at giving you a whole history to any character she gets her hands on. Look at her few appearances on The Office. Her Katy is so specific, and when have we ever seen glimpses of that character in any other body of her work? So amazing
Fav Amy Adams perf is still "Junebug." Doubt she'll ever top it TBH.
Haven't seen "Sharp Objects" yet. Looking forward to it though.
For kicks:
1. "Junebug"
2. "The Master"
3. "The Fighter"
4. "Enchanted"
5. "American Hustle"
Funny how Adams somehow became a divisive performer, with so in past threads commenting that she's overrated
With five Academy nominations (albeit with no wins) the question always is: does she deserve five? Is she really that talented?
I think so. Switch out Doubt or The Master with Arrival -- good to go
She's fine to memorable/exceptional in every performance
And few actors have her range
She so much reminds me of Kidman -- at least what they have brought to the table and delivered. And they've followed similar career trajectories
She's one of the few actors whose choices I follow. She's got game/great instinct and it shows ....
Junebug my a mile. Then Doubt and The Master. She has tons of great films with great performances. One day she will win the Oscar>
"Enchanted" and "American Hustle" are my two favorites
67 comments? This thread is one of her biggest hits! I could never guess Adams could make so many people feel inclined to have a say about her.
American Hustle is my answer for the "which performance don't you get". I know it was intentional, but her accent is appalling and it threw me out of the movie.
1. American Hustle
No one mentioned Marvel Ann from Psycho Beach Party? Whaaa?
She's delightful — playful and sexy — in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, managing to share quite amazing chemistry with both Frances McDormand and the delicious Lee Pace. (Ditto her and Emily Blunt's in Sunshine Cleaning, another underrated gem.)
And I echo all of those who've zeroed in on her frankly absurd, brilliant brand of comedy in Drop Dead Gorgeous, her movie debut! l also don't *totally* get the hate for her performance in Julie & Julia, which I found simply enjoyable overall.
My top three would be:
1. Junebug
2. The Fighter
3. American Hustle and/or Her (seriously, body of work 2013)
My FAVORITE performances of hers:
1.Enchanted (perfection - Might've given her the Oscar)
2. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (absolutely delightful and then "If I Didn't Care" cuts like a knife)
3. The Fighter - Beautifully against type. Would've given her the Oscar
4. Her - Incredible depth in that limited screentime
5. Sunshine Cleaning - I second/third those that have this as her underrated gem. Her and Blunt are aces together.
1. Junebug
2. Doubt.
3. The Fighter.
But she is always good.
As a homosexual Minnesotan, I am almost compelled to say DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, and I saw DOUBT for the Supporting Actress Smackdown ...
...But having shamelessly not seen about half her canon, I'm gonna say AMERICAN HUSTLE. I spent the entire movie waiting for the scene where Jennifer Lawrence confronts her, and the payoff is worth it.
Watched American Hustle twice because I was so dazzled by her.
Funnyin The Fighter, but liked Melissa Leo more.
Really thought Adams could’ve done wonders as Janis Joplin, but she crossed the age limit.
This was an interesting question because, for me, Amy's career has been defined by tremendous consistency but few "WOW" points. My top two are definitely:
1) The Fighter. Playing slightly against type, she more than holds her own - and even arguably comes out on top - amidst all of the other big personalities on display.
2) Doubt. Y'all haters are making it sound like playing a naïve nun who manages to cede the spotlight to the more dominating leads (Meryl and PSH) while still acting as the film's steady anchor and having her own character arc is easy. I think it's rather difficult, and kudos to her for nailing it.
3) Arrival? So good. Big Eyes? Very good. Her? Quite good, albeit a small role. Trouble With the Curve? Enchanted? Junebug? Wonderful. But just 'cause, I'm going to stand up for her Amelia Earhart in Night at the Museum.
My vote for the performance I didn't like but seemingly everyone else did is American Hustle. I think she was woefully miscast; as many strengths as she has, playing a 70s vixen is not one of them. Props to her and David O. Russell for giving it a try; but it just didn't work for me.