Joy

On first viewing, ‘Joy’ appears to feel rather innocuous. A film about a young mother who invents a mop and in turn changes her life and becomes a millionaire, it doesn’t have Oscars written all over it from reading the synopsis - quite the opposite - it sounds dull. In less accomplished hands the film would indeed be dull, probably destined as a TV movie, a quaint soapy drama about how unfulfilling it is to be a house wife; stifled ambition and forgotten dreams. The film is beautifully written, beautifully shot, it has many great performances and delivers great dramatic power for a film about a mop. However ‘Joy’ is so much more than that and it comes down to one factor – Jennifer Lawrence. It happens within the first five minutes, once the film starts you realise you know nothing about the film you have just paid to see, you know scarce details about the plot - minimal as they are -  you also know very little about the characters or the story, or what its even meant to be about. All you do know is that Jennifer Lawrence is in it and its not the Hunger Games or ‘X-Men’, so that must mean quality.

There is a phenomenon taking place right now regarding Jennifer Lawrence and her star quality, the sheer power she holds as a movie star and celebrity is unlike anything any other actress has achieved. People are willing to go see a film simply because she is starring in it and better yet we are all anticipating greatness, from a twenty five year-old actress. To date if you ignore the ‘Hunger Games’ and ‘X-Men’ series, Jennifer Lawrence has made only four films worth mentioning, ‘Winter’s Bone’ in 2010 before she really came to prominence, the other three: ‘Silver Linings Playbook’, ‘American Hustle’ and now ‘Joy’ all directed by David O’Russell, yet somehow her star quality and power to get people into cinemas and buying tickets is extraordinary. On the one hand she successfully carries two giant franchises that make millions of dollars and on the other she is able to simultaneously execute awards season knockout performances in David O’Russell’s most recent work. Neither one retracts from the integrity or success of the other, they both exist and compliment each other, no other actress is able to do that. There is now an association with her name and Oscar certainty, the same way you think of Daniel Day Lewis, Robert DeNiro or Meryl Streep and yet she is only twenty five and has made so few films.

Anyway, back to ‘Joy’. The genius of the film doesn’t really begin to sink in until about halfway through the picture, when she invents the mop and manages to sell it on QVC it suddenly becomes clear that this is a character piece built around the strong foundation of an incredible character performance from Lawrence - it may as well be a one woman show - sure Bradley Cooper is rather good and the rest of the cast including DeNiro all do a fine job, but Jennifer Lawrence outshines them all, even DeNiro! It is extraordinary to witness, that such a young actress is able to carry an entire movie by the gravitas and finesse of their craft. Once you realise the film isn’t about a woman who invents a mop, you realise why only Jennifer Lawrence could play the part. It is about women taking control of their lives, not allowing themselves to be defined by gender or the expectations that go with it. 

The film isn’t explicitly a feminist film but it certainly has its fair share to say on the matter. Who else could play such a part in 2015, whose public persona and star profile is synonymous with the same subject matter that remains controversial and contentious. In the same year that Jennifer Lawrence comes under fire for demanding equal pay in the film industry for women, who better to play the role of ‘Joy’ this strong, brave, fiercely independent, matriarch. It is such an important role and such an important film as it truly breaks the mould of female representation in Hollywood cinema. Finally there is a character played by an incredible actress who yields great power and presence both on and off screen who is not defined by their sexuality, who is able to embrace a matriarchal character yet not be limited by the role of being a mother, who is able to be the provider of her family without being androgenised, demonised or vilified - without having to sacrifice her femininity or sexuality to adopt otherwise male societal gender roles. Jennifer Lawrence holds a rare quality in modern stars and that is the ability to convey the duality of gender that is within us all so everybody can identify with her.  ‘Joy’ is a historically important film for these reasons and instils a great sense of hope for the future of female characterisation in Hollywood movies. Times are a-changing and Jennifer Lawrence is the star for this generation, and somebody who at such a young age surely has a truly legendary career ahead of her.