14 January 2014
Joy
A film by David O’Russell
reviewed by Adam McCormack
I am tempted to describe David O Russell’s latest film as an “It’s a Wonderful Life” for the modern era. That stretches the parallels a little and I am not suggesting that Joy is as good as Frank Kapra’s 1946 classic, but some of the themes are similar, while leading to a more modern denouement. Like George Bailey in IAWL, Joy (Jennifer Lawrence) shows great promise at school, finishing Valedictorian and going beyond just academic success to demonstrate potential as an inventor and entrepreneur. Like Bailey she finishes up not going to college, staying at home to look after her emotionally dysfunctional parents (Robert de Niro and Virginia Madsen), doing her father’s accounts, and looking after her seemingly man-shy, agoraphobic mother (who spends the whole day watching soap operas). She too is divorced, but her husband lives in the basement, soon joined by her father who is thrown out by his second wife.
As if this were not enough, she has two children and her grandmother also lives with her. Joy struggles to keep her head above water, working on a check-in desk at the airport. However, rather than (as in IAWL) having an angel show her that how her family would have suffered if she had not existed, we have her grandmother (Diane Ladd) narrate Joy’s efforts to escape from the constraints of her family and here begins the modern tale.
While the process of getting to this point can seem at times a little laboured, despite very strong performances, the telling of Joy’s development of, and attempts to market, a new product is captivating. I will not spoil the story, but Jennifer Lawrence once again gives a tremendous performance (already recognized with a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy), ably assisted by Bradley Cooper as a QVC shopping channel producer. I was concerned that the use of the same team as Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle might not have come up with anything fresh, but the telling of a true story of a woman taking control of her life is an uplifting way to start the year. The only (minor) concern I was left with was that, when Joy has been yet again frustrated by her family refusing to provide the support that she needs, she resorts to firing rapid shotgun shots at the range next to her father’s factory. References to shooting as a result of frustration seems the last thing that Americans need at present. Nevertheless, this is a feel-good movie that you should see – oh, and watch out for an impressive but unlikely supporting role from Isabella Rossellini.
