With a famous ensemble that shows great acting in an elegant nonlinear story about a woman up against all odds to achieve her version of the American dream, director David O. Russell proves once again his prowess in visual storytelling in “Joy.”
The movie “Joy” is based on the real-life story of Joy Mangano, a divorced entrepreneur and inventor who created the “Miracle Mop” in the 1990s.
A scene from “Joy,” starring Jennifer Lawrence (20th Century Fox)
Starring Jennifer Lawrence, the Academy Award-winning actress from 2012’s “Silver Linings Playbook,” which was also directed by Russell, ”Joy“ is a well-made movie that entrepreneurs or innovators who seek to identify problems and solve them through unconventional means will relate to.
“’Joy‘ is a very important story about the American dream, and this is a story people in Asia can relate to because, in the 21st century, all innovation is coming from Asia,” Ken Mok, a producer for “Joy,” told reporters in Seoul last week.
In her exceptional performance, Lawrence plays Joy realistically, as she deals with jealousy, family feuding and deceit from her business partners while trying to sell her Miracle Mop by any means necessary. Audience members are immediately drawn into her character -- feeling sorry for her in times of hardship and triumphant in times of success. Lawrence received the award for best actress in a motion picture (musical or comedy) at this year’s Golden Globes, and was nominated for best actress at the Academy Awards.
A scene from “Joy,” starring, from left, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro (20th Century Fox)
“Joy” is certainly not a carbon copy of Russell’s previous films that included many of the same cast members -- Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro from “Silver Linings Playbook” and 2013’s “American Hustle.” Those two Russell-directed films are entertaining in their own way -- strong character-driven love stories with twists and savvy dialogue. Russell’s visual style is noticeable in “Joy,” along with old hits and rhythmic editing reminiscent of the early films of auteur Martin Scorsese.
De Niro, who plays Joy’s father, and Cooper, who plays a home shopping TV network executive, play supporting parts in an unselfish way, not stealing scenes or the spotlight from Lawrence’s Joy.
With his “loyal friends and actors,” director Russell designed and placed De Niro and Cooper’s characters so well in the plot that the audience does not lose focus on Joy in despair and conflict -- someone who had to take a second mortgage on her house to realize her dream of marketing the Miracle Mop while at the same time supporting her mother, father, kids and even her ex-husband -- but rises up to realize every entrepreneur’s dream.
“I think we were very lucky to have them (Lawrence, De Niro and Cooper) in this movie again. Both Russell and the actors show great respect and loyalty to one another,” said Mok.
The movie provides the audience a valuable lesson: Entrepreneurship is really hard, and one must constantly fight a lonely battle against the norm, the hatred and the doubters to achieve his or her dreams. It is a great drama that gives an emotionally enriching and learning experience especially to those who seek to not only create value in their lives, but also change the world through innovation. “Joy” hits theaters March 10 in Korea.
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hkp@heraldcorp.com)