MOVIE REVIEW: JOY

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JOY

[Note: In this week leading up to the Oscars, I’ll be reviewing several of the top films of the year, the ones that I didn’t already get to before the SAG Awards. All of those reviews are still available in my archives, (which you can access on the right of this page,) but, because it’s the best film of the year, (or of any year!,) here’s the link to my review of The Revenant, so you don’t have to search for it: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/movie-review-the-revenant.]

This review is giving me no joy to write, but here goes:

The great Robert DeNiro, the only good thing about the movie, Joy.

The great Robert DeNiro, the only good thing about the movie, Joy.

As big fans of Silver Linings Playbook, (Mr. X much more than I—he’s seen at least part of it about three dozen times now!,) he and I could not wait to see this movie from primarily the same team: writer-director David O. Russell, and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro, and Bradley Cooper.

Well, sorry to say, but the only thing good about Joy is DeNiro. And even he wasn’t worth the boredom. I felt like it was about eight hours long. The Revenant, at two hours and thirty-six minutes, felt like it was half the time! (If you missed it, you can read my glowing review of that film here: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/movie-review-the-revenant.)

This more-than-unnecessary shot took up about five minutes of the film!  No lie.

This more-than-unnecessary shot took up about five minutes of the film! No lie.

Let’s face it—the saga of a basic, not wealthy woman inventing a mop is just not riveting. And it’s so draaaaawn-ooooout. Enough with shots of JLaw’s worried face, held for minutes at a time. I’m a fan of hers, but this performance is so not special. I hate to admit it, but the SAG Nominating Committee got this one correct—to not nominate her this time! I still can’t understand why the Oscars and Golden Globes did. (She actually won the Globe! But that’s a whole other story.)

And David O. Russell wrote it like he was doing a favor for a friend of his mother. It was so nothing; I felt like no one’s heart (outside of DeNiro’s again,) was in the project even a little bit.

This promo shot of Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper  is soooo misleading!

This promo shot of Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper is soooo misleading!

And what a waste of a part for Bradley Cooper! Just about anyone could have played that part! But since it is Bradley, I kept waiting for some romance or something to develop between Jennifer’s character and his. Had it not been Russell doing this film, I’m sure Cooper would have laughed (and not in a good way) when he read the script, and passed on it without a moment’s hesitation.

Melissa Rivers perfectly channeling her deceased mother, Joan.

Melissa Rivers perfectly channeling her deceased mother, Joan.

 

And it’s confusing that they never really establish time or place. I had no idea what was happening half the time. (That really didn’t much matter, though, since I could not have cared less about this story.)

And the goony parts are just too goony. A big example of that is the fictitious soap opera the main character’s mother watches constantly. That part actually hinders the fact that this is basically a true story.

One tiny bright spot, though, (as minuscule as it is,) is Melissa Rivers playing her mother, Joan. I had never realized how much alike they looked!!! It’s nothing for Melissa to be proud of, but, as DeNiro might say, at least it’s something!

Here’s a heads-up for my Twitter followers, whom I totally appreciate: I will be live-tweeting the Oscars on Sunday, beginning with as many arrivals as I can. @MajorCelebrity. If you don’t already follow me, there’s still time before the big show.

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1 Comment

  1. Oh, no, we disagree! I loved JOY! I saw it with my sister, Patti, and we both enjoyed it. I do agree that DeNiro is the best thing about the movie, but we both liked the movie nonetheless. Maybe because we were both big Joy Mangano fans back in NY. A Long Island girl who made good with a great New Yawk accent!! The only thing I didn’t like about the movie is the fact that Long Island and New York are not even mentioned in the movie, unbelievably. I’m rambling now because I don’t have your writing skills. This is definitely a “woman’s picture.” I can’t imagine a guy liking this movie. But my sister and I are definitely glad we saw it.

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