This movie is about the invention of a mop. Sounds boring right? Nope. David O. Russell and Jennifer Lawrence manages to make a story about the invention of a mop super engrossing and fun.

A lot of people are disliking Joy and I'm sitting here trying to figure out why. Like Steve Jobs and Straight Outta Compton, Joy isn't your typical biopic. It's energetic, fun, and has a whole lotta heart. Jennifer Lawrence was absolutely fantastic. Her second best performance to date; her best being Silver Linings Playbook. The ensemble cast is great. Even though Cooper and DeNiro don't get a whole lot of screen time, they make the most out of it. Both were excellent.

Sure the film is…

Included In Lists:
Great Movies
Strong Performances - Jennifer Lawrence

Polarising stances have somewhat deemed David O. Russell finally breaking his ambitious streak, crafting upon three consecutive prominent successes, finding his hand slightly trembling in his construction of his supposed next opus, Joy. However, I digress from the core tangent and finding myself in deeper awe towards Russell’s latest, a bravado for his regular collaborator Jennifer Lawrence, instilled with his impressive focus into his characters, previously blueprinted with ambition as it handled an ensemble cast, now with a central focus, more so than his previously more personal of character studies, The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook.

Embarking upon a tale of a woman in an environment of shortcomings and pressure,…

This is a film that never really takes off despite Jennifer Lawrence’s great performance in the lead. David O. Russell was on such a hot streak coming off of Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and American Hustle (2013) and this feels like such a regression from those well constructed and entertaining films that manage to be deceptively meaningful. There are still moments in the film that sing but not nearly enough to overcome it’s bizarre pacing, poor handling of supporting characters and rushed character arc for it’s lead character. With this assembly of talent you expect something far greater than what feels like an odd mishmash of various different better films but you end up with a by the numbers biopic.…

Another one that makes me really hesitant to go back and revisit my old Russell favourites.

I have no bearing on the story being represented here so i don't want to comment on the believability of what's here, but the writing and presentation i definitely have issues with. So many clearly ADR'd lines that are just doubling down on what the acting and tone already convey perfectly well, a baffling inability to decide whether or not to go with the narration or the blunt service-bound explanitory dialogue and a whole lot of direction that doesn't seem to have been directed.

There isn't any one thing that's wrong for me with this one. It's a bunch of little things. I do…