Movies

Five Great… Scarlett Johansson Movies

scarlettwp

If you’re a fan of Scarlett Johansson, you’re probably loving her ubiquity right now. Not only does Johansson star in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but also in Jonathan Glazer’s mesmerizing indie flick Under the Skin. She’ll be back this summer for a Luc Besson action movie titled Lucy that I can’t wait to check out.

I’ve pretty much grown up watching Johansson, which is something I can’t really say with my generation of actors. So many rise and fall so quickly, but Johansson has endured through the decades. Of course, that means there’s a number of movies to choose from and you will surely have your own batch of favorites.

But for the sake of brevity, I’ve narrowed down my five favorite Scarlett Johansson movies below. Feel free to comment with your favorite films below.

Manny & Lo

This is where it all began. Ok, so there was North and that appearance in Just Cause that everyone forgets. Scarlett plays the younger sister of the duo that runs away from their foster homes and kidnap a clerk. The movie is a perfect blend of comedy and drama and Scarlett shows off her promising acting chops.

Ghost World

Scarlett + Thora Birch (another one of those what-ever-happened-to actors). Based on Daniel Clowes’ graphic novel, the story centers on two witty, quirky, pseudo-intellectual teenagers who have recently graduated from high school. They spend their days wandering around town criticizing pop culture and people they encounter. The humor is biting and the acting is excellent. Following its release, Ghost World developed into a cult classic directed by Terry Zwigoff.

 

Lost in Translation

Sure being a Coppola has its perks, but let’s face it, Sofia Coppola’s movies haven’t had the same level of success as she had with the Tokyo-themed Lost in Translation. Boosted by phenomenally understated performances by Bill Murray and Johansson, the romantic drama explore the themes of loneliness, insomnia and culture shock. A-ring-a-ding-ding.

 

In Good Company

Yea, so it’s a by the numbers romantic comedy, but yet, it still seems fresh. Johansson and Topher Grace have some nice chemistry and Dennis Quaid does a great job as Johansson’s father. The film was directed by Chris Weitz who also co-directed and co-wrote About a Boy.

 

Don Jon

As much as I love seeing Scarlett’s body double kick butt as Black Widow, it was refreshing to see her in a non-Marvel movie for a change. Directed, written, produced and co-starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Johansson breaks out the gum-smacking Jersey accent as “the 10” that JGL falls for and goes steady with. Well, until that porn addiction becomes an issue.

 

Honorable Mention: Marvel’s The Avengers… because it’s just so much fun to watch.

 

7 thoughts on “Five Great… Scarlett Johansson Movies

  1. Great list. Although I love Lost In Translation, I’ve never liked her as an actress. But I think she was great in Her! First time I liked her. Then I thought she was one of the best things about Winter Soldier & I’m desperate to see Under The Skin but it’s not yet been shown anywhere near me. Maybe I’ll start liking her… : )

    • She has a few duds in her resume, but for the most part, just one great movie after another. I agree, she was great in Captain America and I thought about putting that film in this list, but most people already know her (and only know her) from those Marvel movies. Unless you’re a film geek, Under the Skin can be a challenge to sit through. I’d recommend watching some of her other movies before you try that one.

  2. Pingback: Five Great… Charlize Theron Movies | Cinemaniax

Leave a comment