FILM REVIEWS: THE DANISH GIRL/JOY

The Danish Girl

After a very tumultuous 2015 for Eddie Redmayne that included an Oscar for The Theory Of Everything and an already famously goofy performance in the equally-banal Jupiter Ascending, he has reunited with Les Misérables  (2013) director Tom Hooper to play the lead in this film about Danish artist and transgender pioneer Lily Elbe. Whilst I will admit to not being Redmayne’s biggest fan in the past, here he delivers a truly heartfelt performance that cannot help but inspire immense empathy from all but the most stony of hearts. Redmayne is not alone in the film’s accolades as praise should equally be given to his co-star Alicia Vikander for her usually graceful work and Tom Hooper’s elegant and sumptuous director’s eye. There has been some criticism of how the film deals with the reality of Lily Elbe’s life and I sympathise, especially since I think the alterations (which come from a novel based on her story) are no more interesting or serve the story better than the reality, but it’s a light scuff on an otherwise beautiful film. With Matthias Schoenaerts, Ben Whishaw and Amber Heard. ****

Joy

Whilst Silver Linings Playbook (2012) provided a much-needed shot in the arm for director David O. Russell’s career and brought together an already-established duo in Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence (with Robert De Niro forming a triumvirate), Russell’s recent work has been essentially at the same level; fundamentally decent and enjoyable, but never truly reaching that next level. So it is with Joy, a film based loosely on the life inventor and businesswoman Joy Mangano played here by Jennifer Lawrence. Mangano’s background seems a rather novel premise for a biopic as it deviates from the traditional Hollywood idea of the subject of these movies and there is definitely something to be said for Mangano’s story. The film presents her story with humour and intrigue, largely off of the back of its strong supporting cast and resilient attitude to not get bogged-down in melodrama or sorrow. That does however cost the film some weight and whilst you will probably enjoy the film for its duration, it will not be one you will reacquaint yourself with over and over again.