After many delays, Black Widow finally reached theaters and streaming on July 9th! Those of us who have followed Scarlett Johansson’s career were thrilled by the long awaited telling of the Black Widow’s origin. Adding yet another hit to her long line of films as she bids farewell to the Marvel Universe: Johansson is supported by Florence Pugh in a breakout action role that may place her in the lead role of Black Widow in future Marvel projects. Moving forward, Johansson has done the voice of Ash in Sing 2 which is completed and due in December. She is rumored to be cast as Audrey in a remake of Little Shop of Horrors along with Avengers co-star, Chris Evans, and is cast in and is also a producer on Bride (a free standing update of The Bride of Frankenstein from Universal). Both films are in pre-production.
Looking back, Johansson has had a varied and memorable journey to becoming one of the most visible of Hollywood stars. Beginning her career on the stage at age eight in an off-Broadway production of Sophistry starring Ethan Hawke, she then had small parts in only two films (North 1994 & Just Cause 1995) before receiving her first leading role at the age of eleven in 1996’s Manny & Lo for which she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. She went on to play three more supporting roles before appearing with Robert Redford in her breakout film, The Horse Whisperer in 1998.
Having that success under her belt, she starred in the forgettable My Brother the Pig (1999) with Judge Reinhold before landing a featured role in the Coen Brother’s, The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001). Certainly, just being cast in Redford’s and the Coen’s films was a sign of things to come.
Her next film has the distinction of appearing on 140 critic’s ‘top 10 lists’; 2001’s Ghost World, based on the independent comic created by Daniel Clowes, is that rare character driven drama that knows where it’s going and why. Terry Zwigoff’s & Daniel Clowes’ adaptation gives life to characters already realized on the pages of Clowes’ comic. With Zwigoff’s tight direction and a cast that fits, the film moves right to the heart. Johansson & Birch shine as two girls at loose ends who like to entertain themselves by causing chaos in other people’s lives. When they target a lonely man with one of their cruel stunts, it backfires in all directions, changing their lives as well as his. The film also showcases Steve Buscemi giving his best performance since Trees Lounge (1996).
The next two films are problematic: An American Rhapsody (2001) is a sentimental telling of a true story that just doesn’t play, Eight Legged Freaks (2002) a film based on 50’s B Sci-Fi suffers from lack of direction. Neither of these films slowed her down as she moved on to the unforgettable Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003). Johansson is the main reason it is so memorable: she soars as Griet opposite Colin Firth’s Vermeer.
The film rides on Johansson’s performance as Griet. It is impossible to take your eyes off of this young peasant girl as she moves through the foreign environment of the artist’s household. Her beauty is accentuated by her honest reactions to all that transpires around her. Although an uneducated girl, Griet shows herself to be wiser than her sophisticated hosts. At 17 she is more observant and adroit than the lady of the house. This tends to bring the woman’s hatred of her out in the open. Without reservation, this remains one of Johansson’s best performances.
Facts, Rumors & Hearsay
GHOST WORLD
Ghost World was the first film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay based on a Graphic Novel or Comic Book.
Ghost World’s main character’s name, Enid Coleslaw, is an anagram of the film and comic book’s author, Daniel Clowes.
Scarlett Johansson submitted an audition tape to the producers of Ghost World and landed the role of Rebecca.
GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING
Out of all the animals used in the various scenes, Scarlett Johansson fell in love with one of the cats and named it ‘Merkin’. The cast & crew went to great lengths to allow her to adopt the cat and have it to be transported from Luxembourg to New York city.
Colin Firth’s nickname on the set was Fabio, due to the wig he wore made him look like the model Fabio.
The painting that Griet (Scarlett Johansson) inspired Vermeer to paint while she is washing the window is called Woman with a Water Jug.
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