It’s been a big week for trailers, with “The Revenant” landing just this morning, but our favorite was for “Joy,” the big awards hopeful that reteams David O. Russell and Jennifer Lawrence. The trailer focuses, as did the one for “American Hustle,” on mood and atmosphere while remaining vague on the plot. Nevertheless, we are promised something very striking and quite different from the team’s lighthearted previous projects.
For those left wanting a little more, Russell has talked to Empire about the trailer, and spilled a little more information on the movie. "Joy" is ostensibly a biopic of Miracle Mop inventor Joy Mangano, but don’t expect it to be entirely factual. “This is not just based on one person,” he tells Empire, “I based it on my own mother and her friends, who are a very fierce group of ladies.”
Russell also reveals that while Lawrence “carries the movie,” a task she’s sure to be up for, it’s not a one-woman show: “It’s ambitious in the different voices that it has, and there’s four powerful women (referring to Lawrence’s Joy, Diane Ladd as her grandmother, Virginia Madsen as her mother, and Isabella Rossellini as her wealthy stepmother), and three strong men: De Niro, Bradley Cooper and Edgar Ramirez.”
He’s swinging for the fences here too, with Russell describing the movie as “a fable that lives somewhere between, you know, ‘Citizen Kane,’ ‘The Godfather’ and ‘It’s A Wonderful Life.” Big talk, but with his current, scorching form, perhaps not entirely complacent.
That said, don’t expect the film to land without controversy. After “12 Years A Slave,” “Belle,” “Jurassic World” and others, “Joy” looks like it could be the next screenwriting credit controversy in Hollywood. The film was originally penned by “Bridesmaids” Oscar-nominee Annie Mumulo, but the trailer only gives her story credit, with Russell getting full screenplay credit. Not everyone seems to be behind this: outspoken “Saving Mr. Banks” and “Fifty Shades Of Grey” writer Kelly Marcel‘s tweet is below, suggesting that there may be some fireworks to come between now and the movie’s Christmas Day release. In the meantime, check out two new photos here, and the rest of Russell’s interview over at Empire.
The way DOR got himself sole credit on this is disgusting. http://t.co/fOsZbx44ST. Thoughts with @anniemumolo.
— Kelly Marcel (@MissMarcel) July 15, 2015
This film sounds like total BS, especially since someone is playing Joy\’s sister and the real Joy Mangano doesn\’t have a sister.i hope the film shows how miserable Joy was to her father, who helped her develop the wonder mop.
David O Russell is great. One of my favorite directors working today.
comparisons to Citizen Kane and The Godfather by this DOR director, now that is what i call pretentious.
Russell has completely rewritten scripts several times, giving the original writer story credit. Three Kings and American Hustle in particular. He doesn\’t use anything from their scripts, but still gives them story credit. Not so bad.
DOR is insanely full of himself and I\’m not sure why. He is one of the most overrated directors working in the industry. He doesn\’t even have a distinctive style to hate – it\’s just boring and inauthentic. The trailer for this also made it look like Silver Linings 2.
Jennifer Lawrence should work with Quentin Tarantino in the future.
The trailer is amazing. I think this film will be an Oscar magnate.
Beyond excited for this film. This could be DOR\’s best work! Hooray for Jennifer too. Might earn her second statue.
sorry you don\’t understand English, personal dynamics and or Hollywood. When this becomes a story in the trades later this season closer to release, just remember I told you so.
The trailer is fantastic and it\’s gritty as hell!. Love it. Jennifer Lawrence is a freaking Goddess.
You make absolutely no sense…you have no idea what\’s going on and you seem to be Trolling so, have a nice day!.
Bigger lol, and like you do speak for her? You\’re just speculating too and even much more naively. Silence is not tacit endorsement.
LOL!…What the hell?. So, you are speaking for AM?…you\’re just speculating. You don\’t know a thing.
Jennifer Lawrence is like the Babe Ruth of acting: she is just a big kid on the inside who happens to be really good.
Well, duh. Of course she\’s not gonna say anything, that would seem gauche. She doesn\’t seem like the complaining type anyhow. Probably better that a friend or ally says it for you anyhow.
And to be fair, DOR totally reworks EVERY script he directs anyhow. The American Hustle screenplay is NOTHING like the Eric Warren Singer original draft, but that dude still got credit.
That\’s where the controversy lies, so, you know, think about it a bit before you post.
Controversy??…check A.M.\’s twitter…there doesn\’t seem to be a problem at all so what the hell is Marcel talking about?.
Jennifer Lawrence looks so different in each part of the teaser trailer…At times she looks young and beautiful and other times she looks older, more mature. It\’s incredible to me that this girl is only 24 years old.
*non controversy*…
As far as the "controversy" is concerned, obviously something was worked out, because Annie M. seems to be fine with everything…check her Twitter. More like controversy. I think the 50 Shades writer is looking for attention.
As for the film…HELL YES!…looks great, bring it on can\’t wait!!.
I really can\’t wait for this film!!…looks fantastic. Jennifer Lawrence looks to kickass as usual.
Lawrence looks really great and amazing!
I don\’t think that Mammolo has problem with this. She has tweeted the trailer and she sounded happy
Two words: Jennifer, Lawrence.
Amazing. Can\’t wait!