Joy is an upcoming drama directed by David O. Russell, who also directed movies such as Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. Like those movies, Joy is mainly about the American dream, and what it takes for a person to achieve that dream.
From what I’ve picked up from the trailer and some movie reviews, Joy is a story that is loosely based on the life of Joy Mangano, the woman who invented the “Miracle Mop.” She’s struggling to start her business in a world where women aren’t taken seriously. Most of her family and her colleagues don’t believe in her ability to start a business and raise a family at the same time. At one point in the trailer, her dad says that it was his fault for “letting her think that she was more than an unemployed housewife.”
I haven’t seen this movie yet, but if I had to pick an American value that it represents, it would definitely be overcoming hardships/mediocrity. There’s no doubt that it’s had being a woman in a man’s world. I can already tell that Joy is going to go through so much hardship just for people to hear her voice, and take her product seriously. Very rarely were women encouraged to take the lead in the 90s. Most of the time, they’re expected to sit at home and care for the children. However, I can already tell that this movie is going to be about how Joy works tirelessly not only to start a business, but to make a name for herself.
The trailer shows Joy having so much gumption to start her business, and to be honest I’m totally inspired. I’m really interested in seeing this movie now, because it approaches the American dream from a woman’s perspective. When you typically think of people building an American empire, you think of strong, male characters that work hard to get themselves off of the ground. I like how Joy explores that very same idea, except in a woman’s point of view. It must be hard for people to take you seriously and respect your role as a leader when you’re a woman in a male-dominated industry. Even though this movie was set in the 90s, the feminist ideologies that it communicates are so relevant to today’s society. It’s still hard for women today to be taken seriously, after years of oppression. That’s why I’m so excited to see this movie – because it shows you that women can be just as successful as men (or maybe even more). It’s an important message that young women need to hear, and be inspired by.
I’m so excited to see this movie. I don’t think David O’Russell could have picked anyone better to play the role of Joy. Jennifer Lawrence is going to do that character justice, because of her own experiences as a woman in Hollywood. I’m excited to see her performance, as well as the rest of the cast. It’s definitely going to be an inspirational film for this generation.
“Joy” is set to release on December 25, 2015. What do you think? Yay or nay?
David O’Russell recently did an interview with The New York Times about his inspiration for “Joy”, and how it’s a story about “embracing the ordinary.” Check it out here.
Critics are already raving about “Joy,” and they think it’s definitely going to be an Oscar nominee. Check out what they have to say here.
Jennifer Lawrence loves the fact that out of the three movies that she’s done with O’Russell, this is the first movie that she doesn’t play a crazy character. Check out what she has to say about “Joy” here.
Favorite Quote: “I want you to remember something. Cause a lot of times, people start to get nice things, and they start to think differently. We got here from hard work, patience, and humility. So I want to tell you, don’t ever think that the world owes you anything. Because it doesn’t. The world doesn’t owe you a thing.”
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