Scarlett Johansson is having something of a career renaissance lately, and I couldn't be happier about it. After a "better than advertised" performance in Joss Whedon's "The Avengers" in 2012, Johansson followed up with back to back great turns in Joe Levitt's "Don Jon" and Spike Jonze's "Her'. In both films, Johansson acted with ferocious energy that hasn't been seen since before her career slump, post- Lost in Translation Oscar buzz (remember when she won a BAFTA for Leading Actress that year?).
Fact of the matter is, after uninspired choices like "The Nanny Diaries" or "The Island", Johansson is back to making very inspired and brave acting choices, and overall seems very excited about the performances she's giving (unlike sleepwalking through roles like "The Black Dahlia" or "The Other Boelyn Girl").
She was (unfairly) overlooked for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar (an award she should have won) this year for her voice-work (yes, she's that good as just a voice) in Her, but that doesn't seem to be stopping her from choosing tricky roles and delivering energetic performances.
So that's why I (and others) are thoroughly excited about her next film; Johansson will appear as the lead in Jonathan Glazer's "Under the Skin", distributed by A24 (the same company who distributed Spring Breakers and The Bling Ring). In the film, Johansson plays a beautiful alien searching for men, or rather their flesh.
There isn't a whole lot on the plot itself (which adds to the mystery), but after being seen at last year's Telluride Film Festival, there were raves not only for the film itself, but for Johansson's performance, in which Hitflix's Gregory Ellwood called, "the bravest of her career."
You can watch the trailer here and read some more reception to the film itself.
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