Picture this: Scarlett Johansson in a superhero movie

Picture this: Scarlett Johansson in a superhero movie

Dec 10

There’s a short list of ladies I will go see on a cinema screen for all the wrong reasons. I won’t share the list with you now (your guess would be remarkably accurate, I’m sure), just know that I’m willing to see utter rubbish if it stars one of these ladies, and Scarlett Johansson is listed. High.

Scarlett had been in a few minor roles before she broke through in Sophia Coppola’s highly acclaimed Lost In Translation (2003). That famous opening shot is etched in everyone’s mind as one of the sexiest shots of the decade. Thankfully the film would still be near-perfection without it. Lost In Translation sees Scarlett blossom in a very innocent and withdrawn performance. She proves she can play it quiet and subtle, using her gorgeous eyes, pout-lips (and two other very nice assets) to portray anything she needs in a role.

A quick glance at Scarlett’s filmography and you can clearly see the kind of roles she has stuck to and perhaps been geared towards. This is because, despite what you may think, she can perform accordingly in that environment. Performances in films such as Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003), A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004), Match Point (2005) and Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) are further proof that, when it comes to a gleam in the eye, a chatty conversation and perhaps some dramatic tension, Scarlett can deliver. I’m not talking top-shelf acting, I’m just saying she’s a safe bet and you could do a lot worse. So, fit her into a tight(er) outfit, give her some crummy one-liners while swinging her from cables for some high-octane action scenes and what happens?  Erm, well… we’re yet to find out. But we will all find out in Iron Man 2 next year.

The last and only time Scarlett truly ‘did’ action (shudder) was in a film by this guy who goes by the name of Michael Bay (double-shudder) and it was called The Island (2005) (triple-shudder). The less said about The Island the better (I’m thinking, with his love of science fiction, I’d like to see a Froley review of The Island someday…). If you haven’t seen it, just know that it didn’t really work. It never sold itself on its far-fetched premise and Scarlett somehow felt very out of place– albeit looking hot in the process.

But, looking hot does not a convincing character make. Sure, it sells tickets, looks great on the poster and saucy in the trailer, but what good is it if the film is a debacle? The film being a debacle surely wasn’t Scarlett’s fault. However it does stand out as her only foray into action being a disaster.

Now I have to admit that I am completely looking forward to Iron Man 2 next year– both because Iron Man was such a simple and enjoyable film to watch, and because, among other interesting casting, it stars Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow. What I still cannot wrap my head around is having to believe her in that role. I hope director Jon Favreau has worked close with Scarlett to ensure every layer of her character isn’t boiled down to a simple jumpsuit and wire fighting… which brings me to her recent quote.

Speaking to WebMD about what it was like working on Iron Man 2, I think Scarlett further illustrated to me that she stumbled through the process and potentially didn’t fit in to the action genre they way it may have been intended.

“It was a whole new world for me, but I built a lot of strength, that’s for sure. Working on the wires and being suspended in the air, you throw one wrong kick or punch and, yeah, you’re out of whack.”.

“But once you’re working with the stunt crew and they’re going through the craziest stuff, you feel bad about complaining that your knee has been blue for three months. The guys doing the stunts in those Iron Man suits, they can’t move in it and can’t take it off. I’d say, ‘Have you peed today?’ and they’re like, ‘No, we can’t move, we can’t take it off, we can’t drink any water.’”

Hopefully it’s just a case of Scarlett not really grabbing the opportunity to sell herself or the character she has constructed for Iron Man 2. Hopefully I’m reading between the lines far too much and spotting that quote somewhat out of context. Hopefully my anticipation is granted its wish and Scarlett flies through Iron Man 2 unscathed and un-noticed… but I think my doubts have merit because, at the end of the day – and let’s be honest here – she wasn’t exactly cast in the film to go by unnoticed, was she.

Everything about Iron Man 2 tells me it’s simply going to be a fucking good time at the cinema- a kickass popcorn movie with all the trimmings, complete with predicable beats and explosive ending. The only shred of doubt or concern that I have is that Scarlett stands out as the person who doesn’t really belong. Only because I hope she delivers. I really do.

I guess we’ll find out soon enough.