Jennifer Lawrence’s Top Roles
Feb 7, 2018
NO HARD FEELINGS opens June 23rd
Over the last decade plus, Jennifer Lawrence has become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Her roles in blockbuster franchises have made her a box office draw, but her raw talent and off-screen charm have endeared her to fans. In her upcoming film, NO HARD FEELINGS, Lawrence will likely shine once again, this time as an Uber driver trying to find a way to get a used car, and then being paid by a young boy’s parents to “date” him.
To celebrate the release of NO HARD FEELINGS, we are going to look at the movies that put Lawrence on the map. From comic book films to indie romances, her range is on full display in these seven films.
When WINTER’S BONE premiered in 2010, it quickly became one of the most celebrated films of the year. Jennifer Lawrence led the film like a seasoned pro and delivered a truly inspired performance. Based on the novel by Daniel Woodrell, the film follows the heart-wrenching story of Ree Dolly (Lawrence), as she sets off in search of her drug-addicted father, who has been missing for years. It’s unfair to say that Lawrence carried WINTER’S BONE (since it had a compelling script and a great direction), but it was her performance that made the film truly special.
WINTER’S BONE proved that Lawrence had serious acting talent, and she even got an Oscar® nomination for her work. She didn’t take home the trophy, but the fact that she was nominated alongside the likes of Natalie Portman, Michelle Williams, Annette Benning and Nicole Kidman is incredible. Although she has starred in several amazing films over the last 13 years, Lawrence built her career off her role in WINTER’S BONE. It’s probably the most important film of her career.
LIKE CRAZY was one of Lawrence’s first films, and she doesn’t have a large role. The story follows different stages of love, seen through the relationship between Jacob (Anton Yelchin) and Anna (Felicity Jones). It’s a beautiful look at young love, but it also covers heartbreak in a realistic way.
Jennifer Lawrence plays Sam, who ends up being a love interest for Jacob. Of course, as the audience, it’s hard to root for someone that comes between Jacob and Anna, but she is terrific in the role. Thanks to Lawrence’s portrayal, Sam presented as an assertive and confident woman. The role could have easily been a forgettable part, but she owns it and brings her patented gravitas to the character.
Based on the wildly popular book series by Suzanne Collins, THE HUNGER GAMES franchise was a cultural phenomenon before the first film premiered. At the time Lawrence was cast as Katniss Everdeen, fans didn’t know what to expect from the actress. Sure, she had the Oscar nomination, but no one knew if she could tackle a more action-driven film. Not surprisingly, she completely owned the role, and shortly after THE HUNGER GAMES premiered, she became a superstar.
The movie launched an extremely successful franchise that grossed almost $3 billion worldwide, which is slated to continue in 2023 with the release of THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES. Not only were the films wildly successful, they also proved that Lawrence was a bankable leading woman.
After rising to fame as Katniss Everdeen in THE HUNGER GAMES, Lawrence’s next film, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, cemented her status as a serious actress. She starred opposite Bradley Cooper in David O. Russell’s film, which tackled real-life issues involving tragedy and emotional vulnerability. The entire cast was terrific, but Lawrence’s performance was absolutely outstanding.
Her portrayal of Tiffany was incredibly grounded and genuine. Even compared to her amazing performance in WINTER’S BONE, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK transcended anything she had ever done before. Ultimately, Lawrence was nominated for and won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role, which rocketed her career into the stratosphere.
X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST wasn’t Lawrence’s first portrayal of Mystique, but it was by far her best. The film made some bold choices, especially with its use of time travel, but succeeded on every level. In the X-Men comics, Mystique wasn’t a lead, but Lawrence’s star power put the shape-shifting mutant at the forefront of this version of the story.
While Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine was the main character, in many ways, Lawrence’s Mystique was the centerpiece of the film. X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST was yet another box office smash for her, adding to her already impressive filmography. She reprised her role as Mystique in X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX, but that film hardly gave her room to top her performance in DAYS OF FUTURE PAST.
Lawrence and director David O. Russell — who also helmed SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK — reteamed for JOY in 2015. The movie is a biographical comedy-drama that tells the story of Joy Mangano, a self-made millionaire who is mainly known for her inventions that revolutionized the home maintenance market, such as The Miracle Mop, Huggable Hangers, Forever Fragrant and more.
While JOY itself received mixed reviews from critics regarding the pace of the film, as well as the writing, the collected praise that Lawrence received was what you would expect, with her strong performance as the titular character being a bright spot. Her role in the movie led to her gaining another Oscar nomination for Best Actress just a few years after SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK.
Darren Aronofsky’s MOTHER! was one of the most controversial films of 2017. The movie itself is extremely intense, but Lawrence’s performance as Mother really stood out beyond all the film’s other idiosyncrasies and excesses. Sure, it polarized critics and audiences, but the display of Lawrence’s raw talent was beyond question. Throughout the movie, she proved that she is one of the best actresses working today.
While the film was a risky step for Lawrence, it turned into one of her finest performances to date. She said that the filming of MOTHER! was grueling, and once finished with production, she had to take a break from acting. Hopefully, though, she will continue to tackle similar roles in the future and continue to push her work to new levels.
Make sure you catch Jennifer Lawrence’s next film, NO HARD FEELINGS, which looks to definitely push her comedic skills beyond what we've seen before, when it opens in an AMC Theatre near you!
NO HARD FEELINGS opens June 23rd
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