Jessica Chastain

(ph: Jan Welters)

Jessica Chastain

Crimson Peak (2015)

 

In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider.

Sumptuously staged ghost story with a plot and atmosphere reminiscent of Rebecca with an accurate cast; watchable as a homage to the genre which offers nothing new.

On re-watching: A treat mainly for its great Goth visuals - plus its cast. 

 

 

Jessica Chastain

Miss Sloane (2016)

In the high-stakes world of political power-brokers, Elizabeth Sloane is the most sought after and formidable lobbyist in D.C. But when taking on the most powerful opponent of her career, she finds winning may come at too high a price.

It's mainly Jessia Chastain's outstanding performance that carries this well-made, tense political thriller with a much too implausible twist ending.

Jessica Chastain

The Zookeeper's Wife (2017)

The Zookeeper's Wife tells the account of keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, Antonina and Jan Zabinski, who helped save hundreds of people and animals during the German invasion.

Heartfelt, but a bit melodramatic depiction of a true story, the zoo and its animals merely the backdrop to a more existential fate; Chastain is good in the title role and Brühl is well cast as the sleazy SS director of the Berlin zoo.

Jessica Chastain

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Chastain

A Most Violent Year (2014)

In New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history.

Stylish and unhurried period businees drama is worth a look just for watching Oscar Issac emulating Al Pacino's Michael Corleone in dress and conduct.

Crimson Peak (2015)

In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider.

Sumptuously staged ghost story with a plot and atmosphere reminiscent of Rebecca with an accurate cast; watchable as a homage to the genre which offers nothing new.

Lawless (2012)

In Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a trio of bootlegging brothers are threatened by a new special deputy and other authorities angling for a cut of their profits.

Intense, well-staged and well-cast crime drama, has atmosphere, but is somewhat slow-paced.

Maltin**: "Vividly atmospheric period piece, filmed in Georgia, has fine actors, flavor to spare, and spurts of extreme violence, but Nick Cave's screenplay leaves some characters undeveloped (like Oldman, who vanishes after two scenes) and others merely improbable (Chastain, as a wordly Chicago woman who seeks refuge - in rural Virginia). Watchable throughout, but bears no scrutiny whatsoever."

Texas Killing Fields (2011)

In the Texas bayous, a local homicide detective teams up with a cop from New York City to investigate a series of unsolved murders.

Intense and well-cast crime thriller with emphasis on atmosphere and character than on the (predictable) plot.

Maltin**1/2: "Slick psycological thriller, "inspired by true events", has atmosphere to spare but is hampered by one too many plot inconsistencies and often unintelligible dialogue."

The Martian (2015)

During a manned mission to Mars, a astronaut is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew, but he has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet.

Highly entertaining sci-fi yarn which successfuly offers, suspenseful action, humour and some great  landscape photography of the planet.

The Help (2011)

An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African-American maids' point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.

Clearly anti-racist, but politically a bit naive period piece, which nevertheless satisfies with a brilliant all-female cast, all at the top of their art.

Maltin***: "Evocative portrayal...The white characters' plight almost seems trivial alongside the life-and-death struggles of the servants, but the performances are rich, especailly Davis, who is heartbreakingly real, and Spencer..."