MovieChat Forums > Jessica Chastain Discussion > How would you rate her Career right now

How would you rate her Career right now

posted 5 years ago by looper007 (1158)
11 replies | jump to latest

She's a interesting case, I probably say she's just about more hit then miss in terms of her films. She's definitely a top actress who can knock it out of the park if given the right role.

She's got some fantastic films on her C.V, Interstellar, Zero Dark Thirty, Take Shelter, The Martian, The Tree of life been probably her main standouts. The Help and Crimson Peaks have their fans. Molly's Game, Lawless, Miss Solane, A Most Violent Year and The Debt are underrated.

Beside Interstellar and The Martian, she never seems comfortable in big budget films. Dark Phoenix and the Huntsman are good proof of that. The Zookeeper's Wife was far too Oscar baity for me and you sense she was trying for Oscar for that one. Woman Walks Ahead, Texas Killing Fields, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, Miss Julie, Coriolanus, The Color of Time. Films that didn't quite hit the mark.

Chastain is at her strongest where she has a good foil to play off or is part of ensemble cast imo. I always find her best work comes from that.

[–] murkalurk2099 (4) 5 years ago

I have to agree, 100% with your picks for the best films (especially Tree of Life, that's one of my favorites). She seems like she wants to break into the blockbuster fare. She's been trying to get Painkiller Jane made for years now, but had some tough breaks with Huntsman and Dark Phoenix. Dark Phoenix was such a massive disappointment. Production decided that the villains should be totally devoid of emotion, but it made them all seem like they were sleepwalking through the film!

[–] Joogle83 (4480) 5 years ago

im sure she will get another at blockbuster fare it just has to be right

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

She peaked. At this point I would say she is on the way down... she is 42 and starting to show, that means not many roles will even be available to her.

[–] Kowalski (75745) 4 years ago

YOU DONT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ACTING IS...ITS NOT PORN MINUS THE PENETRATION KIDDO.

[–] mobocracy (894) 4 years ago

But it kind of is for women. Thanks to the magic of money (ideal diets, trainers, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, etc) a lot of actresses can stay competitive with younger actresses well into their 40s, especially if they're flexible with nudity and also talented.

But a ton seem to drop off the edge after their mid-30s because of Hollywood's insatiable demand for young women.

[–] Kowalski (75745) 4 years ago

YOURE LOOKING AT IT WRONG...PLAYING YOUTHFUL AND SEXY ISNT THE ONLY AVENUE FOR A QUALITY CAREER....ASK ANGELA LANSBURY,MERYL STREEP,DANNY TREJO,JAMIE LEE CURTIS,KATHERINE HEPBURN...ITS OK TO AGE AND ITS OK TO NOT BE A MODEL...THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF ROLES FOR ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE OF ALL KINDS OF AGES.

[–] mobocracy (894) 4 years ago

The handful of actresses who sustain a career past 50 are seldom in leading roles; rare is the film or show which has a plus-50 female star as the central character. Even good actresses tend to find themselves becoming character actors. While their lesser roles may shine brighter due to their talent, they're often side elements to the larger narrative, with less screen time.

Even younger "in their prime" actresses often aren't in principal narrative roles, playing wives, girlfriends or other peripheral characters. And often this serves as a driver for the selection of younger and less experienced actresses -- their image is as important as their acting, and often meant to enhance an older male actor who serves as their husband or boyfriend.

As just one example, Woody Harrelson is 15 years older than Michelle Monaghan, but they played husband and wife in "True Detective".

[–] Kowalski (75745) 4 years ago

ALLISON JANNEY,MARTHA STEWART,FAYE DUNAWAY,SOPHIA LOREN

[–] mobocracy (894) 4 years ago

Exceptions that prove the rule. Now tell me about Kitty Winn, Ali MacGraw, Meg Ryan, Geena Davis, Sharon Stone...

All these actresses had great roles and some fame before basically disappearing from movies except in minor roles.

[–] Kowalski (75745) 4 years ago

MEG RYAN IS DIRECTING NOW...SHARON STONE IS STILL ACTIVE AS ALL HELL,NO CLUE WHAT A KITTY WINN IS AND...ALI MACRAW?...REALLY?...I MEAN I LOVE THE WOMAN,I NAMED MY DAUGHTER AFTER HER...BUT SHE WAS NEVER A GOOD ACTOR,SHE LUCKED OUT BIG TIME WITH THE CAREER SHE DID HAVE.

MEANWHILE...

BETTY WHITE,MICHELLE PFEIFFER,SANDRA BULLOCK,JUDI DENCH,HELEN MIRREN,BLYTHE DANNER,SUSAN SARANDON,MARY STEENBURGEN,CANDICE CAMERON,EMMA THOMPSON,JODIE FOSTER,CHER,GOLDIE HAWN,ALFRE WOODARD,ETC ....

[–] bobbydallas (8536) 4 years ago

meh.