The film industry has been greatly impressed by Scarlett Johansson’s remarkable success. Even though she has only been in Hollywood for a short time, this actress from New York has already made a significant impact with her exceptional performances. She has not only broken records as the highest-grossing box office star ever, but she has also received critical acclaim for her acting abilities in movies like Lost in Translation, Match Point, Her and Marriage Story.
Johansson’s portrayal in Jonathan Glazer’s sci-fi movie, Under the Skin, is one of her finest depictions to date. She plays an extraterrestrial woman who preys on men in Scotland, using a British accent that many were unaware she possessed. To everyone’s surprise, the film garnered mixed reviews following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Despite both cheers and jeers from the audience, Johansson handled the situation with grace.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, the actress shared her unease during the Venice Film Festival where her latest movie received mixed reactions. She admitted feeling vulnerable and exposed as it was her first time watching the final cut with a live audience. To add to her discomfort, she was seated on a large mezzanine which made the experience even more bizarre for her.
Sharing her experience, the actress recalled that when the lights went up after the screening, there was a mixture of cheers and boos. She was taken aback by this reaction and didn’t know how to respond. On the other hand, she expected the director, Glazer, to feel the same way. However, to her surprise, he was thrilled with the audience’s response. He even said that it was the most incredible sound he had ever heard and was delighted with the reaction despite it being mixed. This showed that Glazer understood that even great films can receive a range of reviews.
While attending the Under the Skin premiere, Johansson reminisced about her past encounter with Stanley Kubrick’s Eye Wide Shut. Though her initial reaction to the movie was one of disgust, she ended up watching it multiple times in theaters. The film stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman and is based on Arthur Schnitzler’s Dream Story. Johansson couldn’t resist the allure of the movie, and eventually came to fully understand and appreciate it. This memory was particularly relevant to her recent premiere experience.
Johansson ended the conversation by sharing her recent fondness for the movie. Although she was not a fan of the intense emotions it stirred in her at first, she acknowledged the depth of the film’s passion and does not want to completely denounce it despite her personal preference. You can watch a sneak peek of Eyes Wide Shut below.
