So remember when I said I would watch 5-10 movies by the next actor/actress? I lied. I ended up watching 16 of Emma Stones' flicks over the month of January. She was my second actor of the year, if you haven't seen my first, check out my post all about my favorite childhood comedy actor, Jim Carrey. I took Rachel's suggestion for the month and we took a deep dive into Emma Stone. She hasn't been in many more movies than the 16 I watched, so let's take a look at those movies right now:
Emma Stone launched her career in the 2007 classic Superbad. Although Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and McLovin' star in the movie, Emma Stone adds some flair with her character Jules. I cannot remember when I first saw this movie, whether it was in high school or college, but it makes me laugh pretty damn hard. There are so many good lines and hilarious scenes, you must watch it if you haven't seen it. Fun fact: For some reason, Rachel's older brother Rob took her to see this movie when she was a junior in high school. It led to a few awkward moments as it isn't exactly a brother/sister movie (especially for a high schooler)! Emma stone continued her role as a secondary character in films The Rocker and Zombieland. Although she has a more prominent role in the zombie comedy as Wichita, I would say her breakout movie as the lead role was Easy-A. Quite a funny film about a high school girl, Olive played by Stone, who proves that rumors can be used for good and bad. It's one of my favorite movies of her's, so definitely watch it if you are looking for a laugh.
Of the movies listed above, I think my favorite movie of Stone's where she played a lead role would have to The Help. The movie (2011) has Emma Stone cast as "Skeeter" who is a white woman in 1963 Mississippi. She ends up interviewing African American house maids and with her progressive views, helps get their story out to the public. This drama is based on the 2009 novel by Kathryn Stockett. The movie was a roller coaster of emotions, angering me, witnessing white families being so mean to their black maids, making them use their own black only bathroom at times so the whites wouldn't catch "disease" and happy at other times when Minny's special chocolate pie with poop is given to the rich white women, and people would help each other to make progress in equality. It's crazy to think that this was how some people treated each other 50 years ago, and still goes on in some places in the USA today.
My least favorite movie would have to be Magic in the Moonlight. I just couldn't get into this Woody Allen directed film. It was too slow and boring.
The movie that surprised me the most and I really enjoyed was The Irrational Man. This film was also directed by Woody Allen, however had a much more interesting story line. It stars Joaquin Phoenix, who plays a washed-up college professor Abe, and Stone who plays Jill, is one of his students who ends up falling in love with her professor. Watch the relationship and story build, only to be hit with a big twist at the end!
One thing I noticed about Emma Stone, is she is frequently casted with Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell. I don't know how casting works in the movie business, but I guess they work well together? Crazy Stupid Love which has all three of them in it is a hilarious comedy about love, divorce, dating, family, and more! Emma and Ryan are casted together in the next two films. Fun fact, in La La Land, which Stone won an Oscar for Best Actress in a lead role, she is actually singing. What a talented woman! Gangster Squad was a pretty sweet movie as well which Emma plays a girlfriend of Mickey Cohen and Gosling plays a cop named Wooters who Faraday (Stone) ends up falling for. I didn't have a good spot to talk about Birdman which Stone also stars in, so I'll just say it's a great movie and you should watch it. Her newest movie, again with Steve Carell, Battle of the Sexes is about the true story of the 1973 tennis match between the number one women's player Billie Jean King, played by Emma Stone, and ex-champ and hustler Bobby Riggs, played by Carrell. Another movie that focuses on women's empowerment and is based on a true story.
Emma Stone, who is 8 months older than me, continues to grow as an actress and develop in her roles. From comedies to dramas, she does a fantastic job no matter which type of film she is in. I mean, in 2017, she was the highest paid actress in the world, raking in $26 million. Now, despite being the highest paid actress, I think it is noteworthy to mention that she still only ranks 15th overall, as 14 male actors are ahead of her. The unequal pay between males and females has no limits. By the way, the number one male actor, Mark Wahlberg, made $65 million last year, over double of Stone's pay. Don't sleep on this talented actress!
I only own about half of the movies I watched above, but was curious if there are any Emma Stone movies that I didn't watch that you think would be worthwhile. Let me know!
With Jim Carrey & Emma Stone checked off the list and we continue in this journey of watching specific actor's movies, we look forward to more suggestions. In the future, we are considering the likes of the following: Bruce Willis, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Will Smith, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Daniel Day Lewis, or Will Ferrell.
Next up though: Russell Crowe
Happy movie watching
Josh