"Joy" - Official Movie Review

"Joy" starring Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, and Bradley Cooper is reviewed by Ben Mankiewicz (Turner Classic Movies), Matt Atchity (Rotten Tomatoes), Alonso Duralde (TheWrap and Linoleum Knife podcast) and Christy Lemire (www.ChristyLemi...).
Read what other critics had to say: www.rottentomat...
Based on the true story of the doctor who discovered CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in football players, and the uphill battle he faced in bringing the information to the public.
Watch more movie reviews: • Reviews of Movies Rele...

[@Peachpetals111]

The synopsis of Concusion is in the description. Sort it out intern

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

I can't take anymore Jennifer Lawrence. Please make her stop.

[@sample4751]

She is not Annoying

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

+Mmmghu Bngfggg No, she's just in 3/4 of all movies lately. Was not expecting 21 upvotes on that. I feel vindicated in that I'm not the only person who thinks it.

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

+lasagrep kahaluu Not sure I follow. Are you saying Jennifer Lawrence is going to exact revenge on me by telling me how tired she is of seeing my face in movies? Okay, I'll keep an eye out.

[@TheOblivionCK]

+HitchensImmortal She's not in 3/4 of the movies today. Clearly O'Russel likes her so he casts her in his movies. Thats normal. Then she's the star in Hunger Games, so obv she's gonna be in all of those, a few smaller movies here and there, and then Days of Future Past. Cause thats totally 75% of the movies coming out... There is no problem with a new talent being introduced and then gaining fame and popularity. But there will always be haters.

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

+lasagrep kahaluu You are internet cancer.

[@Nomz05]

much as i like JLaw, i can never buy her in these DO'R films. She plays often characters that are older than her and while i do think she's a very good actress, i've never bought her entirely in these films. Her best performance for me is still Winter's bone...i was absorbed by her character her there, it wasn't like "Actor playing character" like it often feels with the DO'R films.

[@tinoh.3413]

And she has quite a rounded/baby-ish face which makes her look like a kid dressing up in grown-up clothes in most of DO'R's films.

[@Nomz05]

exactly!

[@thomas9451]

Joy is worth watching because of Jennifer Lawrence's amazing performance. In Joy she has to play different stages of maturity (going from like 20 to 35) and she really does a great job. You can see she is different at the beginning compared to the middle and the end...I'm sorry for Christy Lemire but this will be her 4th Oscar nomination.

[@jessicapreston9808]

100% agree!

[@TheTXKING24]

+Thomas 94 what the flick are some of the worst reviewers ever

[@jessicapreston9808]

I feel like I'm one of few who thought both Silver Linings and American Hustle were highly overrated. I thought Jennifer Lawrence was horribly cast in American Hustle too! She was too young for that part and she couldn't nail the accent imo

[@vodkacoke2494]

+Jess d don't start this 'too young' bullshit again.

[@jessechuff]

loved Silver Linings Playbook, but after that I haven't had much of an interest in Russel's movies. they just don't look like they'll engage me as much as Silver Linings did.

[@lynnturman8157]

+Mentalitarium Only one way to find out.

[@jessechuff]

Lynn Turman that's definitely true. I am willing to watch them, but I just have so little interest in them and so much more interest in so many other movies its hard to find a time where I want to watch them if that makes sense?

[@richfictionfighter]

+Mentalitarium He's only made two movies since SLP

[@Smartbeautifulawesome]

I think they try too hard to recreate the magic of silver lining, but still cool cast its still cool the movie

[@Lynz261]

It's pathetic that critics whose only job is to critique movies would be so ignorant of the real Joy's story that this MOVIE is based on. The parts they find unbelievable, or just don't like are in fact true. It is a wonderful movie that doesn't copy but instead captures the main character's strengths and struggles, in family dynamics(that are spot on) and in the business world. I found the movie Joy interprets, and expresses the person found in Mangano's book, Joy, i.e., PERFECTLY. AND yes there really was a shooting range beside the auto shop Rudy, Joy's father owned.

[@genericname34]

Kind of happy this leaked online. Because I hate O. Russell and am tired of Jennifer Lawrence. Lowkey glad it'll lose money...

[@genericname34]

lasagrep kahaluu yeah, thats not it..

[@sanyrub]

+tropicAces I´m tired of people always wanting to bring down other people after they become huge. It´s not like she´ my favorite actress but she´s clearly great. It´s just a pattern which always happens in music and films. People start hating once an artist beomes too big (because people loved them to begin with) and they don´t stop until they bring that person down.

[@MedhaavMahesh]

+tropicAces i am not a big O Russell fan either but the guy clearly put effort in this film and please dont say shit like that when a film maker puts effort into his/her work. i wont mind if you say that to something like transformers 4 but dont say diminish movies that have effort put into it.

[@genericname34]

lordDEMAXUS - I see your point, but to counter: O. Russell literally called Lawrence, Cooper and De Niro and said "I want to make a movie about the miracle mop?" and they were like "sure, why not?" So it was just a free whim, "because we can" thing haha

[@thomas9451]

The one that leaked online is not the final movie and it literally misses huge parts of it. Don't watch that and go watch it on the big screen!

[@dilloncoleman7877]

doesn't matter how young an actor is, its about the performance, and i believe that she was defiantly amazing! definitely think she will be nominated for an oscar. Keep up the great work Jennifer Lawrence;)

[@oldmoviemusic]

who plays the ex-husband that Ben mentions? is that Edgar Ramirez?

[@samweinberg3279]

Published on Dec 21, 2015 "Joy" starring Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, and Bradley Cooper is reviewed by Ben Mankiewicz (Turner Classic Movies), Matt Atchity (Rotten Tomatoes), Alonso Duralde (TheWrap and Linoleum Knife podcast) and Christy Lemire (www.ChristyLemire.com). Read what other critics had to say: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/concu... Based on the true story of the doctor who discovered CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in football players, and the uphill battle he faced in bringing the information to the public. Wrong movie

[@JozieLeePro]

Merry Christmas, WTF staff. Love the reviews - movie and TV.

[@blinkzone1]

WTF moment from Atchity 6:41

[@Charlotte_Martel]

To those who have actually seen this film and her other O.Russel movies: how does this one compare? Is it worth watching? I loved "American Hustle" but found "Silver Linings" to be a bit too cutesy for my taste. To which of those films is "Joy" closer?

[@MiguelAngel-rd2lf]

Hi, guys. I would like to know your thoughts on the Annie Mumolo-David O. Russell conflict about the screenplay credit. Have anyone of you read Mumolos's script? Anyway, big fan of the show and I would like someday to be a film critic and analyst like you, guys. Greetings from Mexico City.

[@kbg12ila]

The soap opera thing did not work at all. However this movie overall was pretty great! It starts off being as bad as American Hustle but it ends up being better than Silver Linings. But it wasn't consistent. I'd give it an 8.5/10

[@tangled55]

I'm sick of Jennifer Lawrence. There, I said it.

[@KOTHFanRantsandVidsisawesome]

+tangled55 I got sick of her, right after she won the Oscar, there, I've said.

[@mr.guesswho7437]

Hey guys, you can watch this movie at coolpix . eu . pn in HD with Subtitles. ;)

[@KOTHFanRantsandVidsisawesome]

Mr.GuessWho Why would we want to do that?

[@JozieLeePro]

Love Silver Lining Playbook and American Hustle. I'm gonna give this one a chance even though Jennifer Lawrence might be miscast, Lawrence/DenIro/Cooper are just so much fun to spend a few hours watching.

[@joecamps1119]

Oh man you guys must be exhausted, I saw Alonso and he looked like he was finna keel over

[@ProtagonistDanA]

David O. Russel either hits me or misses me, my favourite of his is still Flirting With Disaster. Enjoyed Silver Linings Playbook, didn't really like American Hustle, but I have to say I agree with Ben, I enjoyed Joy quite a lot. I'm not really a big fan of Jennifer Lawrence but she had me invested in this. Totally agree about the ending but overall I had a lot of fun watching this.

[@angelthman1659]

Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle were horribly overrated. Joy was pretty good. Though in all 3 JLaw was miscast (way too young for her parts). Though, like everyone else, I like JLaw.

[@JAContes]

Hopefully this will kill David O. Russell's career. Can't stand that guy.

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

+J.A. Contes Three Kings was pretty dope. Other than that, yeah. A lot of showy films with zero substance.

[@JAContes]

I didn't care for Three Kings. I hear The Fighter is pretty good...Have no plans to ever watch it though.

[@FrozenFrames]

i hope no one watches this video. the movie is amazing and inspiring. just brilliant. these are just dim witted critics with aweful criticism. watch it . and decide for yourself.

[@Muscari]

Wow, there was really Oscar Buzz around Joy? I thought that the trailer was more than enough warning.

[@UKgamer87]

I haven't been able to respect cooper since he decided to be in american sniper.

[@SpyinGirly]

Russel's style is just too cold and unappealing to me, and hardly any of his characters are very likable. Plus JLaw plays the same character in all of his films; "I seem bitchy and abrasive, but just kiss me and I'll be perfect!!"

[@katehu7194]

I never thought I would be ageist but... there is always something that makes it hard for me to believe Jennifer in these movies. Age? Acting ability? General clash of casting? Hard to say but it just always feels so...staged. I want to disappear in movies, escape. But with her movies, save for maybe Hunger Games cuz that was pretty damn good, I just feel like I never left the theater. I know it's a movie, and it's strange, but I think I don't want to know it's a movie. I want to believe it.

[@Tr0nzoid]

I stumbled upon the trailer before seeing the movie and it completely gave me a different impression. It starts out with none of that, which just made it intriguing and the whole movie a fun surprise, and it's just funny that a movie could be made around a mop idea and modern pop history like K-Mart and QVC. Critiquing is one thing, but what is the purpose of advising people "don't see this one," or even listening to a review? Then someone says "I heard it wasn't good" based on really nothing. That kind of advice is for the ignorant masses who can't think for themselves or learn to experience what makes a movie a good or a bad or a fun or an interesting movie.

[@ShadowWolf346]

Silver Linings Playbook had the same issues that this apparently does but people ignored it because in the end it was a very small, character driven story. Characters are repetitive and unflinching, no one grows or changes significantly throughout but you have the same scene over and over and over trying to convince us that they are. I get that David O. Russel likes that loose improv style and it definitely works in each scene but he edits them in such a way where it's just the same vignette four times a movie is if he shot a single story moment a few different ways but then included all of them in the editing room. Now I liked American Hustle generally but it had a ton of issues with pacing and focus. All of the characters acted like they were operating with the whole of the problem in mind at all times and because of that it became nearly impossible to understand where all the moving parts fit together because, again, each scene operates as this individual vignette that does nothing to further the whole of the film but then when we cut away apparently we are supposed to believed that people are in different places despite not being shown it. If he wants to keep making movies this way he needs to break down the problems the characters are dealing with into smaller chunks like Scorsese does. I love watching the characters interact, he gets good performances disconnected but they don't stitch together into a coherent arc. Jennifer Lawrence in American Hustle, for instance, is all over the place throughout with no real forward momentum at any given time to bring her to the next. Russel needs to given clearer direction as to what the order of the scenes are and get some better framing techniques to connect them in a way that services a portion of the plot rather than all of it at all times.

[@TruckerJohn3]

I enjoyed Joy! I was entertained. I loved the attention to detail to the period. I loved the nostalgia of it. I thought Jennifer Lawrence was great. But the funny thing is, when I saw the trailer before I saw the movie; I thought it was about a woman, played by Lawrence, that becomes a crime boss!

[@ErgoDog]

Love J. Lawrence!

[@thomas9451]

She is fantastic in Joy. The movie is really worth watching because of her.

[@Lynz261]

The part of movie these critics thought unbelievable, unrealistic, the part all of them hated WAS IN FACT TRUE. From Joy Mangano's book; "If you don't do what I want you to do I will call your boss in Australia, and he will look at every transaction he made with you in the last ten years!""You tried to destroy me?...my children?""You need to sign these papers, you have no choice" "Eddie picked up the pen and signed all three papers." The changes from real story were Hong Kong instead of Australia, in the film Lawrence called the boss when in reality Joy threatened to expose his embezzlement and fraud, and "Eddie" said F-you after he signed the papers that stated that no more royalties would be paid, the molds were owned by Joy, and "Eddie" had no rights to any future royalties or money from the Miracle Mop. To critique these critics, A very sloppy, lazy job by all. If any of you had bothered to do any research into the real Joy's story at all you would know not only that that part was true, but would know Rudy's girlfriend had made the initial investment, and De Niro's performance was pretty spot on as far as the real Joy and her father Rudy. Oh, and the EX husband Tony also captured the right dynamic. And the mother and grandmother as well. Too bad you critics did so poorly with your criticism.

[@schmoab]

All of a sudden Ben appears halfway into the video. It's like we're watching two different reviews.

[@PhantasmagoricSplend]

I actually enjoyed this more than American Hustle. Doesn't beat Silver Linings Playbook though. I think this was a decent movie. I don't see the problem.

[@Sapphonouveau]

So... where does the CTE come into it? She starts selling MRI machines on QVC or something? ;)

[@jeszecantu4262]

6.1 isn't bad as that guy is saying it is I hate when people over think movies just sit down have no expectations and try to en-joy lol I think the movie was good.

[@sonicjrjr14]

I don't understand you sometimes Christy. You give the movie a 6.4 and then you tell us not to see it?

[@sanyrub]

Jennifer does great in all the films she´s in. David ORussel films on the other hand are not that good Silver Lining Playbook aside.

[@hollyroxy25]

Joy mangano sells on hsn not qvc. Hsn was around before qvc.

[@roter13]

i've been waiting for this review and it did not disappoint

[@anthonythompson403]

I give this film a 7.5. The scenes before her being introduced to Bradley Cooper's character are a mess to me. The soap could have been left out. Her performance carried this movie and she shines in this. I think Bradley Coopers role in this movie was enough. The ending was to simple and easy an unrealistic. But I thought the acting was good but to many flaws in how the story was executed.

[@FantasticBeasts2024]

Jennifer Lawrence and her films are overrated.

[@FantasticBeasts2024]

Plus why see this film when: Victor Frankenstein, In The Heart Of The Sea, The Danish Girl, Brooklyn, The Lady In The Van, The Revenant, Anomalisa, Creed, The Hateful Eight, and of course The Force Awakens are currently in Cinemas now, or being released into Cinemas soon.

[@jessechuff]

+POTTERHEAD well I wouldn't use Victor Frankenstein as an example but I agree nonetheless.

[@kbg12ila]

+POTTERHEAD I've seen heart in the sea, Joy and H8ful 8 and I'd give Heart in the sea a 6, Joy an 8.5 and H8ful 8 a 9

[@kbg12ila]

+POTTERHEAD Oh and Force Awakens a 10...

[@FantasticBeasts2024]

kbg12ila I've also seen In The Heart Of The Sea and I'd give it a 6 1/2, maybe a 7. I'd also give Victor Frankenstein a 6. Very underrated films which I feel are getting hatted on unnecessarily. I've also seen The Danish Girl, Brooklyn & The Lady In The Van, great films! I'm not seeing Joy. And I still need to see Anomalisa, The Revenant & The Force Awakens.

[@nickstoli]

Is this really a movie worthy subject?

[@vikanitch]

I just love, love, love this channel!

[@camilopensa2794]

O. Russell's fall from grace. Finally. I do like his films, but not in the way a lot of people (and even here in WTF) make them to be. It's fun and messy, not great and one of the best of the year.

[@alicewu5769]

This is best movie I have seen, one of the most inspiring movie I ever been so far!!

[@ohyummyitspauly]

Did Matt lose weight? Or just get a hair cut? Either way, looking good!

[@piadox]

I can't tell if he has lost weight or if it just looks like it because he's wearing a solid color...

[@blueeyesaf]

Yeah, I haven't liked either of Russell's previous films with this cast, and after doing it for a third time I'm completely uninterested in trying to like or even bothering to watch his movies.

[@thewolfsogood]

you dont like is so that means i willl like it yess

[@bandgeek89]

I didn't care about any other character in this movie except for Joy, especially Bradley Cooper, I had no interest in his past or his achievements

[@firebed6722]

Well yeah, that's what we expected

[@sarahchristine8539]

5.5 out of 10 for me. Her family is the worst, especially her sister.

[@BobSullivanAKABuffy]

Not a fan AT ALL of the O. Russell oeuvre with these actors. The scene in the trailer where JLaw threatens someone speaking for her just drips of overacting. I will only give it a chance on home video because I want to see more of Edgar Ramirez from Point Break as the ex.

[@stefers08]

Matt's looking good 😉

[@unakalu]

i liked "joy" a lot more than his previous two which i found insufferable

[@musicmann1967]

I saw it and wanted to leave every 5 minutes or so. I made it to the end, but thats just because it started to get better when she goes to QVC, like our reviewers said, and Bradley Copper breathed some life into it. However, David O Russell really fucked this one up. It's such a mess for so long, and the family scenes are so annoyingly done, the good parts couldn't save the movie from the momentum of the bad parts. I agree with all the reviewers except Ben. Jealous of that family?? They were borderline sociopaths! Too bad...

[@investined]

I'm actually more interested, now that I know it's about this mop queen.

[@ashdaks]

totally agree with you guys...the whole thing felt like one of joy's weird nightmares she had in the beginning of the film . just strange and didnt work for me despite a seemingly good story and great actors.. :(

[@LocalMultiplex]

Qui Gon dies.

[@Sam_foster]

This movie isn't great. Wish I'd saved my time and just watched Star Wars again instead.

[@ghostwhisper666]

Silver Linings yes, The Fighter yes... American Hustle hell no!

[@Peachpetals111]

Message to David Russell- STOP CASTING YOUR FRIENDS. Jennifer and Bradley dont have to be in all your movies !!!!

[@widM_]

+peachpetals and also Deniro

[@shsuman16]

Just the premise sounds uninteresting. Who cares about the inventor of the miracle mop? Not everyone needs a movie about them.

[@thomas9451]

I can't stand ignorance...It's not about that, it's not about the invention of the mop but about life around it and success. Is it that difficult to understand?

[@shsuman16]

Thomas 94 Yeah I get it but there are so many other more interesting success stories out there.

[@thomas9451]

S LaBua You can take any success story you want and the message will still be the same for the inventor of a mop or a car...success as well as life is not easy and can be very ugly.

[@Nickassance]

+Thomas 94 Only this movie wasn't good at all

[@thomas9451]

Nick Peek your opinion...I loved it and it certainly deserves better reviews than what it's getting. Jennifer Lawrence is phenomenal.

[@mxbblife_mu]

Spoiler: It sucks.

[@Brevincampbell12]

I don't get it. It may not be David Russell best, but they all gave it 6 or above with the exception of one. That sounds decent

[@BIGTENFanatic]

It doesn't suck

[@vodkacoke2494]

+Muyanzi Reid Spoiler: you haven't watched it.

[@CarSVernon]

she's way too young in AH and SLP too

[@xxWickedLifexx]

I loved Silver Linings Playbook, but thought American Hustle was all over the place, Amy Adams notwithstanding. I probably won't bother with this one.

[@jameslisle7775]

Oscar nom.

[@RideMyBMW]

this flick shoulda been ALL ABOUT QVC!!!! O Russell shoulda just cut to the chase immediately. Lopped off all the fat.

[@rbriggs89]

Jennifer Lawrence was great. This movie not so much

[@thomas9451]

I loved Joy but Jennifer Lawrence was probably the reason why...she is truly great.

[@katevand]

1:55 AH

[@TheTXKING24]

This was a good movie just like his others what the flick they so old and out of touch

[@tsukasa6795]

I might see this movie just to kill time 😅

[@frankwave776]

Won't be watching this. American Hustle sucked too much ass lol. I give that movie a 1.3/10 so this movie is probably the same shit. Silver linings wasn't that bad though 6/10. What is it about David O Russel that people like? His movies are shit lol.

[@sonicjrjr14]

I don't understand you sometimes Christy. You give the movie a 6.4 and then you tell us not to see it?