The Unseen Movie Review: The Nanny Diaries

By Robert Dixter Aug 22, 2007, 13:33 GMT

Scarlett Johansson during the shooting of US filmaker Woody Allen\'s last movie, in Oviedo, the principality of Asturias, north of Spain, 31 July 2007. EPA/ALBERTO MORANTE

Can someone please explain the phenomenon that is Scarlett Johansson? Here is a fine looking talented actress with an ample bosom that makes Dolly Parton sit up and take notice, she has managed to create buzz about herself without ever really appearing in a successful film.  By successful I mean a box office hit, something that more than just New York, California and Scarlett’s family saw. She’s been nominated for a handful of awards, and has done a few decent roles in better pics (Lost in Translation). 

Even though she hasn’t put butts in seats everyone in Hollywood is still trying to get her to be in their films.  The demand seems to be higher for her in Hollywood than it is for convertibles that come with a much younger trophy wife.  Scarlett also has the rumor mill working overtime and buzzing about who she’s dating (I know Josh Hartnett is out of the picture, and I think it’s Ryan Reynolds’ turn now) that even Paris Hilton is beginning to complain.

With so much interest in Scarlett and her going ons you would think she was some big star but she has never opened a big blockbuster.  It’s not as though Scarlett hasn’t tried.  She starred in The Island, a 2005 Michael Bay debacle that had more explosions in it than the White House lawn on July 4th.  That film opened to terrible reviews and the total domestic box office topped out at $36 million.  Even The Nativity Story made more money than that and everyone knew the ending to that one. 

So after one blockbuster Scarlett packs it in and returns to her small film world (please don’t tell me that The Prestige and Black Dahlia are big event films).  She’s become Woody Allen’s new Diane Keaton (I was going to say Mia Farrow but I don’t think Scarlett ever found nude pics of her daughter that Woody has taken).  And the funny thing is that Scarlett is great in the Woody films.  Match Point was one of the best pictures of 2005. 

Now if you look at her upcoming pictures there’s no chance of a blockbuster smash in there to launch her into the stratosphere where the demand for her would be warranted. She has The Nanny Diaries opening this week and it looks like a watered down version of the book with such little hopes that they dumped it into the last weekend of August.  Then there’s The Other Boleyn Girl (this one is such a guaranteed hit they ought to open against Indy 4) and another Woody Allen picture.

So Scarlett how do we take this talent and clear demand for your acting and turn you into a real bona fide star without compromising your artistic cred (since clearly it doesn’t work when you try to give it up in a Michael Bay film)?  You need to find a big studio picture with a director who can bring in a hit while still showing he’s made an “artistic” film.  Look at Martin Scorsese’s last movie, The Departed.  It had big stars, a big budget, won Oscars but most importantly in Hollywood it made lots of money. 

Now to say that you should appear in a Scorsese film is like telling Lindsay Lohan she drinks too much – everyone knows it.  And everyone would give their left nut to be in his movie, as I’m sure you would too and you don’t even have nuts.  But there are many decent directors making big budget commercial films, like Christopher Nolan and the Batman films.  But to just show up as the “girlfriend” role (a la Katie Holmes) won’t launch you to the next level. 

If I were you I’d try to take a meeting with Spielberg, Bryan Singer, and especially Joss Whedon.  Once Whedon figures out what he’s doing next it will have credibility in the community because of his stellar writing and you know it will be an attempt at a big blockbuster.  If that doesn’t work, try to get PA work on James Cameron’s Avatar.