Why is everybody talking about Amy Adams?

As these odd symptoms intensify, Adams' character openly embraces her primal canine nature. The movie has confounded critics who are puzzled by the trailer's seemingly comedic tone. Should a film that appears to deal with such troubling psychological issues be darker and more introspective in its delivery?

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'Drop Dead Gorgeous' (1999) -

Amy Adams made her big screen debut in 1999, appearing in 'Drop Dead Gorgeous' alongside Kirstie Alley, Ellen Barkin, and Kirsten Dunst. The film died at the box office but has since garnered cult status.

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'Catch Me If You Can' (2002) -

The next couple of years saw the actress divide her time between minor cinema, television, and stage work before Steven Spielberg offered her a plum role opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the hit crime-comedy drama, 'Catch Me If You Can.'

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Disillusionment -

Despite the worldwide success of 'Catch Me If You Can,' Adams' star was still in slow ascent. In fact, she even considered quitting acting altogether such was her disillusionment with the industry. Then, along came 'Junebug.'

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'Junebug' (2005) -

'Junebug,' an independent film production, premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, where Adams won a special jury prize. She garnered numerous plaudits for her turn as a free-spirited art dealer who travels from Chicago to North Carolina to meet her new in-laws, and in fact received an Academy Award nomination for her supporting role in the film.

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'Enchanted' (2007) -

Adams' next movie of note was 'Enchanted.' In it she plays Giselle, a singing and dancing princess-to-be. In a departure from her usual acting style, Adams sang three songs for the film's soundtrack. For her efforts, the actress received a Golden Globe nomination.

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'Sunshine Cleaning' (2008) -

'Sunshine Cleaning,' a comedy-drama about two sisters (played by Adams and Emily Blunt) who start a crime scene clean-up business, premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and drew positive reviews from critics.

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'Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day' (2008) -

The strong performances of Amy Adams and Frances McDormand in 'Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day' underlined Adams' penchant for comedy while once again highlighting McDormand's skilled and versatile acting. Adams was about to expand her own abilities as an actress.

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'Doubt' (2008) -

'Doubt' is considered Amy Adams' first dramatic role. The film centers around a Catholic school principal (Meryl Streep) who questions a priest's ambiguous relationship with a troubled young student. Philip Seymour Hoffman is the priest accused of inappropriate behavior while Adams plays an innocent nun embroiled in the conflict. 'Doubt' saw her nominated a second time for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

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'Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian' (2009) -

'Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian' featured Adams as the pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart, with Ben Stiller reprising his role as Larry Daley. While the film received overall mixed reviews, Adams' performance was praised. Furthermore, the film was a considerable box-office success.

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'Julie & Julia' (2009) -

Another commercial success was 2009's 'Julie & Julia.' A biographical comedy-drama, the film tells the story of real-life blogger Julie Powell (played by Adams) who aspires to cook all 524 recipes in a cookbook compiled by chef and television personality Julia Child (Meryl Streep) in 365 days. Child is recognized for having brought French cuisine to the American public.

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'The Fighter' (2010) -

In 'The Fighter,' Adams was deliberately cast against type by director David O. Russell to rid her of her girl-next-door image. It worked! Adams, together with Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, and Melissa Leo were all praised for their powerful performances in this gritty biographical boxing drama.

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'The Muppets' (2011) -

Amy Adams has a habit of switching between comedy and drama and, true to form, her next picture saw the actress return to her comedian-sweetheart persona in 'The Muppets.' She sang once again, providing seven songs for the film's soundtrack.

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Center stage -

The following year was a busy one for Adams. She trod the boards in a revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical 'Into the Woods,' which marked her New York stage debut and her first theater appearance in 13 years.

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'The Master' (2012) -

Her first film of 2012 was 'On the Road' followed by the psychological drama film 'The Master' alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman. For this, Adams received her third Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

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'Trouble with the Curve' (2012) -

She rounded off 2012 with 'Trouble with the Curve.' The film stars Clint Eastwood as an aging baseball scout whose daughter (Adams) joins him on a scouting trip. Adams later described Eastwood's personality as "warm and generous" and spoke highly of her collaboration with the veteran actor and filmmaker.

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'Man of Steel' (2013) -

By now an established actress and one of Hollywood's most bankable female stars, Amy Adams' next role was as Lois Lane in the Superman movie, 'Man of Steel.' The movie grossed over US$660 million to become one of her biggest box-office hits. She would go on to reprise the role in two more Superhero sagas.

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'Her' (2013) -

According to The New York Times, Adams was drawn to the Spike Jonze-directed drama 'Her' by the idea of portraying a platonic male-female friendship, which she believed was rare in film. Billed as a science-fiction romantic comedy, the film teamed her once again with Joaquin Phoenix and received numerous awards and nominations.

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'American Hustle' (2013) -

Amy Adams received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her duel role as Sydney Prosser/Lady Edith Greensly in 'American Hustle.' She was also nominated for a BAFTA and ultimately picked up a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Besides the critical accolades the film, costarring Christian Bale, was a huge box-office success.

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Golden Globe win -

Amy Adams with her Golden Globe Award for 'America Hustle,' presented in Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy category.

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Screen Actors Guild Award win -

Adams also picked up a Screen Actors Guild Award for 'American Hustle,' in the Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture category.

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'Big Eyes' (2014) -

'Big Eyes' recounts the story of American artist Margaret Keane (Adams) and her second husband, Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz). Keane enjoyed phenomenal success for her paintings of people with big eyes. But during the 1950s and 1960s, it was her husband who took all the credit for the unique works of art. Adams won another Golden Globe for the role and was nominated for a BAFTA.

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Marriage and family -

In 2015, Amy Adams found time to marry Darren Le Gallo, whom she met at an acting class in 2001. The couple have a daughter, Aviana, and are pictured here together in 2017 when Adams was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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'Arrival' (2016) -

Considered one of the best films of 2016, 'Arrival' was also nominated for numerous awards. A science fiction drama, the film stars Amy Adams as Louise Banks, a linguist enlisted by the United States Army to discover how to communicate with extraterrestrials who have arrived on Earth.

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'Nocturnal Animals' (2016) -

'Nocturnal Animals' premiered at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival and subsequently won the Grand Jury Prize. The plot follows Adams' character, a wealthy art gallery owner, and her reaction upon reading a new novel by her ex-husband that appears to mirror their former relationship. The film was directed by Tom Ford.

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'Sharp Objects' (2018) -

In 2018 Amy Adams took a break from cinema and returned to the small screen to appear in the HBO miniseries 'Sharp Objects.' The series, which costarred Patricia Clarkson, received critical acclaim and garnered Adams two Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

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'Vice' (2018) -

In 2018 she also costarred in 'Vice,' teaming up with Christian Bale for a third time in this political satire that, while universally acclaimed for the performances of the cast, did not win any votes with the public, failing to turn a profit at the box office. Still, Adams received a second Best Actress nomination for her efforts.

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'Hillbilly Elegy' (2020) -

Despite the best efforts of Adams and co-star Glenn Close, 'Hillbilly Elegy,' based on the best-selling 2016 memoir of the same name by current US Vice-President-elect JD Vance, received mixed reviews from critics and failed miserably at the box office. In fact, the film marked the beginning of a somewhat lean period in Adams' big screen career.

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More bark, less bite -

The premiere of 'Nightb-' took place in September 2024 at the Toronto International Film Festival. However, its theatrical release in the United States will take place on December 6. The movie is based on the 2021 novel by Rachel Yoder, and while critical reviews have for the most part been favorable, its surreal premise has led some members of the public who have seen the trailer and also read the book to complain about the mismatched tone of the movie's teaser.

Sources: (Independent) (USA Today Entertainment)

Why is everybody talking about Amy Adams?

Her new movie is confusing critics

05/12/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Movies

Amy Adams is one of Hollywood's most bankable stars. The actress is celebrated for both her comedic and dramatic roles and over the course of the last 25 years or so has received various accolades, including two Golden Globe Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Furthermore, she's been nominated for six Academy Awards, seven BAFTAs, and two Primetime Emmy Awards. The actress has around 50 movies to her credit, her latest being 'Nightb-.' But this new film is confusing critics and the public alike, blurring the lines as it does between comedy and psychological drama. So just how dark is this comedy supposed to be?

Click through the galley for an appreciation of Amy Adams' career in film to date, and learn more about the movie that's got cinemagoers scratching their heads.