Brie Larson is one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood, and she’s also become a huge star with her role as Captain Marvel. She was excellent in that film, though she had to deal with all sorts of bizarre backlash from fanboys who couldn’t handle the idea of a female lead in the superhero movie.
Brie’s career started at a young age with projects ranging from theater to sketch comedy to television work. She also showed versatility early on in her film career with roles in comedies and independent films. Her supporting roles included comedies such as “Hoot” (2006), “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” (2010), and “21 Jump Street” (2012). She also portrayed a sardonic teenager in the TV series “United States of Tara” (2009–2011). Her breakthrough role came with the independent drama “Short Term 12” (2013), followed by roles in the romance “The Spectacular Now” (2013) and the comedy “Trainwreck” (2015). Larson’s performance as a kidnapping victim in “Room” (2015) earned her a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Actress.
Larson’s ability to deliver powerful performances in a subtle, understated manner is a hallmark of her acting. Her role in “Room” is a prime example, where she played a young woman who had been kidnapped and held captive.
Brie Larson on Film
“Room” 2015
Here’s what critic Jason Zingale had to say about Brie’s Oscar-winning performance: “Brie Larson has been quietly making a name for herself over the past few years, but while 2013’s “Short Term 12” may have been her big breakthrough, “Room” confirms that she’s the real deal. Her emotionally-charged role as the abducted teen-turned-mother was one of the best performances of 2015, and though young co-star Jacob Tremblay is also really good as her sheltered son, it’s Larson who holds the movie together, even when her character is dangerously close to falling apart.”
“Kong: Skull Island” (2017)
Some of us first discovered Brie when she starred in this new King Kong film as a photojournalist who tags along on the expedition to Skull Island. Brie does a fantastic job with the role and simply looks gorgeous as well. Needless to say we all became fans.
“Free Fire” (2017)
This film directed by Ben Wheatley fails to live up to the hype.
“Captain Marvel” (2019)
This may not be the best Marvel movie, but it certainly delivered the goods and had success at the box office. That said, the controversies around this film were ridiculous. Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and Marvel fans can be quite passionate about the franchise. But the backlash against having a female lead was absurd. David Medsker addressed this in his review:
You’ll forgive us if we’re amused by the backlash this movie is experiencing, largely by people who haven’t seen it yet. One guy posted a YouTube video complaining that Larson didn’t smile enough in the trailer, as if Captain Marvel herself existed solely to please him. It was that clip that led me to reconsider the movie for the big middle finger that it is. There’s a scene where a guy tells Carol that she doesn’t smile enough (ahem). Yon Rogg is constantly putting down Carol’s fighting technique because she doesn’t fight like he does and claims that she’s too emotional (women love it when men say that). Even the Supreme Intelligence, an AI that all Kree answer to (made all the more sinister by using Annette Bening as an avatar when it talks to Carol), constantly reminds her of how weak she is and how she’s nothing without them. This film basically takes every negging trick that guys use to establish their dominance over women and sets them on fire. That anyone is complaining about these things says far more about them than it does about the film.
“Captain Marvel” may fall somewhere near the 70th percentile in the overall MCU quality rating, but what critics think of the movie is irrelevant. Its true value lies in how it makes young girls feel after they’ve seen it, and if my nine-year-old daughter is any indication, it’s something you can’t put a price on. Finally, the MCU has someone who fights like a girl.
Brie reprised this character in “Avengers: Endgame.”
“Just Mercy” (2019)
Brie’s talents are mostly wasted in this film.