Scarlett Johansson, Misfit Movie Star (part 2)

Last week, I took a look at 3 of Scarlett Johansson's films and how they fit into her career. Match Point had her deconstruct the femme fatale, showing us the tragedy behind being a male fantasy. He's Just Not That Into You took that arc and placed it in a generic, mainstream rom-com. Finally, Lucy gave Johansson superpowers and she was alienated to the extreme.

In honor of the release of Avengers: Age of Ultron, I decided to look at Scarlett Johansson's three previous Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films: Iron Man 2, The Avengers and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. These are Scarlett Johansson's three highest grossing films both domestically and overseas (Lucy sits at #4). If anyone had any doubts of Scarlett being an A-list star, these films definitely erased those doubts. But luckily for us, her performances as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow aren't just cash-grabs. She's not doing a franchise solely as a retirement plan, although perhaps it started that way...

Iron Man 2 (2010)
First, some history. Initially, the role of Black Widow went to Emily Blunt. But the poor girl was contractually obligated to star with Jack Black in Gulliver's Travels so she was replaced by Johansson in early 2009. Reactions to Johansson's casting was mixed. Emily Blunt at the time was a hot young indie actress, fresh off acclaimed roles in The Devil Wears Prada and The Young Victoria. Iron Man 2 would be her first foray into big-budget superhero movies. Johansson's own indie credibility was losing steam, in no small part due to the media (over)hyping her as a Marilyn Monroe-wannabe sex symbol as well as some (unfairly?) dismissed films like The Nanny Diaries, which I'll discuss in Part 3. There were some grumblings that Johansson was only cast because of her looks.

Even though you and I know that Johansson is more than just an overhyped sex symbol, that image of her was not helped by Iron Man 2. She starts her run as Black Widow actually playing "Natalie Rushman," a new personal assistant/notary for Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr). Johansson plays Natalie as toatlly no-nonsense and her icy sex goddess vibe totally works. There are some great moments in this film, particularly Natalie's opening scene. But as the film goes on, the script finds little reason for Natalie to be in this movie or for someone of Johansson's star power to even be playing her. When Natalie is revealed to be SHIELD agent Natasha Romanoff, there is little impact because Natalie's role in the film and within Stark Industries was totally unclear.

If I might stretch my general thesis about Scarlett Johansson's career to its breaking point, Agent Romanoff is still a misfit within Iron Man 2.  She doesn't fit into her assignment because she doesn't get along with Stark, she's not a babysitting love interest like Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), nor an enabler or a villain. She's just there. In 2010, I tried my hardest to defend Scarlett Johansson in this movie. Now, the best I can say is that Scarlett looks the hottest she's ever looked in her life in Iron Man 2. But this film had no idea how best to use her. Perhaps screenwriter Justin Theroux and director Jon Favreau also thought of her as just a sex symbol.

The Avengers (2012)
When Scarlett Johansson signed onto Iron Man 2, her deal also attached her to The Avengers. Writer/director Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is no stranger to compelling women onscreen with powers and oozing coolness. The time between Iron Man 2 and The Avengers made a world of difference. Agent Romanoff went from bland sexy/tough assistant to a competent agent with dark secrets and a thirst for redemption. Here is Scarlett Johansson playing a person separated from society by being a super-spy and an assassin. She's even ostracized within the Avengers because no one trusts her. Black Widow spends the film trying to redeem herself first by saving Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) then by fighting against Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his alien army. Johansson very effectively conveys Romanoff's pain and disappointments. She makes reference to "red in my ledger," which suggests the blood on her hands. Romanoff silently wonders if she'll ever get the red out.

One thing that is notable about The Avengers (especially when compared to Iron Man 2) is how little attention is paid to Scarlett as a sex symbol. In this film, she is all business; her skintight catsuit is no more sexualized than Thor's (Chris Hemsworth) flowing locks or Captain America's (Chris Evans) boy-scout hunkyness. The Avengers has a lot going on and, unfortunately Black Widow is surrounded by larger than life superheroes like Iron Man, the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Loki. Because of this, there's not much room to Johansson to stretch her muscles and really dig into Natasha Romanoff. Her performance is guarded and hurt, but like the other Avengers, she finds some time to crack a few jokes.

The MCU is a good fit for Johansson. She gets to play to both sides of her onscreen persona. She's funny, charming and yet conflicted and vulnerable. Scarlett Johansson really shines as an ensemble player; unlike Downey Jr. or Hiddleston, she doesn't crave the spotlight and will often kill with a subtle reaction shot rather than a zinger. This has the effect of making Johansson seem out of place or not doing much. And as much as I like this movie, it's certainly not one I put on when in the Scarlett mood. But she was noticed for her efforts and there suddenly was talk of a Black Widow solo movie...

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
We may never get a Black Widow solo movie. But, if Captain America: The Winter Soldier is as good as it's going to get, I am pretty satisfied. Captain America: The Winter Soldier stars Chris Evans, who is another generous ensemble player. And without any other superhero stars or movie stars, both he and Scarlett Johansson are able to shine. There are so many great Scarlett scenes; she practically functions as a co-lead. Her arc in this movie takes Natasha from "I work alone" spy to trusting and trustworthy ally and friend. The film is defined by the friendship, platonic and professional, between Captain Rogers and Agent Romanoff.

Putting these two together in a movie was a stroke of genius. They are both misfits. Captain America is a man out of time (which is a phrase I thought I came up with but apparently has been associated with Cap for a while). He's spent the last 70 years frozen and has woken up to a time so unlike his own. He doesn't understand the world today and must figure out a way to survive. As discussed above, Black Widow must reconcile her violent, tortured past with her work for SHIELD. She reveals her confusion about her place in this world in this movie. While both Cap and Widow go through similar arcs, the way they approach their mission is different and that's why the pairing works remarkably well. They find friendship in their shared self-doubts and but different outlooks. The affectionate but not sexual chemistry between Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson also makes this film sing.

It took four years for the MCU to figure out what to do with Scarlett Johansson. She's a tough actress to pin down because she doesn't really fit into the blockbuster mold. Her performances as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow get better as they go along; the material in Captain America: The Winter Solider is better suited to the outlier Scarlett Johansson. In this film, she explores the darker elements of the redemption she craved in The Avengers. How does she know that she's not just following her orders like she did when she was an assassin for the Russians? Is she just another puppet, this time for the "good" guys? These are the questions that Black Widow must ask herself and Scarlett Johansson thrives in the asking.

Stay tuned for Scarlett Johansson, Misfit Movie Star (part 3).

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