Arnav Srivastav
If we compile a list consisting of the greatest contemporary actresses in Hollywood, Viola Davis’ name will probably be one of the first to make it. The acting paragon is widely regarded as one of the most gifted actresses of her generation and is often mentioned in the same breath as Meryl Streep and Judi Dench. Her authoritarian diction and immaculate control over her speech are widely revered and admired in the industry. She has very recently started to star in features and we couldn’t be more elated. Here’s the list of the top 11 Viola Davis movies and TV shows. Happy reading!
11. Blackchat (2015)
A gifted coder is released from prison to decrypt his own code when the threat of an impending terrorist attack looms large. But he’s caught between two worlds as China and America fight for digital supremacy. ‘Blackchat’ received polarized reviews, with the critics divided over its wobbly plot and ingenious premise. Eventually, the criticisms assumed a heavier hand and the film was disregarded as an excitable film.
10. Madea Goes to Jail (2009)
Madea is sent to anger management therapy with Dr. Phil (yes, THE “Dr. Phil”). While the therapy is unsuccessful, Madea gets eventually arrested and sent to jail 72 minutes into a 102-minute film. A prostitute reunites with an old flame and the two work out each other’s problems. That’s right, a movie called ‘Madea Goes to Jail’ has barely any Madea going to jail. In actuality, the Madea scenes are, in and of itself, funny! The scene with her and Dr. Phil and the terrific use of rhetoric actually worked and made me laugh very hard. Don’t go on the ratings and watch this with a clear head. You’ll love it.
9. Disturbia (2007)
An unsuspecting young boy under house-arrest notices something weird with his neighborhood. Further investigation uncovers a killer on the loose who now is his next target. ‘Disturbia’ suffers from what I call a “critic-buster” film. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the film. Atmospheric, jarring, and thoroughly thrilling, the movie manages to do in its runtime what TV shows today can’t do in two seasons.
8. Suicide Squad (2016)
Amanda Waller quickly arranges for her emergency plans to assemble a Task Force X, a group of highly-skilled convicted murderers, after Superman’s death. The team is tasked with nullifying any danger that the city faces and are called upon to do the honors when an enchantress vows to destroy the earth. Pacing and plot are two essentials of any film, let alone a superhero movie, and the movie fails on both accounts. Margot Robbie’s sensational and sensual turn as Harley Quinn might be the best thing that comes out of the film. ‘Suicide Squad’ might not rank as a top-notch superhero film, and certainly not DC’s best, but it has its moments in which it thrills and flourishes.
7. It’s Kind of a Funny Story (2010)
Films about suicide are always discomforting to watch. Even though the thematic undertones are generally melancholic, they offer an insightful probe into how someone proceeds towards consuming his own life. Craig Gilner becomes the vessel that pilots the narrative. He seeks help and befriends a fellow patient, Bobby, with whom he spends the majority of his time. They form an unusual bond and discuss how they’ll lead their lives now. The feel-good factor of the movie is considerably high and makes the journey fairly easy and shadily enjoyable.
6. Antwone Fisher (2002)
Antwone is a disgraced navy officer with a troubled past. His chequered history often lands him in the midst of the fire and leaves him helpless. Antwone encounters Dr. Davenport with whom he shares his past. The film is reminiscent of ‘Good Will Hunting’ in parts and does a decent job in depicting Antwone’s rage and frustration at life. Some exchanges between him and Davenport are thoroughly researched and hint towards a holistic and complete dramatic overlay. Cleverly directed and soulfully performed, ‘Antwone Fisher’ is fine cinema and levels as an equal match of its inspiring book.
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5. Prisoners (2013)
Dennis Villeneuve stands out as the most complete and compelling filmmaker of this generation. His growing filmography is indicative of his style and inexplicable talent at handling the camera. ‘Prisoners’ takes us into terse rural Pennsylvania and populates its taut narrative with the Dover family, around whom the action revolves. Keller Dover and his neighbor Franklin Birch’s daughters get abducted in daylight. The case is assigned to Detective Loki, a taciturn and lonely man whose botched up jobs from the past haunts his present.
4. Doubt (2008)
Sister James is a naive teacher at a local Christian school. She notices the weird behavior of the only colored student in her class and reports the status with concern after she finds out Father Flynn sniffing around his locker and putting an item of clothing back in. The responsibility to confront him falls upon the able shoulders of Aloysius, the strict principal of the school. In a male-dominated society and environment, she fights her way to the truth and calls a spade for a spade, refusing to turn a blind eye to Flynn’s disconcerting and unbecoming actions. The dream cast collectively boasts of the finest talent that mankind has in terms of acting prowess and emphatically imbues the screen with deftness and vigor.
3. How To Get Away With Murder (2014-)
Annalise Keating, a lawyer, takes up a class titled ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ from which she chooses the brightest to assist her in cases relating to the most nefarious crimes there are. Four seasons, and four nominations. Davis is the lifeline of the show and single-handedly drives this rounded and specifically brilliant show. Throughout its run, ‘How To Get Away With Mother’ has clocked high ratings and enjoys a status as a quirky, laconic, and epigrammatically written crime show.
2. The Help (2011)
Skeeter is a young and rebellious writer who defies societal stereotypes and is generally exhausted living with her pretentious mother. She lands a subsisting job at the local newspaper, being responsible for a cheap, yet popular, column. Skeeter pierces through her cynical and racist rich friends to discover the hardship-filled stories of their “helps”. Initially skeptical and scared to speak out, Aibileen gathers courage and encourages other friends to contribute and tell their story. ‘The Help’ stands out as an intelligent and well-rounded account of a racist America and glorifies the stories of brave and patient women who defeated life with a smile on the face and remained true in their virtues.
1. Fences (2016)
‘Fences’ is an emphatic drama that solely rests on its legendary leads. Denzel Washington and Viola Davis enact Troy and Rose Maxson, a married couple whose union is threatened when Troy reveals he has an affair with another woman. The film delves much deeper than its shallow premise and deals stringently with subjects like racism, poverty, adultery, and lost dreams. The layered narrative, rich with fierce moments of power and drama, offers a number of subplots to further Troy’s current state and his dysfunctional relationship with his family. But it is Viola Davis’ monologue wherein she confronts Troy for his deceitful and shameful acts that steal the show and makes this a memorable film and the performance one of the greatest of the century.
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