Don’t let the trailer for JOY make you think David O. Russell made a sequel for SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, though no one could fault you for thinking it. Russell brings back his principal cast from that film with Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper. They’re joined here by Edgar Ramirez, Diane Ladd, Virginia Madsen, Isabella Rossellini, and Elisabeth Röhm. From the looks of the trailer, while this film has an impressive cast, it’s pretty much a showcase piece for Lawrence who plays the title role. This preview also doesn’t tell us too much about the story, though it can be deduced this is a young woman who appears to be pushed a little hard by life and those around her. Take a look and see what you think. I find David O. Russell to be hit or miss, as I loved SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK but was underwhelmed by AMERICAN HUSTLE. That said, I find Lawrence to be a terrific actress, and this looks like a strong performance for her, so I’m already in.
JOY is the wild story of a family across four generations centered on the girl who becomes the woman who founds a business dynasty and becomes a matriarch in her own right. Betrayal, treachery, the loss of innocence and the scars of love, pave the road in this intense emotional and human comedy about becoming a true boss of family and enterprise facing a world of unforgiving commerce. Allies become adversaries and adversaries become allies, both inside and outside the family, as Joy’s inner life and fierce imagination carry her through the storm she faces. Jennifer Lawrence stars, with Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Edgar Ramirez, Isabella Rossellini, Diane Ladd, and Virginia Madsen. Like David O. Russell’s previous films, Joy defies genre to tell a story of family, loyalty, and love.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
