Dakota Johnson, the renowned actress, is keenly awaiting the premiere of her latest project, Materialists. This film encapsulates a unique narrative of a matchmaker who finds herself embroiled in the tricky maze of her personal romantic entanglements. Rising high on the ladder of stardom in Hollywood, Johnson has made her mark with stupendous performances in well-appointed films such as The Social Network, Cha Cha Real Smooth, Peanut Butter Falcon, and the globally recognized Fifty Shades series.
Yet, amidst her bustling career, what are her thoughts on the current status of the grand movie industry where she has found her place and success? The answer she furnishes is not one clad in glamour and glitz. Instead, she labels it as a ‘mess’.
During a candid interview session on the popular show ‘Hot Ones’, a part of the promotional drive for Materialists, Johnson took the opportunity to opine about the grim state of affairs concerning creative decision-making in Hollywood.
She painted a rather disappointing picture about the predominantly prevailing non-cinematic approach in the movie-making business. Johnson voiced her concern that notable creative choices are typically made by ‘individuals who are not even ardent movie watchers’.
Her sentiment was anchored on the rising trend where significant decisions pertaining to the creative aspect of filmmaking are taken by groups of people, notable for their minimal exposure to or appreciation of films. Johnson critically pointed out that such a scenario seems to be reigning more often than should be favorably acceptable.
Supporting her argument, she expressed her concern that there’s a strong tendency within Hollywood to stick with the known and proven. That the industry prefers to cling to familiar patterns rather than venturing into uncharted territories.
As per her perspective, once a certain concept or product achieves success, it triggers a bandwagon effect where studios repetitively recreate the same theme to sustain their success. This, Johnson believes, is not what audience preferences lean toward.
What the audience craves, in her opinion, are freshly brewed ideas, revolutionary experiences, and unfamiliar visuals. Johnson ended her rebuttal on a contemplative note, questioning the current disorderly state of affairs in Hollywood.
Moving forward from the critique, her attention shifts back to the film ’Materialists’. In this film, she brings life to the character of Lucy, an established matchmaker in the fast-paced realms of New York City, who finds herself in a personal romantic impasse.
Lucy treads a blurry line of emotions, caught amidst a wealthy suitor named Harry Castillo and the resurgence of feelings for her former romantic partner, John.
The steering wheel of Materialists is in the hands of the acclaimed director, Celine Song. The movie also hosts an impressive line-up of co-stars such as Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal, Zoë Winters, and Marin Ireland.
As of now, the film Materialists has been introduced to the Indian audience, with its screenings happening across the nation.
On a concluding note, Dakota Johnson, a woman of strong convictions, stands at an interesting juncture. Balancing a climbing career trajectory on one hand, she provides a sharp critique of her industry on the other.
Of Bethany Johnson’s future ventures, both in front of the camera and decoding the tangles of Hollywood, the world undoubtedly waits with bated breath.