Barbara Stanwyck, Cher, Diane Keaton, and—Jennifer Lawrence? According to the folks at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, the young actress belongs in the company of these greats. Honouring J-La as Outstanding Performer of the Year, SBFF made a 12-minute sizzle reel tracing her linage from Claudette Colbert in It Happened One Night (1934) up to Cher in Moonstruck (1987). Drawing parallels between the great coquettish comedic actresses who coyly used their sexuality while remaining unparalleled forces in their films, the reel jumps into Lawrence’s work with a scene from Silver Linings Playbook.
“I’m Tiffany by the way,” could be the catch phrase from David O. Russell’s Oscar-nominated film. Delivered by Lawrence, she dominates the scene, stealing it handily from Robert De Niro (also nominated by the Academy for the same film). The reel then goes into an overview of her work, ranging from the teen sensation The Hunger Games to the indie hit Winter’s Bone. The reel also ever-so-honestly includes last year’s box office horror bomb The House at the End of the Street.
At only 22, it’s an impressive oeuvre. But will she take home the big prize this Sunday?
