WARNING: This Article May Contain Spoilers
I was really hoping that as part of this article I was going to be able to talk about Jennifer as Katniss Everdeen but it turns out she actually played Mystique in X-Men: First Class before taking on the role in The Hunger Games. I honestly feel that she was a great choice to take the role, and I love the fact that as this is prequel, we see more of Mystique’s struggle with the way she looks along with Magneto’s love for her natural blue form that creates the loyalty she has towards him in the other films.
The Beaver
When I found this film, it took me a moment to actually remember this even coming out but then it became familiar when reading the plot line! The main thing I will say is that this is unbelievably weird. I started to think that may be everyone he spoke to was going to be unable to see the beaver but it was clearly there for all to speak to. Obviously Jennifer’s character of Norah doesn’t have an impact on the main, crazy storyline but she is key to the subplot that concerns Porter, played by Anton Yelchin. Now, because of her roles that took place after this, I never imagined her as playing a cheerleader but I like the fact this isn’t a typical dumb blonde character but has actually been written as smart as well as pretty – the fact that Porter copies off of her in calculus instead of the other way around. What I love about their part of the film is that it is an important reminder that not everyone is what they seem – especially when it comes to school and the natural hierarchy that take place.
The Poker House
Also known as Behind Closed Doors, Jennifer plays older sister, Agnes, to Cammie and Bee. It made me quite sad to think that this whole film is based on director Lori Petty’s own life growing up in the 1970s, as Agnes’ main role in the house is more like a mother than an older sister – she cooks, cleans and makes sure her sisters are safe and where they should be. It’s not just that but the distressing events that take place throughout the 90 or so minutes runtime is set in the space of 24 hours. I do love the fact that the film is split between the 3 girls, the happiest part being based around 8 year old Cammie and Agnes’ being the worst. I guess in a weird kind of way it shows the fact that Agnes is doing what she can to protect her sisters from what takes place at home. It’s interesting to think that Jennifer was 18 years old when she made this but playing a character 4 years younger than herself.
Winter’s Bone
Based on the book of the same name, Jennifer takes on the role of Ree – a young girl who has had to step up to raise her siblings as well as look after her unwell mother. Frustratingly, because of this her character is very similar to that of Agnes in The Poker House but thankfully it isn’t the main subject of the film. Instead the focus of this is on Ree doing whatever she can to find her father and keep a roof over their family’s head. You know what I love about this film? In spite of the clear fear in her eyes – especially with Teardrop and Little Arthur – Ree keeps going, pushing whatever information she can get to find her father. She’s also not an idiot! Clearly, Jessop doesn’t want to be found and those he knows do their best to put her off his trail, but she’s impossible to fool. With the scenes where Ree teaches her siblings how to hunt, I wondered if this could have been one of the reasons she was picked to play Katniss a few years later.
Honorary Mentions
There were actually very few films on Jennifer’s filmography before she became Mystique. Of course, you have the 3 already discussed but she also starred in The Burning Fields and Garden Party. Along with these, she started her acting career at the age of 16 in an episode of the detective series Monk before later appearing in an episode of Cold Case and 2 episodes of Medium.
