Emily Blunt has come a long way since her breakthrough role in The Devil Wears Prada. She can be sassy, silly, and stalwart with a tenacity that’s unmatched by most of her fellow peers. This Friday (May 28th), you can see her return to the role of Evelyn Abbott in A Quiet Place Part II. So do keep reading as you will find my personal favorite performances that only she can play and take command of in distinctive, demonstrative ways. Her talents are inexhaustible and the proof is in each of these films.
KATE MACY
(Sicario)
Emily Blunt is outstanding in this taut, constantly uneasy cartel thriller where good guys do not exist. It’s a walk on a severely unmerciful passage for control and to maintain order in a violently depraved world. Kate is righteous, full of assurance in what she does and who she’s doing it for. That is until the sickening truth decays her from the inside out, forcing her to question everything she ever knew. What at first seems evident transforms in to a complex, warped terrain where every action leads to a more jolting reaction. And Kate is left as a woman alone, weakened with her will broken. Her eyes and expressions say it all.
QUEEN VICTORIA
(The Young Victoria)
Victoria was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and was even the first Empress of India of the British Raj. That is quite a few titles for a woman who became Queen at the age of 18. Victoria was a force to be reckon with, resented authority, and holds the longest reign of any female monarch in history. So, it’s no wonder Blunt’s lovely, stalwart performance embraces and totes the personal and political handles with a fiery grip. A combination of elegance and beauty with unyielding determination permits the Queen, along with the actress portraying her, to seize their moment.
EVELYN ABBOTT
(A Quiet Place)
Being pregnant in a post-apocalyptic world where monsters hunt any sort of sound made seems rather difficult. As Evelyn Abbott, Emily Blunt is extraordinary in her hubby John Krasinski’s heart-racing, emotionally exhausting creature feature. She expresses everything humanly possible while remaining silent – exhibiting great strength while living in constant fear. All you have to do is watch from when her water breaks to the bathtub scene if you don’t believe me. Her riveting portrayal of a mother in mourning, who blames herself for the loss of her child, will protect her family with all that she has. Blunt is one of the top reasons A Quiet Place is a new horror classic.
RITA VRATASKI
(Edge of Tomorrow)
Before Sicario, Blunt had already proved she could kick some major ass in this cleverly high entertaining actioner (aka sci-fi Groundhog Day), making going toe-to-toe with one of the biggest action stars of our generation–Tom Cruise–look effortless. Blunt’s Rita is the consummate one Cruise has taken claim to in all of his previous movies. Even if it’s only for a while, Cruise’s Cage takes a backseat to an alert, fearless war legend that doesn’t take shit from anyone.
VIOLET BARNES
(The Five-Year Engagement)
While having tremendous chemistry with Jason Segal certainly helps, Blunt approaches this rom-com with peachy physical comedy, but with genuine depth and tenderness to go along with it. Life never goes as planned, but it’s clearly evident Tom and Violet care for each other. That’s why you become invested in them and root for love to conquer all. Violet contains all of the necessary traits to carry such a story that’s smart, funny, crude, yet grounded in a way most movies of this genre miserably miss out on.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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