Zooey Deschanel is an undeniably talented actor. Her first role was in a somewhat unsuccessful film directed by Lawrence Kasdan — a filmmaker best known for writing The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The film was called Mumford and it fared poorly at the box office. The following year, however, she truly broke into the scene with Cameron Crowe’s critically-acclaimed Almost Famous. Since then, she has had increasingly high-profile roles — probably hitting her peak with her role in the beloved Christmas movie Elf as well as her performance as the central character of the popular sitcom New Girl.
Elf (2003)
Who doesn’t love Elf? It was an instant-classic Christmas movie at the time of its release — and has continued to be. Will Ferrell plays the eponymous “elf,” an idealistic human raised by Santa’s labor force who strikes out on his own to find his biological father (James Caan). Along the way, he learns a lot about humanity. He meets a gifted singer named Jovie (Deschanel) who works a demeaning job at a shopping mall. It is a funny — albeit characteristically saccharine — film.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is one of the best western films of the modern era. The film shows the relationship—and its inevitable breakdown — between legendary Missouri outlaw Jesse James (Brad Pitt) and a member of his crew, Robert Ford (Casey Affleck). In the film, Deschanel plays Dorothy Evans, who is a love interest of Ford’s. It is a beautifully-acted, beautifully-shot film.
Your Highness (2011)
Your Highness is a fantasy-comedy from the minds of Danny McBride and David Gordon Green. In the film, McBride and James Franco play warrior-princes Thadeous and Fabious who must go on a quest to defeat the evil sorcerer Leezar (Justin Theroux), the man who has kidnapped Fabious’ betrothed, Belladonna (Deschanel). They also meet a fellow warrior named Isabel (Natalie Portman). While certainly not without flaw, it is a goofy and somewhat subversive comedy film on par with McBride’s other work.
All the Real Girls (2003)
The often-forgotten film All the Real Girls is, in fact, one of the best in Deschanel’s body of work. Also written and directed by David Gordon Green, it is a much different beast than Your Highness. The film is a romantic drama between a rudderless young mechanic named Paul (Paul Schneider) and his best friend Tip (Shea Whigham)’s younger sister Noel (Deschanel). It is a pensive, moving film about love and growth.
Almost Famous (2000)
In Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical film Almost Famous, a young writer named William Miller (Patrick Fugit) in the 1970s is paid by Rolling Stone to travel with famous rock band Stillwater. He builds a relationship with the band and the roadies as well as with a groupie named Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), who takes him under her wing. Frances McDormand plays his disapproving mother Elaine, while Deschanel plays Anita, his understanding older sister. It did not perform well at the box office but has been continually lauded by critics since its release.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
Before Martin Freeman was famous for his roles in The Hobbit films and the BBC show Sherlock, he starred in the 2005 adaptation of Douglas Adams’ science fiction comedy made originally for radio. Freeman plays Arthur Dent, a human who is scooped up onto a fantastical space voyage by his friend Ford Prefect (Yasiin Bey), who turns out to be an alien. The spaceship is inhabited a number of bizarre characters, including a human woman named Trillian (Deschanel), for whom he develops feelings. It is a fun film full of nonsensical situations.
The Happening (2008)
Night Shyamalan’s disaster film The Happening was made, in his own words, in the style of B-movie. In the film, more and more people are mysteriously committing mass suicide. Marky Mark Wahlberg plays a Philly-area schoolteacher named Elliot Moore who — with his wife Alma (Deschanel) and his close friend Julian (John Leguizamo) and Julian’s daughter—is trying to escape whatever toxin is causing people to behave in such a way. Many critics disliked the film, but Shyamalan’s skill behind the camera is undeniable.
New Girl (2011 to 2018)
New Girl was an enjoyable sitcom in which Deschanel played the titular “new girl” Jess Day. After a particularly destabilizing break-up, Jess, a schoolteacher, moves into a four-bedroom apartment with three single guys (Jake Johnson, Lamorne Morris, and Max Greenfield). The show documents their misadventures while trying to figure out what precisely they want in relationship and life as a whole. Jess’s best friend (Hannah Simone) is also a key character in the show. It is a reasonably clever, well-written sitcom.
Our Idiot Brother (2011)
Our Idiot Brother stars Paul Rudd as a hapless but well-intentioned and trusting slacker named Ned. After a brief stint in prison for trying to sell marijuana to a police officer, Ned is released. After being kicked out by his girlfriend (Kathryn Hahn), he bounces around the residences of his three sisters (Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, Elizabeth Banks). They all appear, on the surface, to be more put-together than he is, but their own problems become clear rather quickly. It is a sweet and funny — albeit not very remarkable — film.
Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
Many of you may remember Bridge to Terabithia as “that sad book they made you read in middle school.” If you’re of a certain age, it’s possible you even watched this movie after your class read the book. Indeed it is something of a tragic story, and it has a lot of heart. Two kids named Leslie Burke and Jess Aarons (AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson) become fast friends and make up a fantasy world of their own together. Deschanel plays Jess’s music teacher Ms. Edmunds, who Jess has a crush on. It is a truly affecting film.
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