Jen has moved beyond being an actress to producer, businesswoman, humanitarian, feminist, entrepreneur,
spokeswoman, philanthropist, animal activist, millionaire.
Nearly ten years ago, I devoted a column to some well-deserved praise of Jennifer Aniston, whose on-screen persona perfectly matched the spirit of this site. A string of Aniston-driven "double-bills" was listed to illustrate her place in my solipsistic movie world of the underrated and neglected.
She is an actor who is attractive, companionable and blessed with crack comic timing and also what The New Yorker's TV critic Emily Nussbaum recently described as "vulnerable warmth." All of which produce a terrific chemistry. Both on-screen and off-. With actors and audiences alike.
Aside from these qualities, the list of films themselves underlined the playfulness and diversity of her decisions ("The Good Girl"! "Friends with Money"! "Office Space"!) and had me wondering exactly why Aniston has been perpetually underrated. Also, she had - and still has - the potential to revive the kind of breezy movies popularized by Debbie Reynolds and Doris Day in the 1960s, that's if anyone in Hollywood these days is resourceful or creative enough to even consider such a retro revival.
Surprisingly, I was not alone in my assessment: The essay drew in excess of 5,000 hits and 79 comments (to date). Companionable. Yes.
But since then, Jen has moved on, as evidenced in a piece written by Rachel Simon for NBC News, titled "How Jennifer Aniston has stayed America's sweetheart - when so many rivals failed." Being a "movie star" is the least of it these days. There is now so much more to consider and celebrate. Yes, she remains ever-companionable. There's that word again.
In the interim, other words and expressions have gathered, applying crucially to Jennifer Aniston - words and expressions that go beyond the ease of being an "actress" or "team player" or, yes, even, "friend."
The Jennifer Aniston of the new millennium now commands attention as a producer, businesswoman, humanitarian, feminist, entrepreneur, spokeswoman, philanthropist, animal activist, millionaire.
She has positioned herself as one of the leading, highest-paid, and richest actresses and, more impressively, as an animal devotee. Aniston's new "friends" (apart from her TV besties) have included dogs of all breeds.
And some of these friends have come and gone. There was Norman, her Welsh Corgi-Terrier who was with Aniston during her run on "Friends" and who died in 2008 at age 15. Given that he always slept near her feet, Aniston had his name tattooed on her right ankle after he passed.
When Dolly - the white German Shepherd that she shared with her ex, Justin Theroux, and who appeared on the Aveeno TV commercials with her - passed, Aniston reunited with Theroux to mourn her death, with two other Aniston/Theroux pooches attending - Sally, a Pit Bull mix, and a Hobo Terrier named Clyde who can be seen squeezing his snout into photos during Dolly's funeral. Added to the Aniston/Theroux mix after the funeral, an absolutely adorable Pit puppy named Sally was adopted.
~Sophie, Jennifer's Choice~
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~The quintessential Jennifer Aniston~
In the 20 years since she's become an actress, Aniston has amassed 64 credits (including television), many of which are essentials. Anyone contemplating a Jennifer Aniston Film Festival would do well to consider these ten (listed in no particular order):
"The Good Girl"
"Office Space"
"The Break-Up"
"He's Just Not That into You"
"Friends with Money"
"Management"
"The Object of My Affection"
"Marley & Me"
"Love Happens"
"Derailed"
Regarding Comments:
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~Jen and her Friends~
~Jen and her Friends~
Joe! And she just scored Golden Globe and Screen Actor Guild nominations!
ReplyDeleteYour comparison of Aniston with Debbie Reynolds and Doris Day is a little more than apy because they weren't fully appreciated in their time either.
ReplyDeleteShe has clearly moved on and into something of a new milestone in her life that I think will reflect in her acting.
ReplyDelete"Management" was brilliant and one of her most underrated films. Critics analyzed it as though it was another romcom when in fact it was a highly artful treatment of the most basic of human relationships - that of parent/child. Any doubts? Just notice how the movie opens and closes, and look at each relationship in the movie. it couldn't be more obvious and yet the critics missed it.
ReplyDeleteShe also looks great - incredinly healthy for a woman of 50. To quote Rob einer's mother in the deli scene from "When Harry Met Sally," "I'll have what she's having!"
ReplyDeleteI like that early on, she provided vocal talent to an early Brad Bird animation, "The Iron Giant." Charming movie.Important to Bird.s blossoming career.
ReplyDeleteShe definitely jump-started Bird's career with her participation.
ReplyDeletePeople forget that Jennifer Aniston became a star, almost overnight, at age 25, on "Friends." Arguably, she was its most popular personality and her popularity remained. That is nothing to dismiss. Since the show went off the air, she's experimented with roles. There are quite a few indies on her resume. She continues to grow.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice piece on Aniston.
ReplyDeleteShe's made several films with Jason Bateman. Great team - like Debbie Reynolds and Jack Lemmon in the '60.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I'm especially partial to "He's Just Not That Into You" and "Love Happens." Given how young they all were and both the suddenness and the intensity of their fame, it's remarkable that all of the cast members of "Friends" have handled themselves as well as they have over the past quarter century, with Anniston being perhaps the first among equals.
ReplyDelete