Scarlett Johansson Kicks Butt In A Trippy Sci-Fi Flick Climbing The Streaming Charts
Lucy, starring Scarlett Johansson, is climbing the streaming charts on HBO Max.
In 2014, the world was introduced to the mind-bending sci-fi action thriller Lucy starring Scarlett Johansson, which currently holds the number two spot on the HBO Max streaming chart. Written and directed by controversial director Luc Besson, the movie explores the concept of unlocking the human brain’s full potential and the consequences that follow.
The story focuses on Lucy Miller (Scarlett Johansson), a young woman living in Taipei who is tricked into working as a drug mule by her boyfriend. After witnessing his death, a bag containing a dangerous drug is forcibly sewn into her abdomen for transportation to Europe. When she is assaulted, the bag ruptures, releasing a powerful synthetic substance called CPH4 into her bloodstream.
As a result, Scarlett Johansson’s hero begins to tap into more and more of her brain’s capacity, leading to her acquiring extraordinary abilities. When her powers grow, she sets out on a mission to unlock the secrets of the human brain before her newfound skills overwhelm her. She travels to Paris, attempting to find the remaining bags of the drug.
Once the CPH4 is in her possession, Scarlett Johansson’s Lucy is intravenously injected with it, causing her body to transform into a black substance that creeps into every electronic device in her vicinity. With her newly invented supercomputer, she travels to the past and encounters humanity’s oldest discovered ancestor Australopithecus – who is more commonly known as Lucy.
“Life was given to us a billion years ago. Now you know what to do with it,” Lucy’s voice says as scientists continue searching for her. Released in July 2014, the Scarlett Johansson-led movie was a hit with viewers, earning over $463 million at the global box office. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics. However, some reviews were polarizing.
Some praised the central theme, visuals, and Scarlett Johansson’s performance, while others said the story made no scientific sense. Lucy, distributed by Universal Pictures, currently holds a 66% critics score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s critical general consensus describes the movie as enthusiastic and silly.
The description also credits Scarlett Johansson’s charm with saving Lucy from its lack of logic and cheesy thrills. Although the film contains some cool special effects, at its core, the movie is a philosophical exploration of what it means to be human. Lucy’s transformation into a super being raises questions about the mind and body while exploring the possibility of what lies beyond our knowledge.
Still, some argue that the subject matter was handled poorly, describing the story as overly simplistic in its approach to philosophical themes. Others were critical of the film’s treatment of its female lead, Scarlett Johansson, stating that Lucy is reduced to little more than a vessel for the plot’s philosophical musings.
Despite these criticisms, Lucy remains a compelling and thought-provoking sci-fi thriller. Scarlett Johansson’s performance as the protagonist is nuanced and layered, allowing the audience to see the character’s emotional journey as she comes to terms with her new reality. Besson’s direction is also masterful as he creates a world that is both visually stunning and thought-provoking.
Lucy can be viewed as a cautionary tale about the consequences of pursuing knowledge and power at all costs. This raises important ethical questions about the nature of progress and the price we are willing to pay for it. So it’s not entirely surprising that the Scarlett Johansson movie is holding strong on the HBO Max streaming charts.
Scarlett Johansson will next be seen in Asteroid City. Billed as a sci-fi romantic comedy-drama, the movie is written and directed by Wes Anderson. The story follows the transformative events that take place during a Junior Stargazer convention in 1955. Along with the Marvel star, the cast also includes Jason Schwartzman, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, and Edward Norton.
Steve Park, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Tony Revolori, Jake Ryan, Jeff Goldblum, Willem Dafoe and Margot Robbie also star. The Scarlett Johansson movie will debut at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May before hitting theaters on June 16 in the United States. The rest of the world will have to wait until June 23.
