A beautifully crafted adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s work, featuring the talented Viggo Mortensen as a con artist and Kirsten Dunst as his wife, unfolds in the picturesque setting of early 1960s Athens. While on vacation, the couple encounters an American tour guide, portrayed by Oscar Isaac, leading to an intriguing dynamic where it remains uncertain whether his intentions are directed towards the lively young wife or her dubious older partner.
The first film in Sam Raimi’s trilogy introduced viewers to the iconic upside-down kiss, where Mary Jane Watson (Dunst) teasingly removes Spider-Man’s (Tobey Maguire) mask while he hangs upside down in an alley. The sequel allows Dunst to explore a broader emotional range, showcasing her character’s frustration and vanity, culminating in a final ambiguous close-up. Yet, the plot ultimately centers on her being rescued once more, this time from the clutches of Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina).
Director Joe Dante channels the essence of his classic Gremlins in a new story about chaos brought on by toys equipped with military microchips that gain sentience and turn aggressive. Dunst plays a teenager who finds herself in danger from her own collection of menacing “Gwendy” dolls, which announce their intentions with a chilling declaration: “Now it’s our turn to play with you!” As they swarm around her, their sinister curiosity leads them to wonder, “Let’s see if her head comes off…”
In a script by David Mamet that resonates with current events, Dustin Hoffman portrays an arrogant film producer who collaborates with a spin doctor (Robert De Niro) to fabricate a conflict with Albania, diverting attention from a scandal involving the president and minors. Dunst steps in as an actress portraying an Albanian villager escaping terrorists while comically clutching a bag of tortilla chips, which the special effects team creatively transforms into a kitten.
Transitioning from one fabricated conflict to another, the film presents a United States in turmoil under an authoritarian regime, with Dunst embodying a war photographer documenting the nation’s decline. She comments on the film’s unsettling effectiveness, noting that its setting in America makes it particularly alarming, a statement that has rapidly become more relevant as time has passed.
Gillian Armstrong’s interpretation of Louisa May Alcott’s timeless novel has often been overshadowed by Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation. However, it remains a strong contender, having been hailed as the best studio film of 1995 by the Independent on Sunday. The film features a stellar cast, including Winona Ryder as Jo, Christian Bale as Laurie, Claire Danes as Beth, and Dunst as the spirited younger sister, Amy. Filmed in Vancouver during a scorching summer, the cast endured the heat while dressed in winter attire for the holiday scenes, leading Dunst to humorously recall, “I think I threw up.”
The English-language dub of the beloved Studio Ghibli film from 1997 features a 15-year-old Dunst as Kiki, a teenage witch who takes on the role of a courier for a local bakery. Her voice work captures the tumultuous emotional landscape of adolescence, swinging between joy and despair. The middle of the film, wherein she bonds with a friend living in the woods (voiced by Janeane Garofalo), takes on a charming, almost buddy-comedy vibe. Notably, Phil Hartman’s witty performance as Kiki’s sarcastic cat, Jiji, stands out as one of his final roles.
A biting mockumentary set in Mount Rose, Minnesota, presents a beauty pageant for teens. Dunst portrays Amber, a hopeful contestant living in a trailer with her alcoholic mother (Ellen Barkin) while working as a mortician and rehearsing her tap-dancing routines in front of her unresponsive audience. The film features rival contestants played by Denise Richards, Brittany Murphy, and Amy Adams.
Peter Bogdanovich’s film explores Old Hollywood by weaving together a cast of iconic characters, including Charlie Chaplin (Eddie Izzard) and William Randolph Hearst (Edward Herrmann), with Dunst portraying the actress Marion Davies. The plot revolves around the mysterious death of producer Thomas Ince (Cary Elwes) aboard Hearst’s luxurious yacht in 1924. Dunst’s portrayal showcases her sophistication and sharp timing, as well as her empathy for a character often overlooked in history.
Sofia Coppola’s lavish film, inspired by Antonia Fraser’s biography, centers on the lives of teenagers in Versailles. Dunst plays the naive young woman forced to mature publicly after her marriage to the future Louis XVI (Jason Schwartzman). While she attempts to create a connection with the audience, the film itself often takes center stage. For a deeper insight into Dunst’s craft, viewers can explore the accompanying Making Of documentary filmed by Coppola’s mother, Eleanor, highlighting the iconic “Let them eat cake” scene.
In Jane Campion’s homoerotic Western set in 1920s Montana, Dunst takes on the role of Rose, an innkeeper and mother to a queer son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) married to a kind rancher (Jesse Plemons, Dunst’s real-life partner from Fargo). As the narrative shifts focus to the conflict between her son and her overbearing brother-in-law (Benedict Cumberbatch), Rose’s struggle with alcoholism reflects a tragic decline. Although Dunst received her first Oscar nomination for this role, viewers are left yearning for a more profound collaboration between the actress and the director.
Dunst brings a depth of experience to her portrayal of a churchgoing single mother whose life takes a turn for the better after she falls for a charming stranger, played by Channing Tatum. Unbeknownst to her, he is an escaped convict hiding out in the Toys “R” Us branch where she works. Director Derek Cianfrance attempts to mitigate the film’s darker elements, though the narrative continues to tread into unsettling territory.
