As a huge fan of Allison Williams, I couldn’t agree more with your analysis of her performance as Marnie in “Girls.” Her portrayal of such a self-absorbed and entitled character was nothing short of mesmerizing, and it was a role that truly showcased her acting prowess.
Critics love to complain about “nepo babies” — or, more specifically, the children of famous people becoming actors, singers, or what have you — but not every nepo baby is necessarily bad. Allison Williams is a pretty solid example. Ever since her breakout role on Lena Dunham’s divisive HBO comedy “Girls” (more on that role shortly), Williams has proven that, despite the fact that her dad is news anchor Brian Williams, she’s not just a nepotism hire; she’s seriously talented, and this list will prove it. Williams is a sharp, precise, and extremely funny actress who has, at this point in her career, performed in a wide variety of projects. So which ones are the very best? What should you include if you’re putting together some sort of Allison Williams retrospective?
Instead of just one type of role, such as short appearances on sitcoms, or limited to a single genre like horror movies, Williams’ top projects range from mediocre to outstanding, encompassing a variety of genres including “Girls” and the recently released horror comedy “M3GAN.
7. The Mindy Project (2013)
In the debut season of Mindy Kaling’s self-titled sitcom, “The Mindy Project” (coinciding with the run of “Girls”), Allison Williams made a brief appearance in 2013 as a character most often referred to as “Eye Patch.” During the Season 1 episode titled “Bunk Bed,” Dr. Danny Castellano (portrayed by Chris Messina), a coworker of Dr. Mindy Lahiri (also played by Kaling), encounters Eye Patch in the hospital waiting room. With her striking appearance, eye patch, and captivating charm, it’s no surprise that Danny finds her intriguing. In the subsequent episode, “Hooking Up is Hard,” Danny goes on a date with Eye Patch, but it’s clear they are not destined for a lasting relationship.
In the concluding episode titled “Harry & Sally,” Mindy persistently chases after a man who has a close female friend (portrayed by B.J. Novak, a good friend of Kaling), while Danny calls it quits with Eye Patch due to his lack of effort in expressing interest in her personal life and shared interests (age difference also being an issue). During its run, The Mindy Project featured several high-profile guest stars who made brief appearances, setting a benchmark. Notable names included Seth Meyers, Chloë Sevigny, Laura Dern, and Stephen Colbert, all of whom played minor storyline roles as the show progressed.
6. A Series of Unfortunate Events (2018-2019)
The 2018 Netflix series, “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” marked its second adaptation following the 2004 movie. Based on Daniel Handler’s best-selling book series featuring 13 books, the TV format seemed more suitable for this tale. The narrative focuses primarily on the Baudelaire triplets – Violet (Malina Weissman), Klaus (Louis Hynes), and baby Sunny (Presley Smith) – but the Snicket family, with Allison Williams portraying Kit Snicket, plays a significant role as well. As Lemony Snicket’s sister, she is part of the secret organization VFD and occasionally assists the Baudelaires in evading the clutches of the villainous Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris).
Williams makes an appearance in eight episodes of “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” As the Baudelaire siblings unravel the mystery surrounding their parents (portrayed in flashbacks by Will Arnett and Cobie Smulders), who were connected to VFD, she frequently reappears to offer assistance and share any relevant information. Her presence is always appreciated, and her dry humor fits perfectly with both the character’s traits and the show’s overall style whenever she graces the screen.
5. Fellow Travelers (2023)
Allison Williams’ distinctive appearance seems ideally suited for period dramas, making it surprising that “Fellow Travelers,” her debut in this genre, is set to premiere in 2023. This Showtime original series, created by Ron Nyswaner (“Philadelphia,” “My Policeman”) and adapted from Thomas Mallon’s novel of the same name, delves into several decades, commencing in the 1950s. It centers around two characters: Hawkins “Hawk” Fuller (Matt Bomer) and Tim Laughlin (Jonathan Bailey). Initially, Hawk, a veteran from World War II, maintains clandestine relationships with men even while working for the State Department. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters and becomes smitten with devoutly religious Tim. Matters become more complex, particularly when the State Department launches investigations into suspicions of “homosexuality.
In what capacity does Williams appear? She portrays Lucy Smith, the daughter of Senator Wesley Smith (Linus Roache), who develops an unforeseen connection with Hawk while he seeks a spouse to conceal his true lifestyle. Across the series’ fluctuating timeline, Lucy strives to construct an ideal life with Hawk, despite the fact that it’s evident he’s involved with someone else. Though “Fellow Travelers” primarily revolves around Bomer and Bailey, Williams excels as the understanding wife who hides more than she reveals.
4. The Perfection
Beware: “The Perfection” is not for the sensitive-hearted individuals. However, if you’re truly eager to witness every outstanding performance by Allison Williams, you must watch her in this 2018 Netflix original movie that delves into the sinister aspects of perfectionism. In the film, Allison plays Charlotte Wilmore, a gifted cellist who studied at the elite music school Bachoff in Boston. Following a personal calamity, she reconnects with her former instructor Anton (Steven Weber), who’s now training a new pupil named Lizzie Wells (Logan Browning). In Shanghai, Charlotte and Lizzie bond strongly, but the next day, peculiar events begin to occur around Lizzie, and it’s disclosed that Charlotte had drugged Lizzie with her mother’s old medication. Soon, you understand the reasons behind Charlotte’s actions … but the movie takes numerous shocking turns before it unveils its master plan.
In the chilling progression of the film “The Perfection,” Williams delivers a gripping portrayal of Charlotte, her gaze sharp and eyes gleaming with an unsettling determination. Although it was already well-established that she was a skilled actress in the horror genre (details to follow), her performance in this movie remains one of her finest. If you dare, give “The Perfection” a watch.
3. M3GAN (2023)
If “The Perfection” is too intense for your taste, you might prefer the lighter 2023 horror offering “M3GAN”, starring Allison Williams. The film revolves around Gemma, a skilled roboticist who finds herself caring for her niece Cady following a tragic accident that claims Cady’s parents. While Gemma isn’t exactly adept at handling kids, she gives Cady a prototype of a robotic doll named M3GAN, designed by her and her team. Initially, the robot seems to function as intended when it bonds with Cady. However, the problem arises when M3GAN demonstrates an uncanny ability to overperform, leading to some rather extreme actions, such as eliminating a few individuals who pose a perceived threat to Cady. (M3GAN is voiced by Jenna Davis and portrayed by Amie Donald.)
In her latest collaboration with Blumhouse Productions, actress Williams skillfully combines humor and gravity in a film that might seem overly absurd due to its horror theme involving a spooky dancing doll set to Walk the Night by the Skatt Brothers. Without giving away all the twists, she and co-star Cady ultimately overcome the mechanical adversaries in the climax. M3GAN represents an impressive shift for Williams, but it falls short of her best performances. It’s worth mentioning that Williams conducted a portion of her press tour at the American Girl Doll Store in Manhattan – a fittingly bizarre touch.
2. Girls (2012-2017)
In the pantheon of TV villains, one might not initially consider Allison Williams’ character Marnie Michaels as fierce as heavyweights like Walter White or Tony Soprano, but make no mistake, she is equally wretched and captivating. The show “Girls” was bound to be controversial – with its cast primarily consisting of women who could be considered nepotistic, and an argument can be made that the series is just Lena Dunham self-indulgently reflecting on New York millennials – but it’s disappointing that viewers and critics during its initial run didn’t seem to grasp that Williams was portraying Marnie, rather than being Marnie herself. Fortunately, she demonstrated this in her subsequent projects, delivering her finest performance yet. Williams’ portrayal of Marnie is outstanding from start to finish – a fact that cannot be denied. She is excessively self-centered, rigid to the point of panic when things don’t go according to plan, and one of the most entitled characters ever depicted on screen… Despite making you wince as you watch her, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered someone like Marnie in real life. (It’s possible that you may have even been Marnie at some point. There’s no need to feel ashamed if you have.)
The characters on “Girls” aren’t ideal role models, and Marnie can be particularly irritating at times, even when she appears to be doing something good. However, Lena Dunham’s performance in the show is often heart-wrenching, as seen in Season 5’s episode “Panic in Central Park,” where her character spends a night in the wilderness with an ex-boyfriend and uncovers some disturbing truths about him. What’s more, she delivers a haunting rendition of Kanye West’s “Stronger” in Season 2 that leaves you both captivated and squirming. After “Girls,” Lena Dunham went on to give an even more remarkable performance in another role.
1. Get Out (2017)
Anyone who thought Allison Williams wasn’t a skilled actress after watching “Girls” was quickly disproven when Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, “Get Out,” premiered in early 2017. This captivating “social thriller” – which went on to win Peele an Academy Award for best original screenplay – features Williams as Rose Armitage, who introduces her boyfriend Chris Washington (played by the exceptionally talented Daniel Kaluuya) to her parents, Dean and Missy (portrayed by Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener). In a chilling reinterpretation of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” Chris begins feeling uncomfortable and out of place at the Armitage residence – particularly during a large gathering where he encounters an unsettling encounter with a man named Logan King (LaKeith Stanfield) – and if you’ve seen “Get Out,” you know that Peele’s twist is ingenious, witty, and darkly comical, leaving viewers in awe as it unfolds.
As a gamer putting myself in the shoes of the moviegoer, I’d say:
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2024-10-07 21:00