Kristen Stewart has shone after her twilight
Actor’s top roles have been in arthouse films
Plenty of folks have cross words about the merit of the “Twilight” movies. What that series thankfully did give us is the intriguing filmography of Kristen Stewart.
She’s been in plenty of big films – the ones where she’s in a love triangle with a vampire and werewolf, obviously, but also “Snow White and the Huntsman” and Elizabeth Banks’ upcoming “Charlie’s Angels” reboot. The gems, however, are her art-house flicks and left-of-center stuff – including her latest, “Lizzie” – where Stewart, 28, has carved out a niche in her signature understated way.
So while Bella Swan doesn’t show up in this ranking of the five best Stewart movies (sorry, Twihards!), consider it a greatest-hits package to kick off a deep dive into a sneakily impressive resume.
5. ‘In the Land of Women’ (2007)
The military flick “Camp X-Ray,” coming-of-age comedy “Adventureland” or ensemble drama “Certain Women” could all slot in here. But sweep and captivating wins the day with this little gem that stars Stewart as a teenager who strikes up a growing relationship with an older dude (Adam Brody) visiting next door, who himself finds a closeness with the girl’s cancer-stricken mom (Meg Ryan). Complicated emotions abound, for sure, but it draws you in with its unmistakable heart.
4. ‘Lizzie’ (2018)
The mystery surrounding Lizzie Borden and infamous 1892 ax murder of her father and stepmother allows for speculative dramas like this twisty thriller, where the bloody situation unfolds alongside a forbidden romance between lonely misfit Lizzie (Chloe Sevigny) and reserved Irish housemaid Bridget (Stewart) that is discovered by Lizzie’s domineering jerk of a dad (Jamey Sheridan).
“Lizzie” arrives in theaters Friday in New York and Los Angeles and expands nationwide Sept. 21.
3. ‘Still Alice’ (2014)
Julianne Moore won an Oscar for her portrayal of a linguistics professor diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, and while the cast is strong across the board, the highlight is the relationship between Moore’s Alice and Stewart as her actress daughter Lydia. At the beginning of the movie, Alice is highly critical of Lydia’s professional and personal life choices, though by the end, as Alice’s condition has taken hold, Lydia is the one in the family most supportive of her mom.
2. ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’ (2014)
The film-festival favorite casts Juliette Binoche as A-list film star Maria and Stewart as her assistant Valentine, who keeps her client sane as Maria is asked to again do the stage play that made her famous years ago – one that centers on a turbulent, same-sex May/ December romance. Binoche and Stewart are great together as the younger woman tries to get Maria on board with the reinterpretation, while their relationship begins to mirror the play.
1. ‘Personal Shopper’ (2016)
Much of Stewart’s best work comes from bouncing off another actor, but “Shopper” is noteworthy for a stellar performance where she’s by herself for much of the film – or is she? The actress plays Maureen, a globetrotting personal shopper for a celebrity who yearns to communicate with her twin brother, recently dead of a heart attack. The openended ending is great, as is Stewart’s haunting exploration of a woman caught between the right here and the hereafter.