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In his latest movie, “Under The Skin”, Glazer has Scarlett playing the part of an extra-terrestrial wandering the streets of Glasgow preying on unattached men.
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Actress Scarlett Johansson and director Jonathan Glazer attend ‘Under The Skin’ Premiere / Getty
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One of the most unlikely places that any alien invasion would want to conquer is Scotland, and especially the gray industrial city of Glasgow. Yet this is the unlikely scenario that Jonathan Glazer has chosen to set his latest film entitled “Under The Skin“, based on a book written by Michel Faber of the same name.
In the movie Glazer takes, Glazer takes the viewers initially for a trip around the north of Scotland, taking in the breathtaking scenery while at the same time, the camera switches now and again to an alien creature, not too pretty to behold, which slowly evolves into a beautiful and often scantily clad young women, who just happens to be a brunette version of Scarlett Johansson.
For reasons which do not seem obvious from the outset, the brunette version of Scarlett, which is no less attractive than the blonde version, seems to enjoy killing the many young men that she encounters on her journey through the streets of Glasgow.
Glazer’s unusual style of directorship comes into its own at this point as he follows Ms Johansson around Glasgow, as she attempts to blend in with the local population. The majority of the filming was done without the local Glaswegians being aware that they were about to star in a Hollywood movie, which makes the whole film that that more attractive and interesting.
During the daylight hours the alien contained within the Scarlett Johansson body spends a lot of time driving around the city center of Glasgow, looking for suitable targets, while in the evening she just to watch some of the less attractive quarters of the grim and gray industrial city, looking for potential victims, who for some strange quirk built into her alien personality, cannot be taken if they have anyone at home who may miss them.
Early critiques on Under the Skin have been generally positive on this unusual piece of film work, with many of the local critics stating that despite the somewhat disturbing and often obscure storyline, a few films made in Scotland have been as fully engaged with the location the way that Glazer succeeded in capturing.
As was the case “ Her” one of her most recent movie releases, Scarlett Johannson is unlikely to win a major row while awards for her part in this movie. But once again she has shown that she is more than a blonde bombshell and has genuine talent as well as the courage to take on unusual roles. And Jonathan can take pleasure in the fact that once again he has created a movie that has been described as “enigmatic and alluring to the end – like its leading lady ”.
Jonathan Glazer began his career in the entertainment industry after completing his studies in theatre design at Nottingham Trent University, initially as a director in live theatre later going on to direct film and television trailers, particularly for the BBC.
During the mid-1990s Glazer began to earn a niche for himself directing music videos, and was named MTV Director of the Year 1997.
In 2000, Jonathan directed his first feature length film, entitled Sexy Beast, which was set in the UK and starred Oscar winner Sir Ben Kingsley. Four years later Glazer directed his second feature film Birth, which was shot in the United States with Nicole Kidman taking the leading role.
Despite enjoying considerable success with both his movies, Glazer still keeps himself very active producing commercials for some of the world’s leading companies.
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