A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago

PERHAPS THE ENTIRE MOVIE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHOT WITH NANNYCAM: The central problem with The Nanny Diaries is not that Scarlett Johannson cannot act (as Jeffrey Wells implies), it's that she's miscast. The part calls for someone warm (to contrast with Mrs. X's imperious and haughty nature), and Johansson's talent stems from her playing characters who are just a little removed from the world and who are distant from everyone else, desperately seeking connection (e.g., Lost In Translation, In Good Company) or femme fatale types (Match Point, The Prestige). The adaptation tries to deal with this with a (fairly clever) framing device, turning Nanny into an anthropological observer to give her an air of detachment, but the part still calls for someone who could bring some warmth to the situation. It's interesting to see the people behind American Splendor try and make a mainstream movie while still retaining their distinct voice (and manage to mostly do so), and it's always good to see Paul Giamatti on screen, but miscasting kills the film.