Split (2016)
Haley Lu Richardson displays a discernible knack for translating conceivably unsympathetic attributes into rational, relatable characters, even when she has considerably less screen time. In particular, M. Night Shyamalan’s Split showcases the actress’ naturalistic ability to depict a more stereotypically judgemental high schooler with enough normalcy and empathy for us to root for her.
In the movie, Richardson plays Claire, a sociable and well-liked classmate of the maladjusted lead, Casey. They certainly aren’t friends, although the latter receives a pity invite to the former’s birthday party. Once the festivities end, the girls, plus a third friend, are kidnapped and imprisoned by antagonist Kevin Wendell Crumb.
Contrary to Casey’s catatonic reaction to the group’s abduction, Richardson’s Claire exudes unadulterated distress. Neither Claire nor Casey can agree on a viable escape plan, which further instigates interpersonal rivalry. Claire’s blatantly reactionary constitution even makes us inclined to predict her probable demise at Crumb’s hands.
But Richardson’s execution isn’t just antsy and impulsive. Claire is also undeniably idealistic and motivated to flee her dire circumstances. This engenders a healthy amount of sympathy for her, preventing her from being easily written off as an inconsequential accessory in Split.
Split is now streaming on FXNOW.
Columbus (2017)
Haley Lu Richardson’s claim to fame as a leading lady definitively arrives in Kogonada’s inspired cerebral drama Columbus. The film is a ruminative representation of the eponymous Indiana city, combining visual brilliance and emotional depth into a starkly contemplative ode to art and identity.
The movie tracks two drifting disillusioned protagonists, Casey (Richardson) and Jin, who are stuck at separate crossroads in life. Their journeys eventually converge between unique modernist architecture, where they bond over concepts of family, death, and dreams.
Richardson’s reputation for down-to-earth characters had been starting to precede her, but she switches gears in Columbus once more. The actress significantly whittles down her typically exuberant energy to personify a darker, more tragic side of young adulthood.
There is both quiet envy and tired resignation in Richardson’s full-bodied performance whenever Casey considers a better, freer future for herself. Notably, that’s not to say that she is trekking down the path of least resistance when we account for the pain bubbling beneath Richardson’s serene guise. Her longing gazes, silent tears, and deadpan humor are deeply comprehensible to anyone trapped by overwhelming circumstances.
Richardson completely sells the unconventional relationship at the narrative’s core, too. The two leads reshape a coincidental meet-cute into an indelible meeting of sharp minds and brimming hearts. Overall, Richardson’s low-key, realistic portrayal of quotidian survival in Columbus exemplifies a pronounced maturation of talent. (It’s no wonder we included her work in this film on our list of the best breakout performances of the last decade.)
Columbus is now streaming on Kanopy and Topic.
The Chaperone (2018)
The next year saw Haley Lu Richardson broaden her cinematic palette with a smattering of period dramas. Unfortunately, the historical film Operation Finale focuses much less on the actress, given her perfunctory role within its stacked ensemble. I much prefer The Chaperone as her period piece of note.
Richardson stars as a fictionalized version of Jazz Age icon Louise Brooks. The plot revolves around one Norma Carlisle, who is employed to escort Louise from Kansas to the prestigious Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts in New York. Their big-city adventure inevitably inspires clashes between the free-spirited thespian and her straitlaced companion. The duo has plenty to learn while undergoing their respective quests of self-discovery.
Superficially, Louise recalls Richardson’s character in The Bronze due to her skill, pertness, and ebullience. However, her turn in The Chaperone is impressively shrewd — even cunning — when she is dead-set on getting what she wants. Sure, Louise can be pretty rude, but Richardson ensures that any spontaneous action arising from such petulance is purposeful, strengthening the dramatic pitch of the film as a whole. Finally, as an aside, the movie offers her a more physically demanding role, flaunting her real-life dance expertise.
The Chaperone is now streaming on the Amazon channel PBS Masterpiece.
Support the Girls (2018)
Support the Girls is an exceptionally fun addition to Haley Lu Richardson’s filmography. Andrew Bujalski’s social realist comedy stunningly extends far beyond the surface-level confines of its genre classification, declaring itself an incisive cross-examination of capitalism, American culture, and women empowerment.
The film portrays a day in the life of a Hooters-style restaurant and sports bar called Double Whammies. Support the Girls isn’t typically light-hearted, but characters like Richardson’s vivacious, cheerful server Maci keep its tone authentically buoyant.
Having keenly mastered the admittedly questionable tenets of breastaurant culture, Maci is often entrusted to train new hires and uphold employee integrity. Her unthinking extroversion, played fearlessly by Richardson, and lack of personal boundaries still gets her in some trouble. Regardless, the goodness of her heart shines through.
I would classify Maci as one of Richardson’s most entertaining creations to date. That doesn’t mean she is plainly one-note, though.
Surviving the Girls is now streaming on Kanopy and Hulu.
Five Feet Apart (2018)
Haley Lu Richardson continues to corner the dramatic market with her lovable contribution to Five Feet Apart. Inspired in part by the life of activist Claire Wineland, the romance film details the love story of two cystic fibrosis patients. Stella (Richardson) and Will must stay physically apart to avoid worsening their conditions, although their budding relationship emboldens them to break the rules.
Plotwise, Five Feet Apart veers off into saccharine tropes so often that it wouldn’t have worked nearly as well if Richardson didn’t topline it. The candor that she emanates in Five Feet Apart thoroughly convinces us of her character’s industrious, entrepreneurial spirit. On the flip side, Stella’s veracity validates the undercurrent of anxiety that also drives her — worries that are borne from her palpable fear of mortality.
Richardson’s penchant for multifaceted genuineness cannot be understated in this project, seeing as Stella is so effortlessly warm without being positive to a fault. Such an emotional gamut is never forced or exaggerated, making for a truly refreshing onscreen turn.
Five Feet Apart is available to rent from various VOD outlets.
Unpregnant (2020)
Haley Lu Richardson reunited with her Escape from Polygamy director for the delightfully offbeat buddy road movie Unpregnant. She headlines the project as Veronica, a square overachiever from Missouri with a flair for academics, list-making, and strategically curated social media posts. Regrettably, an unplanned pregnancy puts Veronica’s big dreams — and current reputation — in jeopardy.
Moreover, she must travel out of state to get an abortion without first seeking parental consent. Veronica miraculously finds an unlikely comrade in her former friend, Bailey, who agrees to drive her to New Mexico for the procedure.
Unpregnant may be a two-hander, but Richardson is more than capable of sinking her teeth into the narrative’s increasingly ludicrous situations with absolute gusto. Between running from the cops and narrowly dodging a fanatical pro-life couple in the middle of nowhere, she particularly illustrates a mastery of adorable physical comedy, despite Veronica’s seriousness (for the most part).
Yet, the character isn’t just rediscovering her quirky inner child on this trip either. Veronica’s kindness and patience have become valuable to Bailey throughout their long-awaited reunion. Unpregnant’s tale of acceptance — of oneself and others — envelops the pair’s unorthodox cross-country adventure. These weightier moments are compounded by Richardson’s concerted preservation of her laudable dramatic chops, reminding us of her mettle as a bona fide film star.
Unpregnant is now streaming on HBO Max.
Upcoming Haley Lu Richardson Movies
There’s something relentlessly intoxicating about Haley Lu Richardson. It’s tough to know where reality stops and fiction begins in her work when she so conscientiously and profoundly draws us into each of her onscreen worlds. More often than not, Richardson is the irrevocable standout amid potentially pedestrian projects.
So much so that these days, we’ve grown accustomed to preemptively expect the very best from her upcoming work, which at the time of writing includes celebrated Cannes entry After Yang, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, and Montana Story.
That’s all to do with Richardson’s commendably sustainable, intricate artistry. Her catalog is a sincere collection of life-like impressions without the simplistic erasure of humanity’s innumerable mysteries.
Related Topics: Filmographies, Haley Lu Richardson
