Robert here. The latest teaser trailer for Luc Besson's sci-fi epic Valerian dropped today. I have a tepid relationship with the type of high-concept sci-fi that Valerian promises to deliver, but one thing about the project has piqued my interest: sexy space Rihanna, ya'll.
With Valerian coming out later this year, a roll in Oceans 8 as part of an actressing ensemble that appears to be assembled by way of collective gay the Secreting and a two episode arch on The Bates Motel now under her belt, it appears that Rihanna is looking to add film star to her resume.
So, what should we make of Rihanna the actress?
Some may remember that Rihanna's acting career actually began in 2012 with a supporting role in Battleship, a nautical alien invasion film based on the completely unrelated board game of the same name. The film itself got predictable bad reviews and most dismissed Rihanna as nothing but stunt casting in a movie that was already a The Simpsons joke of itself. However Rihanna is actually pretty good as weapon's expert Raikes. Her physicality is better than her line readings (but with the lines she had to work with, there's only so much that can be done), but I think overall it's a very respectable showing. I will say the same for her turn as a reimagined Marion Crane in The Bates Motel, where she brings a revamped sense of sexy danger to the role made famous by Janet Leigh in Psycho. In fact, I think she's pretty darn good in The Bates Motel.
Both of those roles are very comfortably in her wheelhouse and her upcoming projects also appear to be more or less Rihanna music videos with dialogue instead of song lyrics. To that I say: THANK GOD. When people imagine music starlets moving onto the big screen the first thing that pops into most people's heads is the sad story of Madonna's career as an actress. What gets lost in the whole narrative is the fact that her first film outing – the '80s classic Desperately Seeking Susan – is great and she's great in it. I understand why Madonna would think that she would be a great actress because her whole career was acting. I think she and Rihanna have that in common. You have to be a good actress to pull off the kind of performances that these women have given in music videos and on stage. Unfortunately for Madonna she was never good at delivering lines, and so her film career went the way of the dodo.
I have faith in Rihanna's film career, however, because she appears to be taking it in stride. Sticking to what she's good at the first couple of times out of the gate is smart. Madonna went from Desperately Seeking Susan, a supporting role where the character's description could have just been "A Madonna type," to Shanghai Surprise, a co-lead playing a missionary nurse in a period rom-com. Perhaps that was too much too fast to truly nurture her talents.
Rihanna's current trajectory feels more comfortable. As a fan of Rihanna, the artist, I would love to see what she can do, and I have high hopes for her film career. For every Madonna there has been a Cher or Queen Latifah and I don't think that it's crazy to think that RiRi could follow in their footsteps.
Have you been impressed with Rihanna's acting chops thus far? Do you think she has a shot at a legitimate acting career?