Geena Davis may not possess an exorbitant amount of central roles, but those that she has are truly impressive. She plays a key part in The Fly, arguably one of David Cronenberg’s best films to date. One can say the same about her role in Tim Burton’s wonderful, career-defining Beetlejuice. If that were not enough, projects like Ridley Scott’s Thelma and Louise and the late Penny Marshall’s A League of Their Own stand impressive as two films led by strong female performances in a time when there were precious few. She has had an impressive career and below you will find her most definitive roles to date.
The Fly (1986)
Like most of David Cronenberg’s work, The Fly is at its core about what it means to be human and violent, brutal transformation. Jeff Goldblum plays Seth Brundle, a scientist toying with teleportation whose DNA mixes with that of a fly. At the same time, he gets involved with journalist Veronica Quaife, played by Davis. Davis, for her part, offers the emotional centerpiece as she is forced to watch someone she loves become something else entirely.
Thelma & Louise (1991)
The Ridley Scott-directed, Calli Khouri-written Thelma & Louise offers an intimate portrayal of the relationship between two women. The eponymous friends find themselves and the strength of their relationship tested when a weekend vacation goes awry. Both Davis and her counterpart Susan Sarandon were lauded for their performances and each received their own Best Actress nomination at the Academy Awards.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Beetlejuice was released during the most impressive stretch of Tim Burton’s career. It is bookended by Burton’s acclaimed feature-length directorial debut Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and the 1989 adaptation of Batman. Beetlejuice solidified Burton’s position as one of America’s foremost whimsical filmmakers, with Davis and Alec Baldwin as a recently deceased young couple who seek the aid of Michael Keaton’s titular character to help them scare away the new residents of their home.
A League of Their Own (1992)
The late, great Penny Marshall’s A League of Their Own puts dramatizes the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, which came about when most of the nation’s able-bodied men were fighting in the Second World War. Along with Davis, the film stars the likes of Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, Lori Petty and Tom Hanks and offers a heartwarming sports dramedy.
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
The Long Kiss Goodnight was written by Shane Black, the mind behind the first two Lethal Weapon movies, and more recently Iron Man 3, The Nice Guys and The Predator. Davis’ Samantha Caine is a schoolteacher and mother who cannot remember past eight years ago. But when she gets a concussion as a result of a car accident, she begins to display expert fighting techniques she has no memory of possessing, she seeks the help of Samuel L. Jackson’s Mitch Hennessy to unravel her mysterious past. The film’s many attributes includes the fact that it is, by his own admission, Jackson’s favorite movie to watch himself in.
The Accidental Tourist (1989)
For her turn in The Accidental Tourist, Davis won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Director Lawrence Kasdan—screenwriter of Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and Raiders of the Lost Ark—and screenwriter Anne Tyler tell the story of an ended marriage following the murder of their son. The couple in question, Macon and Sarah Leary (played by William Hurt and Kathleen Turner, respectively) have separated. In their time apart, Macon has forged a relationship with Davis’ dog walker Muriel Pritchett and is forced to make a decision about his future with regards to the two women.
Stuart Little (1999)
In Stuart Little, an unconventional family is forged when a couple (played by Davis and Hugh Laurie) and their young son (Jonathan Lipnicki) take in an orphaned mouse. The titular mouse (voiced by Michael J. Fox) struggles to fit in both at school and at home. His adoptive brother struggles to accept him, and the family cat (voiced by Nathan Lane) actively antagonizes him. With sturdy performances from all involved, Stuart Little is a thoroughly watchable family film.
