20 Essential Movie Performances That Will Define 2016
12. Emily Blunt - Rachel Watson (The Girl On The Train)
Release Date: October 7
The Role: Rachel Watson, a down-and-out city worker who fantasises about an attractive couple whose home she passes on the train every day. When the woman (Haley Bennett) disappears, however, Rachel has to confront the prospect that she may linked to it in a sinister, unexpected way.
Why It'll Define 2016: This film is pretty much already penciled in to be this year's Gone Girl, and though the silly plot twists won't be for everyone, this should be another sturdy lead role for Emily Blunt, who has proven her insane level of diversity with roles in the likes of Looper and Edge of Tomorrow.
Could this score Blunt the same sort of attention that earned Rosamund Pike a Best Actress Oscar nod for Gone Girl? A lot of it will rest on the shoulders of director Tate Taylor (The Help, Get on Up), who, for all of his successes, ain't exactly David Fincher.
By the sheer nature of the movie's nutty plot, though, Blunt's work here should stir up plenty of provocative discussion.