The Best and Worst of Chloe Grace Moretz

“The Best and Worst of” series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of “Greta” star Chloe Grace Moretz.

Films starring Chloe Grace Moretz that I've seen:
Big Momma's House 2
(500) Days of Summer
Kick-Ass
Let Me In
Hugo
Movie 43
Kick-Ass 2
The Equalizer
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
The Miseducation of Cameron Post
Suspiria 

Best Performance: Kick-Ass (2010)
While Moretz has turned in more nuanced performances (Let Me In, The Miseducation of Cameron Post) that showcase her underrated range as an actor, her turn as a foul-mouthed preteen crimefighter Hit-Girl still resonates with me more. With her vulgar quips, unwavering fearlessness and gift for disposing of bad guys in the most gruesome ways imaginable, Hit-Girl serves as the badass centerpiece of Matthew Vaughn's brutal superhero tale.  

Worst Performance: The Equalizer (2014)
Pretty much every actor besides Denzel Washington that was involved with The Equalizer got bogged down by its dreary, overly serious tone. Moretz was no exception.  She's borderline comatose as a teenager forced into prostitution by Russian mobsters who forms a bond with Washington's character at a diner and later needs his particular set of skills to seek revenge on her abusive pimp.
      

Best Film: Kick-Ass (2010)
Layer Cake proved Matthew Vaughn could mimic the beats of a slick British crime saga (a la his friend and mentor Guy Ritchie) brilliantly. Kick-Ass marked the point where he established his own identity as a filmmaker who turns popular subgenres (in this case, superhero movies) on their heads with a heaping helping of sick humor and over-the-top violence. Vaughn's deft touch with the frantic, gory action scenes and dark comedy undertones paired with a tremendous cast (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Moretz, Nicolas Cage, Mark Strong) that fully buys into this insane material makes this a nihilistic masterpiece.  

Worst Film: Movie 43 (2013)
After a nearly 18-month absence, this notorious anthology comedy has (sadly) come creeping back into this series. Movie 43 soils the good reputation of its ensemble cast and sophomoric humor with 95 minutes of janky jokes that hit about as much as Ben Simmons does from beyond the 3-point line.

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Captain Marvel” star Djimon Honsou.