Amy Adams is a true triumph in the new psychological thriller "The Woman in the Window."
She stars as Anna Fox, an agoraphobic woman who spends her time spying on her neighbors,
drinking wine, and cozying up with her cat.
Throughout the movie, Adams' performance makes it clear that her character has endured some
kind of massive trauma.
This devastating reality check is set in motion after Anna meets a woman played by Julianne
Moore, who Anna believes is her new neighbor, Jane Russell.
Jane comes to Anna's rescue during a confrontation with some pranksters, and the two get along
very well.
So, as you can imagine, Anna is horrified when she sees someone stabbing Jane through
the window.
However, Anna then meets the "real" Jane Russell.
"I'm sorry, we haven't met.
I'm Jane Russell."
"She's not Jane."
Even the Russells' son, Ethan, casts doubt on Anna's story.
This all leads up to an epic confrontation between the police, the Russell family, and
Anna's own repressed memories.
Adams' performance in the film is sensational from start to finish, but this sequence in
particular showcases just how much power the actress brings to this role.
Here's a look at the scene in "The Woman in the Window" that makes us love Amy Adams even
more. Spoilers ahead!
The scene is tense from the very start.
Anna consults with the police who investigated her report about Jane's murder, and quickly
realizes that they don't believe anything she's saying.
They even imply that she may have faked the creepy photograph that someone took of her
sleeping.
"You could have sent it to yourself."
"I'm sleeping."
"Or you wanted to look asleep."
"I am asleep."
"What the hell."
"Dr. Fox, there is no sign that anyone has been here, okay?
Nothing is missing."
For Adams, it's a moment filled with disbelief and desperation.
Anna insists that she is in danger, and yet the police doubt her instead of protecting
her.
Things escalate even further when the "real" Jane and her husband Alistair, portrayed by
Gary Oldman, barrel in and confront Anna about her unwelcome investigation into their family.
Anna accuses Alistair of abusing Ethan, offering a picture drawn by the other Jane as proof
of the woman's existence.
Alistair insists that Anna is delusional.
Adams lets loose with all of the ire and disgust Anna has for the Russell family patriarch.
As she moves through the room, literally pointing fingers at everyone, Adams portrays her as
someone who truly believes what she's saying.
And yet, while Anna's words lay out a strong case, Adams' body language says otherwise.
Adams adopts an isolated and defensive posture, layering in subtle physical signs of self-doubt.
"I see the way that you're all looking at me.
I'm not crazy.
I'm not hallucinating.
Do I seem unreasonable?
I have evidence.
There was that picture that Jane drew and she signed, and there's a photograph that
somebody took of me while I was sleeping.
Look, it doesn't matter what you think about me, if you approve of me, if you think that
I'm reliable.
There is a boy in danger in that house.
Just help him, please."
Adams dominates the screen, turning in a commanding performance even as her character struggles
to reconcile her certainty that Alistair is an abuser and a killer with the realization
that nobody believes her.
That's when the bomb drops: As Little's partner reveals, Anna's family is dead.
In that moment, Adams transforms.
Without missing a beat, Adams' face seamlessly shifts into a smile as Anna recalls a conversation
with her daughter in the car.
But it's not necessarily a happy memory.
This is where we learn that Anna had a broken relationship with her husband Ed due to her
infidelity.
Moments later, Anna's phone rings, and the tension in the car suggests it's her lover
on the other end.
"I bet that's him."
"I'll answer it."
"Stop it."
"Anna!"
As Anna's mind returns to real time and she remembers that her attempts to save her family
were futile, Adams' energy fades.
Suddenly, Anna realizes that she really might have hallucinated everything.
It's just as plausible that Detective Little is right, and that everything else Anna has
seen has been a side-effect of her medication and her wild imagination.
We've seen Adams portray characters who have to face terrible truths about themselves in
films, but here, Anna's troubles are compounded even further by the fact that she may be continuing
to harm others.
Anna doesn't even let Detective Little finish speaking before she begins apologizing to
everyone.
"Now as for what you saw that night…"
"I'm so, so sorry."
"Of course your wife is who she says she is."
"Of course she is."
"Of course you are."
The Russells are still hiding some disturbing secrets, and Anna's journey is far from over.
However, this moment forces Anna to confront her own dark past, and makes her face the
fact that she has been living in denial for years.
This one scene from "The Woman in the Window" is unforgettable, and showcases what a powerhouse
performer Amy Adams truly is.
Thanks for watching.
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