Heavy Metal blog brings 'Joy' to all

Absolute Machinery Corp. sent a team of technical experts to build an injection molding factory in a warehouse in Wilmington, Mass., for the filming of "Joy," starring Jennifer Lawrence.

“The idea of taking an empty place and making it looking somebody's been running an injection molding shop for 25 years – that's the key,” said Nate Smith, an owner of the used machinery company.

I know it ain't Heavy Metal to say it, maaahn, but dammit this movie is good. I saw "Joy" twice, both times in the movie theater, and that is the most important thing.

Movies are meant to be seen in the theater. The sound is the most important thing, even in a small-screen theater. But a large-screen theater to see a film… how can you beat that? My advice: Experience "Joy." But don't do that in a private setting. Be around other people; do not be afraid.

Here's my review of "Joy": Divorced woman living with eccentric relatives, invents self-wringing mop, fights an injection molder for intellectual property, kicks ass, does not have romance with Bradley Cooper, and it's plastic. Oh, and Jennifer Lawrence.

I saw this movie twice.

In April, the crew filming the 20th Century Fox movie needed to reproduce an injection molding factory for a key scene for Lawrence: Sneaking into and then confronting the owner for stealing and apparently patenting her mop. She accuses him of stealing. The cops come and take her away.

Authentic look, but not sound

If you do see this movie, you'll know well in advance when the plastics scene comes. But listen ... you will not hear the rhythm of injection molding.

The people from Absolute Machinery, when they first learned of the movie's needs, only knew they needed to set up a working plastics molding factory. And they did it practically overnight, from the used-machinery side of Absolute in Worcester, Mass.

To create the movie set, Sales Manager Steve Murdoch and the Absolute Machinery team provided everything – including transportation and rigging of five used horizontal and three vertical presses, delivered in just a few days. The company provided auxiliary equipment, and even office equipment, shelving and cabinets.

Two Absolute Machinery employees spent five days as extras, to make sure everything ran smoothly.

Absolute set up the presses to power, ready to mold parts. “They started up the machines and it was too loud,” Smith said. “So the director decided not to have them running.”

So you won't hear the ca-chunk, ca-chunk sound. But there is some steady-type industrial sound.

For her role as Joy Mangano, Jennifer Lawrence won Best Actress at the Golden Globes and is nominated for Best Actress for an Academy Award, She was the best thing about "Hunger Games," and now she needs to stretch her acting chops with some well-written drama. Director David O. Russell set the stage with "Joy." The invention aspect — not to mention the struggles of an entrepreneur – make it a good film, inspiring.

Absolute-ly….

“This was a challenge we've been able to deliver on in the past when customers have asked us to set up entire factories and turnkey operations for companies both here in North America and around the world,” Smith said.

The best part is this scene won't be misquoted like "The Graduate" — please, let's watch that movie too, re-watch it. It's so clear what the neighbor guy means with the plastics advice. (Younger Heavy Metal readers, go back to your smart phones)…