My Favorite Films (Part 4)

Please refer to http://goo.gl/Oe7tO5, which explains the criteria for this series and don't forget to check out Kyle's blog at www.enterthemovies.blogspot.com for his lists, too!

16. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Year: 1964
Director: Stanley Kubrick

There are very few films I find as well written or beautifully acted as Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece, Dr. Strangelove. I wrote about Peter Seller's masterful performances as three different characters in my Favorite Lead Actor Performances entry (http://goo.gl/mdwiWd), so I won't go into that aspect again. The rest of the main cast is great as well, but if anyone were to steal the spotlight from Sellers, it would be George C. Scott as General Buck Turgidson. His performance is dynamic and hilariously over the top. It's been rumored that Kubrick tricked Scott into giving this performance, reportedly telling the serious actor that he wouldn't use these comical takes. If that's the case, it only further cements Kubrick's genius in my mind. He got the exact performance he wanted and it turned out to be one of the best I've ever seen. Dr. Strangelove is a perfect example of how to a write satiric and witty screenplay that still rings true 50+ years later. I also love the beautiful black and white cinematography and use of music. Dr. Strangelove is a film that has worked its way up through my favorites list ever since I first saw it in high school and today it is firmly entrenched in my Top 10.

17. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Year: 2004
Director: Michel Gondry

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind isn't a film for everyone. In fact, about a third of the people I know in real life who've seen it, can't stand it. I'm can't quite understand why as I have loved it since I first saw it in the theater and appreciate it more with each viewing. It's funny and heartwarming, but also has the power to break your heart and make you question your own life choices. Jim Carrey has never been better and he makes his character of Joel Barish seem like a regular guy, someone you'd run into and not think twice about. When we meet him he seems sad and lonely, but then he meets Clementine (played by the radiant and intriguing Kate Winslet) and his life is turned upside down. As the plot progresses, both Carrey and Winslet get to showcase the full depth of their talents and both of their characters are fully realized and compelling. The stunning screenplay by Charlie Kaufman is a byzantine maze of memories and love and regrets. The supporting cast (including Tom Wilkinson, Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst, and Mark Ruffalo) is excellent, as well, and they all work marvelously together. As I'm writing this, I'm getting more and more in the mood to watch it again.

18.  Get Shorty 

Year: 1995

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld

Being a big movie fan, I tend to enjoy films about the movie industry. The Player, The Bad and the Beautiful, and Boogie Nights all come to mind as excellent films in this sub-genre, but my absolute favorite is Get Shorty. The film centers around a movie obsessed mob enforcer (John Travolta) who goes to Hollywood to collect a debt. Once there he gets involved with a low rent producer (Gene Hackman), an actress (Rene Russo), a mega star (Danny DeVito), and a whole lot more nefarious characters. Pretty much everyone in the cast, including all the supporting players, turn in engaging and interesting performances, but it's Hackman who outshines them all. His shady producer is just a joy to watch. The writing is sharp and witty and the story moves at a crisp pace - it seems like there's a moment of hilarity or suspense or action during every minute. Barry Sonnenfeld isn't a terrific director, but you can tell he had a tremendous amount of experience as a cinematographer before moving onto directing. Get Shorty is a well shot and composed film, with each scene and frame drawing in your eye. There was real potential for a sequel to be an interesting project and it was too bad that Be Cool (released a decade later) was what we fans ended up getting.  

19. Gladiator

Year: 2000

Director: Ridley Scott

Gladiator has been one of my very favorite films since the first time I watched on its opening weekend in May of 2000. I watched two more times that weekend and probably another half dozen or so times in the years since and it has never failed to enthrall me. Everything about the film, from the writing, directing, editing, and cinematography to the performances, score, special effects, and overall "epicness" is just sublime. Russell Crowe is one of my favorite actors and he gives a truly mesmerizing performance as the noble General Maximus, who is sentenced to death for a crime he didn't commit, sold into slavery, and eventually becomes Rome's most famous gladiator. With a different actor in the role, Maximus might have become a simple action hero, but Crowe has too much skill to let that happen. Instead, he plays him as a subtle and layered individual who just happens to control an army and then become a gladiator. Joaquin Phoenix plays Commodus, the spoiled and whiny son of the emperor, who steals the throne. Phoenix is one of the best actors of his generation and he really shows his chops here. Again, Commodus could have been a run of the mill character, but Phoenix elevates him into one of the best villains in recent film history. I really can't say enough about how much I love Gladiator.

20. Good Will Hunting

Year: 1997

Director: Gus Van Sant

A lot of the entries on this "Favorite Films" list are from directors who I really admire. Directors who have made numerous films which I greatly love. Good Will Hunting is in a completely different position. Gus Van Sant has made sixteen feature films, but I have only seen five of them. I haven't seen more because I despise two of them, dislike two of them, and only love Good Will Hunting. I'm convinced it's a film saved by the script and performances. The two guys responsible for a lot of the film's charm and appeal, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, just happened to blow up into mega stars following the release of the film and have continued to provide me a lot of great entertainment in the years since. They wrote a fantastic script and give very good performances, as does the entire cast. Robin Williams, in particular, is exceptional. I think his work as Dr. Sean Maguire was the best of his entire career. Good Will Hunting is an emotional, funny, and touching film and I think it gets better with each viewing.

Well, there's part four of this ten part series. I hope to have inspired at least one person to check out one of these films and I hope to read some comments down below. Do you like any of these films? Hate any of them? Let me know, please!

Coming up next Friday: My Favorite Animated Films.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

Directed by J.J. Abrams

At this point, there are already thousands of reviews available for Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the online community doesn't really need anymore. Of course, that's not going to stop me...

The original Star Wars trilogy has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Having an older brother who loved it as a kid certainly helped - he had the action figures and we used to watch the films on our trusty VHS tapes quite often in my formative years - but I've kept up with the series well into my adulthood, as well. I remember quite clearly the hype that built up in 1999 when The Phantom Menace was set to debut. You couldn't look anywhere without seeing merchandise or commercials or product tie-ins. It was a glorious time to be a Star Wars fan. And then the movie came out and was terrible. The next two films in the prequel trilogy were better, but not by much and they were not anywhere near as good as the original, classic films.

Sixteen and a half years after The Phantom Menace hit theaters and disappointed millions of fans, The Force Awakens has hit the scene and the buzz surrounding it is every bit as loud and pervasive as it was in 1999. This time, however, the film is actually good - very good, in fact.

I've already read complaints that The Force Awakens borrows too heavily from the plot of the original Star Wars film. I noticed this while watching it, but it didn't really bother me. The aspects that are similar are really only the frame work, the bare bones of the story. It makes things seem a little familiar, but new at the same time.

A lot of the promotional aspect of the film has been the return of classic characters like Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker. Harrison Ford as Han Solo might be the MVP of the film, but I can't tell if that's just my overall love of Mr. Ford and Solo shining through or not. It was a joy to see his character return and once again pilot his iconic Millennium Falcon through another adventure. Ford imbues Solo with all of his years of experience, with his weathered face and growly voice. The result is a slightly more mature and responsible Han Solo, but that's not to say he's lost his edge - he still makes wisecracks and jumps into action when needed. The moments with these beloved characters are great, but they're not the only reason to go see the new film.

I was actually quite impressed by most of the new characters and actors that make up the bulk of The Force Awakens. John Boyega as Finn, the troubled Stormtrooper who goes AWOL and sets the film into motion, was charming, funny, and emotional. Daisy Ridley as Rey, a scavenger who finds a droid with important information, was every bit as good as Boyega and they had a great chemistry together. Adam Driver takes on the villainous role of Kylo Ren, a Dark Side master with some internal conflicts of his own. Driver wasn't great, but he was solid and never distracted from the plot. The immensely talented Oscar Isaac plays a Resistance pilot by the name of Poe and didn't have a whole lot to do in the film, but I look forward to seeing more of him (and everyone else) in the final two films of this new trilogy.

I've never been blown away by any J.J. Abrams' films, but he has shown some talent for creating exciting and emotional action films in the past. With The Force Awakens, he delivers an incredibly entertaining and beautiful film. Gone (for the most part) are his trademark lens flares and overuse of shaky cam, two aspects of his films that always bothered me.

The screenplay, written by Star Wars veteran Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams, isn't going to win any awards, but it is solid. The cringe worthy dialogue of the prequels (and, at times, of the original trilogy) has been mostly eliminated and the characters are believable and convincing. Plus, similarities to the first film aside, the plot is interesting and exciting.

The Force Awakens isn't a perfect film by any stretch of the imagination, but I do think it's a very worthy addition to the Star Wars franchise. I will reserve the right to change my opinion after I see the film another time or two, but as of right now I think The Force Awakens is right up there with the original Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. Maybe a notch behind those two classic films, but certainly ahead of Return of the Jedi and miles better than any of the prequels.

One last note, I'd encourage everyone who is interested to see this film with a large crowd. The experience I had last night in a sold out auditorium was great - people laughed and cheered and applauded. Usually, I try to avoid crowds, but I'm happy I didn't in this case.  

Favorite Lead Actress Performances

Acting is such a large portion of a movie. A great performance can elevate an average film and a lousy performance can ruin a perfectly good film. The following is a list of ten of my favorite lead actress performances. Check out Kyle's blog at www.EnterTheMovies.blogspot.com for his list, too!

NOTE: We did agree to limit our lists to one performance per actress, just to allow more variety. Though this wasn't as big of a deal as with the actors list, I might have had one or two actresses with two performances listed here.

1. Ellen Burstyn in Requiem for a Dream

Requiem for a Dream is a difficult film to watch. The subject matter and tone is dark, depressing, and unsettling. Because of this, I've only seen the film in it's entirety once, but Burstyn's performance has stayed with me in the decade or so since I've seen it. She has a gamut of emotions to play - from mildly depressed to enthusiastic to overjoyed to paranoid to insane and finally ends in a near catatonic state - and Burstyn handles each one perfectly. Her monologue to her son about wanting to appear on television, and to fit into her favorite red dress while doing so, is heartbreaking and real. She imbues just the right amount of sadness and hopefulness during the three minute scene and I couldn't help but get sucked into her plight. Near the end, during a terrifying session of electroshock therapy, Burstyn shows her magnificent talent simply by acting with her eyes and facial contortions. The therapy seems almost too real to be a scene from a movie and I found myself gripped with fear and remorse for Burstyn's character - who had such simple aspirations but paid such a dramatic price. I think the Academy Awards made a grave mistake giving Julia Roberts the Best Actress trophy over Burstyn and I'm sure history will side with me.

2. Judi Dench in Notes on a Scandal

Judi Dench might be the best actress working today. Her performances in Notes on a Scandal and Philomena show how well she has matured and how capable she is in tackling such different roles. Without the one performance per actress rule in place, both would have made my list. In Notes on a Scandal, Dench plays a lonely old teacher who develops a crush on a new, younger teacher (the nearly equally marvelous Cate Blanchett) at her school and begins interjecting herself in the younger woman's life. The performance is a slow boil, building and building until the climax and then simmering back down. Dench hits each note perfectly and, at different times, makes you feel sorry for her character or outright despise her. So much of the performance is subtle and nuanced, with a lot of emotion being conveyed with just glances and body language, but Dench can also explode with the best of them. I've watched this film three times in the last two years or so and I appreciate different little things about Dench's work each time. That's the mark of a truly great performance.

3. Naomi Watts in The Impossible

I think Naomi Watts is one of the most talented actresses of her generation and she's impressed me in four or five feature films, but I believe she was best in The Impossible, as a mother who has to search for her family after a devastating tsunami hits Thailand. The role is physically and emotionally demanding and Watts has to carry a large portion of it - though all of her main costars do excellent work, as well. There are scenes of quiet desperation, violent rage, and extreme happiness and Watts is able to go back and forth between all these emotions with seemingly no difficulty. At no point did I ever catch her "acting" - all I saw was the character, dealing with everything that could possibly be thrown at her.

4. Louise Fletcher in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is one of my all-time favorite films and if you read my blog regularly, you have seen it (and will continue to see it) mentioned repeatedly. In my opinion, there's not a flaw in the entire film and the various performances are the highlight. Louise Fletcher is simply sublime in her role as the extremely controlling and manipulative Nurse Ratched. I've seen Ratched listed among film's "most hated villains", but I never really saw her as a true villain. I think a lot of this is due to Fletcher's performance. It doesn't come off as a typical antagonist - her Nurse Ratched is a dedicated and professional care giver and she sees her methods as effective and necessary. A lesser actress might have overplayed the role, making Ratched into a caricature, but Fletcher does it beautifully - nailing every scene and line perfectly.

5. Reese Witherspoon in Election

Reese Witherspoon's Tracey Flick is a well written, multidimensional, and inherently human character. She's not the hero of Election, Alexander Payne's satirical dark comedy about high school politics, but she's not the villain, either. What makes the film great is that all the leads inhabit both sides of the traditional protagonist/antagonist spectrum. Witherspoon has shown, even as a child, that she's capable of playing all types of characters in interesting ways, but Flick is my favorite. She's conniving and deceitful, but also introspective and goodhearted. She's at times slyly sexual and overtly prudish. Witherspoon captures all these traits and turns in a well crafted and interesting performance. I'm a big fan of the book and now, whenever I reread it, I can't help but picture her in the role. She left no room for my imagination for any other interpretation. 

6. Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby

Hilary Swank is a bit of an oddity - she's turned in two excellent, Academy Award winning performances (for Boys Don't Cry and Million Dollar Baby), but hasn't done a whole lot else of note in her career. I think both performances are about equal, but I chose her role as aspiring pugilist Maggie Fitzgerald because I love the film and only like Boys Don't Cry. Maggie is a tough, determined, and smart woman nearing her 30th birthday, but she won't let go of her dream of becoming a fighter. Swank plays her simply, not overstating anything, and it's a treat to watch. She's soft spoken and polite, but will stand up for herself in and out of the ring. The physical aspects of the performance are easy to admire - Swank transformed into a pretty decent fighter - but the emotional undercurrent is where she really shines. After her unfortunate accident, Maggie has several touching moments with her boxing coach and Swank manages to break my heart with each viewing.

7. Audrey Tautou in Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain ("Amelie")

I fell in love with Amelie and its star - the beautiful Audrey Tautou - immediately when I first saw it in the theater in 2001. Amelie is a wonderful comic fantasy and Tautou plays the young French heroine as a quirky, imaginative soul who only wants to bring joy to others and, in the process, discovers her own one true love. There is so much heart and wonder expressed in Tautou's eyes that you don't even need the subtitles to understand what is going on in some scenes - you can simply watch her face and everything becomes clear. I have enjoyed Tautou in everything I've seen of her's - even the mostly boring The Da Vinci Code, which seemingly ended her American film career - but she's never been as effortlessly radiant and engaging as she is here. Amelie is a film that could have easily veered into obnoxiousness with a less sincere lead, but Tautou grounds even the most fantastical elements with a genuine and touching performance.

8. Renee Zellweger in Chicago

Renee Zellweger has an awful lot to do in Chicago, but handles it all, seemingly with ease. Her terrific performance as Roxie Hart, an accused murderess awaiting trial in 1920's Chicago, combines singing, dancing, and acting into one great package. Everything about Zellweger's performance is captivating, but it's her charisma that shines through and elevates the work. She seems born to play this role and I can't imagine any other actress doing as good a job as she did. One particular scene always comes to mind when I think of this film and her role specifically: the musical number "They Both Reached for the Gun". In it, Roxie is transformed into a marionette while Richard Gere's Billy Flynn acts as the puppet master. It's a brilliant display of physical acting, with Zellweger swaying back and forth, as perfectly loose and free flowing as a real marionette. I think Zellweger was a bit overshadowed by some of her co-stars and the film's spectacle itself. Even though she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress, it seems like most people don't discuss her contribution to the film, which is a shame. It's a first rate performance.

9. Joan Allen in The Contender

Joan Allen plays her character, Senator Laine Hanson, as a quiet, reserved, and willful person who knows her rights and isn't willing to budge for anyone or anything. When the President of the United States (wonderfully played by Jeff Bridges) decides to nominate her for the position of Vice President, a possibly salacious moment from her past is brought to the attention of the media. Allen, who is most often a supporting player in films, shines here as the lead. Hanson won't back down and refuses to discuss the matter, even refusing to deny that it is true - all because a man wouldn't go through the same scrutiny. Hanson is strong, cool, and determined and when she finally does have an emotional moment or two, Allen doesn't overplay them. She lets everything come smoothly and naturally. In these types of political films, there's a tendency to chew the scenery, but Allen never goes to that level. It's an understated and layered performance throughout and the film deserves to have a larger following because of it.

10. Diane Keaton in Annie Hall

I will admit that it's been a long time since I've seen Annie Hall, which is a shame since I enjoyed it so much and it seems like it's a film that would improve with multiple viewings, but I've always fondly remembered Diane Keaton's performance as the titular character. She was a perfect partner for Woody Allen and the two had excellent chemistry together, playing off each other wonderfully. I loved Keaton's playful attitude (especially noticeable in parts like the lobster scene) and it seemed like she was having just as much fun making the film as the audience would later have watching it.

There's my list. As with the Favorite Lead Actor Performances, this was a very difficult one for me to compile and the list could change radically in a month or year's time.

What are some of your favorites? Do you love or hate any or my choices? Let me know and thanks for reading!

Next Friday's list: Part 4 of my 50 Favorite Films.

My Favorite Films (Part 3)

Please refer to http://goo.gl/Oe7tO5, which explains the criteria for this series and don't forget to check out Kyle's blog at www.enterthemovies.blogspot.com for his lists, too!

11. The Cooler

Year: 2003
Director: Wayne Kramer

The Cooler is a film that a lot of people have not seen and I consider that a shame. It excels in just about every aspect of film-making, from the acting and writing to the direction, editing, and soundtrack. William H. Macy has been one of my favorite supporting actors for almost two decades and it is a treat to get to watch him carry a film on his own. His performance as Bernie Lootz, a perpetual loser who has the seemingly magical talent of 'cooling' down gamblers on winning streaks, is a mix of comedy and drama, of subterranean lows and magnificent highs. Macy plays the sad sack loser role quite well (and has a lot of experience with those roles), but it's wonderful to see him transform when his luck finally turns around. Mario Bello and Alec Baldwin (in possibly his best performance) each have meaty roles and turn in great performances as well, but The Cooler is really Macy's film.  I love gambling and casinos, so the setting of the film is exciting for me, as was the old school soundtrack. If you're ever in the mood for a drama, comedy, romance, or gangster film, do yourself a favor and check out The Cooler, it fulfills all these cravings and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

12. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

Year: 2008
Director: Kurt Kuenne

I love documentaries. I probably watched 20-30 of them every year and the very best doc I've ever seen, no hesitation required on my part, is Dear Zachary. It's a film I've recommended to dozens of people (and even borrowed my copy to a lot of them) and no one who has watched it has had a negative response. They usually thank me for turning them onto the film. If I were to reveal too much about the story, it could possibly spoil things for the uninitiated, so I'll just say that I have never seen any film (of any kind) that has effected me as emotionally as Dear Zachary did. For weeks after seeing it in 2008, it was in my head. I couldn't stop thinking about it - about the people involved or what it said about the nature of good and evil. After you see the film, I'd suggest checking out the 15 minute follow up that Kuenne posted to YouTube a couple years ago called, "The Legacy of Dear Zachary: A Journey to Change Law", as it provides some interesting information and is definitely worth your time.

13. The Departed

Year: 2006
Director: Martin Scorsese

There are very few films that are entertaining and exhilarating as The Departed. Martin Scorsese has been making fantastic films for almost 50 years and was recently featured on My Favorite Directors list, but my favorite film of his is relatively recent. It won him his long overdue Best Director Academy Award (not to mention awards for Best Picture, Screenplay, and Editing) and is his highest grossing film. Whatever praise I shower upon the film almost feels unnecessary at this point, but I'll soldier on. I'm not sure what I love most about The Departed. The characters? They are well written, authentic, and engaging. The acting? Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon turn in excellent lead performances and the supporting cast - led by Jack Nicholson, but featuring Mark Wahlberg (never better), Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Ray Winstone, and Vera Farmiga, among others - is stellar. The direction? Scorsese seems to have settled into a late career grove where everything he does is magnificent. The soundtrack? The Rolling Stones are, of course, featured, but my favorite bit of music is from The Dropkick Murphys. The action? The drama? The editing? The cinematography? There are just too many excellent aspects to choose from, so I won't pick one. I will say that, after several viewings, The Departed has worked it's way into my personal Top 10.

14. Die Hard

Year: 1988
Director: John McTiernan

 

When I was a kid, I thought Die Hard was the best action movie ever. In the years since, my opinion hasn't changed. It has everything a great action movie needs - awesome set pieces, fantastic characters, witty dialogue, and suspense, not to mention some terrific acting, superb direction, and wonderful technical aspects. It has one of my favorite heroes (John McClane) and one of my favorite villains (Hans Gruber), plus a host of memorable side characters. Bruce Willis, known then as a comedic television actor, and Alan Rickman, hardly known at all in the States, combined for one of the best and most memorable duos of the 80's. Die Hard may have spawned countless knock-offs and a few underwhelming sequels - the third installment, Die Hard with a Vengeance is nearly as good as the first, but the other three are just okay or downright terrible - but the original will live forever. 

15. Dogma

Year: 1999

Director: Kevin Smith

 

Dogma is definitely not a film for everyone. If you're deeply religious (and don't have a sense of humor), you probably would find it unpleasant, to say the least. If you don't care for vulgar language, it's not something you should seek out. But if you have a certain sense of humor and would like a slightly more "grown up" comedy, I can't recommend it enough. From writer/director Kevin Smith, the creator of Clerks, Chasing Amy, and Zach and Miri Make a Porno (to highlight some of my favorite films of his), Dogma is by far his most ambitious film. Smith is widely known as a much better writer than director (even he admits his movies look pretty terrible most of the time), but I think Dogma is not only his best screenplay but also a beautifully shot film. Also, the entire expansive cast is a joy to watch. It's hard for me to pick any standout performances, as I really like them all about equally, but I have a soft spot for George Carlin as Cardinal Glick and Alan Rickman as the voice of God, Metatron. If I had my way, a few of the sillier moments would be removed, but I understand that Smith didn't intend to make a dark comedy.

Well, there's part three of this ten part series. I hope to have inspired at least one person to check out one of these films and I hope to read some comments down below. Do you like any of these films? Hate any of them? Let me know, please!

Coming up next Friday: My Favorite Lead Actress Performances.

Favorite Lead Actor Performances

Acting is such a large portion of a movie. A great performance can elevate an average film and a lousy performance can ruin a perfectly good film. The following is a list of ten of my favorite lead actor performances. Check out Kyle's blog at www.EnterTheMovies.blogspot.com for his list, too!

NOTE: We did agree to limit our lists to one performance per actor, just to allow more variety. If not, my list might have included three or four Nicholson performances.

1. Tom Hanks in Cast Away

 

Ever since I first saw Cast Away, in the theater in December of 2000, it has been one of my favorite films and that's thanks in large part to Tom Hanks' stellar performances as Chuck Noland, a dedicated FedEx manager who gets stranded on a deserted island after his plane crashes. Cast Away is structured in such a way that Hanks is alone on screen for nearly an hour in the middle of the film. It takes a special kind of performer to captivate an audience for that long with very little dialogue, but Hanks succeeds where I'm sure many others would fail. Early on in the film, Chuck is slightly portly and out of shape. Hanks had purposely gained 50 pounds for the first part of the film and then production was halted for a year to allow him time to lose all that weight and grow out his hair and beard. This was a fascinating physical transformation, but that's not the highlight of the performance by any stretch. Hanks is also able to convey Chuck's emotional and mental transformation, from outgoing and full of life to broken and beaten, and then (slightly) back again. When Chuck discusses his failed suicide attempt, it broke my heart. There are many layers to Hanks' performance, from comedy and romance to dread and despair, and it all amounts to a marvelous, exhilarating experience. 

2. Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove

 

Another favorite film of mine is highlighted by another phenomenal performance. This time, Peter Sellers (maybe best known for his Pink Panther series) plays three distinct and utterly hilarious characters in Stanley Kubrick's pitch perfect dark comedy about nuclear war. My favorite of the three is probably President Merkin Muffley, the slightly dim United States leader who spends the duration of the film in the War Room arguing with his advisers and, in perhaps the best moment of the film, in one notable phone conversation with the drunk Soviet Premier. In addition to the "Leader of the Free World", Sellers also plays Captain Lionel Mandrake, a British officer working on an American Air Force base when the crisis begins. He is pretty much the "straight" character during his scenes, but that doesn't mean Mandrake isn't funny. Lastly, Sellers adds the titular character, Dr. Strangelove - a German mad scientist type who alerts his US cohorts about the doomsday machine that could incinerate the entire world. All three characters are portrayed perfectly with different accents, speech patterns, mannerisms, and physicality. I've seen other actors attempt to play multiple characters, but none of ever reached the bar that Sellers placed so very high with Dr. Strangelove. 

3. Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

 

That famous grin and wild glint to his eyes. Nicholson has become known for and parodied over those two traits over the years, but they've never been on display quite so magically as they were in 1975's Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Actor, and Actress Award winner, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Nicholson plays R.P. McMurphy, a statutory rapist who feigns mental illness to avoid the state prison and gets sent to a mental institution instead. Once there, McMurphy immediately begins to disturb the system and earns the ire of the head nurse, Nurse Ratched, who was played wonderfully by Louise Fletcher. Nicholson and Fletcher work tremendously well together and the tension and hatred between the two is palpable. Nicholson uses every ounce of his personality and charm (of which there are gallons, I believe) to get the audience to root for and love this malicious, mean spirited man. You can't help but love McMurphy, no matter what he says or does to Ratched, the other nurses, or even his long suffering fellow patients. One of my favorite movie scenes of all-time is when McMurphy wants to watch the World Series game, but Ratched doesn't allow the television to be turned on. Instead, McMurphy starts calling the game himself, imagining what is going on and jumping up and down with excitement. It doesn't take long for him to get the other patients (and viewers) jumping up and down with him.

4. Russell Crowe in The Insider 

 

Russell Crowe is an actor of stunning range and technical skill. He's just as adept at playing a Roman gladiator as he is at playing a genius mathematician, but my favorite of all his performances is as Dr. Jeffrey Wigand, a real life researcher for a big tobacco company who blew the whistle on his employer. For the role, Crowe gained 35 pounds, shaved back his hairline, and bleached his hair seven times to look the part of the mid-50's doctor when Crowe himself was in his early 30's. It's an impressive transformation and I imagine a lot of people who saw the film would have guessed the actor, if they didn't previously know Crowe, was actually in his 50's. Of course, physical changes aren't enough to really inhabit a character - you have to embody the soul and mind of them, as well, and Crowe does this beautifully. Wigand is a complex and layered character, at times meek and shy, but then exploding with anger. He is put in extremely tense and stressful situations and Crowe does such a good job balancing all the emotions, that you're always on edge, right along with him. It's a performance that drew me in from the very beginning and I love revisiting the film because I often find subtle nuances and moments that make me appreciate it even more. 

5. George Clooney in O Brother, Where Art Thou?

 

If you were to ask most actors, they'd say that comedy is much harder to pull off than drama. It takes a certain skill to deliver a truly memorable comedic performance. George Clooney is a talented actor in nearly any genre or style, but he's never been better than he was as Everett, an escaped convict seeking treasure and redemption in rural Mississippi in the 1930's. Everett is a vain know-it-all who actually knows very little and Clooney plays him perfectly, with no regard for how silly or obnoxious he may seem. For the majority of the film, Clooney's face and clothes are dirty and his hair is constantly getting messed up. Some big stars might shy away from such a character for fear of it diminishing their standing in Hollywood, but Clooney has no problems and dives right in. Thanks to the Coen brothers excellent, highly quotable script, there is a never ending litany of great lines for Clooney to deliver and he doesn't miss a step at any point during the 106 minute running time. O Brother, Where Art Thou? is my second favorite film of all-time and Clooney's performance is a big part of the appeal of the film.

6. Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon

 

Al Pacino is widely regarded as one of the greatest screen actors of all-time and it's a reputation I can't argue against. He's certainly one of my favorites and has been turning in spectacular work for over four decades. Pacino has done so much great work that I had a difficult time narrowing down my selection for this list. I nearly went with his work in Serpico, Insomnia, or You Don't Know Jack, but his performance as the homosexual Vietnam vet who robs a bank in Dog Day Afternoon won out, in the end. It's an immensely intricate performance and Pacino's Sonny is a wonderful character. At different times in the film, he's violent and prone to bursts of anger. At other moments, he's quiet, reflective, and near tears. He's a showman in front of the crowd and his hostages, but doubts himself in private. As his plans come unraveled and the love of his life effectively dumps him over the phone, Pacino shows amazing skill and grace. Sonny is never a caricature - he is always a full fledged, realistic man with a complete range of emotions. Pacino turns in one of the most brilliantly acted scenes in cinema history during the aforementioned telephone conversation. It was filmed in one long take and there are no tricks used here - just Pacino's innate ability to capture our attention and heart, despite playing a somewhat unsavory man. 

7. Dustin Hoffman in Kramer vs. Kramer

 

Kramer vs. Kramer is my least favorite film on this list, but that speaks more to the competition than to any real fault of the film, which is an emotional and interesting look at divorce and child custody issues. In the film, Dustin Hoffman plays a husband and father who is distant and consumed with his work. When his wife leaves him unexpectedly, he's thrust into the role of full-time father to his young son. Hoffman completely nails the dual role of his character - he's brash, insensitive, and impatient but matures into a caring, thoughtful, and loving man. Hoffman has always been a gifted performer and has been displaying his skills for more than 40 years at this point, but I don't think he's ever been as good as he was in this film. It's a perfect mix of all the emotions that a parent goes through during the standard, day to day life of raising a child. Hoffman is especially impressive in two scenes. The first, when his son gets hurt at the playground and he has to carry him, running all the way to the ER and the second, near the end of the film when he refuses to allow his son to testify in court. As a father to a young son, maybe I'm more susceptible to being moved by these scenes, but I think they're wonderful, due mostly to Hoffman's extraordinary talents.  

8. Michael Douglas in Wonder Boys  

 

Michael Douglas may be the son of the legendary Kirk Douglas, but he's also carved out a career and legacy all his own. I'm a big fan of his, in general, but I especially love his work as Professor Grady Tripp, a novelist and dope smoker who's life is unraveling all around him. Douglas is known more for playing high powered types (think Fatal Attraction, Wall Street, or The Game), but he handles the somewhat slacker Tripp marvelously. He's funny, charismatic, and engaging, but not in the standard way. There's always an undercurrent of melancholy and regret, just bubbling under the surface. Douglas knows better than to allow it to dominate his performance, but it's always there. In a career spanning almost 50 years, Douglas has just 45 feature film credits in his resume. This is partly due to him being interested in other pursuits, but also because he doesn't just accept any role. I'm very thankful he took the role in Wonder Boys, as I can't imagine anyone else doing as great a job in his place. 

9. Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski

 

The Dude. His Dudeness. Duder. El Duderino (if you're not into that whole brevity thing). Jeff Bridge's character, Jeff Lebowski, has many nicknames. No matter what he's called, there's no denying the talent on display when you watch Bridges completely inhabit this character. The Dude is a pot smoking, White Russian drinking, league bowling slacker who roams Los Angeles in his ratty and dirty clothes and gets mixed up in a classic film noir plot. Along the way, Bridges holds his own (and then some) against John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Sam Elliot, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Peter Stormare, and (in one of the funniest scenes) a water logged marmot. The Dude is a surprisingly complex character for a comedy and Bridges is marvelous in every scene. While most of the humor is derived from the dialogue, Bridges is also hilarious just with a look or the shrug of his shoulders. There have been rumors of a possible sequel to The Big Lebowski for years, pretty much since the film gained cult status, but it will probably never happen. I don't normally root for sequels, especially to one of my favorite films, as they're almost always unnecessary and disappointing, but I'd rush out to see The Big Lebowski 2, just to see Bridges back in the role.

10. Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street

 

I know there are a lot of people who dismiss Leonardo DiCaprio's acting abilities, seemingly without even watching most of his films. I think a major reason for this was his meteoric rise to stardom thanks to Titanic. He was an accomplished actor before that and has proven time and time again since that he's surely one of the best actors of his generation. I didn't know if he'd ever top his roles in Catch Me If You Can or The Aviator, but then I saw his breathtaking performance in The Wolf of Wall Street. It seems he was born to play the role of Jordan Belfort, the sleazy, manipulative, adulterous, drug abusing stock swindler. Outfitted in expensive suits and fueled by an endless supply of drugs and sex, Belfort might be the showiest role DiCaprio has ever played, and he absolutely nails everything about the character. At the beginning, he's naive and innocent, but quickly morphs into something entirely different - a predator, taking advantage of everyone he comes in contact with. DiCaprio gives several long, engaging speeches throughout the film and they showcase his energy and enthusiasm. He's also able to play physical comedy beautifully, most notably in the famous Quaalude scene where he becomes temporarily paralyzed and has to crawl and roll his way along. Belfort is an awful, nearly inhuman man, but DiCaprio plays him with such zest and passion that you almost root for the guy to succeed. Almost.

There's my list. This was a very difficult one for me to compile as there are so many wonderful, memorable performances to choose from. These ten are my favorite at this moment in time, but if you ask me next month or next year, it could be significantly different.

What are some of your favorites? Do you love or hate any or my choices? Let me know and thanks for reading!

Next Friday's list: Part 3 of my 50 Favorite Films.