A movie's cast is one of the most important aspects for me and is usually the first thing that draws me into an unknown project. If the cast features an actor (using the term here to apply to both male and female performers) I love, I'm immediately interested in the film. Some films have an immensely talented cast, either with a large collection of gifted actors or a smaller cast where each actor is exceptionally good, and those were the films I looked at when drawing up this list. I knew there was no way I could narrow my list (which started with over 50 films) down to ten, so I decided to highlight 20 films.
To help me pare down the list, I decided right away to do three things:
1) To only allow one film per director. The Coens, Paul Thomas Anderson, Frank Darabont, Martin Scorsese, and Wes Anderson all had multiple films on my preliminary list.
2) To exclude animated films. Toy Story, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Monsters Inc. were originally in the running.
3) To only chose from movies that I really like or love. So you won't see films like The Godfather, The Dark Knight or Thin Red Line, which all have fantastic casts, no doubt.
I did this purely as self-preservation tool: it was getting too hard to cut some films!
Also, unlike my other "special" lists lately, this one is going to be in alphabetical order. Again, I just couldn't choose and would never have been happy putting some of these films above some others.
Main Cast:
- Patrick Fugit
- Kate Hudson
- Billy Crudup
Supporting Cast:
- Fairuza Balk
- Zooey Deschanel
- Frances McDormand
- Anna Paquin
- Philip Seymour Hoffman
- Noah Taylor
- Jimmy Fallon
- Jay Baruchel
Cast MVP:
- Fugit, who carries the vast majority of the film's scenes and does so with a brillaint layering of naivety, intelligence, heart, and soul.
Scene Stealer:
- Hoffman. Like a lot of PSH's performances, this one is captivating, memorable, and hilarious. He's probably only got ten minutes or so of screen time, but he's often the first character I think of when I think of Almost Famous.
Main Cast:
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Matt Damon
- Jack Nicholson
Supporting Cast:
- Ray Winstone
- Martin Sheen
- Vera Farmiga
- Alec Baldwin
- Kevin Corrigan
- Anthony Anderson
- David O'Hara
- Mark Rolston
Cast MVP:
- DiCaprio, who gets (like Damon) to play two very different characters in the same film. Both are completely believable thanks to one of DiCaprio's best performances.
Scene Stealer:
- Wahlberg. I don't like most of Wahlberg's performances (or films) and think he's a dumb, racist douchebag in real life, so it almost pains me to admit that he practically steals this terrific film from his much more talented and likeable co-stars.
Main Cast:
- Peter Sellers
- George C. Scott
- Sterling Hayden
- Sterling Hayden
Supporting Cast:
- Peter Bull
- James Earl Jones
- Keenan Wynn
Cast MVP:
- Sellers, who is magnificent in three separate roles as completely different characters.
Scene Stealer:
- Scott, who ranks highly on the list of My Favorite Supporting Actor Performances and is so uproariously funny throughout the entire film.
Main Cast:
- Bill Murray
- Dan Aykroyd
- Harold Ramis
Supporting Cast:
- Rick Moranis
- Annie Potts
- Ernie Hudson
- William Atherton
- David Margulies
- Micheal Ensign
Cast MVP:
- Bill Murray, no question.
Scene Stealer:
- Moranis, who almost does the unthinkable - upstaging Murray in a comedy - and definitely steals a fair amount of scenes from the rest of the cast. Also unthinkable: Moranis wasn't even supposed to play the part originally. I can't imagine anyone else (even the great John Candy, who had the part originally) in the role.
Main Cast:
- Al Pacino
- Jack Lemmon
- Ed Harris
- Kevin Spacey
- Alan Arkin
- Kevin Spacey
- Alan Arkin
Supporting Cast:
- Jonathan Price
- Bruce Altman
Cast MVP:
- Lemmon. He manages to make me laugh, become frustrated, and cry at various points in the film.
Scene Stealer:
- Baldwin, who only has the one scene, but it's by far the most famous scene in the entire film.
Main Cast:
- Tom Hanks
- Michael Clarke Duncan
Supporting Cast:
- Barry Pepper
- Doug Hutchison
- James Cromwell
- Sam Rockwell
- Michael Jeter
- Bonnie Hunt
- Graham Greene
- Jeffrey DeMunn
- Patricia Clarkson
- Harry Dean Stanton
- Dabbs Greer
- William Sadler
- Gary Sinise
- Brent Briscoe
Cast MVP:
- Hutchison, who gets to play the slimy, deplorable Percy - the real villain of the film. Each frame with Percy elicits so much raw disgust and hatred that it's hard for me to think of anyone else when The Green Mile is mentioned.
Scene Stealer:
- Rockwell, who is often the best part of any film in which he appears. He has the innate ability to somehow make a child murdering rapist enjoyable to watch; both charming and fun.
Main Cast:
- Russell Crowe
- Al Pacino
Supporting Cast:
- Bruce McGill
- Gina Gershon
- Philip Baker Hall
- Stephen Tobolowsky
- Colm Feore
- Michael Gambon
- Rip Torn
- Lynne Thigpen
Cast MVP:
- Crowe, who turns in one of my very favorite performances of all-time.
Scene Stealer:
- Plummer shines in a small, but important role, as Mike Wallace. He's got one scene in particular that I always come back to - when he tells off his producer for interfering with his program.
Main Cast:
- Kevin Costner
- Gary Oldman
Supporting Cast:
- Laurie Metcalf
- Ed Asner
- Jack Lemmon
- Vincent D'Onofrio
- Sissy Spacek
- Brian Doyle Murray
- Wayne Knight
- Michael Rooker
- Gary Grubbs
- Joe Pesci
- Walter Matthau
- Tommy Lee Jones
- Pruitt Taylor Vince
- John Candy
- Kevin Bacon
- Donald Sutherland
Cast MVP:
- Costner doesn't get enough credit normally - he's a very talented actor as long as he's used in the right type of film. He's especially good here where his American Hero type personality can really shine and he captures Jim Garrison's determination in discovering the "truth" perfectly.
Scene Stealer:
-Sutherland. Again, with only one scene, Sutherland manages to make such an impression that his ten minutes worth of work is often the first part of the film I think about. It's a masterful, exciting, and engaging scene that showcases Sutherland's wonderful skill and it ranked as #1 on My Favorite Movie Speeches list last month.
Main Cast:
- Kevin Spacey
- Russell Crowe
- Guy Pearce
- Guy Pearce
Supporting Cast:
- James Cromwell
- Danny DeVito
- David Strathairn
- Ron Rifkin
- Matt McCoy
- Paul Guilfoyle
- Darrell Sandeen
- Simon Baker
Cast MVP:
- Crowe. This is a tough one - I almost chose Pearce - but I think I made the right choice. Crowe's Bud White is tough, menacing, and fierce, but he also has another, softer side that balances everything out.
Scene Stealer:
- Cromwell, who gets to play both sides of the law at different points in the film. Cromwell's immense charm, unique physical appearance, and accent all combine to make an unforgettable character.
Main Cast:
- Graham Chapman
- John Cleese
- Michael Palin
- Eric Idle
- Terry Jones
- Terry Gilliam
- Michael Palin
- Eric Idle
- Terry Jones
- Terry Gilliam
Supporting Cast:
- Kenneth Colley
Cast MVP:
- Chapman appears in almost every scene and does the best work of his career, in my opinion. He's just as funny as the other cast members, but also gets to have more of a character arc, which is fulfilling.
Scene Stealer:
- Cleese, in particular as his roles as Reg, the leader of the People's Front of Judea, and the Jewish Official overseeing the stoning of the blasphemer.
Main Cast:
- Tom Cruise
- Jason Robards
- Philip Seymour Hoffman
- Melora Walters
- Philip Baker Hall
- John C. Reilly
- William H. Macy
- Jeremy Blackman
- Julianne Moore
- Philip Seymour Hoffman
- Melora Walters
- Philip Baker Hall
- John C. Reilly
- William H. Macy
- Jeremy Blackman
- Julianne Moore
Supporting Cast:
- Ricky Jay
- Melinda Dillon
- Thomas Jane
- Patton Oswalt
- Felicity Huffman
- Luis Guzman
- Orlando Jones
- Clark Gregg
Cast MVP:
- Robards, who I've written about in My Favorite Supporting Actor Performances and My Favorite Movie Speeches lists. Just a tremendous, restrained, and heartbreaking performance.
Scene Stealer:
- There are about a half dozen deserving choices in this sprawling cast, but right now I'm going to go with Blackman - the young actor really surprised me with his ability to hold his own among the veteran performers.
Main Cast:
- Faye Dunaway
- William Holden
- Peter Finch
- Robert Duvall
- Peter Finch
- Robert Duvall
Supporting Cast:
- Beatrice Straight
Cast MVP:
- Holden. He doesn't have the flashy monologues or angry tirades that his costars do, but he imbues the film with a sense of calm, righteous intelligence.
Scene Stealer:
- Finch. Speaking of monologues and tirades, you don't get much better than what Finch delivers in this film. He's got at least two great speeches - one of which landed him on the list of My Favorite Movie Speeches - and several more wonderful scenes. He deservedly won the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance, as well.
Main Cast:
- George Clooney
- John Turturro
- Tim Blake Nelson
- Tim Blake Nelson
Supporting Cast:
- Holly Hunter
- Stephen Root
- Chris Thomas King
- Charles Durning
- Michael Badalucco
- Del Pentecost
- J.R. Horne
- Brian Reddy
- Wayne Duvall
- Ed Gale
- Ray McKinnon
- Daniel von Bargen
- Frank Collison
- Lee Weaver
- John McConnell
Cast MVP:
- Clooney, who delivers one of the best performances I have ever seen - two years ago, I ranked it #5 on my Favorite Lead Performances list - is simply marvelous as the egotistical, self-centered, know-it-all idiot Ulysses Everet McGill.
Scene Stealer:
- Another very tough decision, but I'm going to go with Durning, who is hysterical as Governor Pappy O'Daniel. Whether he's brow beating his braindead son, mass communicating with his electorate, or dancing a jig on stage with the Soggy Bottom Boys, Durning is an absolute joy to watch.
- George Clooney
- Brad Pitt
- Matt Damon
- Matt Damon
Supporting Cast:
- Bernie Mac
- Elliot Gould
- Al Pacino
- Ellen Barkin
- Andy Garcia
- Casey Affleck
- Shabo Qin
- Scott Caan
- Carl Reiner
- Eddie Jemison
- Eddie Izzard
- David Paymer
- Vincent Cassel
- Bob Einstein
- Oprah Winfrey
Cast MVP:
- Pacino. Maybe it's my bias towards him influencing me, but I think Pacino's performance as Willie Banks is the linchpin to the whole film. Banks is a terrific villain and Pacino plays him perfectly.
Scene Stealer:
- Paymer. I think Paymer's down-on-his-luck "Five Diamond Award" reviewer plotline is the most interesting aspect of the whole film. As he suffers through each ordeal, ranging from mildly annoying to downright disgusting, the audience grows to love the guy more and more. You can't help but cheer when he finally gets his big payoff in the end. I've long been a fan of Paymer's work and it was a great pleasure to see him in such a high profile role in a big film like this.
- Jack Nicholson
- Louise Fletcher
Supporting Cast:
- Danny DeVito
- Will Sampson
- Christopher Lloyd
- William Duell
- Sidney Lassick
- Ted Markland
- William Redfield
- Vincent Schiavelli
- Michael Berryman
- Dean R. Brooks
- Scatman Crothers
- Mwako Cumbuka
- Josip Elic
- Lan Fendors
- Nathan George
Cast MVP:
- Nicholson, and it's not even close despite some all-time great work from several other cast mates. Nicholson's work as R.P. McMurphy is phenominal from start to finish and that's why he landed on my Favorite Lead Actor Performances list.
Scene Stealer:
- Dourif is so interesting and so captivating as the timid, stuttering Billy Bibbit, that he actually manages to overshadow both Nicholson and Fletcher at times, which seems almost unfathomable, considering how excellent they both are in this film. I ranked Dourif as #5 in my list of Favorite Supporting Actor Performances.
Main Cast:
- Tom Hanks
- Paul Newman
- Jude Law
- Jude Law
Supporting Cast:
- Jennifer Jason Leigh
- Daniel Craig
- Ciaran Hinds
- Dylan Baker
Cast MVP:
- Hanks, in a performance that proves he can do more than the "lovable every-man" that some people think is his limit.
Scene Stealer:
- Newman, who's made a career of stealing scenes, turns in one of the greatest performances of his 50+ year career in his final on-screen role. He's both mesmerizing and heartbreaking to watch.
Main Cast:
- Gene Hackman
- Ben Stiller
- Anjelica Huston
- Owen Wilson
- Luke Wilson
- Gwyneth Paltrow
- Anjelica Huston
- Owen Wilson
- Luke Wilson
- Gwyneth Paltrow
Supporting Cast:
- Danny Glover
- Seymour Cassel
- Kumar Pallana
- Alec Baldwin
- Grant Rosenmeyer
- Jonah Meyerson
Cast MVP:
- Hackman, who turns in a career best performance, I think.
Scene Stealer:
- Hackman again. He's just so damn entertaining in this film. He's funny, charming, magnetic, offensive, insensitive, rude, and (after a while) compassionate and caring.
- Tom Hanks
- Tom Sizemore
- Barry Pepper
- Giovanni Ribisi
- Vin Diesel
- Edward Burns
- Adam Goldberg
- Jeremy Davies
- Matt Damon
- Barry Pepper
- Giovanni Ribisi
- Vin Diesel
- Edward Burns
- Adam Goldberg
- Jeremy Davies
- Matt Damon
Supporting Cast:
- Paul Giamatti
- Dennis Farina
- Joerg Stadler
- Nathan Fillion
- Ryan Hurst
- Harve Presnell
- Bryan Cranston
- David Wohl
- Harrison Young
Cast MVP:
- Hanks, who delivers a subtle and moving performance, completely anchoring this sprawling, intense film.
Scene Stealer:
- Lots of quality candidates again, but I'm going with Davies. His turn as Corporal Upham goes from naive to gut wrenching.
Main Cast:
- Christian Slater
- Patricia Arquette
Supporting Cast:
- Christopher Walken
- Gary Oldman
- Tom Sizemore
- James Gandolfini
- Chris Penn
- Val Kilmer
- Brad Pitt
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Bronson Pinchot
- Michael Rapaport
- Saul Rubinek
- Kevin Corrigan
Cast MVP:
- Arquette, who does something I would have thought impossible - she makes Christian Slater look pretty good!
Scene Stealer:
- Hopper, who is fantastic as Slater's blue collar (and racist) father. Hopper and Walken share a scene that has gone down in cinematic history for its brilliance, and the erstwhile Easy Rider manages to steal it from the formidable Mr. Walken.
Main Cast:
- Jake Gyllenhaal
- Robert Downey, Jr.
- Mark Ruffalo
- Mark Ruffalo
Supporting Cast:
- John Carroll Lynch
- Anthony Edwards
- Brian Cox
- Chloe Sevigny
- Elias Koteas
- Dermot Mulroney
- Donal Logue
- June Diane Raphael
- Adam Goldberg
Cast MVP:
- Ruffalo, who has to convey so many different emotions - from professional curiosity to obsession to regret to acceptance - and he does so marvelously.
Scene Stealer:
- Downey, an actor who is accustomed to being the center of attention (and for good reason) turns in one of his best performances in this supporting role. He's funny, but you get a solid sense of fear, dread, and hopelessness from his performance, too.
Well, there's my list, for the time being anyway! What are some of your favorites? Do you love or hate any of my choices? Leave a comment and let me know!
Up next week, My Favorite Films of the 2000's!
Thanks for reading!
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