Ranking Christopher Nolan's Filmography

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32mcCQO9LhnUkRWOtSD3f1iYVEgVPTbzL9rIlyf5GQ5fk3NyDZdo7WPAQDAqMKkdYEhVUZuXonZc01EAQa-LM0P9billV5SJOcBCzCPwmphHLkXrRFZvw0F6rVFSTSmbK49i_cRV5UBI/s1600/nolan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1000" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32mcCQO9LhnUkRWOtSD3f1iYVEgVPTbzL9rIlyf5GQ5fk3NyDZdo7WPAQDAqMKkdYEhVUZuXonZc01EAQa-LM0P9billV5SJOcBCzCPwmphHLkXrRFZvw0F6rVFSTSmbK49i_cRV5UBI/s320/nolan.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Guest-writer Greg Rouleau unveiled his <b><a href="http://moviecriticdave.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-best-performances-in-christopher.html">Top 10 Performances</a></b> in Christopher Nolan's films as part of a tribute to the Dunkirk director. This month Rouleau returns by ranking all of Nolan's feature films from best to worst. Nolan has enjoyed an illustrious start to his movie-making career, so let's honor this visionary as best we can. And here it is, Christopher Nolan's filmography ranked in order:</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">#10. <i>Following</i> (1998)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bOUuVYeXpdrQuqimA4UgOue_-NhICI8iAm6O3BvmA-dwkaWboPHKgcllH6XbdeWEVARg0jGyJlDy1PfnsQw_eFl6yf-V8L6gVve4d8AHYFSFoCae-6soLqIXBElw9uq8z0WozVdX6so/s1600/following.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="592" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bOUuVYeXpdrQuqimA4UgOue_-NhICI8iAm6O3BvmA-dwkaWboPHKgcllH6XbdeWEVARg0jGyJlDy1PfnsQw_eFl6yf-V8L6gVve4d8AHYFSFoCae-6soLqIXBElw9uq8z0WozVdX6so/s320/following.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It�s difficult to stack this ultra-low budget indie against the rest of Nolan�s filmography � especially when most of his epic blockbusters command budgets north of nine figures.  Reportedly shot over weekends while the director maintained a full-time day job, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Following</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> still shows a glimpse of the talent that would burst through in his next movie.  The black and white, neo-noir thriller, featuring a notable performance by Jeremy Theobald, as well as some twists and a nonlinear structure that would eventually become Nolan�s trademark.  At 70-minutes it�s an easy watch and an admirable first feature.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#9. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Insomnia</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (2002)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwbVz2WuugljdCQAlwWLoX4wfxOMw48lclvnRar6KaUrBMaALfKUQxzMDsMWhLAKDBBhSnSh3DazPTyVRAUaV1V9gw4HxLnIcObmFfU8TdUpGUAGHbD8OgrnXdHHWAeNUTfDdK6D1_AM/s1600/insomnia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1200" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwbVz2WuugljdCQAlwWLoX4wfxOMw48lclvnRar6KaUrBMaALfKUQxzMDsMWhLAKDBBhSnSh3DazPTyVRAUaV1V9gw4HxLnIcObmFfU8TdUpGUAGHbD8OgrnXdHHWAeNUTfDdK6D1_AM/s320/insomnia.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The 2002 thriller about a detective summoned to investigate a homicide in an Alaskan town where darkness is null displays Nolan�s continued mastery</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: yellow; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">of moody, noir-inspired films with a guilt-ridden protagonist.  Anchored by a pair of notable performances from industry vets, with Al Pacino as the sleep-deprived cop who harbors quite the burden, and Robin Williams � adeptly slipping into the psychotic, homicidal role � </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Insomnia </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">is a somber, but effective studio debut for the director that proved instrumental in opening up the doors for Nolan�s relationship with Warner Bros., a partnership that would prove incredibly fruitful for the director.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#8. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Batman Begins</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (2005)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioomfIQaYjaMSqZYy1NaUz0PO78Hu6LMW3KsfZhAJgz7wLGL5HhQBHteT4dzYRrd9VnvvD5hjgHpTNou4UtELCN7f92Q1ewBySiXicpxecMh60DlHf782Zs4ju7yoTgkdgcNNkSUc4prQ/s1600/Batman-Begins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioomfIQaYjaMSqZYy1NaUz0PO78Hu6LMW3KsfZhAJgz7wLGL5HhQBHteT4dzYRrd9VnvvD5hjgHpTNou4UtELCN7f92Q1ewBySiXicpxecMh60DlHf782Zs4ju7yoTgkdgcNNkSUc4prQ/s320/Batman-Begins.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Batman doesn�t make an appearance until nearly an hour into </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Batman Begins</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, but by the time the iconic superhero announces his arrival to a frightened Carmine Falcone, it�s clear we have a winner on our hands.  With a gripping first act � complete with the director�s trademark nonlinear storytelling � we�re treated to the most complete and engrossing retelling of the Batman origin story.  Christian Bale � surrounded by a stellar supporting cast � more than delivers in arguably his best role of the trilogy, commandeering the Dark Knight persona with ease as well as portraying the dual-sided Bruce Wayne, who creates a public persona as a drunken playboy to keep his caped crusader identity hidden, and the tortured Bruce Wayne who only a select few come to truly know.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#7. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>The Dark Knight Rises</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (2012)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-OUdaz0KI3hLFRi6ELvS7tYltozOCF2yv0J2cZj9hDH-9o5Ilih0kfs2Q6LD0Dy8QhimgCraeLJcW7qWBZ2vN7iV74sXgIGtLjPGzBWhaXCRHhW5AuuyaqnwbaULXHivix24yBvOPlM/s1600/tdkr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-OUdaz0KI3hLFRi6ELvS7tYltozOCF2yv0J2cZj9hDH-9o5Ilih0kfs2Q6LD0Dy8QhimgCraeLJcW7qWBZ2vN7iV74sXgIGtLjPGzBWhaXCRHhW5AuuyaqnwbaULXHivix24yBvOPlM/s320/tdkr.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">While </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Batman Begins</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> revived the stalled DC franchise,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Dark Knight Rises</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> cemented Nolan�s Batman films as the greatest comic book trilogy of all-time.  </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Rises </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">concludes Bruce Wayne�s arc in epic fashion bringing the story full circle with an incredibly powerful and satisfying conclusion, but not before Batman is physically pushed to his limits by Tom Hardy�s memorable Bane.  Anne Hathaway is also a standout as the ambiguously aligned Selina Kyle.  This final chapter also features some stunning IMAX sequences � the most of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>The Dark Knight</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> movies.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#6. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Interstellar</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (2014)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UUo8l3eWIOo789hmV1EI6Cd8fvCKKHbwJ8CC_hnTvEE9x1HVjEwrqs6bUpDB8AGgO6KU_d6xTpPpK7LJ6Qz_nE8_XIpHDMik5k30V19lm851F1-VBkAL4fhaLCe6Tw9PeUuKSxzO29w/s1600/interstellar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="640" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UUo8l3eWIOo789hmV1EI6Cd8fvCKKHbwJ8CC_hnTvEE9x1HVjEwrqs6bUpDB8AGgO6KU_d6xTpPpK7LJ6Qz_nE8_XIpHDMik5k30V19lm851F1-VBkAL4fhaLCe6Tw9PeUuKSxzO29w/s320/interstellar.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After completing one of the most critically and commercially successful trilogies, Nolan essentially had carte blanche for his next endeavor, so the auteur known for mind-bending narratives on an epic scale decided to venture into the far reaches of outer space.  Theoretical physicist, Kip Thorne, laid the groundwork with some scientific theory and Chris, along with brother Jonathan, scripted the sci-fi epic about a group of researchers who travel through a wormhole in search of a new home for Earth�s inhabitants.   Matthew McConaughey leads quite the prestigious ensemble through this 169-minute odyssey.  For this ambitious vision, Nolan � in his first collaboration with DP Hoyte Van Hoytema � utilized IMAX cameras in new, innovative ways essentially treating them like GoPros.  What resulted is a spectacle for the eyes but the story also holds up because it�s perhaps Nolan�s most personal and emotional, heart-wrenching story as it deals with themes of love, survival and loss.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">#5. <i>Memento</i> (2000)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UQHJYe2wpecSWDKiLkRjnBzOkMn5du6otu4dOpplhPu7m1NOOfP6LoaH08qHL9EQJpmMa-8bnxdxoJffoy9PIWdp_jVEHwpSPYeb9Mi4DpMkzcB4VzLmGAHR3l4BdxoyX0NxODIvM40/s1600/memento.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UQHJYe2wpecSWDKiLkRjnBzOkMn5du6otu4dOpplhPu7m1NOOfP6LoaH08qHL9EQJpmMa-8bnxdxoJffoy9PIWdp_jVEHwpSPYeb9Mi4DpMkzcB4VzLmGAHR3l4BdxoyX0NxODIvM40/s320/memento.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In only his second feature, Christopher Nolan crafted a modern classic with his noir-inspired thriller </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Memento.  </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Much of the hype with Nolan�s sophomore effort surrounded the atypical approach to the layout of the movie, in which a series of black and white narrated scenes that run linear are interspersed with color scenes that show the story happening in reverse.  Another ambitious feat for the young director, who wanted to put the audience into the mind of the protagonist � played dutifully by Guy Pearce � as Leonard, a man seeking revenge for his wife�s death while he suffers from anterograde amnesia and is unable to retain short term memory.  With strong supporting turns from Joe Pantoliano and Carrie Anne-Moss and an Oscar nominated screenplay, the highly re-watchable </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Memento</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> undoubtedly announced Nolan�s arrival as a director to keep an eye on.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#4. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Dunkirk</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (2017)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoiU2Ugc89qpXY_DK4APwRHIZoiGmGpjnv4fA0FPy0wmYApjG7JPCuG1bFiUj1ArrmcAuHR20wk4Nw39nHNtN6YLXQHLtE7cA-b4hKyUXio-0YTMSF_eyhdGadLlyA1qcIN5yZnKDAFI/s1600/dunkirk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoiU2Ugc89qpXY_DK4APwRHIZoiGmGpjnv4fA0FPy0wmYApjG7JPCuG1bFiUj1ArrmcAuHR20wk4Nw39nHNtN6YLXQHLtE7cA-b4hKyUXio-0YTMSF_eyhdGadLlyA1qcIN5yZnKDAFI/s320/dunkirk.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">With </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dunkirk</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, it appeared the key elements of Nolan�s cinematic style dovetailed into one stunning, harmonious achievement.  The perfected use of IMAX cameras, shooting exclusively on large format for this movie, allowing us to feel as if we�re right there with the stranded soldiers on the beach and in the cockpits of the spitfires.  Nolan�s frequent collaborations with composer Hans Zimmer have always yielded memorable results, but never has the score been so effectively implemented in a way that contributes to perfectly building tension to a dramatic climax.  This World War II survival thriller could�ve been a straightforward war movie with subplots, Generals strategizing over maps, and frequent breaks in action to spend time on more character driven moments, but Nolan boldly eschews all of the unnecessary exposition that would�ve only muddied the waters.  </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dunkirk</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> is not devoid of emotion, however, and at a relatively brisk 106 minutes, it�s the shortest Nolan film since his low budget indie </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Following</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> that allows the action to continually build for a gripping ride that never lets up.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#3. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>The Prestige</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (2006)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwq3etBguIuFrNw22NlNU6eO2MNm3-Cb0RVlQseJRjt4WND1S2kkkHB6YKLbMmECH-eF7JvxuClNYlLVtc6NH4QzUlEXajGDZLw2FlLExFapU2IlhGi9EIkQL0Ppd_VwRnpmUUCz7BL4Y/s1600/prestige.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwq3etBguIuFrNw22NlNU6eO2MNm3-Cb0RVlQseJRjt4WND1S2kkkHB6YKLbMmECH-eF7JvxuClNYlLVtc6NH4QzUlEXajGDZLw2FlLExFapU2IlhGi9EIkQL0Ppd_VwRnpmUUCz7BL4Y/s320/prestige.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Released between </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Batman Begins</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Dark Knight</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> -- and in the same year another turn of the century magician centric movie was released -- </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Prestige</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> unfortunately was overlooked at the time, but it�s ultimately the most re-watchable in the Nolan catalog, improving upon repeat viewings.  With a duo of great performances by Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman as dueling magicians turned deadly rivals, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Prestige</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> is a thrilling maze of twists and turns, including the most memorable surprise ending of any Nolan movie.  The shocking finale is built to perfectly by mimicking the three acts of a magic trick (alluded to by Michael Caine in the opening narration) and helps this one stand up to the more extravagant, big-budget fare the director has to offer.</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">#2. <i>Inception</i> (2010)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA554G_TWzV3RIeODBWg-PLXzo5nOaBMNkq1meUL8iN4AYcddbhWcSVCszlzWTVlgIP0o2TSB9JMDo_ZurKKoASsFZy9lFLkRDU9lfb3ZNccvJwEi2C_Df-Yr4EVCj-ifyGhrz4Y3nF8/s1600/inception.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="1190" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA554G_TWzV3RIeODBWg-PLXzo5nOaBMNkq1meUL8iN4AYcddbhWcSVCszlzWTVlgIP0o2TSB9JMDo_ZurKKoASsFZy9lFLkRDU9lfb3ZNccvJwEi2C_Df-Yr4EVCj-ifyGhrz4Y3nF8/s320/inception.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Inception</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> was arguably the first movie that could be marketed on the Nolan name alone.  Hot off the heels of the blockbuster </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Dark Knight, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Warner Bros green-lit this 160-million dollar heist movie with an original screenplay, a rarity in the current landscape of the industry for a studio to bank on a movie not based on any larger cinematic universe.  It�s the perfect blend of cerebral narrative and awe-inspiring set pieces that only the visionary mind of Christopher Nolan could dream of.  Nolan�s continued push for favoring practical effects over CGI must be highlighted here as it lead to some spectacular sequences -- notably the hallway fight scene with Joseph Gordon Levitt.  Start to finish it may be the most entertaining of Nolan�s movies and one that will continue conversation for years to come.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#1. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>The Dark Knight</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (2008)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPQwZgisGFQy1osmIJXlmMx90znOGbuduyA_RHrhnNGtvNlLi0Ex0BVF6yMgsp2XOPE3luS0q54JzVebvLvaXjdwnqw-pMrb83oXIau-h9nInxezxwpnxWzit7jFhyxVvWsa4H-9gyPs/s1600/dark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPQwZgisGFQy1osmIJXlmMx90znOGbuduyA_RHrhnNGtvNlLi0Ex0BVF6yMgsp2XOPE3luS0q54JzVebvLvaXjdwnqw-pMrb83oXIau-h9nInxezxwpnxWzit7jFhyxVvWsa4H-9gyPs/s320/dark.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline;">From the opening moments it�s clear this isn�t just another superhero movie, this was a genre changing, crime thriller that happened to feature the greatest superhero and the most iconic villain of all-time facing off. Christian Bale�s Batman is given some weighty moments to further display the turmoil Bruce Wayne must endure in his fight to take back Gotham City.  Heath Ledger�s Joker is an all-time classic performance that shows how critical a great antagonist is for storytelling.  Not to be overshadowed, Aaron Eckhart delivers his best work as the White Knight Harvey Dent and Gary Oldman also shines as Commissioner Gordon.  This was the first movie to feature IMAX cameras which were used for several sequences including a stunning prologue that was screened in the winter before release to build hype. Nolan will undoubtedly continue to produce more great efforts in the years to come but his greatest contribution to cinema will always be the 2008 masterpiece, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;">The Dark Knight</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></div>

Ranking Christopher Nolan's Filmography

Guest-writer Greg Rouleau unveiled his Top 10 Performances in Christopher Nolan's films as part of a tribute to the Dunkirk director. T...

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The Best Woody Harrelson Performances

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtkGktjfmn7Gx-2ZzuGd6ph-xCy1ooQQkrIe4gdD2G7gagUojnM6_HSSvzhAcJ7RYqIBxbZ_pMrCxZKvxX8QVMMFK1tgfK6DZLzCt9ZcYY7ABTx2lROKonJJjI_raFfjPP58UcZgiVPg/s1600/glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtkGktjfmn7Gx-2ZzuGd6ph-xCy1ooQQkrIe4gdD2G7gagUojnM6_HSSvzhAcJ7RYqIBxbZ_pMrCxZKvxX8QVMMFK1tgfK6DZLzCt9ZcYY7ABTx2lROKonJJjI_raFfjPP58UcZgiVPg/s320/glass.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Woody Harrelson has enjoyed a prosperous three-decade long career that, in many ways, has flown completely under the radar. He always demonstrates an ability to stand out in any role, no matter how big or small. Therefore, in honor of his new release, <i>The Glass Castle</i>, August's Movie List of the Month pays tribute to Harrelson's finest performances (<b><a href="http://moviecriticdave.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-best-performances-in-christopher.html">July's list</a></b>).<br /><br /><b>Honorable Mention:</b> <b><i>The Edge of Seventeen</i></b>, <b><i>The Glass Castle</i></b>, <i style="font-weight: bold;">King Pin</i>, <b><i>Natural Born Killers </i></b>and <b><i>Out of the Furnace</i></b><br /><i style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></i><i style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></i><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">#5. <i>Seven Psychopaths</i> (2012)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1acb6XHUsPKs0Af4ZZybjTftlwQ8re4T-Lyyci8axZlM3zTLz-rOhlajUfKJeGEC-5IXQLEhQkP1kO3pb-bmDxoXusPHJQFU-cmMY5Jd4x97R9xRqGBj2RHYbaK-Y_ssaH-6vLBQhzNA/s1600/psycho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="618" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1acb6XHUsPKs0Af4ZZybjTftlwQ8re4T-Lyyci8axZlM3zTLz-rOhlajUfKJeGEC-5IXQLEhQkP1kO3pb-bmDxoXusPHJQFU-cmMY5Jd4x97R9xRqGBj2RHYbaK-Y_ssaH-6vLBQhzNA/s320/psycho.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Martin McDonagh's hysterical and under-appreciated comedic effort pits Harrelson, as an angry and unhinged mob boss, whose cherished dog is stolen by a reward-seeking dog-napper (played by Sam Rockwell). The absurdity of the film's primary storyline plays extremely well thanks in large part to Harrelson's fully committed performance. <i>Seven Psychopaths</i> is well worth a watch if you haven't seen it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">#4. <i>Zombieland</i> (2009)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvsukW6JVhWk2Ns9zA_QyVZFieeBUw1BqYREOvHgyzdpoLRDotGNxmDfnzTHzn4Bo-UwwB-p-9KJFWc7OIq71mbU1nm2qED1yhOSgbzd2sUTP8XWWk4YjD1scn93rz7cYo741V-QKbu0/s1600/zombie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1224" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvsukW6JVhWk2Ns9zA_QyVZFieeBUw1BqYREOvHgyzdpoLRDotGNxmDfnzTHzn4Bo-UwwB-p-9KJFWc7OIq71mbU1nm2qED1yhOSgbzd2sUTP8XWWk4YjD1scn93rz7cYo741V-QKbu0/s320/zombie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another outstanding comedy featuring Harrelson's singular talents is Ruben Fleischer's one-of-a-kind laugh-fest, <i>Zombieland</i>. Harrelson steals the show as Tallahassee, a vengeful and demented mad-man whose heart is as big as his penchant for zombie-killing. His off-the-wall demeanor is brought to life masterfully by Harrelson and helps cap-off this exceptional 88-minute comedic ride.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">#3. <i>The People vs. Larry Flynt</i> (1996)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAU2he0UXAJE3eWS9KpzUVgRoEJ03u50czj5HzkAcBSfa4QImF97P_YU_KcLe15XVy71e5D43GMkGQicnUhs-inOjHxjdDo9WqaUPB9Y2mjcxX997zGtmFCESAi8ZxLISLPMj1WVRccFM/s1600/larry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="600" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAU2he0UXAJE3eWS9KpzUVgRoEJ03u50czj5HzkAcBSfa4QImF97P_YU_KcLe15XVy71e5D43GMkGQicnUhs-inOjHxjdDo9WqaUPB9Y2mjcxX997zGtmFCESAi8ZxLISLPMj1WVRccFM/s320/larry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of Harrelson's two Oscar-Nominated turns comes from Milos Forman's biopic The People vs. Larry Flynt. Harrelson stars in the title role as the <i>Hustler</i> magazine publisher who faced an enormous public blow-back that resulted in a court case battle surrounding free speech. Harrelson delivers a knockout performance that stands the test of time and serves as an illuminating reminder of his gifted acting abilities.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">#2. <i>White Men Can't Jump</i> (1992)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3YvSHavRbWCi6F6zIqydh6R2aB7P4TT_eXM8GMmgMJw-wkr8K-6XijMjaassxzQG70oeCgyvzVamtgBmgcoWDq1kPZ14swsjE7DPS9EKmyeNwA0w-1JjFqt_J91B1KPuU439RAvcYTs/s1600/white.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="680" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3YvSHavRbWCi6F6zIqydh6R2aB7P4TT_eXM8GMmgMJw-wkr8K-6XijMjaassxzQG70oeCgyvzVamtgBmgcoWDq1kPZ14swsjE7DPS9EKmyeNwA0w-1JjFqt_J91B1KPuU439RAvcYTs/s320/white.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although Harrelson's role in Ron Shelton's <i>White Men Can't Jump</i> doesn't quite carry the same dramatic cachet as his Larry Flynt performance, the film will always stand as a staple of my childhood. Billy Hoyle (Harrelson) represents a flawed lead character whose knack for hustling on the basketball courts of Los Angeles is equally measured my his dimwitted ability for blowing all of his winnings on stupid bets. Harrelson manages to blend together a hilarious turn with tempered dramatics that illustrate his well-rounded talents.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">#1. <i>The Messenger</i> (2009)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLscZKibPQEy8F5_GlcjJoI7ZnmiDEqnvLjm8d83Qy5k33mIdGD0AMWGEbmBDZcKMeUufL8y2BBYtCplAh3yDy5RsJkgOlUooVB6eC5SeW8oSRwGGol1d6YVFU7SFHosdTFhbhExEz2FI/s1600/messenger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1330" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLscZKibPQEy8F5_GlcjJoI7ZnmiDEqnvLjm8d83Qy5k33mIdGD0AMWGEbmBDZcKMeUufL8y2BBYtCplAh3yDy5RsJkgOlUooVB6eC5SeW8oSRwGGol1d6YVFU7SFHosdTFhbhExEz2FI/s320/messenger.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For an overall movie that's almost as towering as Harrelson's supporting work, Oren Moverman's <i>The Messenger</i> is an absolute Tour de Force. Harrelson, along with co-star Ben Foster, stars as a member of the Casualty Notification Team who's responsible for breaking the news of a soldier's death to their next of kin. Harrelson demonstrates the depths of his dramatic talents in this Oscar-Nominated turn that's every bit as powerful and moving as the film's premise suggests. Harrelson's character appears both cold but respectful in this challenging task that he's been saddled with. <i>The Messenger</i> serves as the epitome of independent filmmaking telling an emotional story through a modest budget and immense acting talent, thanks to the exceptional work of Hollywood legend Woody Harrelson.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

The Best Woody Harrelson Performances

Woody Harrelson has enjoyed a prosperous three-decade long career that, in many ways, has flown completely under the radar. He always demons...

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Molly's Game and Rememory Trailers

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7insRPsXSSna1OX1lc-rwSM2Mw6RWtd7g4BHcOnx-9j6jHRDSFVunwVlXeczO5yPuAvsAXqiYYhGOjuios9X6pT7YwQRDRINLb0LtXbQra0u2h6LBOD4yYFZG3-vTJ5ijE1MOWXUyEcw/s1600/trailers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="900" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7insRPsXSSna1OX1lc-rwSM2Mw6RWtd7g4BHcOnx-9j6jHRDSFVunwVlXeczO5yPuAvsAXqiYYhGOjuios9X6pT7YwQRDRINLb0LtXbQra0u2h6LBOD4yYFZG3-vTJ5ijE1MOWXUyEcw/s320/trailers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />After a quarter-century in the film industry, Oscar winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin finally takes a seat in the director's chair for his November biopic, <i>Molly's Game</i>. The superior talents of Jessica Chastain appear to be fully on display as she plays Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who became a target of the FBI after organizing the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game. <i>Molly's Game</i> could possess some clear Oscar potential with it's big-named cast and an always envious Sorkin screenplay. Yet, the most interesting aspect of the film will be seeing how well Sorkin can handle the overwhelming task of filmmaking. Check out the debut trailer for <i>Molly's Game</i> below.<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="291" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R88EnXv7Swc" width="518"></iframe> <br /><br /><br />Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage stars in the upcoming mystery thriller from writer/director Mary Palansky, <i>Rememory</i>. The Sundance-selected feature follows the invention of a device with the ability to record and play-back a person's memories. Dinklage plays a man who uses the device to help track down the killer of its inventor. <i>Rememory</i> premiered to polarizing results in January, but you can make your own decision when the film arrives later this year. In the mean time catch the film's first-look trailer below.<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="291" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Erw1kyPEPNc" width="518"></iframe><br /><br />

Molly's Game and Rememory Trailers

After a quarter-century in the film industry, Oscar winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin finally takes a seat in the director's chair for h...

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A Ghost Story

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="291" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FxLHP2IpBXw" width="518"></iframe><br /><br /><br />David Lowery's filmmaking career has been all over the map. He first stepped onto the scene with his uber-artsy Bonnie & Clyde-esque Sundance selected drama, <i>Ain't Them Bodies Saints</i>, in 2013, only to follow it up with last year's successful re-imagining of <i>Pete's Dragon</i>. Lowery's upward trajectory following his well-received summer-film reboot would normally send a director in search of his or her next big venture, but Lowery went in a completely different direction. He returns to his artistic prowess in the ambitious festival darling, <i>A Ghost Story</i>.<br /><br />Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara stars as a loving couple who experience an unforeseen tragedy following a car accident  that results in Affleck's character's death. As the saddened widow confirms his passing at the morgue, Affleck's spirit emerges from the bed as a sheet-covered ghost who transports back to his home where he watches his wife grieve the loss. But as she moves on with her life and leaves a secret note in the crack of a doorway as she sells and leaves the home, the ghost stays in the dwelling desperate to uncover the note's contents.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwGzrhB9kDz39lhcTrKtaS2sdguQDjGm1A4HZ6f1gbgsSOA_KVS5InSLeFsCnxtdwJS7fwAsafPXhlEOmKMZx1WWLiuMRCAf1_RGwCZXV-MzIpnD5KY8VI7c4pj-FnZCfRAyQrKwx_Qk/s1600/ghost+story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1600" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwGzrhB9kDz39lhcTrKtaS2sdguQDjGm1A4HZ6f1gbgsSOA_KVS5InSLeFsCnxtdwJS7fwAsafPXhlEOmKMZx1WWLiuMRCAf1_RGwCZXV-MzIpnD5KY8VI7c4pj-FnZCfRAyQrKwx_Qk/s320/ghost+story.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i>A Ghost Story</i> is a beautifully poetic expression of love, loss and countless other emotions. Lowery's bold endeavor both captivates and mesmerizes throughout a loosely coherent storyline that becomes more and more muddled as it progresses. Nonetheless, uniqueness and originality effectively guide the audience through an existentially-crafted plot and mildly ambiguous resolve. Mara's soulful turn and Affleck's surprising depth, even cloaked behind a sheet for the majority of the film, are transcending enough to keep the effort afloat.<br /><br />"Polarizing" would be an apt descriptor for Lowery's latest critically-adored work. The filmmaker begins by utilizing excessively long takes that the audience is forced to muscle through. Thankfully, nearly all of these shots include a purposeful conclusion that help alleviate the frustration. Furthermore, <i>A Ghost Story</i> possesses a misleading title. The film is strictly a drama and fantasy, so don't expect any horror whatsoever. In fact, the scariest moment in the film is a nearly five-minute shot of Mara sorrowfully spoon-feeding an entire pie down her throat following the loss of her husband. Symbolic of the film's painfully slow demeanor, but also its poignant capturing of human emotion, <i>A Ghost Story</i> is a sluggish 90-minute indie that certainly pays off from a creative and artistic perspective.<br /><br /><br />Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4<br /><br />Grade: B-<br /><br />

A Ghost Story

David Lowery's filmmaking career has been all over the map. He first stepped onto the scene with his uber-artsy Bonnie & Clyde-esque...

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The Glass Castle

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="291" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bdNiNhSeSDk" width="518"></iframe><br /><br /><br />Destin Cretton is anything but a household name. Yet, the gifted filmmaker turned heads with his massively overlooked 2013 drama, <i>Short Term 12</i>. The effort bridged together Cretton's singular story and vision with the remarkable acting talents of Brie Larson. Since then Larson has gone on to win an Academy Award (<i>Room</i>), but her career comes full circle in her latest collaboration with Destin Cretton in the adapted film <i>The Glass Castle</i>.<br /><br />Told non-chronologically through various flashbacks, <i>The Glass Castle</i> follows the unconventional childhood of gossip columnist and eventual Best-Selling author Jeannette Walls (Larson). Prior to her career as a writer, Walls grows up under the dysfunctional supervision of her alcoholic father (Woody Harrelson) and her amateur artist mother (Naomi Watts). But as Jeannette and her siblings begin to mature and fully comprehend their squatter-lifestyle and impoverished upbringing, they must work together to escape the clutches of their deadbeat parents.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc24TZ6HFAT2Xp2dWTdahCfJbSuVQkwC4mJjoAl_uhsku1Es7RzdRyAD4xJZ8y9Wmt2Z__yVgNTtPBDYz2Y72od2HJlIdSrfHMFwGPP-xBrdMj95BT0D34gABs3splavs-aOXh9Y298Z0/s1600/glass+castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc24TZ6HFAT2Xp2dWTdahCfJbSuVQkwC4mJjoAl_uhsku1Es7RzdRyAD4xJZ8y9Wmt2Z__yVgNTtPBDYz2Y72od2HJlIdSrfHMFwGPP-xBrdMj95BT0D34gABs3splavs-aOXh9Y298Z0/s320/glass+castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Destin Cretton's <i>The Glass Castle</i> serves as a heavy drama that illustrates the director's keen vision and his cast's stellar performances. There are many captured shots scattered throughout the film that transcend the normal standards of direction, reminding us just how impressive Cretton truly is. Likewise, Brie Larson continues to shine and reinforce her standing as one of the best actresses alive today. And her counterpart, the underappreciated Woody Harrelson, always has a knack for commanding the screen. Witnessing these two titanic performers deliver the goods over and over again for more than two hours is what keeps this film from crumbling at the hands of its weaker elements.<br /><br />For starters, <i>The Glass Castle</i> begins its constant rewinding of time through flashbacks with a fluid approach that effectively links the present with the past. However, eventually, the film ditches its smooth transitions and forcefully breaks from its underlying format. And as Jeannette's character begins to truly ponder the joy vs. sorrow of her childhood, deciding whether her father was an inspiration or a burden, the flashbacks become a hokey and contrived element rather than a useful and informative tool. But even through much of the screenplay's over-extension and sloppiness, exceptional direction and performances keep the audience connected to this powerful tale of familial struggle.<br /><br /><br />Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4<br /><br />Grade: B-<br /><br />

The Glass Castle

Destin Cretton is anything but a household name. Yet, the gifted filmmaker turned heads with his massively overlooked 2013 drama, Short Term...

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DVD Outlook: August 2017

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCbEpP1k4HivrxxOb1xntz1CnW7Qs-1LunHr_BRprKN9zM0ej2xqDSpR9bpoGgxqE9g9cmwVhWCDdRGPn9TI4FLHC6nQ30HnDA5dAm3AzknWZ-OeZIViZnsYPtfStcUQgRj9i-c-5Ews/s1600/dvd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="350" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCbEpP1k4HivrxxOb1xntz1CnW7Qs-1LunHr_BRprKN9zM0ej2xqDSpR9bpoGgxqE9g9cmwVhWCDdRGPn9TI4FLHC6nQ30HnDA5dAm3AzknWZ-OeZIViZnsYPtfStcUQgRj9i-c-5Ews/s320/dvd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It appears August is rather barren with new DVD and streaming options (<b><a href="http://moviecriticdave.blogspot.com/2017/07/dvd-outlook-july-2017.html">July's suggestions</a></b>). Thankfully, a hot slate of diverse theatrical offerings such as <i>The Big Sick</i>, <i>Dunkirk</i>, <i>War for the Planet of the Apes</i>, <i>Spider-Man: Homecoming</i> and so much more, you can find a worthwhile movie to enjoy no matter what your personal preference may be. Either way, here's a look at what's available on DVD and streaming services this month.<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="291" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/svnAD0TApb8" width="518"></iframe> <b><br /></b><b><i><br /></i></b><br /><b><i>Alien: Covenant</i> - 3 stars out of 4 - (<a href="http://moviecriticdave.blogspot.com/2017/05/film-alien-covenant-starring-katherine.html">Read my full review here</a>)</b><br /><br />Earlier this year Ridley Scott returned to his storied <i>Alien</i> universe once again with the follow-up to 2012's <i>Prometheus</i>. In the latest installment, Scott and company shift their efforts from cryptic to visceral and disturbing with a bloody and twisted affair that feels immensely more horror-based than its predecessor. While on a colonizing mission to jump-start the humanity on a distant planet, crew members of the Covenant are awoken from their hibernation state following a malfunction with the vessel. Consequently, they abandon their long-term plans for a closer destination that proves to be a deadly decision. <i>Covenant</i> isn't the craftiest effort from the franchise but it certainly delivers some fine moments. It's difficult to sense where Ridley Scott will take things from here but as long as there's another <i>Alien</i> film, you can count me in. <b>(August 15th)</b><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="291" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c9iOjoOEYUw" width="518"></iframe><br /><br /><b><i>Chuck</i> - <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1610525/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2">Not Scored or Reviewed</a></b><br /><b><br /></b>Rarely do I put a film that I haven't seen in my top 3 suggestions, but <i>Chuck</i> is one I've heard good things about and I plan to watch immediately. I had an advanced screening planned but because of unforeseen circumstances I had to pass my tickets along to a friend who raved about the Chuck Wepner biopic. Liev Schreiber stars as the retired boxer whose real life title fight with Muhammad Ali inspired the screenplay for Sylvester Stallone's Best Picture Winner, <i>Rocky</i>. With co-stars Naomi Watts, Elisabeth Moss and Michael Rappaport, this intriguing examination regarding the origins of one of Hollywood's most prolific films has legitimate knockout potential. <b>(August 15th)</b><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="291" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ORL1d7GWoBc" width="518"></iframe><br /><br /><b><i>Sleight</i> - 2 stars out of 4 - (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4573516/?ref_=nv_sr_1">No review available</a>)</b><br /><br />Under a normal set of circumstances, a film like <i>Sleight</i> wouldn't land in my top 3 suggestions. However, a lackluster crop of titles opens the door for this rather intriguing tale with a mediocre delivery. Newcomer Jacob Latimore stars as Bo, a young street magician who's forced to care for his young sister after the loss of their parents. Taking his remarkable talents to the streets for a modest payday, Bo becomes entangled with a dangerous drug dealer in order to make ends meet. But once he realizes that he's getting in too deep, he must figure out a way to cut ties and make it out alive. There's definitely more than meets the eye with <i>Sleight</i>, including some unexpected sci-fi that fits very well into the storyline. However, creativity doesn't hold the film back, it's a weak delivery and unimpressive acting that tempers the overall experience. <b>(August 1st)</b><br /><br /><br /><b>Honorable Mention:</b> One of August's biggest DVD releases is the highly anticipated, albeit very disappointing, Marvel sequel <b><i><a href="http://moviecriticdave.blogspot.com/2017/05/rapid-reviews-guardians-of-galaxy-vol-2.html">Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2</a></i> (8/22)</b>. Other mediocre options that I've reviewed include the war thriller <b><i><a href="http://moviecriticdave.blogspot.com/2017/05/rapid-reviews-guardians-of-galaxy-vol-2.html">The Wall</a></i> (8/15)</b>, Zach Braff's geriatric heist comedy <b><i><a href="http://moviecriticdave.blogspot.com/2017/04/rapid-reviews-free-fire-and-going-in.html">Going in Style</a></i> (8/1)</b>, and SXSW selection <b><i><a href="http://moviecriticdave.blogspot.com/2017/04/rapid-reviews-gifted-and-colossal.html">Colossal</a></i> (8/1)</b> with Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis. I highly suggest avoiding one of 2017's weakest efforts, the sci-fi drama <b><i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4287320/?ref_=nv_sr_1">The Circle</a></i> (8/1)</b> starring Emma Watson and Tom Hanks. Finally, other notable options that I haven't seen include <b><i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2334871/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Snatched</a></i> (8/8)</b>, Guy Ritchie's <b><i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1972591/?ref_=nv_sr_1">King Arthur: Legend of the Sword</a></i> (8/8)</b>, <b><i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1469304/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Baywatch</a></i> (8/29)</b> and indie <b><i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4411596/?ref_=nv_sr_1">My Cousin Rachel</a></i> (8/29)</b>.<br /><br />

DVD Outlook: August 2017

It appears August is rather barren with new DVD and streaming options ( July's suggestions ). Thankfully, a hot slate of diverse theatri...

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The Best Performances in Christopher Nolan Films

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguf7mqi-8LVTMWM9JIdg14qEFc7Wqm_fMs55fG3OyvfzGVW0S0A4IO-ufHFtHx4l4_6VyXqUxZ1on9kM-EfBzlm8cRvo4TI3dNzgaDExc2yGEKHmf1pc_8o3Y6DvoOGUZNUvS76jMMbw/s1600/christopher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguf7mqi-8LVTMWM9JIdg14qEFc7Wqm_fMs55fG3OyvfzGVW0S0A4IO-ufHFtHx4l4_6VyXqUxZ1on9kM-EfBzlm8cRvo4TI3dNzgaDExc2yGEKHmf1pc_8o3Y6DvoOGUZNUvS76jMMbw/s320/christopher.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like a writer pushing his deadline, guest-writer Greg Rouleau has stepped in to deliver the first of a <b><a href="http://moviecriticdave.blogspot.com/2017/08/ranking-christopher-nolans-filmography.html">two-part Movie List of the Month</a></b> featuring the magnificent Christopher Nolan just before the calendar changed to August (<b><a href="http://moviecriticdave.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-best-movie-dads.html">June's list</a></b>). To begin the upcoming movie list series Greg begins by highlighting the Top 10 performances featured in Nolan's film catalog. Here's a look at the selections:</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">#10. Matthew McConaughey - <i>Interstellar</i> (2014)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9qmSTKLxHfTY-wQN0fL2b-1srnOtQXLJyDfQn1UAp5TdjI1v4IKrcBJDDYC07vPaRCvilOUCH_P3Z8pewBCrIua75Tox4UHK9baKLcdCzXDDBmxySjUsZYkKdoqHrPtPXvNI4RXYO-A/s1600/interstellar-matthew-mcconaughey3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1600" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9qmSTKLxHfTY-wQN0fL2b-1srnOtQXLJyDfQn1UAp5TdjI1v4IKrcBJDDYC07vPaRCvilOUCH_P3Z8pewBCrIua75Tox4UHK9baKLcdCzXDDBmxySjUsZYkKdoqHrPtPXvNI4RXYO-A/s320/interstellar-matthew-mcconaughey3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The apex of the �McConaissance� came when McConaughey, fresh off an Academy Award win for Best Actor, signed on to star in Nolan�s big-budget sci-fi epic, with an ensemble that included its fair share of Oscar winners and nominees.  Heading this cast in impressive fashion, McConaughey�s Cooper perfectly embodies the rural American family man who can�t deny his dormant thrill for exploration when he�s chosen to lead a team through a wormhole in hopes of discovering a new home for Earth�s inhabitants.  Coop�s great balance of heart, heroism and exuberance captain us through the equally emotional and thrilling time-bending odyssey as he faces the possibility of never seeing his family again, in a mission that � while however bleak - he deems as completely necessary.  </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">#9. Al Pacino - <i>Insomnia</i> (2002)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NGCHv_qSZ0b4COmVDXVbkaYGmiqaZuVjFL2QZ9lZaRNxR23TQKjrviLax1dfvMtgU5JuoeAQY5j5L_Uxk_5QSjwIehJT7ywkooE9JHN2bQMw8ueOu_DZc_bYvZxPiVZ5_dfuNKOz4Tk/s1600/pacino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="976" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NGCHv_qSZ0b4COmVDXVbkaYGmiqaZuVjFL2QZ9lZaRNxR23TQKjrviLax1dfvMtgU5JuoeAQY5j5L_Uxk_5QSjwIehJT7ywkooE9JHN2bQMw8ueOu_DZc_bYvZxPiVZ5_dfuNKOz4Tk/s320/pacino.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Al Pacino (Will Dormer) has never had an issue with playing it big -- chewing up the scenery was almost his shtick around the time he won an Oscar in 1992 -- but what Nolan pulls out of Pacino in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Insomnia</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> is a tremendously subtle, nuanced performance.  He never allows his performance to overshadow the story.  The movie is a masterclass in atmosphere and much of that is aided by the veteran Pacino as a guilt-stricken detective suffering from major sleep deprivation as he tracks down the suspected killer.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">#8. Guy Pearce - <i>Memento</i> (2000)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimZlLx-v64ltJI1-gRs5MlZPzdMiPtT5VnImbs_wqQqsYvY4l-IWM7YSqZ36Dw2sPoDdK_Shxpda79DyhQpxiSb5T8oEKoSsl1osE7aRlXsKvpMlEJGgi0SYxGCg3gRC2bkz8pNzeMro/s1600/pearce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimZlLx-v64ltJI1-gRs5MlZPzdMiPtT5VnImbs_wqQqsYvY4l-IWM7YSqZ36Dw2sPoDdK_Shxpda79DyhQpxiSb5T8oEKoSsl1osE7aRlXsKvpMlEJGgi0SYxGCg3gRC2bkz8pNzeMro/s1600/pearce.jpg" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Memento</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> is the movie that made Christopher Nolan a name on the indie scene, and much of that can be attributed to the strong performance by Guy Pearce as the short-term memory deficient Leonard Shelby.  Pearce brings Nolan�s screenplay to life with his ability to have us empathize with Leonard as he struggles to deal with his condition.  If it weren�t bad enough that he spends half the movie tattooing notes on his body that serve as reminders of mundane tasks, we also come to understand his desire for vengeance that motivates him as he tracks down his wife�s killer. </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">#7. Marion Cotillard - <i>Inception</i> (2010)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKCQXd9nvfmJJCxjkRrGarJ32S8g1JAhzBFxX5pQm-KVrHC9Ip98W1ip10lbEuAjHZ9p7XRa4QrYnit23vm0BQLbTH-FitAq-GtW1TCEtMdKI9mm5OYya5QLbbPQH4sacnf-RVrWVkZc/s1600/inception.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKCQXd9nvfmJJCxjkRrGarJ32S8g1JAhzBFxX5pQm-KVrHC9Ip98W1ip10lbEuAjHZ9p7XRa4QrYnit23vm0BQLbTH-FitAq-GtW1TCEtMdKI9mm5OYya5QLbbPQH4sacnf-RVrWVkZc/s320/inception.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Much of Nolan�s films are male dominated with the actresses relegated to background roles and love interests.  With </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Inception</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, the French Oscar winner was tasked with arguably the most well rounded role for a woman in a Nolan movie to date.  As Mal, she is both the ambiguous villain whose projection haunts Cobb and creates a barrier between him and his team�s goal.  And through flashbacks, she is the loving wife that our protagonist left behind and stands as a symbol of what he once had.  Cotillard conveys both sides of her character flawlessly and delivers one of the finest performances in a Nolan movie, regardless of gender.  </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">#6. Robin Williams - <i>Insomnia</i> (2002)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuQ9yA3dP8j2P8FZIL-TzovZo6TfOdegIsboYnkYb7aSf9ruYGxnl4Vwt_PCKwyOromDtfW3VHj6C6jNyziBsVf6hFuxO7xpFXFjn6zclvBcBq12lS9G1h-6tT6tM7zrLehqNXEUxKU0/s1600/williams.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="1170" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuQ9yA3dP8j2P8FZIL-TzovZo6TfOdegIsboYnkYb7aSf9ruYGxnl4Vwt_PCKwyOromDtfW3VHj6C6jNyziBsVf6hFuxO7xpFXFjn6zclvBcBq12lS9G1h-6tT6tM7zrLehqNXEUxKU0/s320/williams.PNG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What makes Al Pacino�s role in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Insomnia </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">work incredibly well is that he�s playing opposite of another major star at the top of his game, in Robin Williams as the obsessed author, Walter Finch.  In a year that saw Williams shed his typical funnyman reputation in favor of darker, edgier roles -- also seen in the underrated </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">One Hour Photo </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">-- it was truly remarkable to see how easily he could make the transition.  Williams had always shown a knack for the dramatic, but it was eerie to see just how well he could play sadistic.  </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">#5. Gary Oldman - <i>The Dark Knight</i> (2008)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pSYQCRBi19zQzv500x7z-RMgLXqjmQ9wlGDzDm924UK3nV3rY5lI4FsyTo4niZPfRoexpL13gMSF6PXkbo_STpd9M8B6dVPUwFcRFF45jXQ5fdwxp45eLiBSL-tZYQ77jQSmjoU7PfA/s1600/oldman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="570" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pSYQCRBi19zQzv500x7z-RMgLXqjmQ9wlGDzDm924UK3nV3rY5lI4FsyTo4niZPfRoexpL13gMSF6PXkbo_STpd9M8B6dVPUwFcRFF45jXQ5fdwxp45eLiBSL-tZYQ77jQSmjoU7PfA/s320/oldman.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Dark Knight</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, Gary Oldman turns in one of the best performances in the entire Dark Knight trilogy.  Ironically -- in a film with an all-time classic villain portrayal -- Oldman, usually known for being cast as the antagonist, slips further into the straight-edged Gordon with grace and ease.  It was evident from </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Batman Begins</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> that Oldman had a strong grasp on the character and here he�s given much more to do including facing off against both the Joker and Two-Face and delivering the rousing final monologue that hammers home why Batman truly is the �Dark Knight�.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">#4. Christian Bale - <i>Batman Begins</i> (2006)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6610dprEjl7hYgQxYNOrCz2U2sSc5wvlYrWjEehQ6sbQ-L_xNC0nuVfdtPxW9cI3fDugbApIVjFEImhyphenhyphenSw03PVbeZ2Si-zeQk3HQEgASYyrYct-cN9nVa6Z95ujp105Ke5RAKVHMDQw/s1600/bale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="574" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6610dprEjl7hYgQxYNOrCz2U2sSc5wvlYrWjEehQ6sbQ-L_xNC0nuVfdtPxW9cI3fDugbApIVjFEImhyphenhyphenSw03PVbeZ2Si-zeQk3HQEgASYyrYct-cN9nVa6Z95ujp105Ke5RAKVHMDQw/s320/bale.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Christian Bale was a relative unknown when he was cast as Bruce Wayne in the summer of 2003.  In his audition, Christopher Nolan mentioned he could see in Bale�s eyes the determination of someone who would go to such great lengths to create something as extraordinary as the Batman.  Thankfully, the movie works because of what Nolan saw in that audition.  It�s difficult to remember now after a successful trilogy, but the Batman franchise was on life support after the critically panned </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Batman & Robin</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.  </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Batman Begins</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> success rested on the shoulders of Bale who not only revived the franchise but sent it to new heights with his impeccable portrayal of both Bruce Wayne and the Caped Crusader.   </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">#3. Mark Rylance - <i>Dunkirk</i> (2016)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpk742eaA3AiI6fb1hQCY_Bpipjn3OO_v5yxQbwagIl0ggyxskgr15qTdhvp6MfWpR_thREDJlTmKR0M_1tYnBZI7YUn9WqiPL0TLDOr2_HXJK42rauskGuppy1IEIvL1TMdHmfMu25Aw/s1600/rylance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="1600" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpk742eaA3AiI6fb1hQCY_Bpipjn3OO_v5yxQbwagIl0ggyxskgr15qTdhvp6MfWpR_thREDJlTmKR0M_1tYnBZI7YUn9WqiPL0TLDOr2_HXJK42rauskGuppy1IEIvL1TMdHmfMu25Aw/s320/rylance.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In a movie where dialogue is kept to a minimum, it takes a true artist to give the kind of performance that Mark Rylance pulls off in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dunkirk</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.  As the stiff upper-lipped Mr. Dawson, Rylance portrays him with such poise as he heads into a situation where the odds of survival are grim.  One standout moment is late in the film when Dawson must acknowledge that his son made the right move to pacify a shell-shocked soldier, as he nods approvingly at his son�s coming to terms with the gravity of the situation.  It�s the work of a master craftsman who for most of the movie conveys so much while saying so little.  </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">#2. Christian Bale - <i>The Prestige</i> (2006)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ELUW6UD-GJls8jLa5VCtQXhJj5jl7aVl8vYG6YMNkQknu_vUXDlwhkmrMqyGYKl73iXLmy34M6KKXLcFLMoOM50-FqGv_PEz1_Dp7h9p81Wx-zUomi6-LSbN1cJG8vG8rFn5L0rbSWg/s1600/prestige.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ELUW6UD-GJls8jLa5VCtQXhJj5jl7aVl8vYG6YMNkQknu_vUXDlwhkmrMqyGYKl73iXLmy34M6KKXLcFLMoOM50-FqGv_PEz1_Dp7h9p81Wx-zUomi6-LSbN1cJG8vG8rFn5L0rbSWg/s1600/prestige.jpg" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Following their successful venture into Gotham City, Nolan and Christian Bale teamed up again for what would be their second of four collaborations, in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Prestige</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.  As Alfred Borden, a working-class magician obsessed with pushing the boundaries and maintaining the illusion of his artform, even if the consequences are deadly, Bale adeptly depicts the con-man side of magic.  What makes the performance even more impressive is on subsequent viewings -- after you�ve learned the twist -- you see how Bale adds subtle differences to both characters he portrays but maintains enough similarities to keep the illusion alive.  </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">#1. Heath Ledger - <i>The Dark Knight</i> (2008)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWpNHzQbRqnIEaSZ2T6OBWQVCPyv84ocNxXdpqcmKJ8u0CzVGjG4opnSplxXQeEYSnI19zi34Rj9mpuBd-wBYlUJLd8_PQfrZ6haMt786Ng35xG0i5NA7Nj43B_JifAy5k_cCNXGCmjg/s1600/ledger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWpNHzQbRqnIEaSZ2T6OBWQVCPyv84ocNxXdpqcmKJ8u0CzVGjG4opnSplxXQeEYSnI19zi34Rj9mpuBd-wBYlUJLd8_PQfrZ6haMt786Ng35xG0i5NA7Nj43B_JifAy5k_cCNXGCmjg/s320/ledger.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline;">It�s somewhat remarkable to think about how the casting of Heath Ledger as the Joker was met with such criticism.  Despite showcasing a broad range of talent in a diverse filmography, the late actor had some naysayers to prove wrong.  As it turned out, Ledger�s take on the Clown Prince of Gotham was seemingly the role he was born to play.  Inspired by </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;">A Clockwork </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; vertical-align: baseline;">Orange, his anarchic Joker seamlessly fit into the dark, twisted Gotham that Nolan created and will go down as one of the greatest villains ever put to screen.  As the film opened to a record setting box-office debut (at the time) and heaps of critical and fan adulation, Heath removed all doubt of what was once a suspicious casting decision and enforced Nolan�s keen eye for talent.  No amount of hyperbolic praise can do justice to what Heath created with this character. </span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "verdana"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "verdana"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div>

The Best Performances in Christopher Nolan Films

Like a writer pushing his deadline, guest-writer Greg Rouleau has stepped in to deliver the first of a two-part Movie List of the Month fea...

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