Top 10 Favourite (modern/classic) Directors

You remember how like, a month a go, I listed my favourite modern actors and actresses, along with my faaourite classic ones? I did promise at the end of the classic one that I'd list my favourite directors. But the Classic Movie Marathon got in the way and last weekend I completely forgot about it, so here it is...my favourite directors from any era:

Honourable Mentions: Martin Scorsese, Elia Kazan, John Hughes, Sam Mendes, Edgar Wright, Robert Zemeckis, Billy Wilder, Howard Hawks, Roman Polanski, Jane Campion, Peter Jackson, Kathryn Bigelow, Judd Apatow, Matthew Vaughn, Sidney Lumet, Greg Mottola, Duncan Jones, Rian Johnson.

10. Danny Boyle (on the set of 127 Hours)

When I came to the end of making my 100 Favourite Films list I got really angry because I missed a lot of films (I need to extend the list to 150), but I got especially angry over the fact that no Danny Boyle movies made the list. Now, that is nothing against him - or his films - because every work I've seen of his is absolutely brilliant. It's just one of those things when it comes to making a list like that. Danny Boyle's films have been both revolutionary and visually stunning, with the cool editing techniques he uses, the high saturation he uses with the camera and the always awesome soundtrack music he chooses. What he can do with a film is absolutely amazing. And pretty much half of the music I listen to comes from a Danny Boyle movie, so he gets extra props there.
Favourite film: 28 Days Later...

9. Jason Reitman (on the set of Up in the Air)

I know that Jason Reitman has only made three films. But he is one of those people who just became great after their first feature. I believe that the guy just continues to get better and better, even though he is so consistently great. His films, Thank You For Smoking, Juno and Up in the Air have all been tremendously well-received, which is exactly what he deserves. Add in the fact that he already has 4 Oscar nominations to his name (three for Up in the Air - Picture, Screenplay and Direction, one for Direction in Juno), I'd say that Reitman is well past the 'up-and-coming' stage...and I'd hate to have him let me down.
Favourite film: Juno

8. Frank Capra (left, on set of It Happened One Night)

Frank Capra films are the best. For anyone who is slightly snarky towards those classic films, I'd definitely put forward Capra movies to them first, because his movies are always so happy, funny and all-round enjoyable fares. It Happened One Night and It's a Wonderful Life, particularly, are two of my favourite films. The former because it is probably the funniest film I have ever seen and the latter because it's probably the most beautiful film I have ever seen. Plus, I never feel as uplifted as I do after I've seen a Capra movie.
Favourite film: It Happened One Night

7. Darren Aronofsky (on the set of The Wrestler)

As some may know, I'm a huge fan of lots of editing and 'different' camera techniques. And no-oe gives me that more than Darren Aronofsky. I'm pretty new to being a fan of him, since I only really started taking notice of him after I saw Black Swan and then trhe big life fuck-up Requiem for a Dream a mere two days later. I've been meaning to rewatch The Wrestler since I bought it like three months ago, but I still haven't gotten around to it. I see Aronofsky's work as an art form; he and his cinematographer Matthew Libatique like creating films that have so many different fragments that they all spin out to be a beautiful masterpiece. And I also like how the first word I say at the end of any Aronofsky movie is "fuck". I mean that in the best possible way.
Favourite film: Requiem for a Dream

6. George Cukor (right, on the set of The Philadelphia Story)

 First thing you should know about George Cukor: he was originally the director for Gone with the Wind. That's before he got into several arguements with David O. Selznick and Clark Gable didn't like his very feminine approach to the movie. One of the scenes he shot that remained in the film was the scene where Rhett and Scarlett have their first dance together. Here is a morsel of the considerable talent Cukor had: he could direct a dancing sequence unlike any other. Cukor was known as a ladies director, since he often directed movies with very strong female characters (including The Women, a film which doesn't have one man in the cast!). The people who direct chick flicks today need to take a note or two off him. Oh, and by the way, he directed 20 different actors to an Oscar nomination...good track record, huh?
Favourite film: Gone with the Wind...but since he was uncredited for that, I'll choose The Philadelphia Story.

5. Baz Luhrmann (on the set of Australia)

I'm quite the Baz Luhrmann obsessor. I own each of his movies, Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, and Moulin Rouge! being the special edition 'red curtain trilogy' copies, and I also own Australia. I've seen each of his films at least three times and I love them all to little bits. I'm actually considering going to stalk the set of The Great Gatsby because I am so excited for that. I've spent too long without a new Luhrmann movie. His movies are great, lavish spectacles, with some great visuals and they always bring a tear to my eye. The fact that the guy is also very musically talented just adds so much pizazz to his films. I need a new Luhrmann film, and I need one now.
Favourite film: Moulin Rouge!

4. Alfred Hitchcock (on the set of The Man Who Knew Too Much)

 Does this man really need that much of an introduction? I know it. We all know it. Alfred Hitchcock was the master of suspense, and he is probably the greatest director who ever lived. His films are all fantastic, and probably twice as scary as they would have been because he had something to do with it. A lot of his films were instant 'must haves' on my 100 favourite films...every collaboration between he and his favourite blonde Grace Kelly got a spot, along with a few others. Psycho is one film which I will never forget. Thank you, Mum, for introducing me to him at the tender age of 11. I simply love his films.
Favourite film: Psycho

3. David Fincher (on the set of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)

When making my Top 100, I was surprised at the big mound of David Fincher films got into the very top part of my list. You can't dismiss Fight Club. That movie pretty much changed my life. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has always been a favourite of mine, even though I still can't get over the act that Fincher directed it. And The Social Network. Y'all know how I feel about that one. I don't care what anyone says, that is one of the best movies I have ever seen and I could watch it 100 times in a row if I wanted to. His other films Zodiac and Se7en are both masterpieces. I just wish, that in a perfect world, I would have as much talent as Fincher. He just never stops being fucking awesome, you know?
Favourite film: The Social Network

2. Quentin Tarantino (on the set of Inglourious Basterds)

You know what I like most? When a director directs his own stuff. That's why I absolutely love Quentin Tarantino. Most of what he has directed has come from his own brain, and it takes skill to make that so effing awesome. I live for Tarantino films. When I find out he is making a new one, my stomach does a million backflips. His films are just totally boss, alright? I can't say anything more than that otherwise I might come across as a little crazy.
Favourite film: Inglourious Basterds

1. Christopher Nolan (on the set of Inception)


Wholey shit. What a surprise. I know that no one saw that coming. You know what (in fact, you probably already know this)? Every time I see a picture of Christopher Nolan, I feel so inspired. He's just a normal man, who lives a normal life, but he just so happens to direct some of the greatest modern films. And yet, he's just so cool with it. I mean, The Dark Knight went straight to #1 on the IMDb Top 250 within two days of it's release, and he's just like "cool, people like my movie, onto the next one..." I just happen to think that he is a God-like figure...and probably the greatest idol I have ever had.
Favourite film: Memento

Who are your favourite directors?

My Top 10 Favourite (classic) Actors/Actresses

I've gone through my favourite modern actors and actresses, and y'all seemed to enjoy that. As promised, I am now going to relive my past and go through my favourite actors and actresses from the classic movies (to be eligible they had to have their debut before 1955). Oh, I should point out that this list isn't in order of likeability - I couldn't possibly do that - but instead it's in alphabetical order. It's a lot easier, that way!
P.S. You wouldn't believe how I long I took looking for photos of these people. It was hard to just pick one!

Honourable mentions: Barbara Stanwyck, Carole Lombard, Clark Gable, Laurence Olivier, Greta Garbo, James Dean, Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, Olivia De Havilland, Lauren Bacall, Henry Fonda, Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Maureen O'Hara, William Holden, Gene Kelly, Janet Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor.

Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman was such an interesting person. She was Alfred Hitchcock's go-to-girl, as she starred in Notorious, Spellbound and Under Capricorn. She became a star for her spell binding performance in Casablanca. She won three Oscars for her performances in the creepy Gaslight, Anastasia and Murder on the Orient Express. She was outed from Hollywood due to an affair she had with film-maker Roberto Rossellini. And she died on her 67th birthday. All the while, she became an iconic, devestatingly flawless Swedish star who may just be one of the greatest actresses who ever lived. I wish I could be her.
Favourite performance: Gaslight
Favourite film: Casablanca


Humphrey Bogart

Who doesn't love Humphrey Bogart? He was one of the most widely used, versatile actors around in the Golden Age. And chances are, if you've seen a classic, then you have probably seen Casablanca (if not, you need to see it, now). It's the original love triangle movie with some of the best lines ever. But we're not here to talk about the greatness of Casablanca, but rather the greatness of it's leading man, Mr. Bogart. Now he is the original tough guy. He's the original gun-toting no nonsense bad-ass. And that's why I love him.
Favourite performance: The Big Sleep
Favourite film: Casablanca


Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando is by far the best example of a legend. His talent, his remarkable voice, his choice of roles, his looks...they all contribute to the icon he is remembered as. I remember when I first saw him in A Streetcar Named Desire, where he plays a powerful, troubled Stanley Kowalski and I couldn't get over what an actor he was, especially considering that this was only his second feature film. I personally think that this is his best performance, but that's not forgetting about his Oscar winning work in the likes of On the Waterfront and The Godfather.
Favourite performance: A Streetcar Named Desire
Favourite film: A Streetcar Named Desire


Bette Davis

How does one even begin to describe Bette Davis? Well, her nicknames were 'The First Lady of Film' and 'The Fifth Warner Brother', so if that is anything to go by, Davis sure made her mark on Hollywood. In my opinion, she was one of the greatest actresses who ever lived. She was never the kind of actress who played the shy types. Instead, she was as tough as nails, as seen in her much acclaimed films All About Eve and Jezebel. One of my favourite films of hers, though, was the brilliant Now, Voyager, in which she plays an old spinster who blossoms under therapy and even finds romance. She was so unusually sweet in that movie. One of her most memorable roles, though, was in the ultra scary What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? which she did with Joan Crawford, better known as her arch nemesis. I will never forget that movie simply because Davis was so scary!
Favourite performance: All About Eve
Favourite film: All About Eve

Cary Grant

Cary Grant, to me, is basically the epitome of a classic film. I can just hear his voice muffled by the dated sound system that classic movies used to have, and I can picture his cracking smile in a black and white film. If I think of classic movies, I think of Cary Grant, pure and simple. He's also the man who never seemed to age. One of the earliest films I saw him in was the hilarious The Awful Truth, and he didn't seem to change between them and 1959's North by Northwest. He was still the same suave, handsome, romantic guy, up for anything. His comic skills were amazing, and are some which the likes of rom-com wannabes Josh Duhamel can not live up to. The worst thing? He never won an Oscar for his acting.
Favourite performance: North by Northwest
Favourite film: The Philadelphia Story


Katharine Hepburn

 It's interesting because the first Katharine Hepburn movie I attempted to watch was The Iron Petticoat, and I turned it off within the first 10 minutes because she drove me nuts. Since then, I watched some of her most acclaimed works, and it became more apparent to me as to why she was rated #1 on AFI's top classic stars. Just look at the movies she was Oscar nominated for. She won the first time she was nominated for Morning Glory in 1933, then was nominated another eight times, and then won the last three times she was nominated. And she still holds that record. She was a truly wonderful, bold actress, with brilliant comedic and dramatic ability. How could you not love her?
Favourite performance: Bringing Up Baby
Favourite film: The Philadelphia Story


Grace Kelly

Though Grace Kelly only made 11 feature films, she was amazing. Her cool exterior was totally boss. I used to have the mega obsession with her in late 2007/early 2008, so I saw nearly all of her films and read three biographies on her. So yeah, if you wanna know useless facts about Grace, I'm your man. I thought it was kinda ironic that she went through her short film career basically looking like a princess, and BAM! Prince Rainier of Monaco wants to marry her and she becomes a princess. Isn't that a dream come true? Also, she starred in three Hitchcock films, and Hitch himself described her as one of his favourite actresses. She made a big mark in such a short time.
Favourite performance: The Country Girl
Favourite film: Rear Window


Vivien Leigh

If I were to be called an expert on anyone, it would definitely have to be Vivien Leigh. I've seen most of her films, read at least five biographies on her, even written a biography on her myself, made an 100 page project on her...you get the picture. I was - and still am - in love with this woman. To the point I would call her my favourite actress of all time. Of course, my love for her came from her performance in Gone with the Wind, but she is just as good in everything else. Especially A Streetcar Named Desire, which I think was her best performance. As a person, she certainly wasn't dull, dealing with recurring bouts of tuberculosis (which caused her death in 1967), a highly publicized marriage to Laurence Olivier and suffering from manic depression which plagued the latter part of her career. And she was so devastatingly beautiful too.
Favourite performance: A Streetcar Named Desire
Favourite film: Gone with the Wind

Paul Newman

I remember the first time I saw Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, which was around the time I went through a huge Paul Newman phase. Jesus, could this guy act! And those blue eyes...stunning. He has such a complex and interesting resume, right up to his final film Cars in 2006. I guess you could say his films are highly accessible by all, and he's just so damn likeable you can't help but fall in love with him. And hey, you can't argue with a guy who has his own salad dressing, can you? Paul Newman was the man.
Favourite performance: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Favourite film: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

James Stewart

James Stewart was such a good guy. Anything he is in makes me exponentially happy. He could just be in anything and make it 10 times better. And I've seen my fair share of Jimmy Stewart movies. I guess, after the 50's he started playing the non-good guy roles, which was cool, but I like nice Jimmy. I like him especially when he is in comedies, my favourite being The Philadelphia Story. And I liked him a lot in It's A Wonderful Life, which is like one of the coolest movies ever. And I like him in Hitchcock movies, especially Rear Window. Consensus: I like James Stewart. Don't you?
Favourite performance: It's A Wonderful Life
Favourite film: It's A Wonderful Life

Any objections to this list? Next weekend, I'm gonna round things out with my favourite directors list. Anyone wanna start placing bets on the winner? Haha.

My Top 10 Favourite (modern) Actresses

Of course, yesterday I made a list of my favourite actors. Today, as promised, I am going to list my favourite actresses. So, without further ado (I don't even know what that means), here is my list of favourite women in the movies:

Honorable mentions: Kate Winslet, Carey Mulligan, Zooey Deschanel, Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Lawrence, Michelle Williams, Meryl Streep, Chloe Moretz, Carrie-Anne Moss, Michelle Monaghan, Abbie Cornish, Ellen Page, Saoirse Ronan.


10. Rachel McAdams (in Morning Glory)

Probably not the most predictable choice, but I have been a long time fan of the lovely Rachel McAdams. She totally owned as high school bitch-of-all-bitches Regina George in Mean Girls, even though she was in her late 20s when she took the role. And no, she's not just my favourite actress coz she's in that really 'sweet' movie The Notebook. As time has gone on, Rachel has been outstanding in such films as The Time Traveller's Wife, Morning Glory, Sherlock Holmes, Red Eye, State of Play and Wedding Crashers. By the looks of her upcoming films, she's going to hit it really big in the future.
Favourite performance: Mean Girls
Favourite film: Mean Girls

9. Emma Stone (in Zombieland)

She's still a star on the rise, but Emma Stone has never failed to amaze me. Before her star turn in Easy A, she was the best thing about bad movies, like The House Bunny and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. In 2009, she managed to star in a couple of good movies - Paper Man and Zombieland - and be completely astounding. But hey, it all comes down to her first lead role in Easy A, where she makes that movie even better than it is. I can't wait to see her dramatic turn in The Help and her with Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man.
Favourite performance: Easy A
Favourite film: Zombieland

8. Marion Cotillard (in Public Enemies)

Whoever has seen La Vie En Rose will probably agree...Marion Cotillard is one damn good actress. I don't know how she did it, but role just fit her like a glove. Since that star turn she's been taking many supporting roles, all of which she has been scene-stealing in. She was perfect in Public Enemies as Johnny Depp's girlfriend. I don't even know how Penelope Cruz got nominated for an Oscar for Nine, Marion was no doubt the stand out in that. And in Inception, Marion performed probably the best out of that amazing ensemble cast. Anything she does, I'll be there.
Favourite performance: La Vie En Rose
Favourite film: Inception

7. Olivia Williams (in The Ghost Writer)

Olivia Williams is quite a new entry, but ever since I saw her performance in The Ghost Writer, I've become more and more interested in her body of work. British actresses always seem to do amazing things on screen, and none of them more so than Olivia. She seems effortlessly resigned to her work, and the fact that she is largely underrated makes me like her even more, too.
Favourite performance: The Ghost Writer
Favourite film: An Education

6. Julianne Moore (in The Hours)

Who doesn't love Julianne Moore? She seems like such a cool person. And she's a fantastic actress. Her resume is proof of that. But how is it that she can keep starring in all these great films with great performances and not getting an Oscar for it? It's beyond me. Her appearances in the recent A Single Man and The Kids Are All Right should have gotten her an Oscar nomination, but sadly not so. However, I will always remember her for her beautiful performance in The Hours.
Favourite performance: The Hours
Favourite film: A Single Man

5. Anne Hathaway (in The Devil Wears Prada)

Ever since I first saw Brokeback Mountain, I've been in love with Anne Hathaway, and have worked my way through her entire resume. She's had her highs and her lows (during that princess phase of hers), but since she's all grown up she's really come into her own; she's feisty, sweet and courageous. If her Oscar nominated performance in Rachel Getting Married is anything to go by, Anne may just become one of the greater actresses of our future. Well, at least I hope she does.
Favourite performance: Rachel Getting Married
Favourite film: The Devil Wears Prada

4. Cate Blanchett (in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)

Again, who doesn't love Cate Blanchett? Coz if you don't, you ought to leave. Now. She's so brilliant. Every movie she is in, even if it is as dull as Robin Hood, she is amazing in. You know if you're going to watch a Cate film there is a large chance that it will be great. Many of my favourite memories of Cate come from her luminous beauty on display in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Aviator, the later getting her a much deserved Oscar. How is it that she is so great? I will never know.
Favourite performance: The Aviator
Favourite film: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

3. Rebecca Hall (in The Town)

If you've never heard of Rebecca Hall, then shame on you. But I can understand if you haven't. She just fades into the background for most people. However, every time I see a movie with her in it, I am so impressed. She is such a great actress. Greater than people give her credit for. She did some amazing stuff in the lacklustre Vicky Cristina Barcelona (which earned her a Golden Globe nomination), The Prestige for Master Nolan, and recently The Town, where she brings a fresh take on an otherwise flat love interest. Rebecca Hall is just awesome. And really pretty, too.

Favourite performance: The Town

Favourite film: The Prestige



2. Vera Farmiga (in Up in the Air)

Anything that says Vera Farmiga and I'm in. She's such a chill person. And such a marvellous actress. Sure, she's had her highs and lows, but her resume shows diversity and a particular love towards those indie films. I'm a sucker for them. She's probably best known for her Oscar nominated turn in Up in the Air, and that's fair enough. She's absolutely amazing in that. Hell, she was even good in Orphan, which was hated by everyone else but me (hey, don't judge, I thought it was clever). I can't wait to see her directorial debut in Higher Ground. I hope she can direct as well as she can act.
Favourite performance: Up in the Air
Favourite film: The Departed 


1. Amy Adams (in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day)

Amy Adams must be the sweetest person alive. Every time I see her all I can picture are unicorns dancing over rainbows made out of marshmallows...in short, she makes me really happy. Not to mention she's been nominated for an Oscar three times. And she could have gotten a fourth nomination for playing a princess in a Disney movie. I kid you not, her performance in Enchanted is one of the best I have ever seen. In fact, any performance of hers is great. I personally think she was better than Melissa Leo in The Fighter. And at least she wouldn't have said a naughty word in her acceptance speech.
Favourite performance: Enchanted
Favourite film: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Righty-ho...next week I'm gonna go all old-school on you and reveal my ten favourite actors and actresses from the classics. Any objections to this list?

My Top 10 Favourite (modern) Actors

I realized that I've never sorted my favourite people in the movies into nice lists, like I do with everything else, so I thought now was the right time to make some more lists on the particular matter. You know how I have random 'actor-spazzes', and you know which ten men I have huge crushes on. But you don't actually know who my favourite actors are, do you?
Most of these probably won't come as much of a surprise, either.

Honourable mentions: Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Guy Pearce, Ewan McGregor, James Franco, Bradley Cooper, Jeff Bridges, Peter Sarsgaard, Dominic Cooper, Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson, Sean Penn, Edward Norton, Sam Rockwell, Brad Pitt.


10. Jesse Eisenberg (in The Social Network)

No, this isn't just another one of my geek crushes. I genuinely like Jesse Eisenberg's work as an actor. From all of the films where he played an outwardly awkward little nerd until his explosive Oscar nominated work in The Social Network, I've come to expect big things of Mr. Eisenberg. And the more I see of him, the more I enjoy his acting style. It's like he doesn't even try to be funny or to be anything else. He just is, and I like that.
Favourite performance: The Social Network
Favourite film: The Social Network


9. Aaron Eckhart (in The Dark Knight)

I doubt that any of you have realized my love for Aaron Eckhart, as I haven't really talked about him much. He's an actor who has always been there, and he's always stood out for me, even if he hasn't for others. He's the kind of underrated actor who I usually go for. I simply can't wait to see Rabbit Hole, a film which I assume he should have got more recognition for since Nicole Kidman did get a lot. I'll see any film if it has Eckhart in it. Hell, I even sat through Love Happens just for him.
Favourite performance: The Dark Knight
Favourite film: The Dark Knight


8. Andrew Garfield (in Boy A)

Ah, you were probably expecting Andy to be further up in the list. Alas, he may have topped my biggest crushes list, but he doesn't top this one as he just hasn't been around long enough for me to go "fuck yes, best actor ever!" yet. The work of his I have seen though, is brilliant. He really should have been nominated for an Oscar for The Social Network. His BAFTA-winning performance in Boy A is beyond brilliant. His supporting work in Never Let Me Go, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and Lions for Lambs is show stopping. And even seeing him as a robot in I'm Here is an experience in itself. I love you, Andrew Garfield. Where have you been all my life?
Favourite performance: Boy A
Favourite film: The Social Network


7. Robert Downey Jr. (in Iron Man)

Me? Miss a Robert Downey Jr. flick? Never. This man. This man. Why the hell is he so goddamn awesome? I wish I knew the answer to that question. Just anything he is in, he just makes me laugh and want to bask in his awesomeness. And hell, he's the only person ever to get nominated for an Oscar for being an American playing an Australian playing an African-American. Yes, he deserves a spot here.
Favourite performance: Tropic Thunder
Favourite film: Iron Man


6. Colin Firth (in The King's Speech)

Colin Firth is such a great person. Like, every time I see him he just looks like the guy you'd go and hug. Y'know, he just seems like a really nice person. He's had an interesting film career, too. He went from being a dashing young Brit with a knack for playing Mr. Darcy figures, to becoming the thing of middle-aged women's dreams with all those chick flicks, to suddenly becoming hot Oscar property by getting two consecutive nominations for A Single Man and The King's Speech (winning for the latter, of course). I'll continue watching his movies until he stops making them.
Favourite performance: The King's Speech
Favourite film: A Single Man


5. Jeremy Renner (in The Hurt Locker)

Despite being nominated for two consecutive Oscars, Jeremy Renner is not a name widely known in the household, even though if anyone has seen either The Hurt Locker or The Town, I bloody hope they were impressed by this beautiful man. Based on those two movies alone (and a few others to the side), I've fallen in love with Renner's talent. He's such a great actor. And he seems so chill in real-life as well. Please tell me I'm not the only one who loves Renner!
Favourite performance: The Hurt Locker
Favourite film: The Town

4. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (in Brick)

Whoever doesn't love JGL ought to leave. Now. Right now. Because it's damn near impossible not to love him. He's gorgeous, he's oh-so-hip right now, he's a musician, he has his own rocking website, he's a really chill guy and he's super talented. Ever since I saw (500) Days of Summer, I was in lesbians with him. I flicked back through some of his other movies like Brick and fell in lesbians even more. Completing my love for him was his appearance in Inception for Master Nolan, where he does a gravity defying fight scene which is pretty out of this world. And he's gonna star in The Dark Knight Rises. With Master Nolan. Again. You've gotta be pretty great to do a double Nolan.
Favourite performance: Brick
Favourite film: Inception

3. Mark Strong (in Kick-Ass)

Like Aaron Eckhart, Mark Strong has always been there, minding his own business, but being completely awesome in the meantime. He's been in a heck of a lot of films, and I think - well, I hope - people are cottoning on to how great this guy actually is. To be honest, he steals the show in every movie he is in. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. Body of Lies. Sherlock Holmes. Robin Hood. Kick-Ass. Those are to name a few. I particularly loved him in Kick-Ass, because he is so mean but he is so funny at the same time. He's just great. Mainly because he can actually talk in proper sentences unlike Nicolas Cage.
Favourite performance: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Favourite film: Kick-Ass


2. Cillian Murphy (in Red Eye)

Many people underestimate Cillian Murphy. I don't know why this is. I guess you could call me an expert on Cillian, considering I watched most of his films during my major Cillian Murphy phase in August/September 2010. I learnt that he can indeed do comedy (Watching the Detectives...the whole film wasn't great, but he was pretty good). I learnt that he is a very scary man (Red Eye, Batman Begins). I learnt that he is a great leading man in Danny Boyle movies (28 Days Later..., Sunshine). I learnt that he has the most beautiful eyes in the world (all of his films, particularly Inception). And I learnt that he makes a very good girl (Breakfast on Pluto, Peacock). Yes, Cillian has a very diverse range of films. Which is why I love him so much.
Favourite performance: Breakfast on Pluto
Favourite film: Inception

1. Leonardo DiCaprio (in The Aviator)

No, this spot on the list is not filled because I saw Titanic and decided that Jack was a real hottie. In fact, I saw What's Eating Gilbert Grape and I was like "holy shit, that dude must be Jesus or something". From that performance on, I have gone through my life loving Leonardo DiCaprio. I have pretty much seen his entire filmography (there are a few that have passed me by, oh well), and I have been impressed by every single one of his performances. Though I am thankful that his teen idol status has disappeared and now we only see serious DiCaprio making serious movies which are seriously good. Now, come on, just give him an Oscar already!
Favourite performance: The Aviator
Favourite film: Inception

Expect a list of my favourite actresses tomorrow!

Top 10 movies that made me cry like a baby...

Up until late 2008, I used to think I was such a fearless child and I would never cry in any movie. Never. Then I watched a certain movie and it would seem that I can cry in just about any movie I watch. If one thing even remotely looks cryable I will probably turn on the waterworks. This sounds like a very melancholy list, if I do say so myself.

10. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The end is inevitable, but the outcome is still so sad. However, possibly the saddest part about this movie is Benjamin's voiceover which takes a look at the people he had met during his unusual life:

"Some people, were born to sit by a river. Some get struck by lightning. Some have an ear for music. Some are artists. Some swim. Some know buttons. Some know Shakespeare. Some are mothers. And some people, dance."

Then we see water rushing through the train station up to the backwards clock. I couldn't think of a more heartbreakingly beautiful way to end a film.

9. A Single Man

There is no doubting that A Single Man is a pretty sad movie right the way through, as it is pretty much a quest for suicide from start to almost finish. But the end is so sad in the way that when someone finally reaches happiness, the world has to go and screw it up again. As George says, though, "Everything is exactly the way it's meant to be."

8. Australia

I've never really talked about this film or my fascination with Baz Luhrmann's films on the blog. I'm a huge fan of Baz Luhrmann's body of work, and even though this is particularly my least favourite, this made me cry the most out of any of them (and hey, Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge! did make me cry a lot). In fact, when I saw it in cinemas about two years back, I think I cried on three separate occasions. It's such a soppy film, but amongst all that sop that I'm usually immune to, there's such raw emotion that I couldn't help to shed a tear for. The only thing was, I wasn't crying as much as the middle aged women three rows behind me. I suspect that had something to do with Hugh Jackman.

7. A Star is Born (1937)



Here is the movie that started it all. Back in late 2008, I settled in to watch A Star is Born, which I bought for $3.50 from a bargain bin at the Warehouse, not really knowing what to expect. Amidst all the really shonky technicolour which hadn't been enhanced for the DVD release, I found my eyes watering towards the end. That was pure shock for me, as I'd never felt that before. And considering this was the first version of this well-known story, I can't even begin to imagine what the Judy Garland version would be like.

6. Inception

Okay, I don't for the life of me know why I cry in this movie every bloody time I watch it. It isn't even that sad. Let's take a trip back to that Thursday night, July 22nd, 2010. I was pretty excited to see this movie. More than that, I just about had a heart attack every time I heard the word 'Inception' mentioned. So, I guess you could say I had high expectations for this movie. I think I cried on three separate occasions, but I can't remember exactly which ones. But by the end, I was bawling my eyes out, possibly from the fact that this movie exceeded my expectations. I actually walked out of the cinemas with tears streaming down my face and didn't stop shaking for like an hour. This may sound strange to all you sane people out there, but Inception hit me in such a weird way that it made me question my sanity.

5. Once Were Warriors

For those of you who aren't familiar with NZ cinema (i.e. all of you), Once Were Warriors is perhaps our most famous movie ever. And guess what? It is about domestic violence. It's pretty much the most disturbing piece of cinema I have ever had to put my innocent soul through, and I'm sure I came out of it damaged. While this is a fantastic film on so many levels, Once Were Warriors is probably one of the hardest films to watch. If you have seen it, I promise you that NZ isn't as violent as this movie makes it out to be, but unfortunately most of what it is saying is true in a lot of parts of this country. This disturbing truth is probably the reason why I found it so hard to keep my eyes dry.

4. Gone with the Wind

It's weird because it took me four watches of this movie to actually cry. I don't know why, but that fourth time this movie really hit me. And ever since, I have been bawling my eyes out during this. There's just something about Scarlett's struggles, Melanie's sweetness and Rhett's discontent that strikes a chord with me. I guess that's why they call Gone with the Wind such a feminine piece of film. And I also guess this film is the reason romantic dramas are so soppy these days.

3. Toy Story 3

I wouldn't say Toy Story 3 is a very sad film. It's just such a tearjerker. Watching the trilogy all together probably made the end of this one even more sad. You see these toys evolve, and soon they become your best friends. But when it all comes down to the end, it feels like a hole has been ripped out of your heart. Even though you know the toys are going to be safe at their new home, you can't help but feel sad because this is the end of an era. But it's a happy ending, all the same.

2. Revolutionary Road

This has to be one of my absolute favourite movies and favourite book, as well. I don't care if Titanic is supposed to be the saddest movie of all time or whatever, because I think this Leo DiCaprio-Kate Winslet outing made me cry the most. It's an ultra depressing film about the dreams of people stuck living a suburban life and a look at a couple on the brink of disaster. The way DiCaprio and Winslet play it out is simply beautiful, but the end is so devastating, and that all comes down to DiCaprio. When I see his face after he finds out what happens, I swear my heart shatters into a million pieces. Every single time.

1. Requiem for a Dream

Okay, so you know how most people watch this movie once and they're like "I'm never watching that movie again!" I was one of those people. Once this movie ended, I started crying uncontrollably. If there's any movie that changed my life, it was this one. However, I got forced to watch it again not so long ago. I warn you, this is not a good idea. Even though I knew what was going to happen, this film hit me like a million bricks. I literally cried for an hour, and then couldn't get to sleep for quite a while (it was 3am, mind you). Seriously, Requiem for a Dream is the most depressing film I have ever seen in my life. I literally feel like my innocence is gone now I have watched this. Some Christmas present this movie turned out to be. (Note: I actually do rank this as one of the best films I have ever seen)

Which movies make you bring out the tissues?