101 Most Evil Characters in Cinema
List of Great Evil Characters played by actors who earned themselves Oscar Nominations for playing them so well.
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- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsJodie FosterAnthony HopkinsScott GlennA young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.Hannibal Lecter: If you want to see a great villain so intelligent, so manipulative, and so undeniably vicious, then watch this film and see Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal 'The Cannibal' Lecter, a sociopathic serial killer whose known for literally devouring his victims. Hopkins earned himself a Best Actor Oscar for his brilliant portrayal of a man whose mindgames are as dangerous as his taste for flesh.
- 19641h 35mPG8.4 (519K)97MetascoreDirectorStanley KubrickStarsPeter SellersGeorge C. ScottSterling HaydenAn unhinged American general orders a bombing attack on the Soviet Union, triggering a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop.Dr. Strangelove: Peter Sellers portrays Dr. Strangelove as the epitome of the post-nuclear man as monster. He's completely comfortable, almost gleeful, when talking about mass-murder as an abstraction and a political expediency. He is not only zany but manipulative in his role. Sellers earned himself a Best Actor Oscar Nomination with a role that still transcends time.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMarlon BrandoAl PacinoJames CaanThe aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.Vito Corleone: Vito Corleone is both a family man and a business man. He cares deeply for his famiy but is afraid of the legacy he is leaving for them. As a business man, he tries not to leave any bloodshed but in the end he was still feared. As the Godfather, he is both feared and respected but loved by his family. Even today, the film, The Godfather, is well deserved for Best Picture and Marlon Brando gives an Oscar-winning performance that would stand the test of time.
- DirectorCharles ChaplinStarsCharles ChaplinPaulette GoddardJack OakieDictator Adenoid Hynkel tries to expand his empire while a poor Jewish barber tries to avoid persecution from Hynkel's regime.Adenoid Hynkel: Charles Chaplin was well-known for his silent film success as the comedic Tramp. In his film 'The Great Dictator' (1940) (which he wrote, directed, produced, and starred) he plays the Tramp , a Jewish barber who ends up being in the middle of Germany's harsh treatment towards Jews and Adenoid Hynkel, the ego-maniacal leader who rules with an iron fist. As old as this film is, it still brings presence to the modern world today. As Hynkel, he plays him with gusto and grace. There is a scene where he does ballet with the globe which is so amazing to represent how much control he wants to the world. In case, you did not notice, Chaplin was parodying Adolf Hitler to impose on attrocities he was inflicting on the Jews. Either way Chaplin earned himself a Best Actor Nomination for how good he played the role along with others on how good he made the film.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsAl PacinoRobert De NiroRobert DuvallThe early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York City is portrayed, while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on the family crime syndicate.Michael Corleone: Al Pacino earned both Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor Oscar Nominations for his infamous portrayal of Michael Corleone, whose personality has changed when forced to lead the Corleone family from his beginnings to his point being frightened by his family members including his wife and children especially his brother and sister asking him for forgiveness when he was nothing but cold and heartless to them all.
- DirectorOliver StoneStarsCharlie SheenMichael DouglasTamara TunieAn impatient young stockbroker is willing to do anything to get to the top, including trading on illegal inside information taken through a ruthless, greedy corporate raider who takes the youth under his wing.Gordon Gekko: In the film, Wall Street (1987), Michael Douglas wins a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of a Wall Street mogul, Gordon Gekko whose greed would match his devious nature. When it comes to making money in stocks, he does whatever necessary no matter who pays the price. Even his phrase 'Greed is Good' lives on.
- DirectorRouben MamoulianStarsFredric MarchMiriam HopkinsRose HobartDr. Jekyll faces horrible consequences when he lets his dark side run wild with a potion that transforms him into the animalistic Mr. Hyde.Mr. Hyde: For any of you old monster movie fans, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) really set the record for a scary character. Fredric March is brilliant as innocent handsome Dr. Jekyll and the evil sadistic ugly Mr. Hyde. You want to see a performance showing polar opposites of one person this is it. You cannot beat this kind of brilliant acting and March earned himself a Best Actor Oscar for his monstrous performance.
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsJames CaanKathy BatesRichard FarnsworthAfter a famous author is rescued from a car crash by a fan of his novels, he comes to realize that the care he is receiving is only the beginning of a nightmare of captivity and abuse.Annie Wilkes: In the film, Misery (1990) Kathy Bates really delivers in her Oscar winning role as the obsessed kidnapper Annie Wilkes whose love is matched with her violent goal to keep the captive writer by her side, no matter what it takes.
- DirectorVincente MinnelliStarsLana TurnerKirk DouglasWalter PidgeonAn unscrupulous movie producer uses an actress, a director and a writer to achieve success.Jonathan Shields: If you want to see a cold Hollywood mogul, here is one. Jonathan Shields is a man who takes Hollywood by storm by achieving success by whatever means no matter who he hurts. Kirk Douglas earned a Best Actor nomination for his role in 'The Bad and the Beautiful' in which he should have won but makes for a cold, overachieving, Hollywood scum that tells how Hollywood is then and now. Shields is a man who rose to success but loses his soul.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroJodie FosterCybill ShepherdA mentally unstable veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where the perceived decadence and sleaze fuels his urge for violent action.Travis Bickle: If you want to see a movie about a man push to the edge by society, Taxi Driver (1978) is the one you should see. De Niro's first Best Actor Nomination really reflected a man who goes mad when the streets are filled with crime that the police are not there for anyone. As crazy as Bickle is, he is one hell of a character.
- DirectorJohn FrankenheimerStarsFrank SinatraLaurence HarveyJanet LeighAn American POW in the Korean War is brainwashed as an unwitting assassin for an international Communist conspiracy.Mrs. Eleanor Iselin: In 'The Manchurian Candidate' (1963), Angela Lansbury, who you might know from Murder She Wrote, really gave us a villain who is devious, controlling, and downright cruel to whoever stands in her way. So far in the history of film, she is the only villainous that has a incestuous relationship with her son. Lansbury should have won the Best Supporting Actress nomination.
- DirectorRobert RossenStarsBroderick CrawfordJohn IrelandJoanne DruThe rise and fall of a corrupt politician, who makes his friends richer and retains power by dint of a populist appeal.Willie Stark: For anyone who saw 'All the King's Men' with Sean Penn, I comment that Penn pulled a great performance but the film itself was disappointing. In 1949, 'All the King's Men' won Best Picture that year, along with Broderick Crawford in his Oscar-winning performance as Willie Stark, who had good intentions becoming a politicean but became corrupt while pursuing goals for the state. Stark convinced alot of voters that he is a good man but never proved it to the people he works with. He is an adulterer, a businessman, and an ego-maniacal dictator. Either way the 1949 film is better than the Sean Penn one. Stark's character is based on a real corrupt politicean Huey P. Long.
- DirectorAdrian LyneStarsMichael DouglasGlenn CloseAnne ArcherA married man's one-night stand comes back to haunt him when that lover begins to stalk him and his family.Alex Forrest: Before the tv show 'Damages,' Glenn Close was the obessed Alex Forrest in the thriller 'Fatal Attraction' (1988) who after a one night stand with a man, she won't let him go. Forrest is a woman who felt betrayed and is a force to be reckoned with when she wants to get back at the guy. No matter how much the man pleads with her to stop, it would make Alex want to have him more if it means killing everything he values most including his family. This character made every man think twice before sleeping around on their wives. I can't believe Glenn Close did not win the Best Actress Oscar for this sinister performance and to Cher of all people.
- DirectorBurt BalabanStuart RosenbergStarsStuart WhitmanMay BrittHenry MorganThe rise and fall of a 1930's Brooklyn crime syndicate, known as Murder Incorporated, led by mobster Lepke Buchalter.Abe Kid Twist: Before Columbo, Peter Falk was Abe 'Kid Twist' Reles in the film Murder Inc. You take one look and say "wow he's scary." That was my impression when I saw the film. Despite his disturbing looks, he makes the film worth watching. He's both scary and crazy to be with. Either way Falk really deserved his Best Supporting Actor nomination.
- DirectorWilliam FriedkinStarsEllen BurstynMax von SydowLinda BlairWhen a young girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.Regan MacNeil: 'The Exorcist' was known in the 1970's as one of the best horror films ever to be made about demonic possession. In the film we see 12-year-old Linda Blair as Regan MacNeil, an innocent little girl who despite efforts made by her mother, is possessed by an demonic entity that would give you chills to your bones. What a performance it was, having to change from an innocent little girl to a demonically possessed little girl that would curse and vomit on the priest despite the efforts he was making to fight off this evil. Don't believe me watch this film and you will see what I mean. Blair earned herself a Best Supporting Actress Nomination for her scary but brilliant performance.
- DirectorWarren BeattyStarsWarren BeattyMadonnaAl PacinoThe comic strip detective finds his life vastly complicated when Breathless Mahoney makes advances towards him while he is trying to battle Big Boy Caprice's united mob.Big Boy Caprice: Al Pacino adds another violent role to his list of Oscar nominations and one of the them is Big Boy Caprice in the film 'Dick Tracy' (1990) where his brilliance as a career criminal makes him more dangerous as a power hungry mob boss who wants to take over the city.
- DirectorJohn SchlesingerStarsDustin HoffmanLaurence OlivierRoy ScheiderAfter the shocking murder of his older brother, a New York history student finds himself inexplicably hounded by shadowy government agents on the trail of a Nazi war criminal who is trying to retrieve smuggled diamonds.Dr. Christian Szell: Laurence Olivier delivers a performance that personifies greed. Dr. Christian Szell was a Nazi doctor who performed experiments on Jews and was paid with gold teeth. Now he is paid with diamonds and if he does not get them, Szell will leave no prisoners until he gets what he wants. His famous phrase, "Is it safe, is it safe, is it safe." Szell's character is based on infamous Nazi doctor Dr. Josef Mengele. Either way well deserved Best Supporting Actor nomination
- DirectorEthan CoenJoel CoenStarsTommy Lee JonesJavier BardemJosh BrolinViolence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong and over two million dollars in cash near the Rio Grande.Anton Chigurh: Javier Bardem plays the killer Anton Chigurh with subtlety and great results. He plays him as a violent force that won't stop until he gets his man. What makes him more scary is his obsession with flipping his coin to tell who lives or who dies. He is silent but extremely violent. Bardem earned his Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this role that would match Hannibal Lecter.
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsWilliam HoldenGloria SwansonErich von StroheimA screenwriter develops a dangerous relationship with a faded film star determined to make a triumphant return.Norma Desmond: Norma Desmond is a former silent film actress who lives on Sunset Boulevard (also the title of the film) but is anxious for a comeback and so she meets a writer, Joe Gillis. They eventually became lovers but would soon end with murder and madness. Desmond is an example of how some actors and actresses can tragically drift to obscurity and desperately want to be in the spotlight again. Gloria Swanson gives a scary performance as Desmond and with her line, "All right Mr. Demille I am ready for my closeup," she received a Best Actress Nomination.
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodGene HackmanMorgan FreemanRetired Old West gunslinger William Munny reluctantly takes on one last job, with the help of his old partner Ned Logan and a young man, The "Schofield Kid."Little Bill Daggett: If you think he is great as Popeye Doyle in 'The French Connection' than you may have to see Gene Hackman in 'Unforgiven.' Little Bill Daggett is a sheriff who protects his town but runs it with an iron fist. He is a cold heartless bastard who makes a habit of killing anyone that gets in his way. Through moments with Richard Harris, you would be frightened by the way he tells his stories to the prisoner and how he tells them to the writer he hired. Either way Hackman is cleverly great in a role that earned him his Best Supporting Actor Academy Award.
- DirectorSidney LumetStarsFaye DunawayWilliam HoldenPeter FinchA television network cynically exploits a deranged former anchor's ravings and revelations about the news media for its own profit, but finds that his message may be difficult to control.Diana Christensen: In the film, 'Network' tv ratings are worth killing for, literally. Diana Christensen lives for her job in television. Like television, she is manipulative, clever, and never shows remorse. Faye plays her as a leech who sucks the life out of everyone she works with and deceives. She can be desperate and and downright devious to the bone. Dunaway won the Best Actress Academy Award for her clever performance.
- DirectorMervyn LeRoyStarsNancy KellyPatty McCormackGage ClarkeRhoda Penmark seems like your average, sweet eight-year-old girl. After her rival at school dies in mysterious circumstances at the school picnic, her mother starts to suspect that Rhoda was responsible.Rhoda Penmark: In The Bad Seed, Rhoda is a villain unlike any other because she is a little girl who may look innocent but like the Devil himself, she is a deceiver and does not care who she hurts as long as she gets her way. Patty McCormack really pulls off an evil personality and well deserving of a Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nomination. ”
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsFred MacMurrayBarbara StanwyckEdward G. RobinsonA Los Angeles insurance representative lets an alluring housewife seduce him into a scheme of insurance fraud and murder that arouses the suspicion of his colleague, an insurance investigator.Phyllis Dietrichson: Barbara Stanwyck plays a woman who cons a man to kill her husband. Phyllis is seductive as she is devious. The man thought he was in love with her but instead was conned to do an insurance scam where Phyllis is the person receiving the money out of the settlement. Stanwyck really proved herself receiving a Best Actress Nomination as Phyllis performing emotions in order to perform a sinister plot.
- DirectorRobert AldrichStarsBette DavisJoan CrawfordVictor BuonoA former child star torments her paraplegic sister in their decaying Hollywood mansion.Baby Jane Hudson: 'Whatever happened to Baby Jane' the title of the film but that is the question everybody wants to know when they wonder where the former child star has been. Bette Davis plays a disillusioned former child star who lives in isulation at a crumbling mansion with her sister. When her sister was crippled by Jane herself through drunk driving, Jane tries to control every aspect of her sister's life while she is at her mansion. Jane was famous but now is a weak old hag who can't even see that she is not a child anymore but to the audience, we pity her for not even seeing what kind of monster she made herself to be. Bette Davis really pulled off a sinister performance, worthy of a Best Actress Nomination.
- DirectorHenry HathawayStarsVictor MatureBrian DonlevyColeen GrayA crook arrested for a jewelry heist initially refuses to give up his accomplices, but he changes his mind once his wife dies under worrying circumstances.Tommy Udo: Richard Widmark made his acting debut in Kiss of Death as the scary gangster Tommy Udo. He's mostly dedicated to the mob but is determined to get revenge who testified against him. He's psychotic and kills anyone that gets in his way. Widmark deserved his Best Supporting Actor nomination. ”
- DirectorElliot SilversteinStarsJane FondaLee MarvinMichael CallanA young schoolteacher turns into an outlaw to avenge her murdered father.Tim Strawn: In the film, 'Cat Ballou' Lee Marvin plays Kid Shelleen a drunk gunfighter hired by the title character Cat Ballou played by Jane Fonda. Marvin played his part with alot of humor and human empathy. He's funny when he's drunk and dramatic when he's not drinking. But Marvin also plays Tim Strawn, the bad guy who killed Ballou's father. This character was played with enthusiasm and coldness. Either way Marvin played both characters really well and there is no reason Kid Shelleen should not be counted as one of the best villains ever played because Marvin won the Best Actor Oscar for his double portrayal.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsKevin SpaceyGabriel ByrneChazz PalminteriThe sole survivor of a pier shoot-out tells the story of how a notorious criminal influenced the events that began with five criminals meeting in a seemingly random police lineup.Roger Verbal Kint: Kevin Spacey gives a performance you never expect. At first you see him Roger 'Verbal' Kint whose testimony is being recorded about his accounts of what happened the week before. Spacey plays a man who disabled but emotionally fragile while under pressure. How he told the story really add greatness to The Usual Suspect especially when he talks about Kaiser Sose, the boogieman everyone is afraid of. Until you see the film yourself, you will know why I made him one of my all time great villains.
- DirectorWolfgang PetersenStarsClint EastwoodJohn MalkovichRene RussoSecret Service agent Frank Horrigan couldn't save Kennedy, but he's determined not to let a clever assassin take out this president.Mitch Leary: John Malkovich should have taken the Best Supporting Oscar home for 'In the Line of Fire' when he played Mitch Leary, an assassin whose silent but deadly intelligence is matched by his bloodthirsty vengeance against the government who wronged him and would stop at nothing until he killed the President of the United States. You would know how cold of a killer he is through his phone conversations with our hero Frank played by Clint Eastwood.
- DirectorJerry SchatzbergStarsChristopher ReeveKathy BakerMimi RogersA New York journalist lies when his fake story about a pimp describes a real pimp up for murder.Fast Black: In Street Smart, Morgan Freeman before his run with Driving Miss Daisy (1989) and Shawshank Redemption (1994), he was a cold and brutal pimp named Fast Black. Black is as vicious as he is ruthless. He has a temper that makes any girl scared of him. Freeman made a great acting debut and showed how serious an actor he is back then. There was a scene where he was drinking a Yoohoo bottle and then smashes to use it as a weapon against his girls. Freeman deserved the Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination but made you wish he won.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMarlon BrandoAl PacinoJames CaanThe aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.Sonny Corleone: James Caan made a star-making debut in his Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination as Santino Sonny Corleone whose violent nature and dedication to his family is pushed to a point of defending his sister's honor and defending his family's honor when given the opportunity. ”
- DirectorMilos FormanStarsJack NicholsonLouise FletcherMichael BerrymanIn the Fall of 1963, a Korean War veteran and criminal pleads insanity and is admitted to a mental institution, where he rallies up the scared patients against the tyrannical nurse.Nurse Ratched: In the film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Louise Fletcher plays Nurse Ratched, a woman dedicated to her job as a nurse in a mental ward. She is so dedicated that she does not give the inmates any form of dignity especially to McMurphy, the main character, from start to the end, she is decent as she is ruthless. Louise Fletcher really pulled off an Oscar-winnning performance in this Best Picture Winner.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroNick NolteJessica LangeA convicted rapist, released from prison after serving a fourteen-year sentence, stalks the family of the lawyer who originally defended him.Max Cady: In the film Cape Fear, Robert De Niro delivers a performance in Biblical proportions. Max Cady feels wronged by his lawyer. So he get revenge against him by any means necessary if it means turning his life upside down. De Niro went above and beyond with this role which earned him his last Best Actor Nomination.
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsTom CruiseJack NicholsonDemi MooreMilitary lawyer Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee defends Marines accused of murder. They contend they were acting under orders.Col. Nathan R. Jessep: In A Few Good Men, Jack Nicholson pulls off another Best Supporting Actor nomination, as a dedicated Colonel who takes duty over human life. Jessep is one of those soldiers who think they are God's gift to the military, but unfortunately he decided to eliminate the weak and have only the strong survive. See the movie, you will see what I mean.
- DirectorElia KazanStarsMarlon BrandoKarl MaldenLee J. CobbAn ex-prize fighter turned New Jersey longshoreman struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses, including his older brother, as he starts to connect with the grieving sister of one of the syndicate's victims.Charley The Gent Malloy: Before In The Heat of the Night, Rod Steiger (person on left) plays Charley The Gent Malloy a gangster whose devotion to his brother reaches levels they never thought possible. We see that he is a cold bastard dedicated to his longshore business in every way possible no matter how illegal but feels regret for what he did to his brother. Steiger really earned his Best Supporting Actor nomination for this role in On The Waterfront. ”
- DirectorAntoine FuquaStarsDenzel WashingtonEthan HawkeScott GlennA rookie cop spends his first day as a Los Angeles narcotics officer with a rogue detective who isn't what he appears to be.Detective Alonzo Harris: Denzel Washington deserves his Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of a corrupt detective who would seem good at first but then his behavior became more violent as his life turns upside down when he owes money to people he wronged and must kill everyone that gets in his way. His way in dealing with the law is when you cross him, you're dead; simple as that. From beginning to end, He is a force to be reckoned with and the only person in his way is the trainee he was given to teach the way of the streets which was well played Ethan Hawke in an Oscar-nominated performance. His phrase, 'King Kong ain't got *beep* on me.'
- DirectorSidney LumetStarsFaye DunawayWilliam HoldenPeter FinchA television network cynically exploits a deranged former anchor's ravings and revelations about the news media for its own profit, but finds that his message may be difficult to control.Arthur Jensen: For anyone who has never seen 'Network'(1976) go rent the movie because it is one of those great films. There is a character that seem to have one appearance in the film and that is Arthur Jensen. Ned Beatty's Oscar Nominated performance as the executive lecturing to our hero Howard Beale is in a god-like presence that could make the whole room quiet with one word. With his monologue in the film, he shows Howard how God-like he can be. As the boss, he showed Howard how much of a master of his domain he really is.
- DirectorCharles CrichtonJohn CleeseStarsJohn CleeseJamie Lee CurtisKevin KlineIn London, four very different people team up on a jewel heist, then try to double-cross one another for the loot, complicated by their efforts to fool a very proper barrister.Otto: Kevin Kline is Otto, a con man whose insane jealousy and his extreme narcissism make him a very funny character. Otto was crazy, loony, intelligent, and extremely one minded. In the film 'A Fish Called Wanda,'(1988) Kline received the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his Looney Tune like performance.
- DirectorNorman JewisonStarsHoward E. Rollins Jr.Adolph CaesarArt EvansAn African-American officer investigates a murder in a racially charged situation in World War II.Sergeant Waters: In the film A Soldier's Story, Adolph Caesar plays a role which he originally played on Broadway, Sergeant Waters, a African American soldier who was murdered and the mystery that surrounds his death, is investigated by an african american captain played by Howard Rollins Jr. , in which was not heard of during World War II, named Davenport. During the course of the investigation, Davenport discovered Waters, as a sinister man whose duty to the army compromises his integrity as a black man. Waters loves to show how cold he can be to his men but when one of them dies, the one thing we never expect to see from a savage beast like him is the guilt he feels after it happens. Caesar deserves his Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination and it is sad to hear he died two years later.
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsDaniel Day-LewisPaul DanoCiarán HindsA story of family, religion, hatred, oil and madness, focusing on a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business.Daniel Plainview: Daniel Day Lewis really pulled off a great performance earning him his second Best Actor Oscar. His character was nothing short of brilliant, manipulative, greedy, and an all around heartless bastard. A self made man who worked from the ground-up (literally) to be rich oil man but was corrupted enough to want more land and money for himself.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMarlon BrandoAl PacinoJames CaanThe aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.Tom Hagen: If you want the best well-played mob lawyer, here's Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen in the film 'The Godfather'(1972). Hagen is soft spoken and mild-mannered, and considered the voice of reason for the Corleone family. He is considered a villain because he knows as a lawyer, confidentiality is key but negotiating talks between gangster kingpins and druglords is never easy.
- DirectorJerome RobbinsRobert WiseStarsNatalie WoodGeorge ChakirisRichard BeymerTwo youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy.Bernardo: For anyone who has not seen the musical West Side Story (1961), the one character that sticks out is George Chakiris as Bernardo, the leader of the Puerto Rican Sharks. Bernardo is controlling as he is devious. He is feared by his own people and is willing to do anything to keep his sister from the man she loves. Chakiris earned his Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this Best Picture Winner.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleHeath LedgerAaron EckhartWhen the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.Joker: Heath Ledger's no holds bar performance as the supervillain Joker whose love for violence matches his brilliance to play games with Batman no matter the stakes. He kills with no mercy but has fun doing it too. Ledger plays his performance with humor and dangerous tastes. He makes you like him but not like what he enjoys doing, killing without mercy. Ledger may be dead but he won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar either way and leaves us with an unbelievable character. ”
- DirectorElia KazanStarsVivien LeighMarlon BrandoKim HunterDisturbed Blanche DuBois moves in with her sister in New Orleans and is tormented by her brutish brother-in-law while her reality crumbles around her.Stanley Kowalski: In "A Streetcar Named Desire" Brando shows bravado as Stanley Kowalski, an abusive drunk who has a violent temper but wants love in return. Brando is great in his first Best Actor Nomination. Don't believe me, watch this film,"A Streetcar Named Desire." Mostly famous for this phrase, 'Stella!
- DirectorGregory HoblitStarsRichard GereLaura LinneyEdward NortonAn altar boy is accused of murdering a priest, and the truth is buried several layers deep.Aaron Stampler: In the film, Primal Fear (1996), Edward Norton plays Aaron Stampler, an altar boy accused of murdering a priest. Throughout the film, Norton shows two personalities; the innocent Aarron and the indecent Roy. Norton plays his role down to the core and until the unexpected ending, you will be surprised how good he was. Norton earned himself a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination for his brilliant performance.
- DirectorRichard RushStarsPeter O'TooleSteve RailsbackBarbara HersheyA fugitive stumbles onto a movie set just when they need a new stunt man, takes the job as a way to hide out and falls for the leading lady while facing off with his manipulative director.Eli Cross: In the film, 'The Stunt Man,' (1981) a film director goes to extremes to make sure his art is done right. Eli Cross is a myth that people would think that anyone who works in the Hollywood movie business is as heartless and as devious as the devil they were believed to have feared. With Eli Cross, it might be true. Peter O'Toole gives an astonishing performance as Eli Cross, a man with passion but as heartless and narcissistic as the Devil himself. He is mostly memorable for his phrase, 'If God could do the things we can do, he'd be a happy man.' Either way, O'Toole earned himself a Best Actor Oscar Nomination for his role.
- DirectorRobert RossenStarsPaul NewmanJackie GleasonPiper LaurieAn up-and-coming pool player plays a long-time champion in a single high-stakes match.Bert Gordon: When people hear the name George C. Scott , they remember his role as George S. Patton in the film Patton (1970). In the film The Hustler (1961), Scott is Bert Gordon, a ruthless and cuthroat manager of Fast Eddie Felson. Gordon is a kind of manager whose morals would match that of a scorpion if he did not get what he wants. When you hear those words, "You owe me money," the room would be in silence because of the tone he gave for the film. Scott earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination for this role.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioCameron DiazDaniel Day-LewisIn 1862, Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher; his father's killer.William Cutting AKA Bill The Butcher: Daniel Day Lewis pulled off a blood thirsty villain whose hatred for foreigners matches his maniacal brilliance. Day Lewis earned his third Best Actor Oscar Nomination for his portrayal of a man who shows no mercy to neither his enemies or the people who follow him and will only show a little respect to anyone of his choosing. ”
- DirectorSidney LumetStarsPaul NewmanCharlotte RamplingJack WardenAn outcast, alcoholic Boston lawyer sees the chance to salvage his career and self-respect by taking a medical malpractice case to trial rather than settling.Ed Concanno: In the film, 'The Verdict,' James Mason gives an amazing performance as defense lawyer Ed Concanno who wants to win at any cost. Being the puppet master of the defense made him the most manipulative, the most intelligent, and the most despicable lawyer in the film. Characters like Ed Concannon represent how much we don't like lawyers, especially when they are hired to represent the worst people of our society. Mason earned himself a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination for his role.
- DirectorJonathan GlazerStarsRay WinstoneBen KingsleyIan McShaneBrutal gangster Don Logan recruits "retired" safecracker Gal for one last job, but it goes badly for both of them.Don Logan: In the film 'Sexy Beast,' Ben Kingsley is a force unlike anything you ever saw. Don Logan would never take 'no' for an answer. His power hungry anger never stops until you say yes. Kingsley deserved his Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination as the ruthless gangster whose personality is a mix of a stubborn mule and of a rabid dog and what I mean is that he is too stubborn to listen and too dangerous to say 'no' to. Either way Kingsley should have won the oscar for his role here.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsAl PacinoRobert De NiroRobert DuvallThe early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York City is portrayed, while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on the family crime syndicate.Hyman Roth: In the film 'The Godfather Part II,' Hyman Roth is the boss of the Jewish mob, well-played by Lee Strasberg. Strasberg depicts Roth as a wise old gangster who is thinking as a businessman and tries to cling to whatever power he has. As a gangster, he knows the business and tries to advise Michael to be better not worse. Strasberg earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination for his role. ”
- DirectorElia KazanStarsMarlon BrandoKarl MaldenLee J. CobbAn ex-prize fighter turned New Jersey longshoreman struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses, including his older brother, as he starts to connect with the grieving sister of one of the syndicate's victims.Johnny Friendly: In the film, On the waterfront, Lee J. Cobb plays a man who runs the waterfront with fear and intimidation. He is cunning as he is ruthless when he does not get his way. He would be considered a man of power only if everyone fears him. Johnny Friendly is an ironic character because his name does not match who he is. Friendly is not so friendly (corny I know). Either way Cobb earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination for his role
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsBrad PittDiane KrugerEli RothIn Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner's vengeful plans for the same.Col. Hans Landa: Christoph Waltz plays his Oscar-Winning role as the evil Col. Hans Landa, Nazi who is known to be the Jew Hunter. The man is so charming he's dangerous. Waltz plays with four different languages and yet keep into character a man who is clever but really scary to be around if you are the person he is threatening. ”
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsJack NicholsonKathleen TurnerRobert LoggiaTwo professional assassins fall in love.Maerose Prizzi: Angelica Huston plays the daughter of the Prizzi crime family Maerose Prizzi. Huston plays her with every emotion and really shows her cleverness with moments with Jack Nicholson and trying to impress her father who is the head of the Prizzi crime family. She can be cold and heartless one moment and loving and caring the next. Huston really deserved her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Prizzi's Honor.
- DirectorJames MangoldStarsWinona RyderAngelina JolieClea DuVallA directionless teenager, Susanna, is rushed to Claymoore, a mental institution, after a supposed suicide attempt. There, she befriends a group of troubled women who deeply influence her life.Lisa Rowe: Angelina Jolie who is known for playing action roles and showing off her hot body in certain films. No role could match what she made in the film, "Girl Interrupted" in which she plays Lisa Rowe, a sociopathic mental patient who is manipulative, magnetic, rebellious, and extremely dangerous. Either way Jolie won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her brilliant performance.
- DirectorTony GilroyStarsGeorge ClooneyTilda SwintonTom WilkinsonA law firm brings in its "fixer" to remedy the situation after a lawyer has a breakdown while representing a chemical company that he knows is guilty in a multibillion-dollar class action suit.Karen Crowder: Michael Clayton is a film that extended the boundaries of a regular lawyer film. In the film, Tilda Swinton plays Karen Crowder who is head lawyer for a pharmaceutical company and really plays her well. You see her behind the scenes trying to weasel her way out of the situation by hiring professional killers to kill off the main character Michael Clayton. She reflects desperation like a drug addict trying to hide his drugs from the cops. Through desperate act after desperate act, it would lead her to a downfall she never expects. Swinton wins the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsAl PacinoRobert De NiroRobert DuvallThe early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York City is portrayed, while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on the family crime syndicate.Michael V. Gazzo: In The Godfather Part II, Michael V. Gazzo plays Frankie Pentangeli, an old friend of Vito's who felt insulted by Michael that he had to ask the Rosato brothers to kill him off. Gazzo plays Frankie not only a a gangster but as a desperate old man who wants what was promised to him. Gazzo earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role.
- DirectorStephen FrearsStarsAnjelica HustonJohn CusackAnnette BeningA small-time conman has torn loyalties between his estranged mother and new girlfriend, both of whom are high-stakes grifters with their own angles to play.Lilly Dillon: Angelica Huston is Lilly Dillon, a Grifter who plays men in order to scam money from them. In this role of hers, Huston plays a woman who is greedy, manipulative, and cold and until the end of the film 'The Grifters,' she is just as heartless with her son as is the men she plays. Huston gets a Best Actress nomination for her role and is well deserved.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsAl PacinoDiane KeatonAndy GarciaFollows Michael Corleone, now in his 60s, as he seeks to free his family from crime and find a suitable successor to his empire.Vincent Mancini: Andy Garcia is both loving and extremely dangerous in his portrayal of Vincent Mancini, nephew of Michael Corleone and son of Sonny Corleone. He is as smart as Michael but as violent as Sonny. Two combinations like that make a very feared gangster. Garcia earned himself a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination for his role in 'The Godfather Part III (1990).
- DirectorOliver StoneStarsCharlie SheenTom BerengerWillem DafoeChris Taylor, a neophyte recruit in Vietnam, finds himself caught in a battle of wills between two sergeants, one good and the other evil. A shrewd examination of the brutality of war and the duality of man in conflict.Sergeant Barnes: Tom Berenger won the Golden Globe and nominated for Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of battle-scarred soldier Sergeant Barnes whose experiences in battle made him a power-hungry killer and if the mission is not finished, he will kill anyone who does not give him the answers in order to fullfill his mission no matter who gets in the way especially his fellow soldiers. ”
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsMichelle PfeifferAlec BaldwinPaul LazarA mobster's wife hates her lifestyle, but gets a chance to change it when her husband is killed - if the Long Island mob and the FBI let her.Tony 'The Tiger' Russo: Dean Stockwell before his character of Al in Quantum Leap, he was Tony Russo, a gangster who gets what he wants no matter who is in the way and kills anyone who steals from him especially men who steals his mistresses. Stockwelll is funny but at the same time scary to mess with. Stockwell earned himself a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination for his role in 'Married to the Mob' (1988)
- DirectorJane CampionStarsNicole KidmanJohn MalkovichBarbara HersheyAn American girl inherits a fortune and falls into a misguided relationship with a gentleman confidence artist whose true nature, including a barbed and covetous disposition, turns her life into a nightmare.Madame Serena Merle: Barbara Hershey turns in a role that matches greed with deception as Madame Serena Merle. In the film, The Portrait of a Lady, she plays a woman who deceives a young heiress to marry a man she's involved with and reveals her true personality to the girl when the truth comes out. She is cold, vicious and matches her wickedness with her charm. She earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nomination for this role and she is worth watching. ”
- DirectorRichard EyreStarsCate BlanchettJudi DenchAndrew SimpsonA veteran high school teacher befriends a younger art teacher, who is having an affair with one of her fifteen-year-old students. However, her intentions with this new "friend" also go well beyond a platonic friendship.Barbara Covett: I never thought I see an example of obsession until I saw the film Notes on a Scandal (2007) with Judy Dench at the lead. Dench plays Barbara Covett, a lonely unmarried woman who searches for a close friendship but finds it through a teacher who has an affair with a student. Barbara confronts this teacher about the affair and tells her to stop and help herself. Barbara keeps the teacher's secret but she uses the secret as a way to be friends with the teacher. As their friendship becomes more intense, so does the scandal comes when the secret is out. Dench could not have been better as the manipulative, conniving, and obsessively controlling woman whose view of friendship matches that of a leach, one of which that sucks the life of another until there is no more and that is how it went for her in the film. Dench earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her portrayal. ”
- DirectorTodd FieldStarsKate WinsletJennifer ConnellyPatrick WilsonThe lives of two lovelorn spouses from separate marriages, a registered sex offender, and a disgraced ex-police officer intersect as they struggle to resist their vulnerabilities and temptations in suburban Massachusetts.Ronnie J. McGorvey: Jackie Earle Haley pulled off a great performance as Ronnie J. McGorvey, a pedophile who continued his stalking of little children but in one great scene he was confronted by his demons when a tragedy happens. The performance was done as if he were playing a drug addict and as in this society pedophiles are considered evil but with this character, we see him as a man who needs psychological help.
- DirectorJim SheridanStarsRichard HarrisJohn HurtSean BeanWhen a field (which has been farmed by the McCabe family for generations) goes up for auction, the patriarch of the McCabe family will stop at nothing to prevent a rich American from buying it.Bull McCabe: In the movie, 'The Field' (1990), Richard Harris mostly known in the Harry Potter movies, plays Bull McCabe, the fiercely stubborn man who's nurtured a prime field of rented land for decades, only to lose it when the owner auctions the land to an unwelcome American (Tom Berenger). Rather than sacrifice his life's work to this brazen invader, McCabe wages a personal war with powerfully tragic results. It's unfortunate that this potent drama never really connects on an emotional level, but Harris is never less than fascinating in a role that seems to virtually consume him as an actor. His performance approaches greatness. Harris earned himself his final Best Actor Oscar Nomination for his fierce performance.
- DirectorWayne KramerStarsWilliam H. MacyMaria BelloAlec BaldwinIn an old school Las Vegas casino, its top gambling jinx breaks his curse when he falls in love, much to his boss' consternation.Shelly Kaplow: In the film, The Cooler, a Cooler is considered a man so filled with bad luck that casino owners use them to change the fortunes on any person winning at cards. Alec Baldwin's character Shelly Kaplow is considered old school gangster because he likes his casino the way he runs it but others have different ideas. Baldwin, mostly known for his role in 30 Rock, delivers a cold savage role that would equal to James Caan's role in The Godfather. He's crazy, ruthless, and all around devious. Baldwin should have won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination.
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsRachel WeiszMark WahlbergSaoirse RonanCenters on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family - and her killer - from purgatory. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal.George Harvey: Stanley Tucci earns his Best Supporting Actor Nomination as George Harvey, the clever, silent but deadly child killer who through his silent gaze, his blending into the crowd, and his ability to keep his horrible secret makes for a well played evil character.
- DirectorSam MendesStarsTom HanksTyler HoechlinPaul NewmanA mob enforcer's son in 1930s Illinois witnesses a murder, forcing him and his father to take to the road, and his father down a path of redemption and revenge.John Rooney: In Road to Perdition, Paul Newman plays John Rooney, a father and a gangster who runs a town. When threatened by his own, Michael Sullivan who wants to kill his son after he killed the man's family. Paul Newman was a powerful force behind this movie, with scenes with the man's son, and scenes confronting Michael Sullivan. Newman gave us a ruthless gangster and a loving father. Combination of that made him very dangerous. Newman is well-deserving for his Best Supporting Actor nomination when it was his last.
- DirectorWoody AllenStarsJohn CusackDianne WiestJennifer TillyIn New York in 1928, a struggling playwright is forced to cast a mobster's talentless girlfriend in his latest drama in order to get it produced.Cheech: Chazz Palminteri has done movies like The Usual Suspects, A Bronx Tale, and even Running Scared (2006) but with Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway, he plays Cheech, a gangster unlike no other, at first, he is vicious and constantly annoyed by the actress girlfriend of a mob boss he works for. But Cheech soons shows us he has more talent than the title character who is a writer. Cheech has a passion to write and create but in the middle he shows his coldness and his brutality when confronted with a choice. With a combination of his passion and brutal gangster qualities, Palminteri earned himself a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination. ”
- DirectorDavid CronenbergStarsViggo MortensenMaria BelloEd HarrisA mild-mannered man becomes a local hero through an act of violence, which sets off repercussions that will shake his family to its very core.Richie Cusack: In A History of Violence, with only a scene lasting eleven minutes, William Hurt as Richie Cusack gave us a psychopath whose personality and family devotion could only be understood by his brother Joey Cusack aka Tom Stahl. He is ruthless and cunning, which is why he earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination.
- DirectorPaul SchraderStarsNick NolteSissy SpacekJames CoburnA deeply troubled small-town cop investigates a suspicious hunting death while other events jeopardize his sanity.Glen Whitehouse: In this film, James Coburn plays Glen Whitehouse, Wade's father, who is a violent drunk whose temper could match the amount of brutality he gave to his family. Coburn played Glen's violent nature to a point where he saw Wade hit his own daughter and was proud of what he did. Coburn won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his brilliant portrayal.
- DirectorBen AffleckStarsBen AffleckRebecca HallJon HammA proficient group of thieves rob a bank and hold an assistant manager hostage. Things begin to get complicated when one of the crew members falls in love with her.James Coughlin: Jeremy Renner earned his Best Suppporting Actor nomination for his portrayal of James Couglin, a career criminal who is a ticking time bomb to anyone he does not like and maybe a borderline psychopath who rather die on the streets then go back to prison. ” - stewiec85
- DirectorLee DanielsStarsGabourey SidibeMo'NiquePaula PattonIn New York City's Harlem circa 1987, an overweight, abused, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that she can re-route her life in a better direction.Mary: In the film, Precious (2009), Monique gives a performance that would leave you hating her for how she treated her daughter and feeling sorry for her for the way she is. Monique is so brilliant at her role as Mary that she was given the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for the performance that makes everyone think about themselves and how they treat their children.
- DirectorDavid MichôdStarsJames FrechevilleGuy PearceJoel EdgertonA seventeen-year-old navigates his survival amongst an explosive criminal family and the detective who thinks he can save him.Janine 'Smurf' Cody: In this Australian crime thriller, 'Animal Kingdom' Jackie Weaver plays Janine 'Smurf' Cody who is the family matriarch along with her three sons who she carries incestuous relationships with in this crime family. Think of Mrs. Eleanor Shaw Iselin from The Manchurian Candidate (1963) and Joe Pesci from Goodfellas (1990), put them together and you'll have Smurf, one of the most diabolical mothers ever to be presented to the screen. She is devious, clever, and just down-right cruel.
- DirectorJohn Patrick ShanleyStarsMeryl StreepPhilip Seymour HoffmanAmy AdamsA Catholic school principal questions a priest's ambiguous relationship with a troubled young student.Father Flynn: Phillip Seymour Hoffman is one of the most talented actors in Hollywood. In the film, Doubt, Hoffman plays a priest, Father Flynn who is accused as a child molester without actually saying the two words. Through the film, he is being questioned by the head nun and you see some hints and clues on whether or not he has been abusing boys. Either way a great performance by Hoffman and well earned of his Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsJohnny DeppHelena Bonham CarterAlan RickmanThe legendary tale of a barber who returns from wrongful imprisonment to 1840s London, bent on revenge for the rape and death of his wife, and resumes his trade while forming a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett.Sweeney Todd: Johnny Depp starts singing in his most challenging role as Sweeney Todd in the film, 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'(2007). Depp dominates the role with sheer coldness and the lust for bloody revenge. In the film, his character was wrongly convicted of a crime and after serving 20 years in prison, he wants hellish, bloody payback against the people who wronged him. While in the process, he makes people think that he is a very good barber and when they go on his seat, he slids their throats and sends them down to his assistant for her to make pies with. Depp really shows a combination of Billy Flynn from the musical 'Chicago' (2002) and Hannibal the Cannibal from 'The Silence of the Lambs'(1992). Depp earned himself a Best Actor Oscar Nomination for his best role yet.
- DirectorJoseph L. MankiewiczStarsLaurence OlivierMichael CaineAlec CawthorneA man who loves games and theater invites his wife's lover to meet him, setting up a battle of wits with potentially deadly results.Andrew Wyke: If you want to see a man who makes a mindgame of every situation, heres Andrew Wyke,(played by Laurence Olivier) mystery writer who confronts his wife's lover and uses him to get back at her. Every twist and turn, you don't know what would happen but Olivier made his character into the perfect mastermind; smart, punctual, and most agressively devious. Olivier earned himself a Best Actor Oscar Nomination for his intelligent work.
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsHumphrey BogartMary AstorGladys GeorgeSan Francisco private detective Sam Spade takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar and their quest for a priceless statuette, with the stakes rising after his partner is murdered.'Fat Man' Kasper Gutman: , well-played by Sydney Greenstreet, is a sinister villain indeed when looking for the Maltese Falcon. He is an overweight British detective-turned-entrepreneur who was involved in many sophisticated endeavors and capers, including a search for a long-lost treasure not unlike the jeweled Falcon. Through the film, he is mostly a dark shroud around the mystery and in the end, he stops at nothing to find the falcon. Greenstreet earned himself a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination for his brilliant role.
- DirectorGeorge CukorStarsCharles BoyerIngrid BergmanJoseph CottenTen years after her aunt was murdered in their London home, a woman returns from Italy in the 1880s to resume residence with her new husband. His obsessive interest in the home rises from a secret that may require driving his wife insane.Gregory Anton: In the film 'Gaslight,' Gregory Anton played by Charles Boyer falls in love and wants to be there for the woman he loves. Unfortunately he is a control-freak. He manipulates every situation in order to convince his wife to stay. He has angry outbursts and wants to control everything his wife does. In the end, his wife beats him at his own game. Boyer earned a Best Actor Oscar Nomination for his brilliant conniving performance.
- DirectorBrian De PalmaStarsSissy SpacekPiper LaurieAmy IrvingCarrie White, a shy, friendless teenage girl who is sheltered by her domineering, religious mother, unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated by her classmates at her senior prom.Carrie White: In this horror film, Sissy Spacek gives a performance like no other when she is Carrie White, a teenage girl who discovers she has psionic powers which only works when she is angry or distressed but in the end, through humiliation she brought the fires of hell to the dance to get back at the people who wronged her.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsLaurence OlivierJoan FontaineGeorge SandersA self-conscious woman juggles adjusting to her new role as an aristocrat's wife and avoiding being intimidated by his first wife's spectral presence.Mrs. Danvers: If you want to know what an obsessive woman is, here's Mrs. Danvers played by Judith Anderson, she is a creepy housemaid who mourns for former lady of the house Rebecca and never liked her master's new wife. If you ever see Rebecca, Danvers is someone to be feared in this film especially with the thrilling climax. Anderson earned herself a Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nomination for her scary performance.
- DirectorMike NicholsStarsMelanie GriffithHarrison FordSigourney WeaverWhen a secretary's idea is stolen by her boss, she seizes an opportunity to steal it back by pretending she has her boss' job.Katharine Parker: If you want an example of crookedness in the business world, here's Katharine Parker played by Sigourney Weaver, she's a working woman who despite her good position is the kind of person that would do anything to get to the top even if it means taking credit for something she never did. She is controlling and downright devious. Weaver earned herself a Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nomination for her portrayal.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsCary GrantIngrid BergmanClaude RainsThe daughter of a convicted German spy is asked by American agents to gather information on a ring of German scientists in South America. How far will she have to go to ingratiate herself with them?Alexander Sebastian: In this film, Claude Rains portrays a Nazi who has morals but not enough to stop him from attempting to murder someone. He shows desperation in the highest degree and it is a great performance by Rains. Rains earned himself a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination.
- DirectorWilliam DieterleStarsEdward ArnoldWalter HustonJane DarwellA nineteenth-century New Hampshire farmer makes a pact with Satan for economic success, then enlists famed orator Daniel Webster to extract him from his contract.Mr. Scratch: Walter Huston plays Mr. Scratch AKA The Devil in a performance that makes him just as deceitful and just as much a delight as the original so to speak. Everybody says the devil is the master of deceit and they are right with Huston in the lead. Huston earned himself a Best Actor Oscar Nomination for his brilliant performance.
- DirectorPeter MedakStarsPeter O'TooleAlastair SimArthur LoweA member of the House of Lords dies, leaving his estate to his son. Unfortunately, his son thinks he is Jesus Christ. Their other, somewhat more respectable family members plot to steal the estate from him; murder and mayhem ensue.Jack Gurney: If you want an example of schizophrenia that funny and scary at the same time, here's Jack Gurney, a British nobleman who is a paranoid schizophrenic. At first he believed he is Jesus Christ, trying to spread love and cheer but seem to embarrass his family constantly with his fantasies. Then he turns into Jack as in Jack The Ripper which makes him a scary villain for this film. Peter O'Toole really pulled an over the top performance that earned him a Best Actor Oscar Nomination.
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsSean PennTim RobbinsKevin BaconThe tragic murder of a 19-year-old girl reunites three childhood friends still living in Boston--the victim's gangster father, a detective, and the disturbed man they both suspect of killing her.Jimmy Markum: Sean Penn gives a bravado performance as Jimmy Markum which matches the rage and trauma of losing a loved one and wanting personal revenge. Through the film, we see him mourning his daughter's death but at the same time he is searching for who to put his merciless revenge on. In the end, the question remains if finding revenge is better than finding truth. Penn earned a Best Actor Oscar for his fearless performance.
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsJack NicholsonKathleen TurnerRobert LoggiaTwo professional assassins fall in love.Don Corrado Prizzi: William Hickey plays Don Corrado Prizzi, a mob boss whose idea of honor is when their illegal business practices are still being done without any complications. Hickey plays Prizzi like a businessman who knows how to deal but no matter what he decides, it is always a dangerous decision. Hickey earned himself a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination for his portrayal of a wise old gangster.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroSharon StoneJoe PesciIn Las Vegas, two best friends - a casino executive and a mafia enforcer - compete for a gambling empire and a fast-living, fast-loving socialite.Ginger McKenna: Sharon Stone plays Ginger McKenna, the wife of the Casino boss Rothstein, who can be a great con artist but a conniving backstabbing wench the next. Stone plays her as a drug addict and selfishgreedy woman who wants everything but gets nothing in the end. Stone earned herself a Best Actress Golden Globe and a Best Actress Oscar Nomination for her crazy performance.
- DirectorDavid LeanStarsWilliam HoldenAlec GuinnessJack HawkinsBritish POWs are forced to build a railway bridge across the river Kwai for their Japanese captors in occupied Burma, not knowing that the allied forces are planning a daring commando raid through the jungle to destroy it.Col. Saito: played by Sessue Hayakawa, is a soldier of discipline but never backs down when a prisoner opposes him. He is so dedicated as a soldier he would be willing to kill himself if the bridge were not finished. Saito is notorious in the camp but emotionally he is so afraid of failure any appearance of it would be devastating. Hayakawa earned himself a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination for his role.
- DirectorGeorge StevensStarsAlan LaddJean ArthurVan HeflinA weary gunfighter in 1880s Wyoming begins to envision a quieter life after befriending a homestead family with a young son who idolizes him, but a smoldering range war forces him to act.Jack Wilson: In Shane, the worst gunslinger in this film is Jack Wilson, a cold killer for hire who loves to show how good he is as a shooter. Jack Palance plays Wilson like a snake ready to snap at his prey. Palance earned himself a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination for his evil but great performance.
- DirectorDavid MillerStarsJoan CrawfordJack PalanceGloria GrahameAfter an ambitious actor insinuates himself into the life of a wealthy middle-aged playwright and marries her, he plots with his mistress to murder her.Lester Blaine: In Sudden Fear, Lester Blaine is an actor who insinuates himself into the life of a wealthy middle-aged playwright and marries her but he plots to kill her. Blaine is not a good actor but instead uses his talents to manipulate a woman's feelings and tried to kill her. Jack Palance plays Blaine as a con artist desperate for the big times which makes a great villain. Palance earned himself his first Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination for this film.
- DirectorMervyn LeRoyStarsRobert TaylorLana TurnerEdward ArnoldThe step-daughter of a district attorney falls in love with a gangster on parole who her father originally imprisoned.Jeff Hartnett: As the alcoholic, self-loathing, philosophizing buddy of Johnny Eager (Robert Taylor), Heflin steals the show. He plays his role with great intensity and complexity, making his performance one of the most deserved Best Supporting Actor Oscars in the history of the Academy Awards. His crying scenes are enough to choke a person up, and his possible suggestion of a homo erotic attraction to Eager is unique in films of this era.
- DirectorFrank CapraStarsJames StewartJean ArthurClaude RainsA naive youth leader is appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. His idealistic plans promptly collide with corruption at home and subterfuge from his hero in Washington, but he tries to forge ahead despite attacks on his character.Senator Joseph Paine: Claude Rains pulls off a great performance as a corrupt politicean whose conflict with his own beliefs has been challenged when he meets Jefferson Smith. Rains earned himself a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination.
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsJames CagneyPat O'BrienHumphrey BogartA priest tries to stop a gangster from corrupting a group of street kids.Rocky Sullivan: James Cagney is known for playing gangsters and in this film, he plays a gangster who killed his way to get to the big time and with a little help from an old friend we see that he is more than just a thug, he is a lost soul. Cagney earned himself a Best Actor Oscar Nomination for his fearsome performance.
- DirectorJoseph L. MankiewiczStarsBette DavisAnne BaxterGeorge SandersA seemingly timid but secretly ruthless ingénue insinuates herself into the lives of an aging Broadway star and her circle of theater friends.Eve Harrington: Anne Baxter plays a woman who claws her way into the life of a famous broadway actress and tries to take her life and career from under. Baxter plays her with so much deceit that it earned her Best Actress Oscar Nomination.
- DirectorWilliam WylerStarsBette DavisHerbert MarshallTeresa WrightThe ruthless, moneyed Hubbard clan lives in, and poisons, their part of the Deep South at the turn of the twentieth century.Regina Giddens: Davis stars as the vicious Regina Giddens, the southern lady who destroys everyone around her while trying to satisfy her desire for wealth and social position. Think of her as the female version of Gordon Gekko. Davis earned herself a Best Actress Oscar Nomination for her greedy portrayal.
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsJoan CrawfordJack CarsonZachary ScottA hard-working mother inches towards disaster as she divorces her husband and starts a successful restaurant business to support her spoiled daughter.Veda Pierce
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJohn TravoltaUma ThurmanSamuel L. JacksonThe lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield
- DirectorStephen FrearsStarsGlenn CloseJohn MalkovichMichelle PfeifferA scheming widow and her manipulative ex-lover make a bet regarding the corruption of a recently married woman.Marquise De Merteuil
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsHumphrey BogartWalter HustonTim HoltTwo down-on-their-luck Americans searching for work in 1920s Mexico convince an old prospector to help them mine for gold in the Sierra Madre Mountains.Fred C. Dobbs
- DirectorPeter WeirStarsJim CarreyEd HarrisLaura LinneyAn insurance salesman discovers his whole life is actually a reality TV show.Christof