Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Top 5 Joseph Gordon-Levitt Performances

This Friday, we’ll get a look at Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut, Don Jon. I was lucky enough to catch an early screening of that film a few weeks ago (my review will be up soon), and I thought it’d be fun to list my favorite performances of Gordon-Levitt’s impressive acting career. While I’m more drawn to his work in independent films, Gordon-Levitt delivers stellar work in every film, cementing the fact that he’s one of the finest actors of his generation.

5. 50/50 (2011)
I could justify the inclusion of Gordon-Levitt’s work in 50/50 on this list by simply stating: “It’s all about that scream.” The moment when his character’s frustrations and fears finally mount, and he lets out an animalistic cry for help. I’ll admit, I wasn’t the biggest fan of 50/50, but in that moment, I was completely sold.

4. The Lookout (2007)
As the once hot-shit jock now mentally crippled from a car accident, Chris Pratt spends his days trying to make it through them. A big ordeal in his life is trying to remember what a can opener is. So when he gets tangled up in a web of dangerous thievery, we’re never quite sure if Chris is going to make it out alive. An enthralling and mysterious performance.

3. Brick (2005)
The main character in Brick is Rian Johnson’s screenplay. Setting a Dashiell Hammett-esque tale of noir inside the walls of a contemporary high school is no simple feat. And without Gordon-Levitt’s steady, believable work, Brick could’ve lost more viewers than it gained. His Brendan is the rock of the film; we live or die with him, and Gordon-Levitt carries it with utter conviction.

2. Mysterious Skin (2004)
The profound beauty of Mysterious Skin is that it deals with trauma in such a unique way. Through a very appropriately earned NC-17 rating, the film chronicles the after effects of child sexual abuse. It shows how some children repress the horrors they endured, while others rebel and seek more of it. Gordon-Levitt’s Neil is full of rebellion, and while much of his work in Mysterious Skin is alarming and difficult to stomach, everything about Neil is compelling. You want to follow him, wherever he may go.

1. Manic (2001)
I try to mention the tiny independent drama, Manic, as much as I can. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, I can honestly tell you that Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s performance as Lyle is the most accurate and horrifying depiction of teenage angst that I have ever seen on screen. Lyle is filled with pure anger. Why? We don’t know. And, more importantly, we suspect he doesn’t either. The film depicts Lyle going through the tumultuous motions of living in a mental institution. He rants, he rages, and he longs to be free. But freedom for Lyle isn’t about escaping the institution’s walls. It’s about figuring himself out.


50 comments:

  1. You know I was secretly hoping his performance in Third Rock From The Sun would get a spot on this list.
    -Dan

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    1. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't this close to including it. But if I had, it would've been too cutesy, you know? That show got him out there, but those five films above made him.

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    2. I agree that it is a cutesy role but still anyone who can hold a scene with John Lithgow deserves some credit.

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  2. I remember first seeing JGL in The Lookout when it first came out on DVD and was completely sold on him. I honestly couldn't tell you how or why I decided to even rent that film but from the moment he came on screen I was completely on his side (along with a great little Jeff Daniels performance) and it was a great introduction into his work.
    Frankly, I would probably switch one and two on here but he's a guy who is always impressing me. I loved what he did in Manic (thanks for the rec by the way!), he is perfect in that film - and that scene where he and the other kid start destroying the social room to the Deftones track I think perfectly illustrates that teenage angst you mention, but there's something about his work in Mysterious Skin that just got me. The way he just goes all in for that role just left me dumbfounded - similarly to his work in Brick - which I still think is Rian Johnson's best film. Him blowing up and doing roles in Inception and The Dark Knight Rises and Looper definitely showcase a different side to him but I agree with you in that I do prefer his more indie work! Can't wait to see Don Jon on Friday!

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    1. So glad to hear you're a fan. You know, I considered having Mysterious Skin and Manic as a tie for number one, but I always think that feels kind of cheap. Point is, both are great films containing perfect JGL performances.

      Isn't Daniels a trip in The Lookout? I really like him in that movie.

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  3. That 5 is pretty much the list of the most essential performances of JGL yet mine is a bit different from yours.

    1. Mysterious Skin
    2. Brick
    3. Manic
    4. The Lookout
    5. 50/50.

    And if I want to expand that, here is how I will add to that list.

    6. Inception
    7. Looper
    8. (500) Days of Summer
    9. The Dark Knight Rises
    10. Hesher
    11. 10 Things I Hate About You
    12. Holy Matrimony (I'm sure you probably haven't heard of this film but it's one of the films he did as a kid where he's sort of this Amish kid whose brother marries Patricia Arquette yet he dies as he has to marry her in order to stay at the community)
    13. Angels in the Outfield

    I hope to see Don Jon this weekend. I really like that guy.

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    1. Love that our Top 5 is the same, just in a slightly different order. Can't go wrong with those flicks. Our next five is almost identical as well. Based on physicality alone, I think his work in Inception is a triumph.

      Definitely hunting down Holy Matrimony asap.

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    2. It's not a great film but the idea of a Hutterite kid (that is what I had found out) having to marry his older brother's wife just to keep her there. Oh, the hilarity ensues. If I ever meet JGL, there is one big question I have to ask him about that film.

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    3. Sounds cool. I actually did meet JGL when I went to Sundance. Met by complete chance. I told him how much I appreciated Manic.

      His response: "So you were the one."
      Me: "The one...who?"
      Him: "The one person who saw that movie."

      But really, he was a damn cool guy.

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  4. I've only seen a few of his films (sadly only the blockbuster-y ones) but loved him in 50/50!

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    1. I HIGHLY recommend some of his indies. So, so good!

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  5. I've only seen 50/50 and Brick from these. My favourite performance of JGL is that in (500) Days. I cannot imagine anyone but him doing that role.

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    1. He's so good in that movie. Really close to including it here. And I agree: he completely owns that role.

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  6. The scream aside, is 50/50 worth my time?

    I dismissed the film when it came out for a variety of reasons, the first being that I didn't want to see a romantic comedy about cancer. I experienced being a caregiver at relatively young age and the end stages of the disease aren't particularly funny. There are moments of surreal humor in the everyday struggle, yes, but 50/50 didn't seem like it was trying to capture that.

    Brick is tops for me and I enjoyed the hell out of The Lookout, which is another of those overlooked thrillers chock full of strong performances. Jeff Daniels got a supporting actor nod from me that year. I haven't seen Manic or Mysterious Skin yet; will have to queue them up.

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    1. If I'm being perfectly honest, and this is just MY opinion: no, it's not. I didn't have a problem with the comedy/humor mix, but I didn't think the humor was funny at all. Not because it was offensive, but because it was just... not funny. The good news is that as the disease progresses, the movie drops the humor. I think I gave it a C-.

      The Lookout is such a great, overlooked thriller. I really love that one. Matthew Goode is perfect in that as well.

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    2. Scott Frank apparently has another film in the pipeline (Liam Neeson thriller, so hmm...), but it took him far too long given what he accomplished in The Lookout. It's a shame to see him waste his talents as writer-for-hire on crap like Marley & Me.

      I think I can safely go back to ignoring 50/50's existence now that you've set my mind at ease. :-)

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  7. My favorite from him is Brick. Not just the movie, but his performance just drips with cool, but oozes with such social abandonment. He's a great actor and I've been loving him ever since I first REALLY saw him in 500 Days and ever since, it has just been a full-on man-crush day-after-day. Agree with the Lookout too! Not many people have seen it and definitely should. Nice list, as usual, my friend. He's good in Don Jon as well, just to let you know. But I'll let you wait and see for yo'self.

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    1. I actually saw Don Jon three weeks ago (love LA early screenings) and I agree he's damn good in that too. Brick is so cool, man. Such a groovy and unique little flick.

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  8. I think I've seen almost every main stream JGL movie but I still have to watch the indie stuff.

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    1. He's so good in his indies. They really show you the range of his talent.

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  9. Totally agree with this list. Although I wasn't a big fan of Manic, I was quite taken by Gordon-Levitt's work in it. (Mysterious Skin would probably top my JGL performance list with The Lookout close behind it.)

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    1. Nice. Mysterious Skin really is a magnificent and dangerous little film. I really admire it.

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  10. JGL is one of my favorite living actors -- I've never been disappointed by one of his performances, and I've seen all but a handful of his films. Great list!

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    1. Thanks! So glad to hear you're a JGL fan. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. I've bookmarked the motion pictures for future reading!

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  11. I need to see Manic and The Lookout. If he's as good in Manic as he is in Mysterious Skin, I'd be shocked because he is flat out awesome in that. Then again, like you said, he always does stellar work.

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    1. I think he's amazing in Manic, but it is a very different kind of film. Grainy, raw and rapid. Not for everyone, but he's so, so good.

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  12. You mentioned Manic to me ages ago and I still haven't got round to it. Must check out that and The Lookout some day soon!

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    1. Hell yeah man, two really solid films there. The Lookout is MUCH more conventional than Manic, but I love them both.

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  13. LOVE this list. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is my favorite actor, these are the same 5 performances I would pick, though I'd rate Mysterious Skin as his best. I'm going to be such a happy camper when he finally gets his (overdue) Oscar nomination. I seriously think that if Mysterious Skin wasn't given that ridiculous NC-17 rating, that he would've gotten more recognition for that role.

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    1. Thanks! Mysterious Skin deserved much more acclaim than it received, agreed. I don't even think it was released stateside as NC-17, but rather, unrated, which is almost worse. No major movie chain will show unrated movies. (sigh)

      If he keeps going at this rate, he'll be nominated soon enough, no question.

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  14. YES!! I love JGL (as everyone does) and he deserves all the love, since - as you said - he's stellar in all his roles. My fav from him is 50/50 and I'm really glad you included it. And thanks for reminding his great indie work - I'll start working my way through these, then... :D

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    1. Thank YOU for reading and commenting! I really do admire his work in 50/50. He made that film worth it to me. Hope you dig his indie flicks!

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  15. I haven't seen your number 1 and 2 choices. My list would have had your other three (with Brick number 1), along with (500) Days of Summer and 10 Things I Hate About You.

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    1. 10 Things I Hate About You is darling. I really enjoy that film.

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Wow. Well... we're all entitled to our own opinion. Sorry you don't dig him.

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  17. One of my favorite actors right here... I loved 50/50 all the way through! Also, what he does with hitrecord is really awesome... I've actually contributed to a few things on there... Can't wait for Don Jon!

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    1. Much of the reason I respect him is because of hitrecord. That is such a unique and collaborative concept. So cool that you've contributed stuff on there.

      Don Jon is a real trip. He's hilarious in it.

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  18. Couldn't agree more on Manic. It's such a brilliant (and overlooked) performance. I need to see Mysterious Skin, but the rest of these would make my list as well.

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    1. Ohh man you'd really like Mysterious Skin. Well..."like" is a difficult word for that film, actually. You'd appreciate it, no doubt.

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  19. My goodness, I guess I need to see more of his work. I've only seen 50/50 on here but agree he's brilliant! Been wanting to see The Lookout for some time, now I have another reason why I should see it soon. Great list as always, Alex.

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    1. Thanks Ruth! His indie stuff is so good. The Lookout is the most accessible of the indies listed above, and it is a damn groovy little thriller.

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  20. I haven't seen the top two choices (sad, I know), so the Lookout is at the top for me. Brick and 50/50 are very close, so no arguments there either. He's putting together a very solid career.

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    1. Definitely a solid career. Mysterious Skin and Manic are both very tough films to take, so I'm not surprised you haven't seen them yet. Intense stuff.

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  21. Thumbs up for rating Manic #1. I couldn't agree more -- I wish more people would see that film. My son and I liked 50/50, and I agree about the scream. Not a fan of Brick. I can't remember whether I've seen Mysterious Skin. It sounds like that movie and Lookout are definitely ones to check out. It seems to me one of the reasons you and I have always had a good rapport is our mutual love of movies with characters in great personal angst and peril. ;-)

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    1. Indeed! I love watching people struggle on film. There's so much truth in struggle, and if an actor/director can pull it off well, it can really amount to a nobel piece of work. I love that we both enjoy those kinds of movies.

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  22. I've always felt that JGL feels more at home in independent cinema, in fact he comes off rather shoehorned in bigger pictures namely The Dark Knight Rises, in which his performance was shallow and bordeline sleepwalking. That said his work in the 5 films mentioned along with (500) Days of Summer, Don Jon and Looper have always grabbed me. He's an actor not only of vast talent but is incredibly likable. Girls want to date him, guys could see hanging out with him.

    Not too many actors have that quality to them. Great to see Manic on the list, what a film!

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    1. Yeah, I've always been more drawn to his indie work, for sure. Love that you're a fan of Manic, and I LOVE the way you described him as a person. Girls want him, guys want to chill with him. So true.

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