Happy Birthday, Robert Downey Jr.!

Today we're celebrating the 47th birthday of Academy Award-nominated actor Robert Downey Jr. He scored his first film appearance in 1970's Pound, but it wasn't until his role in 1985's Weird Science that the public actually started to notice him. Downey worked consistently through the rest of the 1980s and scored his first Oscar nomination in 1992 for his portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in the film Chaplin. Although he continued to find film roles, his off-screen life started to fall into a bit of turmoil, and it wasn't until the mid-2000s that Downey truly started to make a comeback. In 2005, he appeared in the films Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Good Night, and Good Luck, but it was his roles in the 2008 films Iron Man and Tropic Thunder - for which he scored his second Oscar nomination - that truly put him back on the map. Most recently, Downey Jr. reprised his role of Sherlock Holmes in 2011's Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and audiences will next see him reprise his role as Tony Stark in 2012's The Avengers. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of his performances and have supplied a few short clips for your viewing pleasure. Once again, happy birthday Robert!

5. Wayne Gale
Natural Born Killers (1994)


*****

4. Tony Stark / Iron Man
Iron Man (2008)


*****

3. James Barris
A Scanner Darkly (2006)


*****

2. Harry Lockhart
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)


*****

1. Kirk Lazarus
Tropic Thunder (2008)

Happy Birthday, Matthew McConaughey!

Today we celebrate the 42nd birthday of Matthew McConaughey. After growing up in Texas and realizing he wanted to pursue a life in film, McConaughey got his official start on a 1992 episode of "Unsolved Mysteries." He landed his first major feature film the following year, playing a supporting character in 1993's Dazed and Confused, which remains one of his most memorable performances to date. Through the 1990s, he appeared in a number of bigger-budget films (i.e., 1996's Lone Star, 1997's Amistad, 1997's Contact), but it was the 2000s that truly brought him to fame. After appearing opposite Jennifer Lopez in 2001's The Wedding Planner, McConaughey became something of a go-to guy for romantic comedies, appearing in the likes of 2003's How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and 2006's Failure to Launch. He's also dabbled in dramatic fare here and there, and while he's not considered one of the greatest actors to grace the silver screen, you can be pretty sure you'll know what you're getting from a McConaughey performance. So, to celebrate his date of birth, I've listed my five favorite of his roles. Once again, happy birthday, Mr. McConaughey!

5. Rick Peck
Tropic Thunder (2008)


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4. Mick Haller
The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)


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3. David Wooderson
Dazed and Confused (1993)


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2. Dirk Pitt
Sahara (2005)


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1. Steve Addington
Surfer, Dude (2008)

Happy Birthday, Tom Cruise!

It's birthday time again, and we're celebrating the 49th birthday of a certain actor named Tom Cruise. It's hard to believe that this man is closing in on fifty years old, but needless to say, he's definitely provided quite a bit of entertainment both on and off the screen throughout his career. Yes, he's had his personal life scrutinized and skewered countless times over the past few years, from his connection to Scientology to his Katie Holmes love-fest on Oprah Winfrey's show, and through it all, I think some people have forgotten just how good of an actor he actually is. Sure, he often gets typecast into roles that work with his personality, but he's managed to nab three Academy Award nominations over the years, so he's even garnered some critical praise as well. So push all the thoughts of his apparent "craziness" to the side and enjoy his acting. He may not be the greatest ever to live, but he definitely does well with most of his material. So on his 49th birthday, I salute Mr. Cruise by listing my five favorite of his roles. You'll next be able to see him in theaters this December in the latest installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. Once again, happy birthday, Tom Cruise!

5. Nathan Algren
THE LAST SAMURAI (2003)


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4. Charlie Babbitt
RAIN MAN (1988)


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3. Jerry Maguire
JERRY MAGUIRE (1996)


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2. Vincent
COLLATERAL (2004)


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1. Les Grossman
TROPIC THUNDER (2008)


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Awards
2002: Nominee - Best Hero(ine)
2004: Winner - Best Supporting Actor, Drama; Best Villain
2008: Winner - Best Cameo or Brief Appearance