In Memoriam: Heath Ledger

On what would have been his 33rd birthday, we're celebrating the life of the late Academy Award-winning actor Heath Ledger. Heath got his acting start with an uncredited role in 1992's Clowning Around. He spent most of the 1990s working on television, but he managed to secure a few film appearances here and there, including a somewhat star-making role in 1999's 10 Things I Hate About You. Ledger increased his star power by appearing in big-time films like 2000's The Patriot and 2001's Monster's Ball and by starring in 2001's A Knight's Tale. In 2005, he starred in the controversial film Brokeback Mountain, which ultimately earned him his first Oscar nomination. Then, in 2008, Heath Ledger passed away only months before the release of 2008's The Dark Knight, where he would portray the villainous Joker in a role that would earn him a posthumous Oscar win. Ledger only appeared in one film beyond that - 2009's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. And so, to celebrate his life and his career, I've created a list of my five favorite of Ledger's acting performances. I hope we can all remember the man who was just coming into his own as an actor at the time he was taken from us. Rest in peace, Heath Ledger. You will always be missed.

5. Gabriel Martin
The Patriot (2000)


*****

4. William Thatcher
A Knight's Tale (2001)


*****

3. Sonny Grotowski
Monster's Ball (2001)


*****

2. The Joker
The Dark Knight (2008)


*****

1. Ennis Del Mar
Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Top 10 Films of 2008

The year is 2008, and a lot has happened in the movie world. To help take you back in time, here's a look back at some of the film-related events that took place:

The Writers Guild of America ends their strike after three months.

A massive fire destroys portions of the backlot at Universal Studios Hollywood, including some famous movie sets.

The Dark Knight becomes the year's highest-grossing film, earning just over $1 billion at the worldwide box office.
Slumdog Millionaire wins the Academy Award for Best Picture as well as seven other awards, including Best Director for Danny Boyle.

The world loses the likes of Brad Renfro, Heath Ledger, Roy Scheider, Charlton Heston, Sydney Pollack, Harvey Korman, George Carlin, Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes, Don LaFontaine and Paul Newman.

I've been able to see 97 films released in 2008, and from those, I've compiled my own top ten list. As one can imagine, some great films had to be left off the final list. Here's a look at some of the movies (listed alphabetically) that just missed the cut:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Kung Fu Panda
Tropic Thunder
The Wrestler
Young People F---ing

But enough about the runners-up; here's the list you've been waiting to see! Counting down from number ten to number one, I've listed each film and have given the principal cast list as well as if and how fared at the Academy Awards. Also, I've listed the film's rank on my "Best Films of All-Time" list, if applicable. So without any further delay, here's my top ten movies of 2008!

*****

10. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Rated: R
Directed by: Nicholas Stoller
Starring: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Jack McBrayer, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd
***
While I've been quite a fan of Judd Apatow's comedies in the past, I think that Forgetting Sarah Marshall was that gem that he had always been trying to make. Sure, some people thought The 40-Year-Old Virgin hit the mark, but I think this one was just so much better. Aided by a fantastic comedic cast chalk full of stellar cameos, the story of love lost and love found just finds a way to work. The fact that it's mostly set against the backdrop of Hawaii doesn't hurt, either.

*****

9. Doubt
Rated: PG-13
Directed by: John Patrick Shanley
Starring: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Viola Davis
Academy Awards: 5 nominations
***
Doubt is one of those films that you're going to think is a very good movie until the very end, when it somehow manages to turn into something great. At least, that's the reaction I had to watching the film. It offers a great storyline and a slew of fantastic acting from the likes of Streep, Adams and Hoffman, and we even get a stellar cameo appearance from Davis. However, it's the film's climactic scenes that truly make this film one of the greats. It finds a way to circle back to where it started and show you just why the film is titled "Doubt."

*****

8. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father
Rated: Not Rated
Directed by: Kurt Kuenne
***
I need to issue a word of caution about watching this particular documentary: it very well may tear you to pieces if you sit down and watch it. I had never heard of the film until I found it hidden on NetFlix's Instant Watch, but I can honestly tell you that I absolutely bawled during the course of this film. Director Kurt Kuenne set out to make a film about his best friend David, who was allegedly murdered by his ex-girlfriend, so that David's about-to-be-born son would be able to grow up and learn about the amazing man that should have been there to raise him. Through the course of filming, however, a series of dramatic events between David's ex-girlfriend and David's parents occur, creating more of a dramatic thriller atmosphere to this film. I have to give a lot of credit to the editing because at times it's so well-done that this movie feels more like a scripted thriller than a documentary. The story is simply devastating.

*****

7. The Reader
Rated: R
Directed by: Stephen Daldry
Starring: David Kross, Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes
Academy Awards: 5 nominations, 1 win
All-Time Ranking: 127
***
The Reader was one of those films that I didn't see until after it had been nominated for its Academy Awards, but I'm glad I found the time to actually give it a view. It's the film that finally won Winslet her first Oscar statuette, and she definitely deserved it for her role as an illiterate German woman in the SS who starts an affair with a teenage boy. Don't let that basic plot keep you from watching the film, however. The romance between Winslet and Cross (then Fiennes) is quite remarkable, and the film itself finds a way to soar.

*****

6. Boy A
Rated: R
Directed by: John Crowley
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Peter Mullan, Katie Lyons
All-Time Ranking: 125
***
Boy A offers a rather original story when it comes to film. It tells the tale of a young boy who was put into juvenile detention as a child for aiding in the vicious murder of a young girl. This boy has grown into adulthood and can no longer be held by the government, so he is being released back into society. Society, however, manages to catch wind of the discharge, and sentiments against the young man rise in a flash. Andrew Garfield plays that young man perfectly. We see a man who's simply trying to forget the past and re-assimilate with the world he used to know, but the public around him wants nothing to do with him. Also be on the watch for Peter Mullan's great supporting role.

*****

5. Burn After Reading
Rated: R
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Starring: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins, J.K. Simmons
All-Time Ranking: 106
***
Burn After Reading is a film that a director - or in this case, directors - can make after garnering a significant amount of success. This Coen brothers venture came out a year after they won Academy Awards for No Country for Old Men, so I suppose that's a fair amount of time. While I personally love this movie, I know a lot of people who absolutely hate it, citing the reason that "nothing happens." And all I have to say in response is that that's exactly the point. The entire point of the film is that we have a bunch of people taking an insignificant event and spinning it into a massive conspiracy. The rest of the story falls into place from there, causing mayhem for all those involved. It's bitingly hilarious if you can find a way into it.

*****

4. Milk
Rated: R
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Starring: Sean Penn, James Franco, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Alison Pill
Academy Awards: 8 nominations, 1 win
All-Time Ranking: 105
***
I first heard about the story of Harvey Milk as a college freshman at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where one of the on-campus apartment housing complexes bears his namesake. As I learned his story, I started to understand his place in U.S. history and how much he meant to both politics and to the gay and lesbian community. So when a film was made about him, you can be sure I was excited to see it, especially after hearing that Sean Penn would be taking on the titular role. What we get is a fantastic portrayal of the man, and although the film itself fell a little short at the Academy Awards, Penn's performance was rightfully honored.

*****

3. Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in)
Rated: R
Directed by: Tomas Alfredson
Starring: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Ika Nord
All-Time Ranking: 37
***
I've never been sure as to whether I should categorize this Swedish film as a drama or a horror flick because it could easily fall into either category. It's the story of a vampire in the body of a young girl who makes friends with a young loner of a boy who is constantly bullied by the other kids at school. As the two become closer, the boy learns that the girl is, indeed a vampire, and although being initially frightened, it ultimately leads to a deeper friendship between the two. We're getting two fantastic performances from our young leads in Hedebrant and Leandersson, and the atmosphere of the film is pitch-perfect. Fans of drama and romance will have just as much to love as will the horror fanatic, so this is probably a win-win for everyone.

*****

2. The Dark Knight
Rated: PG-13
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman
Academy Awards: 8 nominations, 2 wins
All-Time Ranking: 36
***
If anyone happened to leave The Dark Knight off their list of the best films of 2008, then they're at least going to concede that Heath Ledger was absolutely brilliant as the Joker. The second installment in Nolan's Batman trilogy completely ousted its predecessor as the best Batman film ever to be made, and a lot of its success can be assigned to Ledger's performance. The storyline also helps quite a bit, and it sets up a very interesting piece for the franchise's third and final installment, slated for release in July 2012. It'll be tough for that one to one-up The Dark Knight, however.

*****

1. WALL-E
Rated: G
Directed by: Andrew Stanton
Starring: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, MacInTalk, John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, Sigourney Weaver
Academy Awards: 6 nominations, 1 win
All-Time Ranking: 21
***
In 2007, Pixar managed to take a rat and make it cute and endearing. In 2008, it upped the ante and created a futuristic robot that...collects garbage. On an abandoned planet Earth. And they made it cute and endearing as well. How, you ask? By giving said robot, named WALL-E, a feminine robot with which to fall in love. At the same time, the film offers a rather blatant but important eco-message, but at the end of the day, that falls to the wayside as the audience is really more interested in the relationship between WALL-E and EVE. While the film contains more than a handful of references to 2001: A Space Odyssey, it offers a fantastic storyline as well as beautiful animation that's sure to please.

Happy Birthday, Maggie Gyllenhaal!

Today we're celebrating the birthday of Maggie Gyllenhaal, who turns 34 today. The older sister of Academy Award-nominated Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie got her acting start in the 1992 feature film Waterland. From there, she appeared in bit parts until making a name opposite her brother in the 2001 cult favorite, Donnie Darko. However, she truly hit her big break in 2006's SherryBaby, for which she received rave reviews for her performance. Since then, she's starred in major films like 2006's Stranger Than Fiction, 2008's The Dark Knight and 2009's Crazy Heart, for which she earned her lone Academy Award nomination. She'll next appear in the 2012 films Learning to Fly and Voice from the Stone. So, to celebrate her birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Maggie's roles. Please help me in celebrating and wishing her a happy birthday!

5. Elizabeth Darko
Donnie Darko (2001)


-----

4. Jean Craddock
Crazy Heart (2009)

-----

3. Rachel Dawes
The Dark Knight (2008)


-----

2. LN Fisher-Herrin
Away We Go (2009)


-----

1. Ana Pascal
Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

Happy Birthday, Christopher Nolan!

Today, I'd like to wish Christopher Nolan a happy 41st birthday! Nolan has quickly become one of the premiere directors on the Hollywood scene with his ultra-successful Batman franchise and 2010's smash-hit Inception. My first introduction to his work was 2005's Batman Begins, and it's only been a flourish from there. While he doesn't have a massive number of films under his belt - he's directed seven films, six of which I've seen, since his directorial debut in 1999 - he has found a way to make each one of them simply astounding. I have yet to come across another director who has been so consistently proficient. Nolan ranks as my fifth favorite director of all time, and if you look closely at that list, you'll see that he and Sergio Leone are the only two directors who boast an 'A' for their films' average grade. So, as I usually do on birthday posts, I'm breaking down my five favorite of Nolan's films, giving you little snippets from each film for your viewing pleasure. Be sure to keep a weather eye out for Nolan in the future: his next directorial effort will be the third and final film in his Batman trilogy (2012's The Dark Knight Rises), and he is also producing and working on the screenplay for the new Superman film entitled Man of Steel. Because it seems as though everything this man touches turns to gold, I simply cannot wait for the rest of his career. Once again, happy birthday, Christopher!

5. Memento
2000


----------

4. The Prestige
2006


----------

3. The Dark Knight
2008


----------

2. Following
1999


----------

1. Inception
2010

Favorites: VILLAINS

So yes, I'm bringing you my favorite movie villains. In all honesty, this post should have come a while ago, but I've finally taken the time to put it all on paper, so to speak. As per usual, I only went with films that I've actually seen. I also only included characters who were established as the villain and the person to root against. Ergo, there won't be any "anti-heros" (i.e., Christian Bale in 2000's American Psycho or Daniel Day-Lewis in 2007's There Will Be Blood) on this list. Just straight villains. The bad guys. I'm sure there are some you won't agree with, but it's just my opinion. There may be spoilers on this list, so if you're not into those, then perhaps you shouldn't keep reading. However, if you do read the list, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did in making it!

25. The JokerBatman (1989)

Played by: Jack Nicholson
I know that a lot of people reading this blog will automatically assume that any reference to the Joker will be to Heath Ledger's take as the character; however, we cannot forget the manic brilliance that Jack Nicholson brought to the screen back in 1989 when he was doing battle against Michael Keaton's Batman. It's a little bit comical, but what's not to like about a little bit of laughter?
Memorable Quote: "Haven't you ever heard of the healing power of laughter?"

----------

24. Harlen Maguire
Road to Perdition (2002)

Played by: Jude Law
I only recently saw Road to Perdition, and although there's a couple of different villains, Jude Law's psychopathic hitman definitely stole the show. There was something so innately creepy about Harlen Maguire that it caused me to be deeply disturbed. I guess that happens when you've got a deeply disturbing character.
Memorable Quote: "I shoot the dead. Dead bodies, that is. I don't kill them."

----------

23. Jigsaw
Saw (2004)

Played by: Tobin Bell
I know that the Jigsaw character gets a little bit more face-time in the six subsequent sequels, but it all starts with the original 2004 film. Technically, he's on-screen for most of the film; the audience just doesn't really know it. It takes the sequels to understand fully his devilish schemes, but every journey has to have a beginning.
Memorable Quote: "Game over."

----------

22. Anton Chigurgh
No Country for Old Men (2007)

Played by: Javier Bardem
Aside from being constantly mocked for his dashingly terrible haircut, Chigurgh proved to be one of the creepiest characters to ever grace the silver screen. The subtle and emotionless performance nabbed an Oscar statuette for Javier Bardem, just going to prove the brilliance he brought to the role. I certainly wouldn't want to meet Chigurgh and his cattle gun walking down the street.
Memorable Quote: "What's the most you ever lost on a coin toss?"

----------

21. Pennywise
It (1990)

Played by: Tim Curry
There's only two reasons to watch It: first, for the terrible acting of the terrible acting of the main ensemble, and second, for the brilliance that is Tim Curry. Although the intention was never to have the audience laughing at the rest of the cast and the so-so screenplay, Pennywise the clown is supposed to be laughed at. That's why he's a clown, right? Curry is downright brilliant in the role, being both hilarious and creepy all at once.
Memorable Quote: "Want a balloon?"

----------

20. Azrael
Dogma (1999)

Played by: Jason Lee
In a film stuffed with an impressive comedic cast, it would have to take quite a bit for anyone in particular to stand out among the rest. Thankfully, Jason Lee does just that as one of our central villains in the film. He's world-savvy (despite not being of this world...) and knows how to work the system. His plan for the extermination of existence is brutally cruel and fueled by his own pain, but Azrael never lets that get into the way of being bitingly sarcastic and brutally hilarious.
Memorable Quote: "I'm a fuckin' demon."

----------

19. Hayley Stark
Hard Candy (2005)

Played by: Ellen Page
Of all the films featured on this list, Hard Candy is most likely the one of which you've never heard. It's a small-time flick with all of five actors, and only two are featured for more than a minute or so. One of them is a pre-Juno Ellen Page who proves to be absolutely, bat-s*** crazy, but it's a wonder to watch. You'll probably never see her in a role like this again, so I suggest you give this one a watch if you have the time. Just be forewarned: it's not the easiest watch.
Memorable Quote: "Well, four out of five doctors agree that I am actually insane."

----------

18. Bill 'The Butcher' Cutting
Gangs of New York (2002)

Played by: Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel Day-Lewis is just an amazing actor. He's very selective with his roles, but when he does find one he likes, he knocks it outta the park. He nabbed a nomination for Best Actor for this particular role, and there's no doubt in my mind why he did as such. He's the epitome of a villain as Bill the Butcher, playing antagonist to Leonardo DiCaprio's character. I don't really know what else to say. He's just amazing.
Memorable Quote: "I took the father, now I'll take the son."

----------

17. Oogie Boogie
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Voiced by: Ken Page
As the only animated character to make this list, Oogie Boogie has some rather large shoes to fill. I mean, there's been some maniacal animated villains in the past, but something about this charismatic, chronic gambler made me love him instantly. Nevermind that he sounds a a little bit like a racial stereotype or that he's ultimately just a bunch of bugs covered by something like a burlap sack, but his one-liners and his energy are too much to deny.
Memorable Quote: "Are you a gambling man, Santa?"

----------

16. Frank Costello
The Departed (2006)

Played by: Jack Nicolson
This marks Nicholson's second appearance on this list, making him the only actor to crash it more than once. I'd have to say that's quite impressive. What makes Frank Costello so entertaining is the fact that, while he is ultimately a very bad man, he's so charismatic and funny that you almost want to be his friend. But then you realize how crazy he can get when things don't go his way, and you start to wonder whether your original thoughts on him were right. He keeps you guessing, is basically what I'm saying. And I loved that about him.
Memorable Quote: "When I was your age, they would say we can become cops or criminals. Today, what I'm saying to you is this: when you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?"

----------

15. Vincent
Collateral (2004)

Played by: Tom Cruise
You can say what you want about Tom Cruise and his overall philosophy on life, and you demean even talk about his acting ability, but I will always point you to a couple of films that prove he's a brilliant actor. This is one of them. I'd never seen Cruise in a role so vile before, and I was totally blown away by his performance. It's stuck with me since I saw the film in 2004, and I'm sure it'll stick with me for a long, long time. Kudos, Mr. Cruise. You may be crazy, but you sure can act.
Memorable Quote: "I shot him. Bullets and the fall killed him."

----------

14. John Doe
Se7en (1995)

Played by: Unknown
Part of the magic of John Doe's brilliance in Se7en was that absolutely no one knew who he was until he showed up on-screen. Therefore, I won't be putting the actor's name on this blog, just to continue with that train of thought. The actor had it written into his contract that no mention of his name was to be used in the lead-up to the film, including in the opening credits. And I can see why. The man delivers a tour-de-force performance that should easily go down as one of the greatest of all time. When you're dealing with a killer that murders based on the seven deadly sins, you know you're in for quite a ride, and Se7en does not disappoint.
Memorable Quote: "It's more comfortable for you to label me as insane."

----------

13. Judge Doom
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

Played by: Christopher Lloyd
One of my favorite childhood films - and still one of my favorite adulthood films - used to give me nightmares because of our central villain, Judge Doom. He's quite creepy through most of the film, but the level of creepiness skyrockets in the film's climactic moments. Christopher Lloyd is simply great in those final moments, delivering a series of scenes that have stuck with me for most of my life.
Memorable Quote: "I'll catch the rabbit, Mr. Valiant. And I'll try him, convict him and execute him."

----------

12. Freddy Krueger
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Played by: Robert Englund
I'm going to be honest and tell you I've only seen the original Nightmare on Elm Street film and the 2010 remake, but I've never seen any of the sequels to that original flick. Still, Krueger stamped his place onto this list with a goofy but brutal showing as our deranged killer. While I thought Jackie Earle Haley was decent as our remake's Krueger, Robert Englund created the role and made him into the lasting icon he has become over the years.
Memorable Quote: "I'm your boyfriend now, Nancy."

----------

11. T-1000
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Played by: Robert Patrick
I struggled with whether I wanted to put Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800 from the original Terminator film rather than his T-1000 counterpart from the sequel, but then I realized that the T-1000 is just a little bit cooler. Whereas the T-800 is a creation of brute force, the T-1000 is more sleek and innovative, giving it an edge that should have driven it to victory. Robert Patrick burst onto the scene as this villain, and he's been playing off that success ever since. And for good reason. He brings a stoic presence to the character that makes him all the more alarming.
Memorable Quote: "Get out."

----------

10. Frank
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

Played by: Henry Fonda
Part of the reason Frank is such an iconic character is because he was played by Henry Fonda, who had previously portrayed such good-guy types as Tom Joad (in 1940's The Grapes of Wrath) and Abraham Lincoln (in 1939's Young Mr. Lincoln). So seeing him come on-screen in the film's early going and stamp himself as the villain must have been brutally shocking for audiences back in the late-1960s. He still brings that subtle characterization to the screen, but when employed as a villain, Fonda is so entirely effective that it's downright scary.
Memorable Quote: "People scare better when they're dying."

----------

9. Dr. Evil
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)

Played by: Mike Myers
I know some of you are thinking, "How did Dr. Evil possibly make it this high onto the list? Every other character has been truly maniacal and bad!" And while I tend to agree, the basic tenet of being a villain is to be evil, and when the word "evil" is in your name, you've gotta have something going for you. Sure, he's a bumbling fool who's plans never truly pan out, but he tries as best he can. And he survived three films without being killed by his nemesis, Austin Powers. You've definitely gotta give him credit for that. Oh, and how many people were putting their pinkies to the corner of their lips after this movie came out? Enough said.
Memorable Quote: "Why must I be surrounded by frickin' idiots?"

----------

8. Michael Myers
Halloween (1978)

Played by: Tony Moran
So we move from a Mike Myers character to a character named Michael Myers (I know, poetic, right?). Halloween is still the movie that scares me more than any other, solely because of the trudging behemoth carrying a massive knife. His silence only adds to his aura, and that William Shatner mask doesn't really help the situation at all. I can't tell you how many times I've woken up in the middle of the night and looked out my window expecting him to be standing right outside. Sure, subsequent films in the franchise proved to be downright terrible, but that doesn't take away the fact that Michael Myers is one scary son-of-a-gun.
Memorable Quote: N/A

----------

7. Tyler Durden
Fight Club (1999)

Played by: Brad Pitt
Holy manifested subconscious, Batman! Who didn't absolutely love Tyler Durden when he began gracing screens just before Y2K? The guys loved him for his anarchy and his "fuck the world" attitude, and the girls loved him for his abs (who are the shallow ones now, ladies?). Because I'm a guy, I fell for the mayhem he spewed on a constant basis, ultimately changing Edward Norton's character entirely from the beginning to the end. Brad Pitt gives arguably his best career performance as Durden, a character that will always live on in the collective consciousness of anyone who has seen Fight Club.
Memorable Quote: "Fuck damnation, man! Fuck redemption! We are God's unwanted children? So be it!"

----------

6. Darth Vader
Star Wars (1977)

Played by: David Prowse; Voiced by: James Earl Jones
My dad once told me that when he saw Star Wars in theaters back in 1977, the entire audience booed Darth Vader the moment he stepped on-screen. Nothing had yet said that he was the villain; instead, my dad said what clued the audience to his bad-ness was the all-black suit. Luckily, the audience guessed correctly, and the rest is history. Darth Vader is easily the most iconic villain on this list, and although he doesn't top it, there isn't a person in the world who hasn't heard his name, regardless of whether they've ever seen the movie.
Memorable Quote: "I find your lack of faith disturbing."

----------

5. Hector Barbossa
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Played by: Geoffrey Rush
While Johnny Depp was prancing around as our beloved Jack Sparrow, we actually got a taste of a brilliant pirate stereotype from Geoffrey Rush. When you watch him as Barbossa, you can't help but think that this is what a pirate should be like and act like. Sure, Depp steals the show, but Rush is right behind him, bringing a real legitimacy to the pirate name. Watching those two cross swords throughout the franchise has been fun, and it will continue upon the sequel's release in May.
Memorable Quote: "I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request. Means 'no.'"

----------

4. Colonel Hans Landa
Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Played by: Christoph Waltz
Christoph Waltz nabbed an Oscar statuette for his performance as Col. Hans Landa in Quentin Tarantino's World War II re-imagining. Landa pulls a number of languages on-screen - off-hand, I remember English, German, Italian and French - and adds that to a truly evil character hell-bent on furthering himself by bringing everyone else down. But it's his charisma that truly makes him such an appealing villain. You like him almost as much as the rest of the characters even though you know you should rooting against him. That very well may be the epitome of evil, and it definitely applies to the final three villains on this list. Keep reading!
Memorable Quote: "Ooh, that's a bingo!"

----------

3. The Joker
The Dark Knight (2008)

Played by: Heath Ledger
You all knew that Ledger's Joker had to make this list somewhere, and let me tell you: it took a lot for me not to place him at the top immediately. In fact, the debate between the top three characters on this list was quite a long one, and Ledger's Joker had to take the bottom of the three. But he is the villain of my generation, proving to be so entirely psychotic that it ultimately led to Ledger's premature death. When a character can haunt the actor's dreams that much, you know that it's pure brilliance. As much as I miss Ledger and the brilliant career that he was only just beginning, I have to applaud him for completely losing himself in the role of the Joker. He brought the comedy and the horror of the character's past, creating the most tragically evil character in recent memory. His sense of anarchy completely trumps that of Tyler Durden's, if that goes to say anything about him. Pure brilliance, Mister Ledger. Rest in peace.
Memorable Quote: "This city deserves a better class of criminal And I'm gonna give it to them!"

----------

2. Dr. Hannibal Lecter
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Played by: Anthony Hopkins
If you want to talk about brilliance, then you need look no further than Anthony Hopkins's Oscar-winning turn as Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Although he doesn't have a ton of screen-time, Lecter makes the most of what he gets, proving to be one of the most devilishly brilliant personas ever to grace the silver screen. It's hard not to watch this movie and not be completely intrigued by his bravado and his intelligence. Lecter hooks you in and never lets you go. Perhaps that's how he gets to his victims...
Memorable Quote: "A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."

----------

1. Norman Bates
Psycho (1960)

Played by: Anthony Perkins
And yes, the villain from the greatest film of all time (in my opinion) has to take the cake as the greatest villain of all time (in my opinion). I could go on for hours and hours about the too-good-for-his-own-good Anthony Perkins (who was somehow snubbed from an Oscar nomination), but if you read my recommendation for the film - which is linked above - you can get a full breakdown of my thoughts concerning his role. Absolutely astonishing, though. That's the best way to describe Norman Bates. Absolutely astonishing.
Memorable Quote: "We all go a little mad sometimes."