Happy Birthday, Nicole Kidman!

Today, we are celebrating the 45th birthday of Academy Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman. Originally a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Kidman was born to Australian parents who soon moved back to Australia by the time she was four. As a child, she first loved ballet, but she also enjoyed elements of mime and drama. Acting soon became her refuge, and she spent many an hour in a dark theater practicing and perfecting her craft. While her professional film acting career began in the early 1980s, it really wasn't until her marriage to Tom Cruise in 1990 that Kidman truly burst onto the national scene. The two had two children together, but their marriage only lasted until 2001. Since then, Kidman has channeled her career toward three Oscar nominations - including one win - and she has become one of the most consistent actresses on the Hollywood scene. She re-married in 2006 to country music singer Keith Urban, with whom she also has two children. And now, here are some fun facts and accolades from Kidman's acting career:

Acting

First Film: Bush Christmas (1983)

Last Film: Trespass (2011)

Next Film: The Paperboy (2012)

Academy Awards

 Nominated: Best Actress, Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Won: Best Actress, The Hours (2002)

Nominated: Best Actress, Rabbit Hole (2010)

Over the years, I have managed to see ten of Kidman's films, and on average, her films have received a 'B-' grade. From those ten, I have created the following list of my five favorite of her performances:

5. Lady Sarah Ashley

Australia (2008)

*****

4. Grace Stewart

The Others (2001)

*****

3. Becca

Rabbit Hole (2010)

*****

2. Virginia Woolf

The Hours (2002)

*****

1. Satine

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Once again, I'd like to wish Nicole Kidman a happy 45th birthday!

Happy Birthday, Chris Evans!

Today, we are celebrating the 31st birthday of actor Chris Evans. A native of Boston, Evans' acting career began at a young age as he performed in school productions and plays. After teachers noticed and commended him on his talent, he began to look upwards towards bigger and bigger roles. He interned at a casting agency and created relationships with a number of agents, one of whom would eventually sign him as a client. Evans was drawn to the screen rather than the stage, and he began to audition for television shows and feature films. Based on his talent and his good looks, it wasn't long until he managed to nab a role here and there. Despite working consistently through the early 2000s, it wasn't until the mid-2000s that Evans erupted into stardom, and it has only been recently that he has become a Hollywood superstar. Here's a look at some of the fun facts regarding Evans' acting career:

Acting

First Film: The Newcomers (2000)

Last Film: The Avengers (2012)

Next Film: The Iceman (2013)

Over the years, I have seen ten of Evans' films, and on average, they have received a 'C+' grade. From those ten, I have created the following list of my five favorite of Chris Evans' performances:

5. Johnny Storm

Fantastic Four (2005)

*****

4. Jake Wyler

Not Another Teen Movie (2001)

*****

3. Jensen

The Losers (2010)

*****

2. Lucas Lee

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)

*****

1. Steve Rogers / Captain America

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Once again, I would like to wish Chris Evans a happy 31st birthday!

Happy Birthday, James Newton Howard!

Today, we are celebrating the 61st birthday of Oscar-nominated composer James Newton Howard. A Los Angeles native, Howard attended the University of Southern California's music school, but he dropped out so that he could tour with Elton John. From there, Howard turned to composing and creating music for film and television, and he's been doing that ever since. Interestingly enough, Howard never actually conducts his own music; rather, he simply crafts and composes it then allows other conductors to take the helm in bringing the score to life. In his career, he has scored over one hundred films, and he continues to go strong to this day. In recent years, he has established an ongoing relationship with director M. Night Shyamalan, for whom Howard has scored a number of films. In his personal life, Howard has been married twice: first to Rosanna Arquette for just over a year, and then to Sophie Howard, with whom he has been married since 1992 and with whom he has had two children. And now, here's a few fun facts and accolades that Howard has earned throughout his career:

Composing

First Film: Head Office (1985)

Last Film: Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Next Film: The Bourne Legacy (2012)

Academy Awards

Nominated: Best Original Score, The Princes of Tides (1991)

Nominated: Best Original Score, The Fugitive (1993)

Nominated: Best Original Song, Junior (1994)

Nominated: Best Original Song, One Fine Day (1996)

Nominated: Best Original Score, My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

Nominated: Best Original Score, The Village (2004)

Nominated: Best Original Score, Michael Clayton (2007)

Nominated: Best Original Score, Defiance (2008)

Over the years, I have managed to see thirty-one films with Howard's scores, and on average, those films have received a 'B-' grade. From those thirty-one, I have created the following list of my five favorite of his scores:

5. Defiance

2008

*****

4. The Sixth Sense

1999

*****

3. Waterworld

1995

*****

2. Batman Begins

(with Hans Zimmer)

2005

*****

1. King Kong

2005

Once again, I'd like to wish James Newton Howard a happy 61st birthday!

Happy Birthday, Natalie Portman!

Today, we are celebrating the 31st birthday of actress Natalie Portman. Born Natalie Hershlag in Jerusalem, her family soon moved to the United States and ultimately settled in New York, where she still currently resides. Although she succeeded academically, Portman managed to nab a few film roles as a teenager that started her on her acting journey. It wasn't until her role as Queen Amidala in the Star Wars prequels that she hit superstardom, and those performances helped open a number of doors for her continuing career. At the same time, however, Portman attended Harvard University and graduated with a degree in psychology. In 2009, Portman started to date her Black Swan choreographer Benjamin Millepied. The two have since been married and have a son. Here's a few fun facts and accolades awarded to Natalie Portman throughout her acting career:

Acting

First Film: Léon: The Professional (1994)

Last Film: Thor (2011)

Next Film: Lawless (2013)

Academy Awards

Nominated: Best Supporting Actress, Closer (2004)

Won: Best Actress, Black Swan (2010)

Over the years, I've managed to see twelve of Portman's films, and on average, her films have received a 'B' grade. From these twelve, I have created the following list of my five favorite of her performances: 

5. Grace Cahill

Brothers (2009)

*****

4. Evey

V for Vendetta (2006)

*****

3. Sara

Cold Mountain (2003)

*****

2. Sam

Garden State (2004)

*****

1. Nina Sayers

Black Swan (2010)

Once again, I would like to wish Natalie Portman a happy 31st birthday!

Happy Birthday, Johnny Depp!

Today, I am happy to celebrate the 49th birthday of Oscar-nominated actor Johnny Depp. A native of Kentucky, Depp has spent his career making a name as one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood. Originally, he aspired to be a rock musician, but after nabbing a leading role in the television show "21 Jump Street," he shifted his aspirations to the silver screen. Over the years, Depp has formed a very close relationship with director Tim Burton, and he has appeared in seven of Burton's films. It is this relationship for which he is most known, but Depp has managed to wow audiences and critics on a number of other occasions as well. His superstardom skyrocketed with his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. He based the character off Keith Richards, a member of the Rolling Stones, and one could say that Depp finally got the opportunity to be a rock star, if only for a little while. Depp's performance as Jack Sparrow has opened a number of doors for his career, and he has only continued to grown in popularity ever since. Here's a look at some of the fun facts and accolades that Depp has earned throughout his career:

Acting

First Film: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Last Film: Dark Shadows (2012)

Next Film: The Lone Ranger (2013)

Academy Awards

Nominated: Best Actor, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Nominated: Best Actor, Finding Neverland (2004)

Nominated: Best Actor, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2009)

Over the years, I've managed to see twenty of Depp's films, and on average, his films have received a 'B+' grade. From these twenty, I have created the following list of my five favorite of his performances: 

5. John Dillinger

Public Enemies (2009)

*****

4. Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

*****

3. Sir James Matthew Barrie

Finding Neverland (2004)

*****

2. Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

*****

1. Captain Jack Sparrow

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Once again, I would like to wish Johnny Depp a happy 49th birthday!

Happy Birthday, Paul Giamatti!

Today, we're celebrating the 45th birthday of Academy Award-nominated actor Paul Giamatti. A Connecticut native, Paul is the son of the late Bart Giamatti, who served as both President of Yale University as well as Commissioner of Major League Baseball. Paul himself attended Yale, where he began his acting career in their theater department. From there, he channeled his energies to regional productions before finding his start on the big screen in the early 1990s. He married his wife Elizabeth in 1997, and the two remain happily married to this day. Here's a look at some of the fun facts and accolades that Giamatti has earned throughout his acting career:

Acting

First Film: Past Midnight (1991)

Last Film: The Ides of March (2011)

Next Film: Rock of Ages (2012)

Academy Awards

Nominated: Best Supporting Actor, Cinderella Man (2005)

Over the years, I've managed to see thirteen of Giamatti's films, and on average, his films have received a 'B-' grade. From these thirteen, I have created the following list of my five favorite of his performances:

5. Mike Flaherty

Win Win (2011)

*****

4. Joe Gould

Cinderella Man (2005)

*****

3. Miles

Sideways (2004)

*****

2. Tom Duffy

The Ides of March (2011)

*****

1. Harvey Pekar

American Splendor (2003)

Once again, I would like to wish Paul Giamatti a happy 45th birthday!

Happy Birthday, Mark Wahlberg!

Today, we're celebrating the 41st birthday of actor Mark Wahlberg. A Boston native and the youngest of nine children, Mark had plenty of ups and downs during his adolescence and youth. He got his first big start as a member of his brother Donnie's musical group New Kids on the Block, but he soon branched out on his own and created Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. From there, Wahlberg channeled his impressive physique into modeling for Calvin Klein. At the same time, however, Mark had quite a few run-ins with the law after some rather serious offenses. Ultimately, he managed to keep his fury at bay, and he transitioned to the acting scene and has slowly grown into one of the more popular men to grace the silver screen. In 2009, Wahlberg married long-time girlfriend Rhea Durham, with whom he has four children. Wahlberg has also started to take seat in the producer's chair, most prominently with his producing role for the television show "Entourage." Here's a look at some of the fun facts and accolades associated with Wahlberg's acting career:

Acting

First Film: Renaissance Man (1994)

Last Film: Contraband (2012)

Next Film: Ted (2012)

Academy Awards

Nominated: Best Supporting Actor, The Departed (2006)

Nominated: Best Picture, The Fighter (2010)

Over the years, I've managed to see twelve of Wahlberg's films, and on average, his films have received a 'B-' grade. From these twelve, I have created the following list of my five favorite of his performances:

5. Micky Ward

The Fighter (2010)

*****

4. Mickey

The Basketball Diaries (1995)

*****

3. Eddie Adams / Dirk Diggler

Boogie Nights (1997)

*****

2. Dignam

The Departed (2006)

*****

1. Tommy Corn

I Heart Huckabees (2004)

Once again, I would like to wish Mark Wahlberg a happy 41st birthday!

Happy Birthday, Angelina Jolie!

Today, we're celebrating the 37th birthday of actress Angelina Jolie. The daughter of Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight, Angelina was raised around the motion picture industry, so it came as no surprise that she made her way into the business. When she first hit it big, she garnered a lot of publicity for her sex appeal as well as her acting credentials. Married twice before to actors Billy Bob Thornton and Jonny Lee Miller, it has only been recently that she has become the fodder of many a paparazzo after starting a relationship with actor Brad Pitt. The highly-publicized couple - nicknamed "Brangelina" - has been the centerpiece of many a news story, and the family the two have created together has kept Angie in the spotlight even as takes the occasional break from the acting scene. Her consistent humanitarian efforts have also been a cause of good-natured publicity. A few years ago, the actress started to delve into the directing field, and her work has been generally well-received thus far. Here's a look at some fun facts and accolades that Miss Jolie has earned throughout her career:

Acting

First Film: Lookin' to Get Out (1982)

Last Film: Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Next Film: Maleficent (2014)

Directing

First Film: A Place in Time (2007)

Last Film: In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011)

Academy Awards

Won: Best Supporting Actress: Girl, Interrupted (1999)

Nominated: Best Actress: Changeling (2008)

Over the years, I've managed to see fifteen of Jolie's films, and on average, her films have received a 'C+' grade. From these fifteen, I have created the following list of my five favorite of her performances:

5. Fox

Wanted (2008)

*****

4. Jane Smith

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

*****

3. Lara Croft

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

*****

2. Christine Collins

Changeling (2008)

*****

1. Lisa Rowe

Girl, Interrupted (1999)

Once again, I would like to wish Angelina Jolie a happy 37th birthday!

Happy Birthday, Morgan Freeman!

Today, we're celebrating the 75th birthday of Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Freeman has continued to gain popularity throughout his career and has become one of the more beloved performers to grace the silver screen. His first big-screen appearance came with an uncredited role in 1964's The Pawnbroker, but it wasn't until 1973's Blade that audiences actually started to take notice. He earned his first Oscar nomination for 1987's Street Smart, but 1989 proved to be his breakout year when he appeared in the films Lean on Me, Glory and Driving Miss Daisy, which would go on to win Best Picture. In the early 1990s, one could find Freeman playing opposite Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven and Tim Robbins in The Shawshank Redemption. He worked consistently through the end of the millennium and easily transitioned into 21st-century films, breaking through with the role of God in 2003's Bruce Almighty. The following year, Freeman won his first - and to date, only - Oscar for his supporting role in Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby. Most recently, audiences have seen Freeman in 2011's Dolphin Tale, and they'll next be able to see him in theaters reprising his role as Lucius Fox in this summer's The Dark Knight Rises. And so, to celebrate his birthday and honor his career, I've listed my ten favorite of Freeman's acting endeavors. I've found a few videos that correspond with this roles for your viewing pleasure, so I hope you enjoy them. Once again, I'd like to wish Morgan Freeman a very happy birthday.

10. Jack Doyle

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

*****

9. Carter

The Bucket List (2007)

*****

8. Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins

Glory (1989)

*****

7. Detective Lt. William Somerset

Se7en (1995)

*****

6. Principal Joe Clark

Lean on Me (1989)

*****

5. Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

*****

4. Nelson Mandela

Invictus (2009)

*****

3. Ned Logan

Unforgiven (1992)

*****

2. Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding

The Shawshank Redemption (2004)

*****

1. God

Bruce Almighty (2003)

Happy Birthday, Colin Farrell!

Today, we're celebrating the 36th birthday of actor Colin Farrell. A Dublin native, Farrell got his acting start in the mid-1990s, making his first credited appearance in a feature film in 1997's Drinking Crude. It wasn't until the turn of the millennium, however, that he started to gain a little more prominence on the silver screen. With larger roles in 2002's Hart's War opposite Bruce Willis and 2002's Minority Report opposite Tom Cruise, Farrell started to see a lot more screen-time. He's worked consistently throughout the 2000s, appearing in major films such as 2004's Alexander, 2008's In Bruges and 2009's Crazy Heart. Most recently, audiences have seen him in the 2011 films Horrible Bosses and Fright Night. We'll next be able to see his acting endeavors in this summer's remake of Total Recall. And so, to celebrate his birthday and his career, I've listed my five favorite of Farrell's acting performances and have found some clips for your viewing pleasure. I hope you enjoy them. Once again, happy birthday, Colin!

5. Jerry

Fright Night (2011)

*****

4. Syracuse

Ondine (2010)

*****

3. Imaginarium Tony 3

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)

*****

2. Bobby Pellitt

Horrible Bosses (2011)

*****

1. Ray

In Bruges (2008)

Happy Birthday, Danny Elfman!

Today, we're celebrating the 59th birthday of Academy Award-nominated composer Danny Elfman. A Los Angeles native, Elfman has made quite a name for himself in his thirty-year career, crafting himself into one of Hollywood's premiere film composers. His first composing work came in 1982's Forbidden Zone which he followed with 1985's Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, the film which started his frequent collaboration with director Tim Burton. Elfman went onto score Burton's 1988 film Beetlejuice and his 1989 film Batman, and that was just the start. In the 1990s, Elfman scored such big-time films as Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Mission: Impossible, Men in Black and Good Will Hunting. He followed it up with the 2000s, in which he stamped his name across films like Spider-man, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Milk and Alice in Wonderland. Most recently, audiences have heard Elfman reprise a former score in Men in Black III as well as offer something a little bit new in Dark Shadows, and they'll next be able to hear his work in the upcoming 2012 film Frankenweenie. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've compiled a list of my ten favorite of his scores, and I've managed to find snippets of each score for your listening pleasure. Once again, happy birthday, Danny Elfman!

10. Sleepy Hollow

1999

*****

9. Real Steel

2011

*****

8. Corpse Bride

2005

*****

7. Alice in Wonderland

2010

*****

6. Spider-man

2002

*****

5. Batman

1989

*****

4. Milk

2008

*****

3. Big Fish

2003

*****

2. Edward Scissorhands

1990

*****

1. The Nightmare Before Christmas

1993

Happy Birthday, Paul Bettany!

Today, we're celebrating the 41st birthday of actor Paul Bettany. The London native got his acting start in the mid-1990s with a few television appearances, but it wasn't until 1997's Bent that he nabbed his first feature film role. In 2001, Bettany became a bit of an overnight sensation with his performances in A Knight's Tale opposite Heath Ledger and in A Beautiful Mind opposite Russell Crowe. He would rekindle his on-screen partnership with Crowe two years later in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Since then, he's worked relatively consistently, appearing in such films as 2006's The Da Vinci Code and 2008's Iron Man in a vocal performance that he has reprised in both Iron Man 2 and the recent release, The Avengers. Audiences will next see Bettany in the 2013 film, Blood. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've created a list of my five favorite of Bettany's performances, and I've found a few video clips for your viewing pleasure. Once again, happy birthday, Paul!

5. Silas

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

*****

4. Charles Darwin

Creation (2010)

*****

3. Charles

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

*****

2. Dr. Stephen Maturin

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

*****

1. Geoffrey Chaucer

A Knight's Tale (2001)

In Memoriam: John Wayne

Today, I would like to celebrate and honor the memory and career of the late John Wayne, who would have turned 105 today were he still alive. Born Marion Robert Morrison in Iowa, Wayne got his acting start in an uncredited role in the 1926 film Brown of Harvard, and he continued to work consistently throughout the 1920s and 1930s before making his big break in John Ford's 1939 film, Stagecoach. Over the course of a career that spanned five decades, John Wayne cemented himself as one of the most beloved actors ever to grace the silver screen. He made a name for himself in the western genre, but he was known to dabble in a slew of different genres, including drama, comedy and the illustrious war film. Wayne appeared in over 170 titles over the course of his career, and within those years he starred in such memorable films as 1945's They Were Expendable, 1949's Sands of Iwo Jima, 1952's The Quiet Man, 1954's The High and the Mighty, 1956's The Searchers, 1959's Rio Bravo, 1960's The Alamo and 1969's True Grit, for which he won his only Academy Award. And so, to honor and celebrate his life and career, I have created a list of my five favorite of John Wayne's film performances, and I've managed to find a few clips for your viewing pleasure. Once again, please help me in remembering this legendary actor.

5. Ringo Kid

Stagecoach (1939)

*****

4. George Washington McLintock

McLintock! (1963)

***** 

3. Rooster Cogburn

True Grit (1969)

***** 

2. Sean Thornton

The Quiet Man (1952)

***** 

1. J.B. Books

The Shootist (1976)

Happy Birthday, Helena Bonham Carter!

Today, we're celebrating the 46th birthday of Academy Award-nominated actress Helena Bonham Carter. A London native, Carter nabbed her first feature film appearance in 1985's A Room with a View, which would go on to win three Oscars earn a nomination for Best Picture. The film's success didn't necessarily push her into the limelight, but it definitely opened the door for her career. In 1990, she starred alongside Mel Gibson and Glenn Close in Hamlet, and she spent the rest of the early 1990s appearing in films such as 1992's Howards End, 1994's Frankenstein and 1995's Mighty Aprhodite. She earned her first Oscar nomination for her performance in 1997's The Wings of the Dove, and two years later, she burst into the collective public consciousness with her inclusion in the cult classic, Fight Club. In 2001, Carter began a relationship with eccentric director Tim Burton, and she has appeared in a number his films since then, including 2003's Big Fish and 2007's Sweeney Todd. She also landed the part of Bellatrix Lestrange in a number of the Harry Potter films. Most recently, audiences have seen Carter in the 2012 film Dark Shadows, and they'll next see her later this year in Great Expectations and Les Misérables. And so, to celebrate her birthday, I've listed my five favorite of her characters. I hope you enjoy the list! Once again, happy birthday, Helena Bonham Carter!

5. Queen Elizabeth

The King's Speech (2010)

*****

4. Jenny

Big Fish (2003)

***** 

3. The Red Queen

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

*****

2. Mrs. Lovett

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

***** 

1. Marla Singer

Fight Club (1999)

In Memoriam: James Stewart

Today, we are celebrating and remembering the life and career of Academy Award-winning actor James Stewart on what would have been his 104th birthday. A Pennsylvania native, Jimmy began his acting career in the mid-1930s, landing his first role in a feature film in 1935's The Murder Man. He worked consistently throughout the 1930s, appearing in a total of twenty-one feature films from 1935 to 1939, where he scored his first Oscar nomination for his performance in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. The following year, Stewart nabbed his sole Oscar statuette for his role in 1940's The Philadelphia Story, which officially shot him to superstardom. Over the next twenty years, Stewart would score three more Oscar nominations for 1946's It's a Wonderful Life, 1950's Harvey and 1959's Anatomy of a Murder while also appearing in the 1952 film The Greatest Show on Earth, 1954's Rear Window and 1957's The Spirit of St. Louis. Sadly, Stewart passed away in 1997 at the age of 89, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate his memory. And so, I've listed my five favorite of Jimmy's performances for your viewing pleasure. I hope we can all enjoy the work that Stewart produced throughout his career and cherish the legacy he created on the Hollywood scene.

5. Dr. Hostleter

The Shootist (1977)

*****

4. L.B. 'Jeff' Jefferies

Rear Window (1954)

***** 

3. John 'Scottie' Ferguson

Vertigo (1958)

***** 

2. George Bailey

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

***** 

1. Jefferson Smith

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Happy Birthday, Rosario Dawson!

Today, we're celebrating the 33rd birthday of actress Rosario Dawson. She got her acting start in the 1995 film Kids, but she didn't start to hit it big until her performance in 2001's Josie and the Pussycats, which she followed with a star-making turn in 2002's Men in Black II opposite Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. From there, Dawson appeared in big-time fare such as 2002's 25th Hour, 2004's Alexander and 2005's Sin City. Most recently, audiences have seen Rosario Dawson in the 2011 film Zookeeper, and they'll next be able to see her in the 2012 films Fire with Fire and Gimme Shelter. And so, to celebrate her birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Dawson's performances, and I've found a few clips for your viewing pleasure. Once again, happy birthday, Rosario!

5. Naturelle Rivera

25th Hour (2002)

*****

4. Abernathy

Death Proof (2007)

*****

3. Emily Posa

Seven Pounds (2008)

*****

2. Gail

Sin City (2005)

*****

1. Becky

Clerks II (2006)

Happy Birthday, Richard Jenkins!

Today, we're celebrating the 65th birthday of Academy Award-nominated actor Richard Jenkins. A native of Illinois, Jenkins nabbed his first feature film performance in 1985's Silverado, but it was until his role in 1986's Hannah and Her Sisters that he started to get noticed. He worked consistently in film and television throughout the late 1980s and all through the 1990s, but it is only recently that Jenkins has truly started to gain more prominent national attention. After an uncredited performance in the 2004 comedy I Heart Huckabees, Jenkins found work in such big-time fare as 2005's Fun with Dick and Jane and 2007's The Kingdom. He scored his sole Oscar nomination for his performance in the 2008 film The Visitor. Jenkins then burst onto the comedy scene after co-starring with Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly in 2008's Step Brothers, as well as co-starring in the Coen brothers ensemble comedy, Burn After Reading. Most recently, audiences have seen Jenkins in the 2012 film The Cabin in the Woods, and he'll appear in a slew of other 2012 releases, including Killing Them Softly and The Company You Keep. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've created a list of my five favorite of Jenkins' performances, and I've found some clips to illustrate those roles. Once again, happy birthday, Richard!

5. Dr. Robert Doback

Step Brothers (2008)

*****

4. Ted

Burn After Reading (2008)

*****

3. Mr. Tyree

Dear John (2010)

*****

2. Mr. Hooten

I Heart Huckabees (2004)

*****

1. Walter

The Visitor (2008)

Happy Birthday, Wes Anderson!

Today, we're celebrating the 43rd birthday of Academy Award-nominated director Wes Anderson. He started directing in the mid-1990s, and he created his first feature length film - 1996's Bottle Rocket - with the acting help of Luke and Owen Wilson. From there, he's gone on to brand himself into a particular type of director, whose films all have the same quirky comedic feel. Anderson has also managed to partner himself with some of the bigger actors in Hollywood, having included the likes of Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzmann and Cate Blanchett in a number of his films. With such fan favorites as 1998's Rushmore, 2001's The Royal Tenenbaums and 2004's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Anderson has definitely made a name for himself amongst the public. Most recently, Anderson delved into animation to create the 2009 film, Fantastic Mr. Fox. Audiences will next be able to see his work in the upcoming 2012 film, Moonrise Kingdom. And so, to celebrate his directing prowess, I've listed my five favorite of Anderson's directorial efforts, and I've found clips from each film for your viewing pleasure. I hope you enjoy them. Once again, happy birthday, Wes!

5. Rushmore

1998

*****

4. Bottle Rocket

1996

***** 

3. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

2004

***** 

2. The Royal Tenenbaums

2001

***** 

1. Fantastic Mr. Fox

2009