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.
Today we're celebrating the birthday of the late Academy Award-nominated actor Pete Postlethwaite, who would have turned 66 today. He passed away in January 2011 after a long battle with multiple cases of cancer, leaving a bit of a void in the acting world. Although he never truly achieved leading man status, Postlethwaite's presence in his films was always immediately noticeable. He brought a very unique character to the screen in each of his film appearances, starting with his bit role in the 1977 film The Duellists. From there, he appeared in a number of made-for-television films and television series, and he didn't make his return to the big screen until 1984 in A Private Function. It wasn't until 1990, however, that he made his first major film splash in 1990's Hamlet, and just three years later, Postlethwaite nabbed his first - and only - Academy Award nomination for his supporting role in 1993's In the Name of the Father. He worked consistently throughout the mid-1990s, starring in high-profile films like 1995's The Usual Suspects, 1996's Romeo + Juliet and 1997's The Lost World: Jurassic Park. After the turn of the millennium, Postlethwaite's acting consistency started to drop, but he managed to score a few roles here and there. In 2010, he appeared in three films - Clash of the Titans, Inception and The Town - giving his fans one last glance at his fantastic ability. Pete Postlethwaite has been one of my favorite actors since I saw him in The Lost World, and the loss of this fantastic actor was truly a tragedy to the Hollywood scene. He has been and will continue to be sorely missed, but his life will love on through his film appearances. So, to celebrate his life and his acting career, I've listed my five favorite of Pete Postlethwaite's performances. I've managed to find a few videos for the list, so I hope you'll enjoy those. Once again, I'd like us all to remember the life of a fantastic actor, and I will always cherish the acting brilliance that Pete Postlethwaite was so dedicated to bringing to the screen.
Today, we're celebrating the life of Madeline Kahn, who would have turned 69 today, were she still alive. Originally trained to be an opera singer, Kahn found a knack for big-screen acting, nabbing her big break in films like 1973's Paper Moon and 1974's Blazing Saddles, both of which she earned Academy Award nominations. She had a talent for comedy, as is evidenced by her long-time working relationship with Mel Brooks, who cast her in a number of films over the years. Tragically, Kahn passed away in 1999 after a bout with ovarian cancer, taking away one of the finer performers the silver screen had seen in the thirty years prior. So, to celebrate her acting legacy, I've created a list of my five favorite of her roles, like I normally do with birthday posts. I hope you enjoy the videos as you help me celebrate the memory of Madeline Kahn.
Today, we're celebrating the life of another astounding director. This time, we're remembering Alfred Hitchcock, the Master of Suspense, who would have turned 112 today were he still alive. Hitchcock's name is nearly synonymous with suspense and horror because he always found ways to push the envelope just a little bit further. A five-time Academy Award nominee for Best Director, he never took home the golden statuette, but no one can deny the lasting impression he and his films left on the Hollywood scene. Now, I'm not entirely well-versed in his filmography, but I think I've seen enough of his films to give you a list of what I think are his five best. Here they are, in descending order, and I've given you a clip from each of the films to get a taste as to the film's tone. Once again, let's remember the genius that was Alfred Hitchcock as we celebrate his birthday today.
On what would have been his 83rd birthday, we're celebrating the memory of the famous film director, Stanley Kubrick. Over the course of a nearly fifty year career, Kubrick stamped a name for himself in Hollywood lore, crafting some of the most memorable and instantly recognizable films in cinematic history. His work garnered him thirteen Academy Award nominations, including four Best Director nominations and five nominations for work with both original and adapted screenplays. Strangely enough, however, his only Oscar win came in the form of a statuette for Best Special Visual Effects for the 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, which is probably a tad bit blasphemous, to be sure. Still, there's no denying the Kubrick stamp that he placed on all his films. There's something about his work that leaves you a little bit mesmerized, and that's what makes the appeal all the more lasting.
