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, 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, 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)

Happy Birthday, Cate Blanchett!

Today, we're celebrating the 43rd birthday of the Academy Award-winning actress, Cate Blanchett. A native of Melbourne, Australia, Blanchett made her feature film debut in the 1994 film Police Rescue. It wasn't until 1997's Oscar and Lucinda and 1998's Elizabeth - for which she nabbed her first Oscar nomination - that Cate truly started to get noticed by the mainstream public. In the following years, she appeared in higher-profile films such as 1999's The Talented Mr. Ripley and 2000's Bandits before turning into an A-list actor by appearing as Galadriel in all three of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings films. In 2004, Blanchett won her sole Oscar for her portrayal of Katharine Hepburn in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator, and since then, she's been nominated for three more Academy Awards. Most recently, audiences have seen Blanchett in the 2011 film, Hanna, and they'll next see her in 2012's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, where she'll reprise her role as Galadriel. And so, to celebrate her birthday, I've created a list of my five favorite of Blanchett's performances, and I've managed to find a few videos to satisfy your viewing pleasure. I hope you can all join me in wishing a very happy birthday to Cate Blanchett!

5. Daisy

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

*****

4. Galadriel

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

*****

3. Sheba Hart

Notes on a Scandal (2006)

*****

2. Katharine Hepburn

The Aviator (2004)

*****

1. Jude

I'm Not There. (2007)

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

Happy Birthday, Daniel Day-Lewis!

On this April 29th, I would like to send some hearty birthday wishes to Daniel Day-Lewis, who turns 55 today. The English actor has easily cemented himself as one of the top actors of today's Hollywood generation by turning in brilliant performance after brilliant performance. He's a four-time Oscar nominee and two-time Oscar winner, nabbing those illustrious statuettes for his leading roles in 1989's My Left Foot and 2007's There Will Be Blood. Day-Lewis is rather selective of his roles (for example, his next scheduled role won't come until 2013), so he doesn't have the massive quantity of films in his repertoire as some other actors; however, it really comes down to quality, and there are few - if any - of Day-Lewis's peers who come close to matching his level. As usual, I've broken down my five favorite roles for the birthday boy or girl, so here's a look at the five characters that Day-Lewis has brought to the screen that I've enjoyed the most. Once again, happy birthday Daniel Day-Lewis.

#5. Guido Contini
Nine (2009)


----------

#4. Hawkeye
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)


----------

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


----------

#2. Daniel Plainview
There Will Be Blood (2007)


----------

#1. Gerry Conlon
In the Name of the Father (1993)

Happy Birthday, James McAvoy!

Today, we're celebrating the 33rd birthday of actor James McAvoy. A native of Scotland, McAvoy made his acting debut in the 1995 film The Near Room before spending most of his time making appearances in TV series and made-for-TV movies through the late 1990s and early 2000s. It wasn't until his starring role opposite eventual Oscar winner Forest Whitaker in 2006's The Last King of Scotland that McAvoy started to rise out of obscurity. He truly burst onto the scene in 2007's Atonement opposite Keira Knightley and then again in 2008's Wanted opposite Angelina Jolie. Most recently, audiences have seen McAvoy in 2011's X-Men: First Class as Charles Xavier, and they'll next see him in the 2012 films Welcome to the Punch and Filth. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've created a list of my five favorite of James McAvoy's performances. I've found a few clips to give you a sense of his acting ability, so I hope you can enjoy watching those. Once again, I'd like to wish James McAvoy a very happy birthday!

5. Frederick Aiken

The Conspirator (2011)

*****

4. Charles Xavier

X-Men: First Class (2011)

*****

3. Wesley

Wanted (2008)

*****

2. Dr. Nicholas Garrigan

The Last King of Scotland (2006)

*****

1. Robbie Turner

Atonement (2007)

Happy Birthday, Tim Curry!

Today, we're celebrating the 66th birthday of actor Tim Curry. A veteran with his name on over 200 hundred titles, Curry started his acting career in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a string of roles in made-for-TV movies and television series. It wasn't his starring role in the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show that Tim truly started to make a name for himself. From there, he managed to secure roles in such fare as 1982's Annie, 1985's Legend, 1985's Clue and 1990's The Hunt for Red October. At the same time, Curry offered his vocal talents to a number of TV shows as well as feature films, including a starring role in 1992's FernGully: The Last Rainforest. He has worked consistently throughout the 1990s and 2000s, both on and off the screen. Most recently, audiences have seen him in the 2010 film Burke and Hare, and we'll next see him in a number of 2012 releases including Gingerclown, Ribbit and Glide. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've compiled a list of my five favorite of Curry's performances from over the years, and I've managed to secure clips from each. I hope you enjoy them! Once again, happy birthday Tim!

5. Rooster Hannigan
Annie (1982)


*****

4. Long John Silver
Muppet Treasure Island (1996)


*****

3. Pennywise
It (1990)


*****

2. Wadsworth
Clue (1985)


*****

1. Dr. Frank-N-Furter
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Happy Birthday, James Franco!

Today, we're celebrating the 34th birthday of Academy Award-nominated actor James Franco. He got his acting start in made-for-TV movies in the late 1990s, but it wasn't until 1999's Never Been Kissed that he managed to score a role in a feature film. In 2002, Franco took on a career-making role in Sam Raimi's Spider-man, propelling him into mass public consciousness. From there, he's appeared in films like 2005's The Great Raid and 2008's Pineapple Express, and he has reprised his Spider-man role twice since the first film was released. In 2010, Franco nabbed his sole Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Aron Ralston in 127 Hours. Most recently, audiences have seen him in 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and they'll next be able to see him in the 2012 films Cherry, Maladies, Tar and Lovelace. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've created a list of my five favorite of Franco's performances. I hope you enjoy the list! Once again, happy birthday, James!

5. Taste
Date Night (2010)


*****

4. Joey
City by the Sea (2002)


*****

3. Scott Smith
Milk (2008)


*****

2. Saul Silver
Pineapple Express (2008)


*****

1. Aron Ralston
127 Hours (2010)

Happy Birthday, Seth Rogen!

Today, we're celebrating the 30th birthday of actor Seth Rogen. He got his acting start on the short-lived TV show "Freaks and Geeks" in 1999, but it wasn't until 2001 that he made his feature film debut in Donnie Darko. In 2004, Rogen made his first real impact on the big screen in a bit performance in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, which he then followed with a supporting role in 2005's The 40 Year Old Virgin, cementing himself as one of the go-to comedy men in Hollywood. Seth nabbed his first leading man role in 2007's Knocked Up and also appeared in Superbad that same year. In 2008, Rogen made appearances in The Spiderwick Chronicles, Kung Fu Panda, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Step Brothers and Pineapple Express, and he has yet to slow down. Most recently, audiences have seen him in 2011's 50/50, and they'll next see Rogen in 2012's The Guilt Trip. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Seth Rogen's performances, and I've found a clip for each. Once again, happy birthday, Seth!

5. Ben Stone
Knocked Up (2007)


*****

4. Dale Denton
Pineapple Express (2008)


*****

3. Cal
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)


*****

2. Admiral Seaholtz / Roach
Fanboys (2009)


*****

1. Officer Michaels
Superbad (2007)

Happy Birthday, Russell Crowe!

Today, we're celebrating the 48th birthday of Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe. He got his acting start on television in the early 1970s, and he worked so sporadically through the 1980s. It wasn't until the 1990 film Prisoners in the Sun that he made his theatrical feature film debut, propelling him to more consistent work. In 1997, Crowe got his big break in L.A. Confidential opposite Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey and Kim Basinger. Two years later, Crowe nabbed his first Oscar nomination for his performance in The Insider. Crowe then managed to score two more nominations in the two years that followed, winning for his performance in 2000's Gladiator while falling just short with his nomination for 2001's A Beautiful Mind. Since then, Crowe has been a little more selective about his film choices, but he has managed to perform well in a few films in the 2000s, including in 2003's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and in 2007's remake of 3:10 to Yuma. Most recently, audiences have seen him in 2010's The Next Three Days, and we'll next see him in the 2012 film, The Man with the Iron Fists. And so, to celebrate his 48th birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Crowe's performances, and I've supplied clips from each for your viewing pleasure. Once again, happy birthday, Russell Crowe!

5. Capt. Jack Aubrey
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)


*****

4. Wendell 'Bud' White
L.A. Confidential (1997)


*****

3. Ben Wade
3:10 to Yuma (2007)


*****

2. Maximus
Gladiator (2000)


*****

1. John Nash
A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Happy Birthday, Paul Rudd!

Today, we're celebrating the 43rd birthday of actor Paul Rudd. He nabbed his first acting role in 1992's A Question of Ethics, but he didn't make a real audience splash until his performance in 1995's Clueless. Throughout the late 1990s, Rudd appeared in such films as 1996's Romeo + Juliet and 1999's The Cider House Rules as supporting characters. It wasn't until the mid-2000s, however, with appearances in films like 2004's Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and 2005's The 40 Year Old Virgin, that Rudd truly burst onto the Hollywood scene. He has since made a name for himself as a top supporting character in a number of comedies, including 2007's Knocked Up and 2008's Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Rudd's fame grew enough to earn him a few leading man credits as well, including in 2008's Role Models and 2009's I Love You, Man. Most recently, audiences have seen Rudd in 2012's Wanderlust opposite Jennifer Aniston, and we'll next be able to see him in the 2012 film The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Rudd's performances. Once again, happy birthday, Paul!

5. Brian Fantana
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)


*****

4. David
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)


*****

3. Chuck
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)


*****

2. Pete
Knocked Up (2007)


*****

1. John Lennon
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

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)

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, Ewan McGregor!

Today, we're celebrating the 41st birthday of actor Ewan McGregor. His acting career began in the early 1990s with a series of television performances, but it wasn't until 1994 that he made his feature film debut in Shallow Grave. He garnered acclaim for his performance in 1996's Trainspotting, but McGregor burst onto the worldwide movie scene in 1999 when he first portrayed the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the first of the Star Wars prequels, The Phantom Menace; he would go on to reprise the role in both of the film's subsequent sequels. Ewan has continued to have consistent work throughout the 2000s, appearing in such big-time films as 2001's Moulin Rouge and Black Hawk Down, 2003's Big Fish and 2010's The Ghost Writer. Most recently, McGregor appeared in the 2012 film Haywire, and he will next appear in the 2012 film The Impossible opposite Naomi Watts. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of McGregor's performances and have found videos offering clips from those films. Once again, happy birthday, Ewan!

5. Grimes
Black Hawk Down (2001)


*****

4. Oliver Fields
Beginners (2011)


*****

3. Camerlengo Patrick McKenna
Angels & Demons (2009)


*****

2. Ed Bloom
Big Fish (2003)


*****

1. Christian
Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Happy Birthday, Vince Vaughn!

Today, we're celebrating the 42nd birthday of Vince Vaughn. He got his acting start with TV appearances in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but it wasn't until 1993's Rudy that he managed to nab a credited role in a feature film. He started to gain more prominence with his supporting role in 1996's Swingers, and he managed to work relatively consistently throughout the 1990s, appearing in high-profile films like 1997's The Lost World: Jurassic Park and the 1998 remake of Psycho. However, it was Vince's work in the 2000s that truly brought him into the A-list. His work in comedy has shot him to the forefront of the genre. He has appeared in some of the higher-profile comedies of the 2000s, including 2002's Old School, 2004's Anchorman and 2005's Wedding Crashers. Most recently, audiences saw Vaughn in 2011's The Dilemma, and we'll next be able to see him in 2012's Neighborhood Watch. So, to celebrate his birthday, I've compiled a list of my five favorite Vince Vaughn performances. I hope you enjoy the videos I've been able to find. Once again, happy birthday, Vince!

5. Reese Feldman
Starsky & Hutch (2004)


*****

4. Wayne Westerberg
Into the Wild (2007)


*****

3. Wes Mantooth
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)


*****

2. Norman Bates
Psycho (1998)

*****

1. Jeremy Grey
Wedding Crashers (2005)