The 10 BEST – George Clooney movies

George Clooney has been acting in movies and television ever since the mid-1980′s.  He used to be famous for portraying Dr. Doug Ross on NBC’s popular drama ER.  Ever since he left that show, his career has skyrocketed and George has become a force in Hollywood.  He has directed two highly acclaimed films in Good Night and Good Luck and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (he also directed Leatherheads…but we will give him a pass on that one).  Clooney normally portrays characters that are smart, smooth, and charming…but he’s also been known to mix it up occasionally with some comedy.  He is very versatile and has a knack for picking out very good roles.  His new thriller, The American (trailer is at the bottom of this page) opens September 1.  Let’s take a look back at the ten best movies of Mr. Clooney! 

The Coens plus George = great comedy

 10.  Burn  After Reading – The Coen Brothers are known for their quirky comedies, but they are also recognized as being the best in their genre – the dark comedy.  Clooney leads an all star cast that includes Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, and Tilda Swinton.  The film is about a disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent that ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it.  George plays Harry, a State Department marshal who gets unknowingly mixed up in all the chaos that’s going on with the other characters.  The film is funny and Clooney shines in roles written by the Coens. Rating:

Slick war film shines with Clooney and Mark Wahlberg

9. Three Kings - A war film that’s not quite ‘a war film’ in the traditional sense.  It’s about a man’s conscience.  Greed vs. morality.  At the end of the Persian Gulf War, four U.S. soldiers plan to steal a secret stash of Kuwaiti gold. Instead, they find themselves getting involved with civilians being executed by Saddam Hussein and left defenseless by the U.S. military.  Whether they will help these civilians safely cross over into Iran and risk losing their treasure is the main question of this poignant film.  Clooney, once again in a leader role, is perfectly cast as Archie Gates.  The film is cleverly written with witty and funny dialogue that the majority of it doesn’t even feel like a ‘war’ film.  Some great characters in this.  (Note: Three Kings also made my top 10 Mark Wahlberg list) Rating:

Underrated animated film is impressive

8.  The Fantastic Mr. Fox -  Normally I don’t put animated films into my top 10 lists.  I do appreciate the work, and I know that it’s more difficult that people think it is.  However, when comprising a top movie list for an actor, it’s a bit easier to do when you can put their face with the character.  This film is one of my rare exceptions to that rule.  Undeniably one of the most underrated animated films ever, Fox is as cleverly written as any feature film out there.  The characters are great, and besides Clooney, features quite the list of talent – Meryl Streep, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, and Jason Schwartzman.  It is a tale of crossing the line of family responsibilities and midnight adventure and the friendships and awakenings of this country life that is inhabited by Fantastic Mr. Fox and his friends.  The film wasn’t able to find much love in theaters, but if you get the chance…rent it, watch it, and enjoy it. Rating:  

Early Clooney mixed with Tarantino/Rodriguez is a thrill to watch

 7.  From Dusk Til Dawn -This Robert Rodriguez flick is the oldest film on the list.  Clooney teamed up with Rodriguez and another famous director, Quentin Tarantino, to make this insanely cool vampire picture back in 1996.  Tarantino and Clooney play brothers Seth and Richard Gecko who basically end up taking a road trip with a family that includes Harvey Keitel and Juliette Lewis…but they end up at an establishment called the Titty Twister which is inhabited by vampires (a very sexy Salma Hayek is one of them!).  Both Clooney and Tarantino appear to be having lots of fun in their roles.  Lots of violence, cool dialogue, and a great cast…typical Tarantino and Rodriguez.  Rating:

George ups the cool factor...and lands JLo in this classic

6. Out of Sight -Before George began working with director Steven Soderbergh on a regular basis in the Oceans movies (see below), he played mega cool prison escapee Jack Foley.  Foley, upon breaking out, shares a moment of mutual attraction with US Marshall Karen Sisco (played nicely by Jennifer Lopez), whom he has kidnapped.  The film gets high marks for being cleverly written, wonderfully shot, and just overall – smooth.  Lopez gives what is arguably her finest performance, and Clooney does wonders with this character from the Elmore Leonard novel.  The film excels when both of them are on screen together, as their chemistry is undeniable.  Rating:

Clooney's thriller is surprisingly good

 5. Michael Clayton – One of those movies that was a tough sell for audiences.  It didn’t do very well at the box office, but it scored very high marks from critics and those moviegoers who did actually see it.  Michael Clayton is Mr. Fix-It for his law firm, Kenner, Back and Odeen. A former District Attorney, Clayton uses his contacts in the police and the criminal justice system to bail out the firms wealthy corporate clients. When one of the firms senior partners, Arthur Edens, has a nervous breakdown while taking a deposition in a lawsuit against a major agrochemicals company, Clayton is dispatched to bring him home. What Clayton soon learns is Edens not only has doubts about defending the lawsuit but that the company may be acting on its own to ensure a positive outcome.  This is a film that you must pay attention to while watching.  Clooney does a wonderful job at playing this complex man who is clearly unhappy with his purpose in life.  Rating:

Ill fated story is full of good performances

 4. The Perfect Storm -  Another great example of George being cast in a leadership role.  He plays Capt. Billy Tyne as a headstrong, job obsessed man who is so hell bent on getting that great catch that has been eluding his team for awhile.  The scruffy Clooney embodies the part of a fish boat captain and it doesn’t hurt that his supporting players are also well cast.  Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, Allen Payne, William Fichtner, and John Hawkes all seem like they could be doing this for a living instead of acting.  Wolfgang Petersen proves that he is not too bad at filming storm sequences as the final half hour is just amazing.  Of course, nobody will ever know the details of what happened out at sea when The Andrea Gail went down back in the fall of 1991, but this film is probably pretty close to the real thing. (Note: The Perfect Storm also made Mark Wahlberg’s Top 10 list)  Rating:

Clooney as Danny Ocean is spot on casting

 3. Oceans Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen – Is there a series of movies out there that has been better cast than these?  Debatable…but when Steven Soderbergh cast George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Matt Damon, Elliott Gould, Bernie Mac, Don Cheadle and Carl Reiner to play this gang of thieves, he created the ultimate lineup for a heist picture.  But this is more than just a heist movie.  It’s also a revenge film.  These guys are perfectionists when it comes to stealing but what motivates Danny Ocean more than anything in the first part is his need to get back at his nemesis Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia).  Watching these films back to back is a reminder of just how well written and stylishly directed they are.  The characters evolve as the series goes on and each and every film is quality entertainment.  These are the best heist movies ever made…in my opinion.  Clooney embodies the leader of this ‘rat pack’ perfectly.  His cool, suave demeanor sets the tone for the films.  They are funny, smart, and the ultimate cool. Rating: for the series

One of the five best films of 2009

 2. Up in the Air – This was a tough one yet again for me.  You could easily mix up the top 3 films here and the list would still be dead on.  From beginning to end, this is an emotionally driven piece that somehow works on every level.  From the fine performances to the marvelously written script, the film is a great example of character development.  George portrays Ryan Bingham, who has a job that has him traveling around the country firing people, and leading an empty life out of a suitcase, until his company does the unexpected: ground him.  What I love about the character of Ryan Bingham is that it’s easy to relate to this guy.  Lots of people out there are so focused on doing their jobs that personal relationships with family and potential friends just fall apart or never develop.  The “firing” scenes are so well done that you actually feel for the people being let go…it feels real.  The great thing about this movie is that you can easily watch it over and over again.  There are lessons in this one…some good, some bad.  Although it wasn’t the best film of 2009, I do believe it was top 5 material. Rating:

George's most outrageous performance is his best

1. O Brother, Where Art Thou? -A comedy that’s based Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey”, set in the deep south during the 1930′s. In it, three escaped convicts search for hidden treasure while a relentless lawman pursues them.  There are several reasons why this film is the #1 movie.  This was the first collaboration between Clooney and the Coen Brothers (the other was my #10 film) and they struck gold.  The Coens prove they are some of the best screenwriters out there by being able to take the classic poem and turning it into something different, but magical on the big screen.  In a film of absolutely amazing performances, George is the stand out as Everett Ulysses McGill.  Clooney becomes McGill so easily it’s scary.  The character is an honest con whose pompous linguistics and vocabulary are comical and endearing.  Add one of the truly great soundtracks in cinema history and you have a film that is a true joy to watch from the opening to the very last frame.  John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson also do amazing work here.  This is the film that truly proved that George was going to have a successful career outside of ER.  He won the Golden Globe for this role and it was more than well deserved. Rating:

Here is the trailer for The American.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ywmoXZwkA0

In addition to being a very respected actor and being a very talented director, George Clooney seems to have one of the most charitable hearts in Hollywood.  For example, alongside his current mission to stop the human rights atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan, he focuses much of his energy on helping those suffering from poverty.  He is always one of the first celebrities you see on telethons to help with both natural and unnatural disasters.  George is probably the closest our generation will get to the screen prescence of Jimmy Stewart was back in the ’30′s and 40′sor the charisma of Frank Sinatra (who is actually portraying in an upcoming film).  He has charm, takes on challenging roles, and dabbles in directing, all the while helping or leading great philanthopic causes throughout the world.  It’s no coincidence that George has made quite the career out of playing the ‘leader’ in his films.  It’s art imitating life.