Actors I like Part 2

Okay, so I am officially rubbish.  It's been way too long... So, as penance, I'm setting myself a challenge. I'm off work for a week so I'm going to blog every day until I'm back. I figure if I write it down, I'll have to do it! From now until next Sunday I'll post something every day.

Finally then, here's part 2 in the very scientific survey of "Actors what I quite like most of the time unless they're in something shit."

Leonardo DiCaprio

The first film I remember seeing Leo in (and I feel like I'm allowed to call him Leo) is Basketball Diaries.  When you're 14, this is a pretty powerful experience.  Follow that with Romeo & Juliet...when he looked like this and you've no choice but to become a fully paid-up member of the Leo fan club.

When these films no longer satisfied my cravings, the only option was to delve into his past work. I remember watching What's Eating Gilbert Grape and being thrilled.  I could look cool in front of my friends. "He was nominated for an Oscar you know!" He really did deliver an amazing performance, and who could fail to love Arnie. Next I watched The Quick & The Dead and then pretended it had never happened.

More recently I loved Catch Me if you Can.  He was excellent in Revolutionary Road (although Winslet seemed to get most of the attention) and just the trailer for Inception has me doing my little happy dance.  My homework for the week is to watch The Departed.  I've had it on DVD since it was released but have never got around to watching it.  Apparently that's a bad decision! I'm sure I'll love it. 

Natalie Portman

I think this is a pretty obvious choice for me! Leon would, on most days, appear in my top 5 favorite films ever.  Her performance is so confident and mature that it makes me forget that recently, there haven't been many films that I've liked her in. I loved Garden State's strangeness and I think that film really suited her.  She was great in Closer, even if I kind of hate the film.  I'm just going to ignore Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium and Star Wars if that's ok with you.  I am hoping that she will redeem herself with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  How can that be anything other than awesome? 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

How could anyone fail to love JGL?  I actually vividly remember the first time I saw him on screen.  It was, unfortunately, in Halloween H20... he's in the film for about 5 minutes but he does end up with a hockey skate through his face.  Pretty memorable!  I've seen 10 Things I Hate About You more times than is really acceptable and so of course I love him in that!

As he's got older he's made some really intelligent choices. He could easily have fallen into roles of the "handsome leading man" but he seems genuinely more interested in the stories themselves, than how many more screaming fans a role will get him. Brick is a mesmerising film, which only gets better the more you watch it. (500) Days of Summer has bucketloads of charm (see instant happiness clip below) and he's also in Inception.  Just love this guy!

Joshua Jackson

Yes, I know I said this was film actors only but he totally counts!

Josh Jackson is someone I like for reasons I can't put my finger on.  He's just got presence.  A quality that I find really enjoyable to watch, even in crappy films.  He may forever be Pacey Witter in my eyes but he's had always entertaining in films.  If I catch a Mighty Ducks film on TV, I have to watch it to the end.  I love them and couldn't tell you why.  Urban Legend, The Skulls & Gossip are TERRIBLE, but he's watchable.  He's in Muppets in Space for goodness sake!?  Oh, and he was pretty good in Bobby a couple of years ago.  I wish he'd do more films... but here's a moment of TV gold in the meantime! (just the first minute or so)  Best. Accent. Ever.

Cate Blanchett

What can I say, she's just amazing.  Elizabeth, LOTR, Charlotte Grey, The Aviator, Babel,  Notes on a Scandal, Benjamin Button, blah blah blah.  All amazing performances.  And she can wear a dress like it's jeans an a T-shirt!