Well known for her marriage to Brad Pitt, humanitarian causes, and being one of the most beautiful people on the planet, Angelina Jolie is sometimes forgotten for being an accomplished actress with a storied career. Jolie has won an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Always an intense on screen presence, Jolie has turned in wonderful movie performances since 1993. Here are the best 5 movies of Jolie’s career.
1. Playing By Heart (1998)
Playing By Heart will tear at your heartstrings and make you want to watch it over and over again. With an amazing cast that includes Sean Connery, Gena Rowlands, Dennis Quaid, Madeleine Stowe, and Gillian Anderson, it is quite an accomplishment that Angelina Jolie and Ryan Phillipe absolutely steal this movie. Jolie’s out-of-this world intensity is matched by Phillipe’s subtle, reserved nature in the most real and moving scenes in the movie. The story includes six sections that eventually meld into one as the connections between the characters are revealed. At times both hilarious and deeply sad, this movie will restore your faith in the romantic drama genre. You will not be able to resist falling in love with this movie and Jolie’s performance.
2. Girl Interrupted (1999)
Although Winona Ryder is the lead role in this film, Jolie is clearly the star of this move and absolutely dominates the screen with her commanding presence. A very dark movie that is mostly set in a mental institute, the film is based on the short memoir of a college student (Ryder) that suffers a mental breakdown in 1967. Ryder is diagnosed as a “borderline personality disorder” and Jolie as a “sociopath.” Whether the patients are properly diagnosed is open to interpretation. Ryder’s character mediates on several themes such as conformity, mental illness treatment, and freedom while watching and learning the ropes of the hospital from Jolie’s character. An absolutely stunning performance from Jolie that exudes sexuality not traditionally seen from lead Hollywood actresses, she earned a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her efforts.
3. A Mighty Heart (2007)
A Mighty Heart is a film adaptation of Marianne Pearl’s book account of the kidnapping and death of her husband, journalist Daniel Pear, in Pakistan. Jolie wonderfully plays Pearl and exudes an eerie, calm strength during the search for her husband. One of Jolie’s most diverse roles, she displays a quiet confidence with a hint of unraveling underneath. The viewer is almost a voyeur to what seems like an authentic accounting of the kidnapping drama. Even though we know the outcome, the film is enjoyable, suspenseful, and explores many deep themes such as fairness, poverty, and hope.
4. Beowulf (2007)
An enjoyable romp of a film based on the fourteen hundred year old epic poem, this digitally enhanced movie is a fun ride. Jolie plays a nymphomaniac temptress who is half-woman/half-beast. If you watch only for her scenes, you will not be disappointed. Still, the movie is good, enjoyable fun and as Anthony Hopkins’ character King Hrothgar states early in the movie, “there will be merriment, joy, and fornication.” Beowulf, the dragon slayer, cannot help but be seduced by the digitally enhanced creature played by Jolie. Dripping in gold while in a dark lair, Jolie almost appears naked due to the incredible animation effects as she seduces Beowulf. Don’t miss this one.
5. Gia (1998)
Although the plot is a bit tired and typical, Jolie’s performance makes this film worth watching. Jolie plays Gia Carangi, a 1970’s supermodel, who died of AIDS at the age of 26. Her lesbian relationship and love scenes are truly credible, moving, and heartfelt. Even though it is hard to determine why, we sympathize with Gia and her demons. Jolie wonderfully demonstrates how Gia was just searching for love while almost everyone else used her. Jolie earned a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for her work in Gia.
Sources:
www.imdb.com
www.reel.com
www.angelinajolie.com
www.movies.yahoo.com
www.amightyheartmovie.com
www.theactorsstudio.org/
www.movies.nytimes.com
