Five Favorite Films with Djimon Hounsou
The Push loves Martin Scorsese and David Lean.
After giving critically-acclaimed performances in Oscar-nominated films like Amistad, In America, Gladiator, and Blood Diamond, Benin-born actor Djimon Hounsou finally gets to play a villain in this week's science fiction thriller, Push. Rotten Tomatoes spoke with Hounsou about his Five Favorite Films of all time and discussed the two-time Oscar nominee's philosophies on the nature of acting, the perils of creating a signature style, and more.
In this week's Push, Djimon Hounsou strikes a menacing pose as Carver, the ominous head of a secret government agency working to cultivate an army of telekinetics, psychics, shape-shifters, and others endowed with unique powers. It's a bit of a departure for Hounsou, who came to attention as the leader of a slave rebellion in the Oscar-nominated Amistad only a little over a decade ago, but achieving variety, it would seem, is Hounsou's intent. Read on as Djimon Hounsou takes us through his favorite films -- classics of their respective generations -- and shares his thoughts on filmmaking, acting and creative versatility.
"I'd like to think that when a story changes, your vision changes." -- Djimon Hounsou
Raging Bull (1980, 98% Tomatometer)
What a scope of a film for Martin Scorsese. To really dig into the humanity of that character, Jake La Motta. And what a portrayal by Robert De Niro! What an amazing talent. How he was able to really touch into this organic moment...it was just unbelievable.
Lawrence of Arabia (1962, 98% Tomatometer)
Just the scope of the film. The journey the film takes, the journey the character takes. Doing that film today you couldn't get your head around it -- it was such a massive undertaking. It leaves so much room for imagination, to escape. I escaped with that film. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957, 95% Tomatometer)
I think it was a beautiful, well-told story. If you're learning to know how to direct a film, it's a great subject film to study.
The Usual Suspects (1995, 89% Tomatometer)
Obviously it has to do with the story and how complicated it was. [Bryan Singer] was an impressive young man, to be able to draw that.
Taxi Driver (1979, 100% Tomatometer)
I thought its arc of character was beautifully captured. [Martin Scorsese] has got so many dramatic views -- men fed up with life, the situation, the system. These days people are more experienced [as filmmakers] but we've just been poorly making movies lately. We used to tell beautiful, humane stories. We used to care about characters instead of just blowing some f***ing building down. Next: Hounsou talks about Push, as well as formenting a personal style in the movies.
Books on 02-5-2009 06:29 PM
Not my cup of tea
jokerboy1991 on 02-5-2009 06:34 PM
LOL WHA?!?! Please tell me you aren't talking about those films he listed, those are all masterpieces! He is a really good actor but I think he makes to much pop corn crap.
Robert K. on 02-6-2009 12:24 PM
Maybe you should switch to coffee.