Rotten Tomatoes - Movie News Columns

News » Columns » Five Favorite Films

Five Favorite Films

Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 next

61 - 80 of 261 articles

Five Favorite Films and an Interview with Harvey Weinstein (105 comments)

by Luke Goodsell on Wednesday, Nov. 23 2011, 11:09 PM

Whichever way you look at it, Harvey Weinstein is a legendary figure in the movie world. His original production and distribution company, Miramax, was instrumental in reshaping the landscape of American independent film in the late 1980s and into the '90s, ushering in such landmark movies as Steven Soderbergh's sex, lies, and videotape and Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. A passionate film lover and formidable Oscar season presence, Weinstein has been involved in all kinds of award-winning films, from Shakespeare In Love to The Lord of the Rings trilogy to last year's Academy champ, The King's Speech. This week, Weinstein serves as a producer and distributor on two critically-lauded films: My Week with Marilyn, starring Michelle Williams as the iconic Miss Monroe, and The Artist, Jean Dujardin's silent movie smash that's now wooing American audiences. The super-producer called in this week for an entertaining chat about his involvement in the projects, what drives him to make films, and how he sees this year's Oscar derby. Read on for the full interview, but first -- we asked him to pick his five favorite films.

Five Favorite Films with Kermit the Frog (and Miss Piggy Too!) (92 comments)

by Tim Ryan on Monday, Nov. 21 2011, 04:25 PM

Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy have been big movie stars for many years, and now they're back with The Muppets, which opens in theaters on Friday. In their latest big screen adventure, Kermit and Piggy are joined by Muppet superfan Walter, as well as non-Muppets Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams), who help to get the whole gang back together for a wild televised variety show that may help them to save their old Muppet Theater from the wrecking ball. In interviews with Rotten Tomatoes, Kermit (performed by Steve Whitmire) and Miss Piggy (performed by Eric Jacobson) shared a few of their favorite films (spoiler: Miss Piggy prefers her own movies), and also talked about their craziest fans and their longevity in the movie business.

Five Favorite Films (Plus Four More!) with Joshua Leonard (108 comments)

by Joshua Leonard on Wednesday, Nov. 16 2011, 01:05 PM

It's hard to make a list like this, because invariably my first thought is "What's gonna make me sound cool?" Using this method, I'd have to include at least one obscure Romanian silent film from the 30s that no one but Leonard Maltin and Quentin Tarantino had ever heard of.

If, on the other hand, I were to tell you about the films that have had the greatest personal impact me (a white kid from the suburbs who grew up in the 80s and 90s), it would be as follows.

Five Favorite Films with Freida Pinto (158 comments)

by Luke Goodsell on Tuesday, Nov. 08 2011, 01:06 PM

In just a few short years -- following her luminous debut in Danny Boyle's Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire -- Freida Pinto has gone from a virtual unknown to one of movies' most feted young actresses. This week, Pinto lends her talents to Immortals, visual stylist Tarsem Singh's visually stylish, violent and sometimes quite surreal imagining of ancient Greek mythology in which the actress portrays the oracle (and future lover of Henry Cavill's Theseus) Phaedra. We sat down with Pinto recently where she discussed her admiration for the director, the experience of working on her first big-budget film, and how it affects her performance. She also took a moment to recall her five favorite films.

Five Favorite Films with Like Crazy Director Drake Doremus (44 comments)

by RT Staff on Friday, Nov. 04 2011, 02:02 PM

You may not recognize Drake Doremus's name, but that's likely because you probably haven't seen any of his films. The 28-year-old Southern California native directed his first feature, Moonpie, in 2006, and his second film, Douchebag made its way to Sundance and a small theatrical release, but neither wee big box office hits. Earlier this year, however, his latest film, Like Crazy, picked up the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, marking him as a young independent director to watch. Starring Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones as a young couple trying to navigate the tricky waters of an international romance, Like Crazy has received some impressive reviews thus far, leading to a Certified Fresh stamp. We asked Drake to name his Five Favorite Films, to which he responded by narrowing it down to his five favorite love stories. Read on for the full list!

Five Favorite Films with Kevin Clash (68 comments)

by Luke Goodsell on Friday, Nov. 04 2011, 02:01 PM

The subject of Constance Marks' acclaimed documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey, Kevin Clash is a key player in the Jim Henson team, serving as a producer and creative consultant to the Muppets and Sesame Street, where his impossibly popular little red avatar continues to enthrall young audiences. We spoke with Clash recently as he was en route to New York's Muppet workshop, where he reflected on his experience working with Henson, how he creates his characters, and that time Elmo testified before Congress. But first, we asked him to name his five favorite films...

Five Favorite Films with Aaron Eckhart (71 comments)

by Luke Goodsell on Tuesday, Nov. 01 2011, 02:25 PM

You could set your watch to Aaron Eckhart's handsomely chiseled features -- but do so at your own peril. As he's proved time-and-again on screen, Eckhart excels at portraying deceptively charming men: be they manipulative executives, big-tobacco spin doctors, or physically duplicitous district attorneys. Which isn't to say he won't play nice, reasonably normal guys, of course. This week, however, Eckhart's up to his smooth-talking tricks in The Rum Diary, playing against Johnny Depp as the impeccably-dressed but otherwise rather rapacious Sanderson -- an American businessman out to turn postcard-perfect Puerto Rico into a lucrative tourist resort. We spoke with Eckhart recently, where he talked about the film, his thoughts on writer Hunter S. Thompson, and the art of playing the likeable bad guy. But first, he ran through his five favorite films.

Five Favorite Films with Puss in Boots (70 comments)

by Puss in Boots on Friday, Oct. 28 2011, 01:45 PM

I don't know you, but I'd like to. This Friday, come meet me under the cover of darkness for a movie with the greatest subject: ME...Puss in Boots. Stepping out of the green ogre's very large shadow, I am showcasing my considerable talents in a movie that has it all: drama, action, comedy, a little swashbuckling and, yes, a lot of romance. Before I sweep you off your feet and into my adventure, get to know me a little more: Presenting my Five Favorite Films...

Five Favorite Films with Abigail Breslin (65 comments)

by Luke Goodsell on Friday, Oct. 28 2011, 01:45 PM

Since her acting debut in Signs (at age six) and Oscar nomination for Little Miss Sunshine (at age 10), Abigail Breslin has taken an unpredictable path in her film roles, appearing in everything from family movies to heartstring-heavy dramas to unabashed horror-comedy -- as Zombieland's gun-toting scamp Little Rock, she got to indulge in what few of her young peers are allowed; namely, blowing away hordes of the undead. In this week's Janie Jones, Breslin plays the title character, a 13-year-old girl set adrift from her single mother to reconnects with her boozy rock-n-roll dad, played by Alessandro Nivola. We sat down with the young actress to talk about the movie and her music, where she sees her career headed, and her Five Favorite Films.

Five Favorite Films with Bruce Robinson (64 comments)

by Luke Goodsell on Monday, Oct. 24 2011, 12:00 PM

If British writer-director Bruce Robinson had only made one film -- 1987's inimitable comedy Withnail & I -- he would have been assured a place in the annals of cult movie history. And it very nearly became the case, too. When the combined forces of Hunter S. Thompson and Johnny Depp came calling, however, Robinson found himself being made an offer he couldn't refuse. The result is The Rum Diary, a long-gestating passion project for Depp instigated when he and Thompson unearthed an unpublished manuscript from the late gonzo legend's early years as a writer. We sat down with Robinson to talk about the challenge of bringing Thompson's novel to the screen, the weirdness of being back in Hollywood, and how Depp -- who previously tried to bait Robinson to direct Fear and Loathing -- finally lured him into taking on this job. But first, kick back with some lighter fluid and enjoy Robinson's five favorite films.

Five Favorite Films with Paul Bettany (115 comments)

by Tim Ryan on Friday, Oct. 21 2011, 01:10 PM

From vengeance-obsessed priests to tennis pros, from English naturalists to sentient computers, Paul Bettany has played a wide range of characters in his big-screen career. In his latest, Margin Call, Bettany plays a high-rolling investment banker whose company is on the verge of collapse -- an internal crisis that just might take the whole economy down with it. In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Bettany shared his favorite films, and also discussed Occupy Wall Street, why he (sort of) empathizes with bankers, and the difference between busking and filmmaking.

Five Favorite Films with Hayden Panettiere (103 comments)

by Ryan Fujitani on Thursday, Oct. 13 2011, 04:25 PM

If you've watched any popular television over the past five years or so, chances are you probably caught an episode or two of the sci-fi/fantasy series Heroes, and if you've seen Heroes, chances are you're already quite familiar with Hayden Panettiere, who played nigh indestructible cheerleader Claire Bennet. This week, she makes a return to ensemble drama with Fireflies in the Garden, starring alongside the likes of Willem Dafoe, Julia Roberts, Emily Watson, and Ryan Reynolds . RT chatted with Hayden about her new movie, as well as what it was like working with such a distinguished cast, and how thankful she is for her career. But before we get to all that, here are Hayden Panettiere's Five Favorite Films!

Five Favorite Films with Joel Schumacher (111 comments)

by Luke Goodsell on Wednesday, Oct. 12 2011, 08:25 AM

Veteran director Joel Schumacher has had an eclectic, sometimes distinguished, and never less than colorful career across four decades in Hollywood. Though for some his name is synonymous with the camp excesses of Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, the self-described "street kid from New York" boasts a much deeper and more varied filmography that includes cult gems, blockbuster thrillers and tense, micro genre pieces. With his latest, the heightened home invasion thriller Trespass, starring Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman, in theatrical release this week, we spoke candidly with Schumacher about his career. Read on to hear his thoughts on Batman, including how he wanted to direct The Dark Knight and almost cast Nicolas Cage as the Scarecrow, his admiration for Christopher Nolan's films, and his preference for smaller, darker films. But first, after much agonizing, he laid down his all-time five favorite films.

Five Favorite Films with Juno Temple (73 comments)

by Luke Goodsell on Thursday, Oct. 06 2011, 09:32 AM

Juno Temple's star is definitely on the rise. The daughter of punk filmmaker Julien Temple, the 22-year-old English-born actress began her career with supporting roles in movies like Notes on a Scandal, Atonement, and St. Trinian's -- and later delivered a lead performance in Jordan Scott's excellent boarding school drama, Cracks. She'll soon headline several films including William Friedkin's Killer Joe, Jonas Akerlund's Small Apartments and the long-percolating lesbian werewolf project Jack and Diane, in addition to starring as a "street smart Gotham girl" in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises -- a role that has fans speculating could be anything from Selina Kyle's sidekick Holly Robinson to Harley Quinn to a female Robin. In the meantime, Temple appears in this week's Dirty Girl, an autobiographical comedy-drama from debut director Abe Sylvia. We caught up with Temple recently to chat about Dirty Girl, but first, she took a few moments to run through her all-time five favorite films.

Five Favorite Films with Alan Tudyk (78 comments)

by Ryan Fujitani on Thursday, Sep. 29 2011, 03:55 PM

Comedic actor Alan Tudyk is what we affectionately refer to as a "that guy," someone whose face is almost immediately recognizable but whose name tends to escape the average moviegoer. This week, Tudyk stars alongside Tyler Labine as the titular duo in the horror movie satire Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, successfully adding "misunderstood hillbilly" to his colorful list of past characters. The film, in which a couple of backwoods hayseeds on vacation are mistaken for murderous psychopaths, generated quite a bit of positive early buzz and has already been stamped Certified Fresh, and though it opens theatrically this week in limited release, it's already available via video on demand. RT was recently afforded the opportunity to speak with Tudyk, who absolutely gushed about his Five Favorite Films and went on to discuss his role as Tucker, his fear of horror movies, and his experience hanging out with pirates for a day. Click through for the full interview!

Five Favorite Films With Taylor Lautner (218 comments)

by Luke Goodsell on Tuesday, Sep. 20 2011, 08:40 AM

Not too many actors get to headline an action thriller while still in their teens, but then career trajectories can be a little different when you're an alumnus of a certain billion-dollar vampire franchise. Still just 19, Taylor Lautner was always the most likely of the Twilight triangle to embrace the action genre: his chiseled physique and Cruise junior profile suggest a screen life of tangling with bad guys, which is precisely what he does in director John Singleton's Bourne-like paranoid escapade, Abduction . With Abduction in theaters this week, we had the chance to chat with the personable Lautner about working on the film, where he sees his career heading, and his experience living inside the crazy celebrity bubble of the Twilight series. But first, he talked about his five favorite films. Take it away, Team Jacob.

Five Favorite Films with Mario Van Peebles (85 comments)

by Tim Ryan on Friday, Sep. 02 2011, 04:45 PM

New Jack City, Mario Van Peebles's first directorial effort, was a critical and commercial smash, and he's subsequently helmed and acted in a wide range of high-profile films and television shows. He made his big screen debut as a teenager in his father Melvin's pioneering indie Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song; years later, the younger Van Peebles directed Baadasssss!, playing his father in a critically-acclaimed drama about the making of that seminal African-American film. His latest, Redemption Road, stars Michael Clark Duncan and Morgan Simpson in a drama about two unlikely road trip companions who find common ground in music. In an interview with RT, Van Peebles shared his favorite films, and also discussed using music as a character in his movies, working with his well-known father, and making the world a greener place.

Five Favorite Films with Michael Clarke Duncan (55 comments)

by Tim Ryan on Friday, Aug. 26 2011, 04:58 PM

Best known for his Academy Award-nominated performance in The Green Mile, Michael Clarke Duncan has turned in memorable supporting performances in such hits as Sin City, Armageddon, and Kung Fu Panda (which puts his authoritative baritone to good use). In his latest, Redemption Road, Duncan plays Augy, a Shakespeare-quoting country music fan with a dark past who helps Jefferson (Morgan Simpson), a troubled young bluesman, to settle his late grandfather's estate. In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Duncan shared some of his favorite movies, and talked about his favorite cartoon character, the misconceptions about his size, and his role in one of Major League Baseball's most infamous nights.

Five Favorite Films with Jason Momoa (105 comments)

by Ryan Fujitani on Friday, Aug. 19 2011, 05:00 PM

Raised in Iowa by way of Honolulu and born of German, Irish, Native Hawaiian and Native American blood, Jason Momoa first turned heads as Hawaii's Model of the Year in 1999, thanks to his imposing stature and exotic looks. This week, he stars in Marcus Nispel's reimagining of Robert E. Howard's iconic warrior, Conan the Barbarian, and RT was able to chat with him over the phone about his Five Favorite Films, his love for the Conan character, and his career aspirations. Click through for the full interview!

Five Favorite Films with Joel McHale (105 comments)

by Luke Goodsell on Friday, Aug. 19 2011, 07:11 AM

Joel McHale's been making the abyss of modern culture that little bit more bearable over the past decade as the host of E!'s satirical The Soup, while he recently added a residency as the star of TV's acclaimed series Community to his resume. It follows that his next step toward media ubiquity should be a big screen career (he's already had supporting roles in Spider-Man 2 and The Informant), and this week McHale takes a somewhat unlikely starring role opposite Jessica Alba in Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D -- the latest in Robert Rodriguez's hugely successful series of adventure films. "You know, being in a kids movie -- I'd never really thought about it in my life until it was presented to me," says McHale. "My first inclination to do it was getting to work with Robert, and that's how it came together." In the film, McHale plays Wilbur Wilson, a sham TV host -- irony noted -- who pretends to hunt for real-life spies, unaware that his wife (Alba) is actually a secret operative herself (and that his dog is a robotic canine who sounds a lot like Ricky Gervais.) Here then are Joel McHale's all-time favorites.