Top 10 Movies Of 2020

...And a happy new year!

Well, it has certainly been another usual by-the-numbers movie year. Between all the major blockbusters getting released on time and movie theaters buzzing, the year in cinema felt almost generic. Can't wait for the Oscars next February!

Without further sarcastic remarks, I shall share my list of 2020's best movies. After a lot of back-and-forth consideration, I decided not to include Disney Plus's Hamilton on this list, as a filmed version of a Broadway musical doesn't quite qualify as a movie, even if its production quality and cinematic value are off the charts and it would smash its way all the way to first place if it did qualify.

Here are my honorable mentions: Becoming (2020), Bill & Ted Face The Music (2020), Helene (2020), The Outpost (2020).

10. Tove

Hooray for Finland! This domestic release was one of the very few films that I managed to see in the cinema this year, and I sure am glad I saw it. Tove is a biopic of iconic author and illustrator Tove Jansson, played here by the wonderful Alma Pöysti. The film's style is a warm blend of melancholic and whimsical, which is quite appropriate for the story at hand. Pöysti is amazing in the lead role, as she really captures the quirky and inspiring nature that Jansson is known for.

9. Call Of The Wild

Sure, it's a Disney-fied adaptation that takes away the grittiness of Jack London's original novel and replaces it with an extra level of coziness and warmth. But so what? That's exactly the type of re-adaptation that Michael Green's screenplay and Chris Sanders's directing were going for, and I don't blame them - while I do appreciate the raw and gripping nature of the book, the warmer side of the story leaves a lot to be explored, and thus an adaptation focusing on that side was welcome (especially in a year like 2020, where grittiness hasn't exactly been in short supply).

The Yukon scenery is absolutely magnificent throughout the film - while many of the visually astonishing scenes are done with CGI, it feels like the real thing, and the movie feels like an ode to the nature in those magnificent parts. One of the coolest experiences in my life was doing a raft trip down the Yukon with my brother, father and uncle in 2013, and watching this film really brought back some memories on how beautiful that part of the world is.

8. Host

Making the best out of a bad situation like a boss, Rob Savage directed a horror film entirely via Zoom during the strictest lockdown period in the UK. As my fellow 2020 survivors will know, Zoom calls can be enough of a horror show on their own, but this film takes it to a whole new level with a carefully crafted hour-long story about a group of friends who try to hold a seance remotely. Things go horribly wrong, leading to various mayhem happening on the different camera screens during the videocall. The gimmick works wonders, as Savage's expert directing mixes realism and the supernatural impressively with the well-coordinated production.

7. I'm Thinking Of Ending Things

My New Year's resolution is to watch more Charlie Kaufman movies. I haven't seen much from him, but everything I've seen has left me begging for more. This very much includes his straight-to-Netflix release I'm Thinking Of Ending Things, a movie that begins with a simple premise (a young woman isn't sure about her relationship with her boyfriend and considers breaking up) and then escalates further than you could ever imagine.

It is by far the oddest and most experimental film I saw this year, and at first I wasn't sure whether I even liked its specific method of creativity - long story short, I had no idea what was going on for much of the film's duration. But after doing some analysis (and perhaps reading some helpful analyses by people who have actually read the book that it's based on), it hit me. Now I have a lot of appreciation for the film's unique and cryptic way of conveying its central themes, and I should really watch it again now that I have some idea of what it's really about.

6. Mank

Based on a script by his late father Jack, director David Fincher got ambitious with this Hollywood biopic. The film centers on the (somewhat embellished) true story of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (played here by Gary Oldman), and his time working on the legendary screenplay for Citizen Kane (1941) - truly the Citizen Kane of movies, if you ask me.

The story is quite controversial, as it highlights Mankiewicz's role so much that it more or less demonizes Orson Welles (played here by Tom Burke), who is often seen as the sole genius behind Citizen Kane. Bold points-of-view aside, one thing beyond any debate is that Fincher does an astonishing job directing. Mank is not only shot in black-and-white, but there are countless small touches in the cinematography, editing and production design departments (not to mention the dialogue) that truly make the film feel like an actual 1940's film - something that many modern filmmakers have tried to do, but almost never as successfully.

5. Palm Springs

Who gave a romantic comedy starring two sitcom actors permission to be this awesome??

Please, if you have the possibility, watch Palm Springs without knowing anything about the plot or premise (or genre) beforehand. I did just that, and it was quite the joyride - it begins like a very usual romcom, and around the 11-minute mark it throws the first of many out-of-the-box curveballs to the viewer's delight. The film is an untypical combination of genres, and while I hugely appreciate the creativity put into the story, the very best part of the movie is honestly just how well it works as a mere love story. Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti have amazing chemistry in their roles, making this into a film that really immerses a viewer like myself in rooting for the characters.

4. Da 5 Bloods

Spike Lee's latest joint has it all - a Vietnam War setting, a hidden treasure -narrative, a tense-as-hell minefield sequence, Delroy Lindo earning himself an Oscar nomination (I'm guessing) in the role of a mentally unstable, Trump-supporting African-American war veteran, just the strange balance of comedy and darkness that you'd expect from Spike Lee, just the type of genius juxtapositions between fiction and reality that you'd expect from Spike Lee, just the kind of scathing social criticism that you'd expect from Spike Lee, Finland's own Jasper Pääkkönen playing a Finnish guy named Seppo, and even a tear-jerking, inspiring final performance by the late Chadwick Boseman. Need I say more?

3. The King Of Staten Island

Speaking of a perfect balance between comedy and drama, this film will make you laugh, then cry, then cry from laughter, and then chuckle while crying. I'm a huge fan of comedian Pete Davidson, from his top-notch work on Saturday Night Live (1975-Present) to his stand-up comedy act. With The King Of Staten Island, he basically did what Eminem did with 8 Mile (2002) - he told his story, not as a straight-up biopic, but as a fictional drama semi-loosely based on his own life, where he plays the lead character who has a different name but more or less is him. And the result was breathtaking.

As you might expect from a Pete Davidson film (directed by Judd Apatow, no less), there are moments of crude humor and black comedy. The film also doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of Davidson's life, from his mental health struggles to his difficult family ties. But beneath all of the dark and/or sick humor and the gripping realities that the film deals with, there is a raw and real layer of heart and hope to be found. The King Of Staten Island is extremely moving in a raw and unique way, and I recommend it to pretty much everyone - if you're a fan of Davidson's, you'll be sure to enjoy, and if you don't like the guy in all of his controversial behavior, this film might help you understand him a bit better.

2. Tenet

"Mind-bending" doesn't even begin to describe Christopher Nolan's latest masterpiece. I'm a huge fan of time travel fiction, and it is simply amazing that in a world filled with books, movies and television shows about travelling through time, Nolan came up with an entirely new and fresh way to write time travel. That's a creative genius right there.

I won't say hardly anything about the plot or about how time travel works in this film, because it's better to see it for yourself. Let's just say that it's a film that demands a lot from its viewers - it's almost like Nolan got annoyed at his nerdier fans complaining about his films being so filled with exposition and over-explanatory dialogue, and he made this film to state "Okay, how do you like it when I don't explain anything any more than I have to and make you guys do all the brainwork?". But if you're in the right frame of mind and ready to use the hell out of your brain in an attempt to follow the film's complicated plot, I can say that it's an incredibly rewarding experience.

There's a lot to love about Tenet - the cast is spectacular, Ludwig Göransson's soundtrack takes you out of this world with its psychedelic synth layers, and the thought that went into directing the action sequences in a way that keeps with the film's sci-fi rules is something the mortal human mind can barely grasp. But the film's biggest asset by far is simply the ultra-creative premise, and the genius way this premise is executed. It's a story unlike any other, and one that I'll find myself watching over and over again in the years to come.

1. The Trial Of The Chicago 7

Apparently, when Aaron Sorkin started working on the screenplay for this true-story courtroom drama, he didn't have current-day relevance in his mind, but rather wanted to tell an interesting historical story. Then the summer of 2020 happened, and the film accidentally became a super-topical eye-opening experience. Of course, civil rights issues, protests and police violence are by no means a new thing in the U.S., but these issues have been discussed on a wider platform and with more visibility this year than possibly ever before - and those are the exact issues that are argued about in this film, centering on the aftermath of a violent series of riots in Chicago to the backdrop of the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

While his primary strength has always been as a writer, Sorkin proves to be a surprisingly great director as well with this film. From the humorous ways the dialogue cuts away from one scene to another in the memorable opening sequence, to the way that the loud soundtrack, intense cinematography and various other touches make the main riot sequence into a heart-pounding and tear-jerking thing to behold, the movie is filled with great style touches. The cast is also top notch, between Eddie Redmayne's emotional lead performance and Sacha Baron Cohen's unique portrayal of unique character Abbie Hoffman, just to name a few.

The movie's final scene is especially powerful, as it really appealed to my worldview and made me cry my eyes out. The Trial Of The Chicago 7 is an extremely important film, as it delves into many of the defining questions of our current societal debate regarding civil rights - where does the blame lie when protests turn violent, is the responsibility with the protesters or the police to keep the situation safe, why are they protesting in the first place et cetera. The story may take place in the late 60's, but it is incredibly relevant in 2020, which is why I recommend this film to every single person reading this blog. If you're only going to watch one film from this year, let it be this one.

Thank you for reading - not only this week's blog, but throughout the past year! More good stuff coming in 2021, starting with next Thursday's ranking of 2020's greatest television shows. Happy New Year!

BOXING DAY SPECIAL: Ranking The Rocky Movies

Happy Boxing Day, reader!

It's Boxing Day, so naturally I'll be sharing my ranking of the eight movies in cinema's greatest boxing-themed franchise. The overall quality and consistency of the Rocky franchise is amazing, especially when considering how indescribably little I care about boxing as a sport. Boring as the sport may be (in my subjective opinion, don't take it personally, I do appreciate the work put into it), this series of films is about a lot more than just the sport. The fighting sequences are also pretty cool when directed well and boosted with an epic soundtrack. Without further ado, here's my ranking of the Rocky films!

8.  Rocky V (1990)

"Fear is a fighter's best friend. You know, but it ain't nothing to be ashamed of. See, fear keeps you sharp, it keeps you awake, you know, it makes you want to survive"

None of the Rocky movies are downright bad, but Rocky V is definitely as close as it gets. The film has a lot of potential: focusing on Rocky's (Sylvester Stallone) relationship with his son (played by real-life son Sage Stallone), as the protagonist tries to enjoy retirement and takes up-and-coming fighter Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison) under his wing. The problem is, none of the elements in the film blend together well. While the movie has its moments, it largely suffers from being too much of a serious family drama to feel like a boxing franchise sequel, while simultaneously being too much of a boxing franchise sequel to feel like a serious family drama. Good concept, sloppy execution.

7. Rocky III (1982)

"Nothing is real if you don't believe in who you are!"

The third Rocky instalment, much like the fifth, is a mixed bag. The downsides are significant: as a sequel to the boxing film that famously isn't about boxing first and foremost, Rocky III is very much about the sport itself, at least when compared to the previous two. It feels less substantial and more generic. Also, Mr. T's over-the-top cheesiness as the antagonist Clubber Lang is a bit annoying at times.

But oh boy, are there some upsides. This is the film that first introduced Survivor's Eye Of The Tiger to the franchise, thus making the song into a universal anthem for motivation, working out and epic montages. For that alone, this film should be praised. I also enjoy the story direction of Rocky befriending former rival Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), which would become a staple of the franchise moving forward. Also, Mr. T's over-the-top cheesiness is absolutely fantastic when taken in small doses.

6. Rocky IV (1985)

"To beat me, he will have to kill me"

The Cold War, with its geopolitical complexities and ideological intrigue, is a fascinating area in history. Many movies have captured the unique nature of the era by painting complicated pictures of the ethical dilemmas, rhetorical nuances and many-sided realities of the Cold War.

Rocky IV is not one of those films.

In what is perhaps Hollywood's greatest over-the-top caricature of the Cold War era, our hero travels to Russia to fight against Soviet champion Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). If you really start to think and take the film seriously, it is a bit upsetting how the film capitalizes on painting a complicated political conflict as a purely black-and-white good-vs-evil narrative. But one can't take the fourth instalment of a boxing franchise too seriously - and when viewed with a grain of salt, the film is great fun. If you allow yourself to suspend your disbelief and step into the shoes of Rocky, who just wants to avenge his friend and beat the bad guy, you can't help but feel extremely pumped up when Survivor's Burning Heart starts to play as the film launches into its second or third training montage. It's a simple film, but as a product of its strange time, it is quite glorious in its own way.

5. Creed II (2018)

"In the ring, you got rules. Outside, you got nothing. Life hits you with all these cheap shots. People like me, we live in the past. You got people that need you now. You got everything to lose"

On paper, Creed II had the potential to be a masterpiece. With the vast critical acclaim of the first Creed movie boosting the franchise to a new heyday, Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone returning as Adonis Creed and his coach Rocky Balboa, and the story focusing on Adonis taking on Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu), son of Rocky IV's Ivan Drago, for a better-taste pseudo-sequel to Rocky IV, what could go wrong?

Basically, this film suffers from the same problem as Fast & Furious 6 (2013) and Avengers: The Age Of Ultron (2015). The previous instalment had such a delicate balance of impressively many dramatic elements, that when this one tried to do the same but bigger, the end result felt a bit too bloated. Creed II tries to be so many things at once - a rematch of Rocky IV, a sequel to Creed, a new chapter for Rocky, a spinoff of Ivan and Viktor, a money-making franchise instalment, a family drama et cetera - that it feels a bit overblown. Still, there are some fantastic moments, and the film is definitely worth watching - it's just not as thrilling as one might expect from the premise.

4. Rocky II (1979)

"Yo, Adrian! I DID IT!"

In the grand tradition of Back To The Future Part II (1989), Halloween II (1981) and Home Alone: Lost In New York (1992), this is one of those sequels that is exactly one notch down from the original, meaning that it's still very good, just not quite as good as its predecessor. The first Rocky film to be directed by Stallone himself, this sequel is a nice continuation of the story that begged to be continued - what went on in Rocky Balboa's life after his underdog draw with heavyweight champion Apollo Creed?

The first half of the film is just Rocky being Rocky, as Stallone is hilarious, lovable and emotional in the role he was born to play as his character navigates through all sorts of challenges. The second half hypes up the rematch between Balboa and Creed, through a training montage that is one of the best in a franchise filled with training montages. The final fight is tied with Creed II's final fight as the best-directed and most entertaining fight sequences in the whole franchise.

3. Rocky Balboa (2006)

"It ain't about how hard you're hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done"

Released 30 years after the original Rocky and 16 years after the previous Rocky film, this pseudo-sequel was all about bringing the original saga to a fitting end. Sure, the story of Rocky Balboa would go on to continue in the Creed movies, but this is the final film to have Rocky as the main character and in the ring. The character has finished his career and is running a restaurant, when a series of events leads to him donning his gloves for one last time, as the world begs to see a match between current heavyweight champ Mason "The Line" Dixon (Antonio Tarver) and the past-his-prime all-time-great Rocky Balboa.

After the sequels had steadily declined in quality, Rocky Balboa brought back the cinematic value of the original film, which is primarily thanks to the return of the original film's pivotal element - it isn't about boxing, first and foremost. While this film deals with different themes than the first one, it feels very much like a return to the roots of the franchise, as we follow a character-driven story where the boxing of it all is just a part of the big picture. The film deals with loss, aging and ego in a deep manner, hitting just the right mellow note for the Rocky saga to bow out on. A graceful and fitting end.

2. Rocky (1976)

"It really don't matter if I lose this fight. It really don't matter if this guy opens my head, either. 'Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody's ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I'm still standin', I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood"

When I first watched the original Rocky film several years ago, my expectations were way off. Throughout pop culture references, I didn't know that Eye Of The Tiger and the famous Ivan Drago fight were from the sequels, and I thought they'd all be in the first film. And I had no idea that Rocky was such a critically acclaimed, Best Picture -winning movie. I thought I was in for a mere boxing movie, and ended up witnessing something much better.

Rocky is a powerful underdog story about the American everyman. Sylvester Stallone, who wrote the film in addition to starring in it (both feats earned him Oscar nominations), creates one of cinema's most likable and iconic characters in Rocky Balboa - a down-on-his luck fighter who may not have the biggest brain but has more heart than you could imagine. The supporting cast is nothing short of spectacular, with Talia Shire being amazing as Rocky's love interest Adrian, Burgess Meredith inspiring his way into our hearts as Rocky's coach Mickey, and Carl Weathers hitting a charisma maximum as Rocky's opponent Apollo Creed. Trust me, you don't have to care one bit about boxing (I sure as hell don't) to enjoy this masterful film.

1. Creed (2015)

"One step at a time. One punch at a time. One round at a time"

Yes. I said it. As much critical acclaim as this reboot film has, I know that claiming Creed to be even better than the original Rocky may be considered heresy by some. But I'm sticking to it. This movie, that centers on Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), son of the late Apollo Creed, is much like the first Rocky movie, but even a tad better in my opinion. This is largely thanks to three qualities, all of which were excellent in the original Rocky, but are somehow outdone by Creed.

The directing. Between this film and Marvel's Black Panther (2018), Ryan Coogler has become one of Hollywood's most promising directors during the last decade. The fighting sequences are built so well that even I found them quite exhilarating to watch, even though (and I can't stress this enough) I really don't care one bit about boxing. The scenes taking place outside the ring are even better, as the film truly feels like an Oscar-worthy drama much more than the seventh instalment in a blockbuster franchise.

The story. Adonis Creed is a well-written, fleshed-out protagonist whose inner conflict and tragic past make him into a character to root for, as the struggles to make a name for himself beyond his father's legacy. Rocky Balboa, played here by a nearly 70-year-old Stallone, becoming his coach is a great way to further tie this film in with the Rocky franchise, and he isn't in the film just for fan service - Rocky faces his own struggles with aging and health throughout the film, and this parallels the main character's story beautifully. Rocky driving Creed to fight better in the ring while Creed drives Rocky to fight through his own struggles is poetic and powerful.

And finally, the acting. Sylvester Stallone became one of the very few actors in the world who have gotten more than one Oscar nomination for the same role, as he was once again nominated for playing Balboa - this time in the Best Supporting Actor category. Michael B. Jordan was robbed of an Oscar nomination for himself in my opinion - sure, 2015 was a competitive year in the Best Leading Actor race, but I would've definitely given him a nomination above most others. Jordan is simply fantastic in the lead role, proving that he's the man who can carry this franchise forward for the years to come (personally, I'm not sure we need a Creed III, but given this franchise's history of sequels that are better than they should be, I'll give it a chance for sure).

There you have it! Thank you for reading. Next week's Thursday is New Year's Eve, so I'll be posting the big one - my ranking of 2020's greatest films. Stay tuned!

Top 10 Christmas Movies

Merry Christmas everyone!

If you're having a hard time deciding on a film to watch tonight or tomorrow that the whole family will enjoy, you may consider looking for a solution from here. These are my all-time favorite yule-tide movies. I've excluded animated short films from the mix, but I do want to give a shout-out to Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) and A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), both of which are very close to my heart.

Here we go - Yippie Kayay and Merry Christmas, you filthy animal!

Here are my honorable mentions: Elf (2003), Last Christmas (2019), The Christmas Chronicles (2018), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), The Santa Clause (1994)

10. Klaus (2019)

This delightful animated film towers above its counterparts in the "Netflix original Christmas movies" category (no offense, modern cult classics like The Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby (2019) and The Princess Switch: Switched Again (2020)). It is a fresh take on the Santa Claus story, with J.K. Simmons providing a fantastic voice performance as the titular Klaus, and the film's central message being a very important and powerful lesson to children (and grown-ups) watching: as is repeated throughout the film, one true selfless act always sparks another. Words to live by.

9. Joulutarina (2007)

Origin stories and gritty reboots of classic stories were all the rage in 2000's Hollywood - so leave it to us Finns to make a gritty origin story for Santa Claus himself. We follow a sympathetic person called Nikolas from his childhood, finding out how it came to be that this individual gives toys to people once a year with a merry spirit. The film nails the balance of melancholic emotion and festive holiday magic, making it a perfect Finnish Christmas film - though not quite as perfect as this list's #6 entry...

8. The Polar Express (2004)

Between Robert Zemeckis's expert directing, the animation department's fantastic work and Alan Silvestri's whimsical score, this delightful yuletide adventure hits the very heart of what Christmas is all about. I've always had a lot of love for Christmas (annoyingly much, many of my friends would surely say), and already as a child, I was deeply touched by what this film had to say about the holiday. The themes of family, friendship and giving back are dealt with magnificently. Oh, and did I mention that the merriest actor of them all, Tom Hanks, provides most of the major voice performances, from the narrator and train conductor to the adult version of the main character and even Santa Claus himself?

7. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

Joulutarina is the kind of Christmas movie that might move you to tears. The Polar Express is the kind of Christmas movie that will leave a warm smile on your face. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is the kind of Christmas movie that will make you cringe like hell, laugh out loud, and ultimately leave you feeling pretty happy.

Before he became the worst part of my favorite sitcom, Chevy Chase was the best part of this hilarious Christmas comedy. It's the quintessential "Everything goes chaotically wrong" Christmas film, but let's just say without spoiling any specifics that everything works out towards the end. Well, almost everything (rest in peace, Fluffy the cat).

6. Rare Exports (2010)

Not just one of the oddest, most unconventional and overall greatest Christmas movies, but one of my favorite Finnish movies of all time. As I mentioned in a previous blog, Santa Claus is 'Joulupukki' in Finnish, but before Christianity found its way to this land of ours, Joulupukki was the name of a monstrous creature in pagan folklore. And that Joulupukki is the center of attention in this fantastic yuletide horror comedy.

Between the absurd humor, the intriguing fantasy lore and creepy horror elements, the creatively told story and the holiday setting, this film hits all of my tastes quite well. If you feel like something different this Christmas, you can't go wrong with this oddball choice.

5. A Christmas Story (1983)

With the possible exception of Stand By Me (1986), there is no other film that captures the feeling of childhood nostalgia as realistically and beautifully as A Christmas Story. Jean Shepherd provides the narration as the adult version of main character Ralphie, while Peter Billingsley does an iconic job playing the child Ralphie. We follow his family in all sorts of Christmas shenanigans, as the Old Man (Darren McGavin) receives a leg-shaped lamp as an award and wants everyone to see it, Ralphie and his friends navigate the world of bullies and triple-dog-dares, and Ralphie just wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.

A Christmas Story is heartfelt and hilarious - even if a few of the jokes have aged rather poorly. The serious and matter-of-fact manner of adult Ralphie's narration when talking about childhood games and playground rules is absolutely hilarious, and will make pretty much any viewer somewhat nostalgic for their own childhood.

4. Die Hard (1988)

Now, a big part of me wanted to put this action classic on first place just to piss off my mother. But, the sad truth of it is, I love Christmas too much to put a film that isn't primarily about Christmas at first place. As a movie, it is better than at least some of the films ahead of it here, but as a Christmas movie, it doesn't quite make the top three. It is still ranked high, because it does take place on Christmas, and when the second-greatest action film of all time takes place on Christmas, it does deserve to be called one of the greatest Christmas movies. If you need proof that it is a Christmas film, consider the fact that I've said the word "Christmas" eight times in this paragraph. My logic is flawless.

Die Hard is amazing. From the intense setting of the Nakatomi Plaza becoming ground zero for a hostage situation to John McClane (Bruce Willis) being the quintessential modern action hero and Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) being his perfect antagonist, this has all the makings of the perfect action film. The last 15 minutes of Die Hard are one of humanity's greatest achievements. And there are just enough holiday decorations and Christmas-related lines to make the film relevant this time of year.

3. Love Actually (2003)

If you have anything cynical to say about this film and how it's just a collection of unrealistic and cheesy clichés that Hollywood has done to death, I cannot empathize how little I care. This is a film that you're meant to watch with the cynical and critical part of your brain turned all the way off, and for that purpose, it's the best possible Christmas movie.

As a fan of comedy, I appreciate how incredibly funny and smile-worthy this film is. As a fan of romance, I appreciate that it is absolutely jam-packed with sweet and heartwarming love stories. As a fan of the holiday season, I appreciate how the film resonates with my Christmas spirit throughout its whimsical atmosphere. And as a fan of Hollywood movies, I appreciate the fact that the film's cast consists of every single famous actor who ever lived.

No, really. They're all in this movie. Name a famous actor, and I guarantee they have a role in Love Actually. Sure, you'd expect to see Hugh Grant, Martin Freeman, Bill Nighy or Colin Firth in any given film set in Britain, but when did you ever see all four in the same film? Not to mention Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson and pretty much the rest of the Harry Potter cast? Even Liam Neeson, the actor with the least Christmas-like energy you can think of, has a major role. Even my doppelgänger Thomas Brodie-Sangster is here as a pre-stardom little kid. Did I mention that Rowan Atkinson appears as well? And of course Richard Curtis has an uncredited cameo as a trombone player. Even Elisha Cuthbert got the time off from shooting 24 to appear in this film - that's right, I bet you forgot that Kim Bauer was in this. And have you noticed that the dude playing Chiwetel Ejiofor's friend (don't even be surprised that Ejiofor is in this) is a pre-Walking Dead Rick Grimes?? No, really, it's Rick!

2. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

Fantasy and reality blend beautifully to form this heartwarming yuletide classic. If you're feeling down around the holidays (or any time, really), this is the likeliest film I can think of to lift one's spirit - that is quite a powerful impact for a movie to have. I won't give away spoilers in case you missed this flick in the cinema and have been meaning to watch it for the past 74 years, but let's just say that the story is like no other, except for the dozens of tribute/parody versions that the film has inspired.

James Stewart is captivating as George Bailey, and his story is one for the ages. The film has moved me to tears every time I have seen it, as time and again it proves a lesson that feels especially important in 2020 - despite everything bad that's going on, things like family, friends and this film are a testament to the reality that it truly is, in fact, a wonderful life.

1. Home Alone (1990) and/or Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992)

This may be my childhood nostalgia speaking, but Home Alone is one of my all-time favorite movies. Honestly. On a subjective level, there is almost no other film that is as important to me, has such immense re-watch and entertainment value, as this Christmas extravaganza (and its damn good sequel).

For me, it's hard to imagine Christmas without watching either of these films (I like to watch the first one every second year and the second one in the in-between years, so both stay fresh after a two-year break). Macaulay Culkin is just the sweetest little protagonist in the world of cinema, Harry (Joe Pesci desperately muttering made-up words because he can't curse in a family movie) and Marv (Daniel Stern) are the funniest villains you'll ever see, and the movie is just full of amazing stuff. From the hilarious chain of events that leads to Kevin being stuck at home and his amusing enjoyment of his newfound freedom, through the heart-melting subplot of Old Man Marley (Roberts Blossom) and the ultimate adrenaline thrills of Kevin setting his traps to the backdrop of John Williams's Setting The Trap, all the way to the final stand-off between Kevin and the wet bandits, I love everything about this film (and the sequel).

It's crazy how synonymous Home Alone has become with Christmas in my mind. Whenever there's a situation of last-minute panic during Christmas preparations, John Williams's Holiday Flight (the musical epitome of pre-holiday stress) starts to play in my head. Whenever I hear "The Carol Of The Bells", my brain expects it to transition into Setting The Trap like it does in the film's soundtrack. I think that as a kid, a small part of me often wished that I'd be left alone in the house while some burglars appear, just so I could booby-trap the hell out of the place and become a real-life Kevin. Unfortunately, my family has always been very caring and present and we live in a safe neighborhood so that never got to happen - what a bummer, right?

When I mentioned that It's A Wonderful Life has moved me to tears, I'm talking about 1 mellow tear running down my cheek during the final scenes. The final scene of Home Alone, on the other hand, has me openly weeping like a baby every damn time. Especially in the last few years, now that childhood nostalgia has only furthered the emotional value of that ending, I just can't help it. This film is as close to my heart as a movie can be, and I'll never not want to watch it during the holidays.

Thank you for reading - I hope you find something nice to watch this Christmas! Next week's Thursday is New Year's Eve, so I'll be posting The Big One - my ranking of 2020's greatest movies. Although I might have a little something in store already before then...stay tuned this weekend!

Top 10 Christmas TV Episodes

Season's greetings, reader!

I don't know about you, but I've really been getting into the Holiday spirit lately, between getting my Wham! on and festively decorating my student apartment. If you're looking for something to watch during the most wonderful time of the year, you can't go wrong with these classics - actually, you definitely can go wrong with #5, but that depends on your TV taste. I hope you enjoy!

Here are my honorable mentions: Santa (New Girl, Season 2 Episode 11), The Perfect Christmas (Miranda, Season 2 Episode 6), To Save Us All From Satan's Power (The Sopranos, Season 3 Episode 10), White Christmas (Black Mirror, Season 2 Episode 4), Xmas Story (Futurama, Season 2 Episode 8).

Also, I'd like to give an extra-special mention to the majestic final season of Mr. Robot (2015-2019). Calling any individual episode from it a "Christmas episode" is a bit of a stretch, but the entire season takes place during the Yuletide season, and the occurrences of Christmas decorations and festive music throughout the season are a fantastic touch.

10. White Christmas (Modern Family, Season 7 Episode 9)

What a bunch of fun! In most Modern Family episodes (especially in the later seasons), one or two of the episode's subplots are pretty great, but some others are weaker. This Christmas episode is one of those awesome instances where every storyline is gold. The larger Dunphy-Pritchett-Delgado family rents a cabin in order to celebrate Christmas together, and all sorts of shenanigans ensue.

Manny (Rico Rodriguez) and Luke (Nolan Gould) trying to trick Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) into thinking that the cabin is haunted is hysterical. Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cam (Eric Stonestreet) waiting for the right moment to impress everyone with their well-rehearsed musical number is amusing. Alex (Ariel Winter) bonding with a stranger in the cabin and then realising some of her own flaws throughout their conversation is great character development on her part. Jay (Ed O'Neill) putting her daughter Claire (Julie Bowen) through a psychological test to figure out whether or not she is leadership material is quite the rollercoaster, ending on a heartfelt manner.

The pièce de résistance is Haley (Sarah Hyland) and Andy's (Adam Devine) storyline, but I don't want to give everything away. Watch the episode for yourself and see!

9. The One With The Holiday Armadillo (Friends, Season 7 Episode 10)

This one deals with the universal holiday-time dilemma of wanting to teach your son about Hanukkah while the costume store is out of Santa outfits, and the classic solution of dressing up as an armadillo who has come to teach Jewish tradition to little children - let's face it, we've all been there. Television's ultimate dork Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) is hysterical as the Holiday Armadillo, and things get even funnier when Santa Claus (Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry)) appears, not to mention Superman (Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc)). It's all pretty great.

8. Christmas Party (The Office, Season 2 Episode 10)

Classic Dunder Mifflin shenanigans occur in this eventful yule-tide episode. The employees take part in a Secret Santa -exchange of gifts, which Michael (Steve Carell) hijacks in a hysterically cringey fashion by turning it into a "Yankee Swap" version. Things get delightfully chaotic, but there's also a lot of heart primarily thanks to Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam's (Jenna Fischer) storyline. Jim's tea pot filled with various memorabilia is definitely one of the sweetest Christmas presents from the world of television.

7. Yippie Kayak (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Season 3 Episode 10)

Sitcoms like Brooklyn Nine-Nine traditionally have Christmas episodes as their mid-season finales. The show's main character Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) is obsessed with the film Die Hard (1988). Die Hard takes place on Christmas. So doing a Die Hard -themed holiday episode was quite the no-brainer, and it worked wonders.

Jake and his fellow officers get caught in a hostage situation similar to the premise of Jake's favorite action flick. It's hilarious to see the series paying homage to the classic film, as Jake tries to balance his feelings of being excited about getting to be a real-life John McClane while also being worried about the hostage situation and struggling to save the day. The episode is filled with fun moments, but Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) ruining his bad-ass moment of heroism by completely botching the famous catchphrase from Die Hard has to take the cake as my favorite. Yippie Kayak, other buckets!

6. Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire (The Simpsons, Season 1 Episode 1)

As true fans of Matt Groening's legendary series will know, this Christmas special is in fact the first Simpsons episode ever made. The whole series started way back in 1989 with this stone-cold classic. While The Simpsons definitely isn't your average feel-good sitcom, there is a delicate amount of heart beneath all the layers of satire and cynicism - and this pilot episode does a perfect job of introducing that balance to the world.

The episode is filled with shenanigans not unlike the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) - basically, the central family wants to have the perfect Christmas, but everything goes wrong. But much like the similar movie from the same year, the episode manages to find its way to a surprisingly heartfelt ending. All in all, a delightfully entertaining and hilarious Christmas episode, and an appropriate beginning to one of the greatest and most influential TV shows of all time.

5. A Very Sunny Christmas (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Season 6 Episode 13)

It's Always Sunny is the last series you'd expect to see doing a Christmas episode - which is why it's absolutely perfect that they did one. As much as I love Christmas with all its coziness and warmth, there is something inescapably amazing in watching the darkest and crudest comedy series on television making a chaotic Christmas episode that takes all the feel-good elements away from the holiday and turns it into a hysterical nightmare scenario. Filled with ultra-dark twists, horrible morals and dialogue like "Merry Christmas, bitches!" and "Did you fuck my mom, Santa Claus?", this is exactly the Christmas special that It's Always Sunny deserves.

The scene where Mac (Rob McElhenney) and Charlie (Charlie Day) tell each other sweet memories from their childhood Christmases, only for both to realize some grim implications from each others' stories that the person telling the story had never realized, is one of the most hilarious moments in the show's 14-season (and counting) run. Comedy gold.

4. Winter (The Vicar Of Dibley, Season 3 Episode 2)

If the It's Always Sunny Christmas episode is a cynical anti-Holiday satire, then this episode from severely underrated British sitcom The Vicar Of Dibley is the complete opposite: the episode contains more than one moment that nearly moved me to tears with the sheer feel-good beauty of its message. For starters, there's the "Greatest story ever told" scene, which is my favorite moment from the entire series. It starts with absolutely hilarious dialogue, and then takes a turn from hysterical to moving, as Geraldine (Dawn French) gives a deeply touching monologue on what the story of the first Christmas means to her.

Towards the end of the story, the Christmas spirit and heart-warming nature of the episode only escalate, as the village's nativity play is interrupted by - well, I won't give it away here, for all of you die-hard Vicar Of Dibley spoiler-avoiders. If you can find this episode somewhere, go and see for yourself!

3. False Positive (How I Met Your Mother, Season 6 Episode 12)

I absolutely love Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor). Many viewers find him to be a bit of a bland protagonist, but I've always seen him as a relatable figure and the perfect main character for a show like How I Met Your Mother. And his finest hour as a character is without a doubt the season 6 Christmas episode, which defines the ethos of the character perfectly.

Everything in this episode is pretty entertaining - Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel) find out that they're pregnant, we follow everyone making changes to their lifestyle following these news, then they find out that it was a false positive, and everyone reverses the changes they started to make.

But what makes this into the perfect Ted Mosby episode (and a damn good Christmas episode) is the scene towards the end, where the gang is in line to see a screening of It's A Wonderful Life (1946), their questionable decisions start to unravel, and Ted pulls everything together by straightening everyone out. Watching him gather his confidence and call everyone on out on their B.S. is extremely satisfying, and the icing on the cake is his short and hilarious phone call with old friend Punchy (Chris Romano) that continues along the same lines. This episode never gets old - be sure to be like Ted and watch it with a Christmas-themed movie snack!

2. The Christmas Invasion (Doctor Who, 2005 Christmas Special)

I'll admit it - while this is on 2nd place on a Christmas-themed list, the Christmas setting isn't the foremost element in why I consider it to be such a masterpiece. The reason for that would be David Tennant. The Christmas Invasion is his first full episode in the iconic role of the Doctor, as the torch was passed to him from ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston in the previous season finale. The wait for the new Doctor had been exciting, and for over half of the episode, he's knocked out cold and hardly the center of attention. This only allows the hype to grow - kind of like the element in Jaws (1975) where we don't see the shark until the very climax.

When Tennant finally appears in full form, it's the hands-down greatest debut of a new character in anything ever. I think it took exactly one ten-minute monologue for him to become my favorite incarnation of the character - a position that he still holds. The sheer excitement, quirkiness and chaotic energy of Tennant's Doctor is immediately magnetizing, and one can't help but fall in love with the character.

While I recognize that this mainly became a positivity-rant on how great David Tennant is as the Doctor, I will say that this also works fantastically as a Christmas episode - the Holiday setting is a great backdrop for the tenth Doctor's introduction, the villainous Sycorax aliens infiltrating various Christmas decorations is quite amusing, and the ending with the Doctor and Rose (Billie Piper) standing in the snow will melt your heart.

1. Regional Holiday Music (Community, Season 3 Episode 10)

It is hard to choose just one Christmas episode from my all-time favorite sitcom as the best - season 1's Comparative Religion is hilarious while also providing important messages against bullying and religious persecution, season 2's Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas is a stop-motion animated concept episode that also has a deep and layered meaning behind all the fun, and season 4's Intro To Knots is a thrilling kidnapping extravaganza. But, in the end, there's no beating season 3's Regional Holiday Music. I've never watched Glee (2009-2015) and chances are I'd like it, but that doesn't stop this episode's constant fun-making of the musical series from being absolutely hilarious.

While the episode tries its best to be a parody of Glee and Christmas-themed musicals in general, the irony of it is that it absolutely succeeds as a Christmas-themed musical in its own right. Of course, there's added satirical value in the horror-esque way that the Glee club is seen as an ultimate evil and the characters try their best to dodge being recruited, but the episode's musical numbers are fantastic all the same. From the pop-culture-reference-filled "Baby Boomer Santa" and Troy (Donald Glover) and Abed's (Danny Pudi) badass Christmas rap to Shirley's (Yvette Nicole Brown) overtly religious music number and Annie's (Alison Brie) overtly sexual seduction song, the musical pieces are well-written and hysterical.

Of course, black comedy also enters the mix, as Mr. Rad's (Taran Killam) admission towards the end is some top-notch dark humor. Then there's the final scene that takes a turn for the emotional, as the bond between the main characters coupled with the rendition of "The First Noel" never fails to move me to tears. And then there's the hilarious end-credit sequence of various side characters performing an absurd rendition of "Carol Of The Bells". What a masterpiece.

Thank you for reading! Next week's Thursday is Christmas Eve, so I'll be posting my list of the top 10 Christmas Movies. If you're looking for something to watch with your family on Christmas, look no further.

Top 10 Al Pacino Performances

Hoo-ah!

Thank you to my regular reader Yannick for recommending this blog - Al Pacino is certainly one of the greatest actors alive, and his best performances deserve to be discussed. So, without further ado, here are my ten favorite performances from the legendary actor.

10. Willy Bank in Ocean's Thirteen (2007)

How to ensure that the third film in a franchise keeps things interesting after the second instalment fell flat? Well, casting Al Pacino as your villain is pretty much the best possible power move to get you started.

Casino mogul Willy Bank may not be one of Pacino's most complex characters, but still a very interesting one who is brought to life brilliantly. The actor plays the role with formidable charisma, making for a memorable antagonist for the Ocean crew to go up against. While he has done enough heroic good-guy roles to avoid being typecast, Pacino definitely is one of Hollywood's all-time greatest villain actors, and roles like this certainly expand that legacy.

9. Lefty in Donnie Brasco (1997)

In the grand tradition of Vito Corleone and Tony Soprano, the character Lefty in Donnie Brasco is a violent mafioso who is portrayed as a paradoxically endearing family man. This is necessary for the film's plot and the point of view the story is told from, as the movie is about undercover cop Donnie (Johnny Depp) who begins to sympathize with the criminals he's been sent to bust. Pacino's character is central to this transformation, as he opens Donnie's eyes to the supposed glories and values of the mob lifestyle. The actor is brilliant in this many-sided role, as one might expect from such a talented performer.

And his Brooklyn accent? Fuggeddaboutit.

8. Lt. Vincent Hanna in Heat (1995)

How to make your cops-and-robbers movie into the possibly best cops-and-robbers movie of all time? Well, casting Al Pacino as the main cop and Robert De Niro as the main robber is certainly a start.

Pacino does a remarkable job as the fleshed-out protagonist Vincent Hanna, a high-ranking police officer who is leading a troubled life and pursuing a tough case. The character certainly isn't the archetypical Hollywood police hero, but rather a gritty depiction of a man who has landed on rough times yet whose heart is in the right place, as he struggles to keep his head in the game and do his best to put the bad guys away. The scene where the character meets De Niro's character Neil McCauley in a diner is one of the most fantastically tense movie moments of all time, as two actors of the highest caliber meeting face-to-face on-screen for the first time is quite the monumental occasion.

7. Ricky Roma in Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

As I've mentioned in a previous entry, I believe Glengarry Glen Ross to be (possibly) the best-acted movie in cinematic history. Not only does it feature names like Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, Jonathan Pryce, Alec Baldwin and Alan Arkin, but it features spectacular individual performances from all of them. For most of the aforementioned names, it's the best performance of their career (or at least in each actor's top three). However, the film's arguably best performance is by Pacino, yet it doesn't even make his personal top five.

Pacino plays Ricky Roma, the best salesman in the film's central real estate office. No matter how little you care about real estate sales, this film will immerse you in the other characters' jealousy and fascination with the rogue and eccentric Roma, who gets sales done without even mentioning real estate, due to the slickness of his style. It's a perfect example of an actor creating an absolutely unique portrayal of a character, while bringing a script to life with grace.

6. Shylock in The Merchant Of Venice (2004)

Being such a world-class actor and a well-documented Shakespeare enthusiast, it's no wonder that Pacino got cast as Shylock - definitely the most complex and interesting character in the Bard's classic comedy The Merchant Of Venice. In Michael Radford's cinematic adaptation of the play, Pacino truly brings the many-sided Shylock to life with a gripping performance. While the character is arguably the villain of the story and he has very unlikable moments, his actions do stem from understandable motives, and the actor does an amazing job bringing this conflict to life.

His delivery of Shakespearean lines is impeccable, and it's especially notable in the film's best scene: Shylock's famous "Hath not a Jew eyes?" speech. The pain that the character has endured, along with his growing lust for vengeance upon those that wronged him, comes across powerfully as Pacino delivers the monologue like no other.

5. Jimmy Hoffa in The Irishman (2019)

Along with Joaquin Phoenix in Joker and Willem Dafoe in The Lighthouse, this powerhouse was one of last year's 'big three' acting performances in my book. For his first-ever collaboration with Martin Scorsese, Al Pacino stepped into the shoes of notorious real-life criminal Jimmy Hoffa. While the film is told from the perspective of protagonist Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), it's Pacino who steals every scene he's in, giving what is easily the film's most startling performance.

From what I've gathered from modern history, Hoffa was a larger-than-life figure with his various political machinations and immense power. Therefore, casting an actor with a larger-than-life persona of the highest order was a smart move. Pacino is truly captivating in all of his scenes, bringing an unparalleled screen presence to the table. I should really watch this film again, whenever I happen to have three and a half hours on my hands.

4. Tony Montana in Scarface (1983)

Al Pacino shines in what is perhaps Hollywood's quintessential "rise and fall" story. At the start of the film, his character feels relatable and redeemable to some degree - sure, he's a criminal, but Pacino plays him in a likable fashion as an immigrant with somewhat idealistic hopes and dreams. As the money and power start to get to his head, however, the character takes a dark turn into the rabbit hole of greed and selfishness.

Pacino portrays Tony Montana's fall from grace with absolute perfection. The character's slow turn into a more shallow and power-hungry version of himself comes across through brilliant facial expressions, the delivery of powerful lines, and various nuances in Pacino's performance. With the actor being a famously big fan of William Shakespeare, one can only imagine how he's channeling iconic characters like Macbeth and Richard III, but in a more modern and American context. The result is quite breathtaking.

3. Will Dormer in Insomnia (2002)

The big thing about this underrated performance in an underrated Christopher Nolan film is right there in the film's title - Pacino plays the hell out of a character suffering from insomnia. Of course, he gets help from the film's makeup department who do a great job making him appear tired, but the foremost reason for the character's realistic appearance is the expert performance by the actor behind the role.

With the twitch in his eyes, slightly bumbled lines and other nuances that only escalate throughout the film, Pacino is frighteningly believable as a character who hasn't gotten enough sleep and is struggling to keep his head in the game. The performance has other attributes too, from the character unveiling his grim past to him showing great emotional range towards the end, but it's the immensely believable portrayal of insomnia that truly makes this one of Pacino's finest hours.

2. Lt. Col. Frank Slade in Scent Of A Woman (1992)

Speaking of Pacino using nuances to be believable in a role, this is the film where he plays a blind man. He plays the role with absolute credibility, which is quite a feat from an actor who is very much not blind in real life. Everything in his mannerisms and expressions seems carefully thought out, and he clearly studied the role well.

But it's not just the character's blindness that makes the role impressive - that's just the tip of the iceberg. Frank Slade is a very fleshed-out character, from his gallows humor and tragic backstory to his cold-hearted mannerisms and occasional moments of pure empathy and warmth. Pacino brings this complicated character to life beautifully, and it is fitting that this is the film that he finally won an Oscar for, after being nominated but not winning for seven times.

1. Michael Corleone in The Godfather Trilogy (1972-1990)

Possibly my favorite movie acting performance of all time, or at least right up there with Jack Nicholson in The Shining (1980) and Ben Kingsley in Gandhi (1982). While Marlon Brando's Godfather performance generally gets the most praise - and don't get me wrong, he is astonishing as Vito Corleone - I have always been much more impressed with Pacino's work as Michael Corleone. The sheer transformation of the character is built with perfection throughout various nuances, thus creating one of cinema's most memorable protagonists.

At the start of the first film, Pacino plays Corleone as the confident but reserved reverse-black sheep of the family (he went to the army and stayed away from the organized crime path that the rest of his family were on). By the end of the film, he is still very much the same character, but in a totally different situation and with new motives driving him. Throughout the second film, Pacino is pitch-perfect as the character struggles to expand his mafia empire while scrambling not to lose it all under increasing amounts of stress. And while the third film isn't nearly on the cinematic level of the first two, the one element that remains consistently amazing is Pacino's acting performance, as he once again takes the character on a new journey as he struggles to turn his business legitimate while dealing with his aging and various other issues.

No one delivers dramatic and memorable lines quite like Pacino, and that gravitas is at its very best in the Godfather franchise - just try and watch the "It was you, Fredo!" or "Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in" scenes without feeling shivers down your spine. Al Pacino may just be the most skillful actor to ever grace the silver screen, and his greatest individual performance has to be his work across the three Godfather movies. Bold claims, but I'm sticking to them.

Thank you for reading! Be sure to tune in next week - 'tis the season for my list of the greatest Christmas-themed TV episodes!

Itsenäisyyspäivä Lähestyy: Top 10 Finnish Movies

Tervetuloa, lukijat!

Three days from now, my native country Finland will be celebrating its Independence Day. Therefore I figured I'd share a ranking of my favorite Finnish films as a means of celebration! I'm only counting films produced in Finland, so awesome foreign movies by Finnish directors such as Klaus Härö's Miekkailija (2015) and Dome Karukoski's Tolkien (2019) will not be eligible.

My honorable mentions are: Helmiä Ja Sikoja (2003), Joulutarina (2007), Skavabölen Pojat (2009), Tom Of Finland (2017), Tyttö, Sinä Olet Tähti (2005).

10. Tove (2020)

From this very year comes a fresh entry into the gallery of my favorite Finnish films. Tove is a biopic about Tove Jansson, the iconic artist and author best known for creating the beloved Moomin-cartoons. The actress Alma Pöysti absolutely kills it in the main role, beautifully bringing Jansson's famous creativity and quirkiness to life. The story follows many aspects from the life of its main character, making for a substantial and inspiring biopic that shows how much there was to Tove's life. Look out for this gem when I post my list of the best movies of 2020 at the end of the year!

9. Mies Vailla Menneisyyttä (2002)

The only Finnish film (so far) to be nominated for the Best Foreign Film Academy Award certainly deserves its critical acclaim. What really gets me about Mies Vailla Menneisyyttä ("The Man Without a Past") is how little there is to it - the story is very simple and straight-forward, the dialogue is minimalistic (as per usual for director&writer Aki Kaurismäki, very much Finland's own David Lynch) and everything is quite easy to follow (despite the director being Finland's own David Lynch).

The story being so simple allows for the audience to truly immerse themselves in the atmosphere, and appreciate how well-made the film is. The artistic cinematography and beautiful Finnish scenery make for a great milieu, and the realistic and minimalistic dialogue makes for a fascinating exploration of Finnish culture (we really don't talk much up here). Kaurismäki really manages to find the heart of the Finnish mentality with this film, as there is a lot of cultural significance in between the lines of the various character interactions.

8. Rare Exports (2010)

Of all the film premises ever created, this has got to be one of the coolest. With the Christmas movie genre done to death (not that I'm one to complain, I love clichéd heartfelt Christmas movies from the bottom of my heart but I also like it when people change things up), screenwriter and director Jalmari Helander had quite the ultimate "Santa Claus - but with a twist" idea. You see, Santa Claus is "Joulupukki" in Finnish, but before Christianity made its way to this land of ours, Joulupukki was a monstrous creature in pagan folklore. No, I'm not kidding. And for this unconventional yuletide film, Helander decided to zero in on the original Joulupukki.

Therefore, a version of Santa Claus is in the film, but very much as the villain. Having such a generally beloved figure as the antagonist is hilarious, but the film isn't all comedy, as the creepiness of the original Joulupukki is brought to life frighteningly well, making Rare Exports into a surprisingly successful horror movie. My movie taste being what it is, I absolutely enjoy every side of this many-sided film; the creepy horror elements, the hysterical humor, the fantasy lore and the Holiday setting.

7. Teit Meistä Kauniin (2016)

I'm a huge fan of Finnish punk rock band Apulanta - I've seen them live three times, I own a ton of their merchandise, and my band even does a decent cover of one of their songs. So you can imagine how pumped I was for this biopic of the band's early years, directed by their former bass player Tuukka Temonen and taking place in the quaint town of Heinola where many of my relatives have resided. Teit Meistä Kauniin (a title of one of the band's songs, literal translation "You made us beautiful") is a surprisingly melodramatic yet ultimately inspiring film, definitely not shying away from the gripping nature of the hard times the band members had to endure, but also focusing on the energy and glory of their early days and eventual breakthrough.

There is a near-perfect balance of sweet humorous moments, well-directed dramatic moments and head-banging moments of awesome rock music in the movie. Being the fan that I am of the film's subject matter, I felt many of the scenes down deep, and the film left a major emotional impact on me. Mr. Temonen certainly is a man of many talents.

6. Calamari Union (1985)

Remember when I said that Aki Kaurismäki is Finland's David Lynch? This film might explain that analogy a bit better than Mies Vailla Menneisyyttä, which is quite a mainstream work for him, while Calamari Union is about as far from mainstream cinema as one can get.

The film is shot in black-and-white. The cast consists largely of Finnish pop and rock stars, many of whom were definitely not actors by profession. They play a group of fifteen people who are all named Frank. Their goal is to get from Kallio (an area in our capital city Helsinki) to Eira (another part of Helsinki). Many of them die on the way. I feel like I don't have to explain why I love this film, as the premise pretty much speaks for itself.

5. Hevi Reissu (2018)

Staying on the theme of Finnish musicians travelling from one place to another, here's a wonderful film that can only be described as "Blues Brothers (1980) but the main characters are Finnish metalheads". The story is all about a four-person heavy metal band (more accurately a Symphonic Post-Apocalyptic Reindeer-Grinding Christ-Abusing Extreme Pagan War Fennoscandian Metal band) who try to get their big break by performing at a festival in Norway. My expectation was that it would be a fun and silly comedy with some over-the-top dumb humor that often defines Finnish comedies. What I saw instead was an extremely entertaining, surprisingly emotional and overall delightful film filled with fantastic dumb humor.

I love how the film avoids the easy trap of making its characters into parodies and caricatures of metalheads - while there is a lot of tasteful stereotype-humor in the mix, the main characters are fleshed-out and realistic characters that really show the audience what great people metalheads are. There are many long-haired heavy metal enthusiasts in my social circles, and I saw those people clearly in the film's characters, proving what a realistic and positive depiction of the culture this film is. There's a bunch of fun, a thrilling spirit of adventure, and a whole lot heart in this underrated and surprisingly awesome heavy metal road trip extravaganza.

4. Paha Maa (2005)

If Mies Vailla Menneisyyttä is a beautiful look at some of the nicer sides in Finnish culture, then Aku Louhimies's Paha Maa is the polar opposite. One of my favorite Finnish songs of all time is Eppu Normaali's Murheellisten Laulujen Maa, a dark and poetically critical song about the grim sides of traditional Finnish life - and this is essentially the movie version of that song.

Various tragic characters are followed through the narrative of a counterfeit 500 euro bill that keeps switching owners. Paha Maa (literal translation "Bad/Evil Country", official translation "Frozen Land") is a gripping look at alcoholism, abuse, unemployment and poverty. Not a fun movie to watch, but a very thought-provoking and sobering one.

3. Tuntematon Sotilas (2017)

Continuing on controversial director Aku Louhimies, this wartime epic is a remake of the arguably most well-known Finnish film of all time (or maybe rather a re-adaptation of the Väinö Linna novel that the film is based on). This remake was done specifically for Finland's 100th anniversary as an independent nation, and all sorts of Finns from patriots to movie buffs spent the years leading up to it dreading whether or not the film would be any good or not - remaking such a beloved work is a big risk to take. Thankfully, they got the job done.

From the intense combat sequences and beautiful shots of Finnish scenery to the realistic dialogue and heartfelt moments of humanity in between the chaos, the atmosphere of Linna's iconic novel comes to life with brilliance. Any decent war film has to walk the line between showing respect for the troops while not overly glorifying war, and for this film it was an extra-hard job, because on one hand it was released so many decades after the war that people were hoping for a more objective look at history, but on the other hand the release was connected to Finland's 100th Independence Day and therefore had to deliver patriotism-wise as well.

They couldn't have balanced those two elements any better. Just like the ahead-of-its-time book it is based on, Tuntematon Sotilas boldly delves into the most gripping and hellish aspects of war without doing any unnecessary romanticizing, yet through its realistic take it manages to provide a powerful reminder of what the Finnish side was fighting for and the courage and sacrifices it took.

2. Kielletty Hedelmä (2009)

There's no beating Dome Karukoski when it comes to Finnish directors, if you ask me. Before he went all Hollywood with the international Tolkien (2019), he made a career on directing a bunch of awesome domestic releases, and Kielletty Hedelmä (Forbidden Fruit) is the greatest of the bunch. The film follows two teenage girls from a Laestadian community (a very conservative branch of Christianity) who travel to the big city of Helsinki for the first time. Moral conflicts, ethical dilemmas and character growth ensue.

The film is an absolutely brilliant coming-of-age story that takes a complex look at faith and its limits. It manages to take a very critical look at certain aspects of religion without being demonizing or black-and-white about it - the movie doesn't exactly tell you what is right and what is wrong, but it poses many interesting questions and makes one think. It is a gripping and powerful film with a lot of philosophy to it but a lot of heart as well, and Karukoski's impeccable directing is the icing on the cake.

1. Tuntematon Sotilas (1955)

I'm a big fan of Louhimies's Tuntematon Sotilas remake, but there's no beating the original. There are a few things that the latter film does better (the intensity and realism of the battle sequences; a few of the book's characters such as Kariluoto and Lammio), but there are plenty more where Edvin Laine's 1955 version beats the remake: most of the book's major characters (especially my favorite Hietanen, played here by Heikki Savolainen) are adapted with perfection, most of the book's most powerful sequences translate to the screen in the best way possible, and the atmosphere is beautifully and uniquely Finnish.

The film feels more raw and gritty than its stylized 2017 counterpart, and that grittiness is absolutely perfect for an adaptation of a book that is all about telling the story of regular and realistic soldiers, thrust into the horrors of war as they scramble to do their best. The moments of humor and levity between the more brutal parts feel real and extremely earned, while the moments of grief and loss are very emotional and likewise real-feeling. It is a near-perfect adaptation of a giant of Finnish literature, and the overall best offering I've seen from Finnish cinema.

Kiitos lukemisesta! Tune in next week for my list of the greatest Al Pacino performances - the last 'normal' blog post this year, before I hit Christmas mode.

Happy Hanksgiving: Top 10 Tom Hanks Performances

Happy (T)hanksgiving!

In order to celebrate the annual day of giving thanks for the things that truly matter in life, such as America's national treasure T. Hanks, I've listed my favorite performances from the immeasurably lovable actor.

Here are my honorable mentions: Multiple Roles in The Polar Express (2004), Robert Langdon in The Da Vinci Code (2006), Sam Baldwin in Sleepless In Seattle (1993), Woody in the Toy Story franchise (1995-2019).

10. Carl Hanratty in Catch Me If Your Can (2002)

In this thrilling Steven Spielberg flick, Hanks plays an remarkably cold role when compared to how amiable and warm his characters often are. As the FBI officer chasing the film's main criminal Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio), Hanks's character Carl Hanratty is the de-facto 'good guy' in the film's story, yet he is also the antagonist since the story is told largely from Abagnale's perspective. He walks this line well, making for a very memorable and solid performance.

9. Captain Richard Phillips in Captain Phillips (2013)

Hanks pulls off a very intense performance as real-life merchant mariner Richard Phillips in this thrilling film about an infamous hijacking. The actor goes into all-out survival mode in his gripping performance, as his character's ship is hijacked by Somali pirates and he must find a way out of the predicament. Hanks carries the lead role with grace, adding to his legacy of playing heroic characters in tough situations.

8. Charles Wilson in Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

For this Aaron Sorkin -written political drama, Hanks was cast into a role very much out of his comfort zone: a douchebag. Sure, the film paints congressman Charlie Wilson as an ultimately redeemable and good-hearted man, but his flaws are very prominent throughout the film. One has seen Tom Hanks in so many lovable good-guy roles, that it's weird to see him as an arrogant womanizer - but being the skilful actor that he is, he does a great job with the role. Charlie Wilson's War makes for a nice and different addition to the actor's impressive filmography.

7. Viktor Navorski in The Terminal (2004)

Sure, one could raise the question of why Steven Spielberg didn't cast an Eastern-European actor in the role of an Eastern-European lead character who is supposed to have a strong accent. Maybe he just had such a strong vision of Tom Hanks in such an amiable and heartfelt role that he couldn't picture anyone else pulling it off. Whatever the reasons for this slightly unusual casting, Hanks does a wonderful job as Viktor Navorski in this heartwarming film.

The actor's comedic chops are at the top of their game, he gets to show some emotional range towards the end, and even the accent is delightfully credible. All in all, a very solid performance in what I consider to be a vastly underrated Spielberg flick and one of my favorite comedies.

6. Paul Edgecomb in The Green Mile (1999)

A heartfelt performance for a tragic film. In this Stephen King adaptation, Hanks plays prison guard Paul Edgecomb, who develops a bond with death row inmate John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan). It's an emotionally raw performance, as Hanks's acting range plays well with the movie's grim setting. His facial expressions and emotionally charged lines towards the end of the film are heartbreaking, making the lead performance one of the best aspects in this all-around great film.

5. Captain Miller in Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Even in a cast consisting entirely of awesome talent from Matt Damon and Giovanni Ribisi to Barry Pepper and Edward Burns, Hanks manages to outshine his castmembers to provide the best performance in a movie filled with great performances. Hanks plays the role of an archetypical high-ranking soldier, as his character Captain Miller has his doubts about his mission but still carries through and encourages his frustrated team to do the same. The emotional power of his famous "Earn this. Earn it" line is delivered with perfection, and is definitely one of the most impressive moments in Hanks's career.

4. Josh in Big (1988)

This goofy feel-good film may not quite have the cinematic value of Saving Private Ryan or The Green Mile, but acting-performance-wise, Hanks does an even better job in this late 80's classic than in the aforementioned films. The film is all about a teenage boy who wishes to be an adult - and to his amazement, the wish comes through. Hanks plays the adult body that little Josh is transported into, and playing the role of a kid living in a grown-up body is a tough job.

Hanks not only manages to get the job done, but very much proves to be the best possible actor for the job. The childlike enthusiasm and body-swapping confusion of the character come across brilliantly, making for a fantastic performance that earned Hanks the first of his many Oscar nominations.

3. Chuck Noland in Cast Away (2000)

I knew quite a lot about this film through pop culture references before I actually saw it. I was therefore surprised to see how much runtime is dedicated to Tom Hanks's character not being stranded on an island - we spend a lot of time getting to know him before the plane crash happens, and not spoil any specifics, but a lot of aftermath to his survival story is also followed. In a way, this makes his powerhouse performance even more impressive, because the film isn't just about him trying to survive on a deserted island - it's a full-fledged character-driven story, where a complex character is established and who then undergoes changes through a life-changing event. Following his character development is fascinating.

Still, the very best part about this performance is the vast majority of the film that takes place on the island. I'll say the same thing I said about Leonardo DiCaprio's performance in The Revenant (2015) - no matter how interesting the premise, the film would be inescapably boring unless there was a truly great actor playing the role. Having only one actor on-screen for such a long duration is a major risk to take, but Hanks manages to play the role in such an interesting and complex fashion that boredom never even enters the equation. His survival is thrilling and fascinating to follow, proving that he truly was the right man for the job once again.

2. Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump (1994)

Tom Hanks has many strengths as an actor, but I'd say his foremost one is the sheer heart he puts into his performances. With the exception of a few villainous roles, he mostly plays extremely amiable characters with a heartfelt energy that you can't help but love - and that is at its very best in Forrest Gump, for which the actor won his second Academy Award. He plays title character Forrest Gump, a mentally challenged and good-hearted man, with grace and aplomb.

An appropriate amount of humor is mixed into the performance, as Forrest winding up in numerous historical events is quite amusing to follow, but he also plays the hell out of the more serious and dramatic sequences. It is certainly one of the most lovable acting performances of all time, and a perfect example of a lead actor really bringing a script to life.

1. Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia (1993)

The very first thing to applaud concerning this critically acclaimed performance is the mere fact that Hanks took the job - back in 1993, homophobic attitudes were all the rage in society, and it took some guts for America's most beloved actor to play the role of a gay man suffering from AIDS, knowing that some demographics would lose respect for him in the process. I'd like to think that there were more people who saw the film and re-evaluated their values because of it, than people who simply turned against Hanks because of the role.

Anyways, role-picking courage aside, the performance itself is absolutely mesmerizing and certainly deserving of the Oscar that Hanks won for it. In many ways, he plays the very representation of the marginalized groups that the film tried to destigmatize: a kind, good-hearted man, who is in trouble because some bigots can't see past his orientation.

Watching him play such a likable person who undergoes so much suffering is absolutely heartbreaking, and Hanks's emotional range is fantastic throughout the film. The scene where he dances by himself to opera music is a beautiful moment of self-expression, that will certainly resonate with a lot of viewers. There aren't many actors who have as many amazing performances on their resumé as Tom Hanks, but even with so many to choose from, I can easily say that Philadelphia is the actor's finest hour.

Thank you for reading! Tune in next Thursday for my list of the top 10 greatest Finnish films of all time, in celebration of our upcoming Independence Day!

Top 10 Animated Children's Movies

Greetings, reader!

The original Toy Story (1995) turns 25 years old this week. What better way to celebrate than with a list of the greatest animated children's movies of all time! This was a particularly difficult list to make, as films that were a part of my childhood are hard to compare to similar movies that I only saw at an adult age and could thus appreciate them in a significantly different way. Still, after a lot of thought and a lot of re-watching (thanks, Disney Plus!) I was able to rank these favorites based on how much they mean to me and how much I appreciate them, in one way or another. I hope you enjoy!

Here are my honorable mentions: Frozen (2013), Moana (2016), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), The Incredibles (2004), Wall-E (2008).

10. Dinosaur (2000)

Watching this film coincided beautifully with the dinosaur-obsessed phase of my childhood. I absolutely love the magical opening sequence, where the unlikely journey of an Iguanodon egg is followed as it is taken through a majestic landscape in a thrilling chain of events. From there on out, Dinosaur is filled with fun scenery and intriguing prehistoric creatures. The film's sense of adventure had me in awe as a child, and it has a special place in my heart to this day.

9. Spirited Away (2001)

If the general lack of Hayao Miyazaki's films on this list concerns you, my explanation simply is that I didn't watch his films as a child, and have only come into contact with them during the last few years. While the films are quite awesome, they hardly to compare to many of the Disney films that were an active part of my childhood, as that is when such films have the most impact. Even so, this Miyazaki gem made it here - one of two children's films so great that they made it to my top 10 even though I saw them after my childhood and therefore can't fully appreciate their value.

Spirited Away is a profound adventure filled with memorable characters, fantastic imagery and important life lessons. Studio Ghibli's animation is top notch, as the film's creative locations and characters come to life with a unique and magical atmosphere.

8. The Emperor's New Groove (2000)

As a child, I hugely enjoyed this film for its exotic atmosphere and silly characters. Upon re-watching it at my current age, I found a whole new level for my appreciation of the film - it has a very important message that we could all benefit from. This stems from the character Pacha (John Goodman), who plays a central role in the redemption arch of main character Kuzco (David Spade).

When Kuzco is turned into a llama and must find his way back to human form (don't we all sometimes?), Pacha agrees to help him even though Kuzco had been very inconsiderate and mean to Pacha and his family. The character exhibits inspiring patience, as he doesn't answer fire with fire but rather shows Kuzco that being nice and empathetic pays off by being those things towards him. It takes a while, but the lesson cements itself, leading to the film's satisfying ending. In today's societal climate, many of us could take a page from Pacha's book and combat hate with love instead of furthering the cycle of hatred.

7. Shrek (2001)

This film is just a whole bunch of fun. Featuring insanely hilarious voice performances by Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy, a whole bunch of meta humor as the film plays with the tropes of cliché fairy tales, and a kick-ass soundtrack that has a very special place in my heart as it introduced me to the Smash Mouth masterpiece All Star, this film is an absolute delight. Shrek is filled with memorable dialogue and hysterical moments, and it is fun to watch for children and adults alike - much like ogres and onions, this film has layers.

6. Inside Out (2015)

Inside Out is the higher-ranked one out of the two films on this list that I saw for the first time at an adult age. I'm sure I would've loved it as a kid, but I think this film has to be either watched or re-watched at a more mature age in order to fully appreciate it - it's definitely the deepest Disney film I've seen, while also having a whole bunch of zany silliness to it.

The film's central characters are the central emotions of a young girl - a majority of the film takes place inside her head, as we follow Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Fear (Bill Hader) while they try to navigate the girl through various challenges. The film deals with the heartbreaking side of growing up, as the girl has a difficult time adjusting to her new school and letting go of childhood memories. There is some surprisingly well-written psychology weaved into the film's plot, while there's also a lot to simply enjoy in its creative portrayal of the wonders of the human mind. The film will very likely make you cry, but it will leave a smile on your face when all is said and done.

5. The Toy Story Trilogy (1995-2010)

Yes, I know that it's a bit of a rule-bender to include this trilogy as one film on my list. But all three films (I haven't seen the fourth one yet) are so good individually that they all would've made it to my top 10, so including them as one left room for more variation within the list. All three films are very special and important to me, each in a slightly different way.

Toy Story (1995) is the one that started it all, and in many ways the most classic one. The humor and storytelling of the franchise are at their best in the original film. Toy Story 2 (1999) is the first film that I saw from the franchise (for some reason), so I have the fondest childhood memories from that deeply nostalgic film. Toy Story 3 (2010) deals with the same issues as Inside Out - one's childhood coming to an end, and moving on from that phase of life.

The third film's release coincided perfectly with my own process of growing up, as I was twelve years old when I saw it - just around the time when little Veikko was moving on from playing with his own childhood toys. The truth is, even though I've heard good things about Toy Story 4 (2019) and I'm sure I'll see it eventually, I haven't felt very motivated to watch it simply because the third film felt like such a great and closure-filled ending.

4. The Iron Giant (1999)

If you're able to watch this film without shedding a tear, I don't trust you as a person. The directorial debut of Brad Bird (who would go on to make action thrillers like Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)), this Warner Bros. cult hit follows a young boy (Eli Marienthal) who befriends a robot from outer space (Vin Diesel). Their connection is unique and sweet, while the film's fast-paced plot provides a lot of thrills and entertaining moments. Without spoiling the ending, I'll say that it is an emotional powerhouse of the highest order. My heart aches just thinking about it. At least the very last scene will help you wipe away your tears with its smile-worthy epicness.

3. Ice Age (2002)

Although the franchise has produced remarkably many solid sequels, there's no beating the original. With a zany and adventurous soundtrack, an amazing group of major characters, beautiful scenery and some great running gags (the sabre-tooth squirrel Scrat and his acorn are some of the funniest content humanity has come up with), Ice Age has all the makings of a childhood favorite. The story does a fantastic job balancing the historical intrigue of the era with some straight-forward adventure, and the film's humor is top notch. All in all, an extremely nostalgic classic.

2. Finding Nemo (2003)

I've always found the oceans of the world, with all their depths and mysteries, to be one of the more epic and fascinating things in this world of ours - and come to think of it, this movie should probably be thanked for that. The expert job of the film's creative animation department, coupled with Thomas Newman's curiosity-fuelled soundtrack, manages to personify the mysterious milieu of the ocean with perfection.

No other film felt quite as magical and atmospheric to watch as a child - for the longest time, I avoided re-watching this film as an adult due to a fear that it would've lost some of its magic when not viewed through a child's eyes. A few months ago, I decided to face my fear and watch the movie again - and it felt just as I had remembered, to my great delight.

1. The Lion King (1994)

I mean, its' just so epic. Mind you, The Lion King also checks all the boxes of a fun and entertaining children's movie with its zany dialogue, personable animation and silly humor. But the film goes far and away beyond that by providing a story that feels remarkably larger-than-life in its dramatic proportions. Partially because of the Hamlet-inspired story with its poetic arch, and definitely helped by the fantastic music department (including an instrumental score by Hans Zimmer and musical numbers composed by Elton John), The Lion King is a grand-scale adventure in a league of its own.

As a child, watching this film felt more powerful and emotional than any other children's movie I can think of. Upon re-watching it as an adult, I was glad to notice that it still has the exact same effect - the scene where Mufasa's (James Earl Jones) head bursts out of the clouds to tell Simba (Matthew Broderick) to "Remember who you are" is honestly one of the most spine-chilling and epic movie scenes I can think of from any genre. The Lion King is a masterpiece.

Thank you for reading! Next week's Thursday is Thanksgiving, so I'll be taking a week off from my blog.

Just kidding, there's never a week off from my blog. I'll naturally be posting a (T)hanksgiving-themed list about the greatest Tom Hanks performances. See you then!

Top 10 Leo DiCaprio Performances

Greetings, reader!

Yesterday was the 46th birthday of Leonardo DiCaprio - one of the greatest actors working today, in the opinion of me and many others. Today I will share my list of his greatest acting performances thus far.

Here are my honorable mentions: Cobb in Inception (2010), Jack Dawson in Titanic (1997)

10. Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Catch Me If You Can tells the true story of a notorious con artist, with the specific point of view that his rough childhood and broken family lead to his questionable morals. This allows DiCaprio to play the lead role as a fleshed-out antihero, who is perceived as charming and even likable throughout his slick criminal activities, while one manages to simultaneously root for the FBI agent (Tom Hanks) trying to bust him. All in all, a very impressive role by the young DiCaprio.

9. Billy in The Departed (2006)

In Martin Scorsese's The Departed, Leonardo DiCaprio plays undercover cop Billy Costigan. The premise of his story mirrors that of Colin (Matt Damon), as Billy is a loyal police officer who becomes a mole in Boston's Irish mob, while Colin is an Irish mob loyalist who becomes a mole in the police force. The differences and similarities between the characters are fascinating to behold, and DiCaprio does a remarkable job as a believable police officer, while using his acting chops to become an equally believable criminal that his character is pretending to be.

8. Teddy Daniels in Shutter Island (2010)

An ambiguous performance for an ambiguous film with an ambiguous ending. DiCaprio's character, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, looks mysterious and confused for a majority of the film, which fits in perfectly with the cryptic and unsettling atmosphere. His chemistry with co-star Mark Ruffalo is awesome, and the film's flashback sequences have a lot of emotional power to them thanks to DiCaprio's gripping performance. The film's ending puts the entire role into a slightly different context, making it all the more impressive.

7. Calvin Candie in Django Unchained (2012)

Who would've imagined that the lovable pretty-boy from Titanic and Romeo + Juliet would one day expand his range all the way to a despicable full-fledged villain role? Surprising as this casting choice was, DiCaprio did a great job as the film's main antagonist, a wildly racist slaveowner called Calvin Candie. He is frighteningly believable in the role, proving that he is a truly multi-talented actor who is very willing to step out of his comfort zone.

6. J. Edgar Hoover in J. Edgar (2011)

Stepping into the shoes of a well-known historical figure is always a tough job for any actor, and the role of notorious FBI director J. Edgar Hoover certainly poses some challenge. But DiCaprio was the man for the job, tapping into his talents in villainy like in the previous entry, but with more tact and subtlety. Clint Eastwood's biopic doesn't paint Hoover as the over-the-top warmonger that many might expect, but rather takes a psychological and even humane look at why he became the way he was.

Of course there are moments of angry yelling, dramatic rants and megalomaniac behavior, and DiCaprio pulls them off well. But a majority of the film focuses on the more intricate and fragile side of the man, and he does even better with those sequences. Overall, a very powerful and well-studied performance.

5. Romeo in Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of the classic play has an intriguing premise that posed quite a challenge to the actors: the film takes place in a modern setting, yet it retains the original Shakespearean dialogue. A young DiCaprio got to prove his acting chops with this early performance, as he did a fantastic job in the titular role. Reciting that style of dialogue is challenging enough, but the actor did it while really throwing himself into the role with a lot of emotional range.

4. Howard Hughes in The Aviator (2004)

As is bound to happen in any biopic directed by Martin Scorsese, The Aviator really dives into the deepest and darkest aspects in the life of its protagonist. DiCaprio dives headfirst into the complex role of Howard Hughes, a legendary movie director and aviator from the 1930's and 40's. The film puts a lot of emphasis on Hughes's gripping mental decline especially towards the end, and the actor plays the part to perfection. He earned his first Best Leading Actor -Oscar nomination for the role, and it was thoroughly deserved.

3. Rick Dalton in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)

It is always challenging for an actor to play an actor. In Birdman (2014), it is very impressive how well Edward Norton plays an extremely talented actor. In The Disaster Artist (2017), it is very impressive how well James Franco plays an absolutely awful actor. But Leonardo DiCaprio, always one for nuances, was able to pull off quite the specific role: his character Rick Dalton is a successful and skilful actor, who isn't quite at the top of his game anymore.

There are scenes where he's struggling to remember his lines and fumbling his delivery. There's a phenomenal scene where he delivers a perfect monologue; it's a scene that would be Oscar-worthy for Rick Dalton in the film's fictional universe, and it certainly is Oscar-worthy for the fantastic real-life actor who brought to life the washed-out fictional actor doing his best to deliver a great performance.

2. Jordan Belfort in The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)

He's great as a charming hero, he's surprisingly awesome as a villain, and he's absolutely perfect as a fleshed-out antihero. No matter what you think of the film and whether it romanticizes or demonizes the corrupt and extravagant lifestyle of Wall Street tycoons, you can't argue with the fact that Leo DiCaprio is amazing in the leading role. He plays notorious stock-broker Jordan Belfort with a dazzling chaotic energy, leaving the audience in awe with his insane confidence and drug-fuelled misadventures.

Humorous, gripping and everything in between all at once, Belfort's story comes to life in a complex and memorable fashion, thanks to the remarkable acting performance by DiCaprio. Hot take: as great as Matthew McConaughey was in Dallas Buyers Club (2013), I believe that year's Academy Award for Best Actor In A Leading Role should have gone to DiCaprio's Wolf Of Wall Street role instead.

1. Hugh Glass in The Revenant (2015)

For much of The Revenant's duration, DiCaprio's character doesn't speak much, as he's alone in the wilderness trying to survive. But the man doesn't need dialogue (often the utmost tool for actors to prove their talent) to prove what he's capable of. Between learning to shoot a musket, apply ancient healing techniques and speak two Native American languages for the role and actually performing feats like eating a raw slab of bison's liver and sleeping in an animal carcass, he certainly did the groundwork for the role. One could argue that an actor doesn't need to do all that for a performance to feel real, but who can blame the man for wanting to maximize the realism in his reactions and mannerisms?

A film like The Revenant would be inescapably boring despite its strengths, if it didn't star an actor who can really carry the lengthy survival sequences in an engaging manner. DiCaprio was the best man for the job, and I was glad to see him finally winning his long-overdue Oscar for this breathtaking performance.

Thank you for reading! Tune in next Thursday for my list about the greatest animated children's movies of all time.