6. Masayuki Mori
The great actor Masayuki Mori left behind an astounding legacy of great films in which we can appreciate his talents. Just the handful of movies on this list contain some of the most prized jewels of Japanese and world cinema.
From portraying the haughty samurai in Rashomon to playing the meek, simple-hearted protagonist of The Idiot, Masayuki Mori could embody whatever qualities his character demanded of him. His ability to shift effortlessly between personalities made him a director’s dream to work with, and a film lover’s treasure to watch. These five straight great films from the early 1950s say more as a tribute to his talents than words ever could:
1) Rashomon 1950
2) The Idiot 1951
3) The Lady of Musashino 1951
4) Ugetsu 1953
5) Older Brother, Younger Sister 1953
7. Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford’s range as an actor has been confirmed over the years, but he is most famous for playing the swaggering hero of several films which helped to define the modern blockbuster.
Taking lead roles in two of the most iconic movie trilogies of all time, Ford shot to stardom and fame by portraying characters who couldn’t care less what others thought about them. Add to the mix his part in one of the most influential sci-fi films in modern history, and you have an actor who successfully placed himself in the midst of some very important films.
The 1980s were a goldmine for Harrison Ford which is still paying off handsomely today. The indifferent, carefree persona which he brought to these already excellent films helped to make them indelible parts of pop culture, while establishing Ford as one of the most recognizable faces in cinema. Here are the five consecutive films which helped to cement his legacy:
1) The Empire Strikes Back – 1980
2) Raiders of the Lost Ark – 1981
3) Blade Runner – 1982
4) Return of the Jedi – 1983
5) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – 1984
8. Charlie Chaplin
It’s almost impossible to imagine the landscape of cinema without the towering presence of Charlie Chaplin, who in many ways helped to define what a movie could be. With an epic career lasting more than 75 years, the trailblazing Chaplin was a director, actor, composer, and icon with worldwide fame.
Though he suffered through some hard times in which he was forced to flee the United States to escape political suspicions, Chaplin resides today in the pantheon of cinematic gods. Possessed of both creative genius and the performance skills to execute his vision, he is a one of a kind figure in the movies whose influence endures. In this unbroken string of five great films, Chaplin showed us some of the best of his talents:
1) The Gold Rush – 1925
2) The Circus – 1928
3) City Lights – 1931
4) Modern Times – 1936
5) The Great Dictator – 1940
9. Christian Bale
One might be tempted to forget the versatility of acting talent which Christian Bale possesses were it not for the excellent films he continues to star in. Bale subtly creates memorable characters with real substance, and has proven his intense dedication to his preparation for roles – most notably his back-to-back efforts in The Machinist and Batman Begins.
The 2000s were a fruitful decade for Bale, and these five successive films are as diverse a lot as one can imagine: in just these few movies, he portrays a suffering prisoner of war, a Western rancher, and an iconic superhero. Bale’s ability to shift gears and personas so quickly are a testament to his elite abilities, and these five movies were an unbroken string of successes for him:
1) Rescue Dawn – 2006
2) The Prestige – 2006
3) 3:10 to Yuma – 2007
4) I’m Not There – 2007
5) The Dark Knight – 2008
10. Gary Oldman
Though Gary Oldman’s career has proven his almost impossibly wide range of acting ability, many of his most famous movies found him in the position of playing a villain. And few actors sink their teeth into such dynamic roles like Oldman, who can project terrifying intimidation as readily as gentle friendship. But in the early 1990s, he took up the challenge of playing a series of bad guys as different in character from each other as one can possibly imagine.
From the crazed gunman of JFK to the sympathetic vampire of Bram Stoker’s Dracula to the merciless antagonist of Léon: The Professional, Oldman threw his entire being into each role. In these five memorable films, he left a towering legacy which he would only build upon in the years to follow:
1) JFK – 1991
2) Bram Stoker’s Dracula – 1992
3) True Romance – 1993
4) Romeo is Bleeding – 1993
5) Léon: The Professional – 1994