Your favorite Jack Nicholson movies? [Archive] - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

MightyCelestial

06-15-2008, 05:33 AM

My faves:

5. Hoffa - As anyone who's seen any footage of the real Jimmy Hoffa knows, in this movie, Jack IS Hoffa. Most of the time, when I see a Jack Nicholson role, I usually see him playing it with the characteristics that he's known for ( even his Joker, which, while it worked, was still an over the top version of what I'm used to seeing). For me it was cool to see him play someone who was an actual person & therefore, he had to play it in a manner made me forget that I was watching Jack Nicholson. IMO, an underrated performance by him.

4. A Few Good Men - Jack in a role that plays perfectly to his strengths. A mean ol' sunuvabitch with a focused confidence, a black heart & a wry look that you know he wears wether he's describing a blowjob from a female officer or warding off bullets from Cuban snipers in defense of this great country and, more importantly, of his military career. And Nicholson does this to such a successful degree, that even though he's doesn't really have all that much screentime in this film, the face of Col. Jessup in the witness chair is usually the 1st. image that comes up when this movie is mentioned. And as always, the mark of a great performance is to be able to deliver a line that ends up becoming a part of the culture. And if you don't agree with that, there's only one reason why:
"YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!"

3. The Shining - First of all, I'm always partial to Stanley Kubrick. IMO, he tends to make movies that are an inch away from being abstract beyond understanding, but keeps the flow of the film reeled in just enough to make seem like it makes sense on some kind of creative level. Add in the grounding of a Stephen King story & a role taylor made for Jack Nicholson, & you have one of my top favorite horror movies. And with very little slashing, to boot. The horror stems more from Jack's delivery & facial expressions as his character gradually slips into the madness of the haunted hotel's dark intentions.
"Here's Johnny!" wouldn't be a very scary line if it weren't for Jack's maniacal mug peering thru the door's cracked orifice, freshly smashed thru by the axe-wielding writer with "redrum" on his mind.

2. As Good As It Gets - I've never really been into romance flicks all that much. The few that I do enjoy usually tend to have a sort of a sharp or jagged edge to 'em. And this one definitely does thru Jack's portrayal of a writer with "redrum" on his mind. At least, he does with the little dog during the opening sequence. Nicholson eases thru the role of a crusty curmudgeon with psychological problems ( Is it just me or does it seem that the majority of Jack's most memorable roles always have something seriously askew upstairs? Or am I just being crazy?), & he does so with an insanely smoothness of an actor who can do this blindfolded. And the fact that, at the same time, he still manages to allow himself to deliver lines that would make the ladies go "awwww...", therefore, substantially increasing the chances of me "gettin' some" with my date, & you can see why this beats The Shining as my number two spot.

1. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - I recently watched this movie again, & for me, this is about as good as it gets ( ...sorry). Randall McMurphy is a mischievious criminal who ends up becoming a leader of rebellion & eventually, a friend to Billy & the rest the Cuckoo's Nest. Jack's performance is not of a man overly or angelically transformed, but as someone who's ability to care is gradually bought up to the surface by the only type of people who could cause such a subtle & internal catalyst: a group of guys who are crazier than he is.

These five are very closely followed by Chinatown, The Two Jakes, Terms Of Endearment, About Schmidt, 5 Easy Pieces, Batman & Prizzi's ****in' Honor.