Yesterday, I found myself watching a movie. A great movie, in fact. In this movie, Aaron Eckhart, as Gotham's District Attorney, Harvey Dent, says, "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." It's a fantastic line.
And in honor of that line and its insinuation about the human psyche and the pathological anomalies we witness everyday, I'm listing off my top ten favorite cinematic villains of all time.
If I have to say anything more than what I am about to say in explaining why he is so amazing, then you and I were not watching the same movie. He's just wanted to sit back and watch the world burn. And for my money, that puts Ledger ahead of the curve.
(2) Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles) in Citizen Kane (1941)
This may be controversial because in the minds of some he is the film's most obvious protagonist--but for argument's sake, let's pretend we're all realists. He's the cinematic version of William Randolph Hearst--the world's most infamous newspaper tycoon--who is the real life villain. The man invented the concept of alarmism. If you don't believe me, then you should read up on yellow journalism and then look at the man's date of birth and death. Coincidence? No. The only thing that matched Welles' sinister nature was cinematographer Gregg Toland's blatant mimicking of German Expressionism.
(3) Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) in Fatal Attraction (1987)
This performance was legendary--for two reasons. One--she ruined bunny rabbits for me. Two--she made adulterers in this country more uneasy than ever before--singlehandedly making men 'think again' about whether blue balls is really all that bad when compared with the alternative.
(4) Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) in Misery (1990)
She brought new meaning and new apprehension to the word 'caretaker.' Holy shit. Never have I been more afraid of what can happen in the confines of a house between a man and a very delusional woman.
(5) Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) in The Shining (1980)
His creep factor gets a lot of assistance from the ambience of the rather archaic Overlook Hotel. Having admitted that crutch, he's still one frightening villain and "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," only seals the deal on this one.
(6) Detective Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) in Training Day (2001)
I'm not sure if it is because this film came out during the direct aftermath of 9/11, during a time when we really wanted to believe in law enforcement doing the right thing--but Denzel--as this character--is perhaps one of the most ruthless, vindictive, selfish performances I have ever seen. And not once did I look away from what he was going to do next. Unbelievable and completely deserving of the Academy Award he won for it.
(7) Joan Crawford (Faye Dunaway) in Mommie Dearest (1981)
I have not and will not EVER look at wire hangers the same. And that's all I have to say about that.
(8) HAL 9000 (Douglas Rain) in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
It was the fear of the unknown with this one. When the villain is a human, you tend to be able to point out what their plausible disadvantages and flaws might be. With the computer running the show--and that single red bulb--it was truly impossible to get a read. Throw in the fear factor of having machines manually override the ethical decisions being put forth by human beings--and it's a vicious villain definitely worthy of this list.
(9) Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) in Wall Street (1987)
He's cutthroat and of the notion that 'greed is good.' He doesn't show any emotion that could show you a weakness. There is no admission of anything. It would be so easy to call Gordon Gekko one-dimensional, but the fact that he scares the shit out of me--and represents everything that makes success dangerous--makes him too much of a mirror and a monster to simplify it that way.
(10) Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) in Sunset Boulevard (1950) and Cruella de Vil (Betty Lou Gerson) in One Hundred and One Dalmations (1961)
If you think about it--the reason this one gets a tie is because these characters are very similar. Similar in bone structure, in attire, in dialect. The only difference is one is animated. Both women are self-involved, reckless, malicious, and malevolent. But the confidence in their cruelty is so intoxicating, I would make the argument that they are the definitive female vixens, the femme fatales, the trailblazers for any and all others. Nobody does it better. And at the time, these two proved ready for their close-up.
Disagree on Norma Desmond!!!
ReplyDeleteButI can't think villian without Creulla.
ReplyDeleteFantastic list, Samantha, and I wish you'd let your geek flag fly more often. I do feel like you're giving Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter the shaft but that's still a very strong list. Call me!
ReplyDeleteyou surprised me with your Gordon Gecko explanation. I now seem him in a light that is no longer difficult to describe. Great writing. Solid list. Worthy of a continuation of some sort.
ReplyDeletealthough, I wouldn't call Cruella De Vil a femme fatal. She may see herself that way, but to the rest of the world, she is anything but that. Her seduction lies in her evil ability to hypnotize you into eternal fearfulness, not in attracting you to her dangerous sexuality. Just an observation, but again, what a list!
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