Worst2First: Alan Rickman's Best Films

Worst2First: Alan Rickman's Best Films

Alan Rickman was a larger-than-life presence both on the silver screen and the theatre, a man with wide range and someone best known for his one-of-a-kind voice and slow, methodical delivery.  He won a Golden Globe in 1997 for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV for his role in "Rasputin," and was heralded as one of the great actors of our time.

On January 14, 2016, the world mourned upon hearing Alan Rickman passed away from cancer at age 69.  This came as a shock to many, as he never publicly expressed his battle, and he even continued working.  His final film, the political thriller "Eye in the Sky," will be released March 11th. 

Throughout the decades, he's delivered some exceptional roles, and narrowing them down to just ten was a struggle, but these I feel are his best performances.

#10

Dogma

He only served as a supporting character here, but the limited time he was on screen, he stole it.  In Kevin Smith's irreverent comedy, Rickman plays Metatron, an archangel with an attitude.

#9

Sweeney Todd

In Tim Burton's musical masterpiece, Rickman plays Judge Turpin, a scrupulous judge who basically ruined Sweeney Todd's (Johnny Depp) life by sentencing him to prison so he could be with Todd's wife.  While his musical talents aren't on par with Adele, he still manages to belt out some great tunes with his gravely deep voice.
Here is his duet with Johnny Depp, "Pretty Women."

#8

Love, Actually

In this quintessential Christmas classic, Rickman's story centers around his character Harry, his loving wife Karen (Emma Thompson), and his new secretary Mia (Heike Makatsch).  As Mia flirts with him, he becomes more aroused and purchases an expensive necklace for her.  This sends his marriage into a spiral and he learns the true meaning of love.  This is a much different role for Rickman, and even though he's not the most likable person, you still feel for him.

#7

Sense and Sensibility

Jane Austen has had several of her classic novels made into movies, and it's Ang Lee's "Sense and Sensibility" that gave Rickman a much different role than he was known for, as Colonel Brandon, a more upbeat, friendly role than he's known for as he falls into a love triangle between Kate Winslet's Marianne and Greg Wise's John Willoughby.  If there was a film where he could've been nominated for an Oscar, it was this role.

#6

Truly, Madly, Deeply

In a comedic role, Rickman plays Jamie, a cellist in love with Nina (Juliet Stevenson), until he dies.  He returns as a ghost and at first Nina is happy, but he starts doing things that annoy her (such as turning up the heat, inviting ghost friends over, and moving things around), causing Nina to doubt her love for him.  The ending of this comedy has a surprisingly touching conclusion and Rickman once again nails it.

#5

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

You won't see Alan Rickman on screen, but you'll hear his voice as he voices the manic depressive robot Marvin.  His lines are impeccable and downright hilarious and it's the shining moments of this often underrated British comedy.

#4

Galaxy Quest

Rickman plays Alexander Dane, an actor playing the role of an alien in a "Star Trek"esque television series.  After it's canceled, they hit the convention circuit, where Dane feels he's superior to the people around him.  In another meaty comedic role, Rickman again stole the screen and gave a great catchphrase - "By Grabthar's Hammer!"

#3

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Alan Rickman's turn to villainy turned out to be the best decision for him, as my personal top three movies feature him in a villainous fashion.  In "Robin Hood," he brilliantly plays the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, and his performance won him a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

#2

Die Hard

If you're looking for the quintessential Alan Rickman role, look no further than his deliciously evil Hans Gruber, the most evil man John McClane ever came into contact with.  He was so evil he's listed in several movie lists as one of the top villains in cinema, and he delivers an electric performance.

#1

The Harry Potter Series

"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling has been noted in saying she always envisioned Alan Rickman for the role of Severous Snape, and it's impossible to think of anyone else encompassing that role.  Throughout eight films, Rickman portrayed the mysterious professor with such acute talent that you could never tell whose side he really was on - was he a good guy?  A bad guy?  A protector?  A killer?  You never really knew because he was able to play the part so well.  This is the role he's most known for, especially with the younger generation, and it's one of his finest works.

Rest in piece Alan Rickman.  We will never forget the gift you've given us, and we raise our wands for you.