Although he's best known for playing the long-suffering husband to Roseanne on the hit TV series "Roseanne," John Goodman has actually had a stellar film career as well, and with his most recent film "Captive State" being released today, I made a list of my five personal favorite John Goodman films.
**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**
#5
Fallen
In this classic psychological thriller, Denzel Washington plays a detective who thinks he's put to death a serial killer, but learns too late that he was inhabited by an evil demon named Azazel who transfers his soul from person to person by touch. Goodman stars as Washington's partner who helps him uncover the mystery, and gives a solid performance next to the heavyweight Oscar winner.
#4
Monsters, Inc.
The imaginative people at Pixar decided to reveal the monsters that hide behind children's bedroom closets aren't as scary as you think in their classic Oscar-winning "Monsters, Inc." Here, Goodman plays Sully, a huge blue monster who's the number one scarer at the corporation, who inadvertently brings a child over to the monster world. Vowing to protect the child and return her home, he sets out with his best friend Mike to hide her from the authorities and bring her home. Goodman gives a hilarious performance that's all the more strengthened by his partner-in-crime Billy Crystal, who voices Mike.
#3
10 Cloverfield Lane
John Goodman plays Howard, a survivalist who traps a young man and woman in an underground bunker and tells them that there's aliens outside, which may or may not be true. Goodman uses his natural charm and likability to play the role with unnerving perfection, showcasing his truly psychotic nature when you least suspect it.
#2
Barton Fink
The Coen Brothers are well-known for directing some of the most thought-provoking, powerful pieces of cinema in recent memory, and "Barton Fink" is easily their most strange - in a good way. Goodman plays salesman Charlie Meadows who befriends playwright Barton Fink (played by John Turturro), and pretty much becomes his only friend in California. More than just a mere side character, Goodman turns Charlie into a unique character who has different layers to him that really drives the insanity of the film home.
#1
The Big Lebowski
Maybe it's because he was overshadowed by Jeff Bridges' most iconic character ever, but "The Big Lebowski" wouldn't be what it is without John Goodman's unstable sidekick Walter Sobchak. Goodman plays the eccentric Vietnam vet and bowling enthusiast with pure brilliance and perfect comedic timing, and even though most people remember him as Dan Conner, he should be remembered more for this timeless performance.
Major Theatrical Releases May 2019 After the hype that is "Avengers: Endgame," May offers a massive collection of differing types of movies, enough to entertain everyone. Here are the major theatrical releases for May 2019. **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS** **DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE** The Intruder May 3 Dennis Quaid goes from starring the family-friendly "A Dog's Journey" to playing a total psycho in "The Intruder." When a young couple purchases a home from Quaid's character Charlie, they didn't realize it came with an addition - Charlie himself, who can't seem to let his old home go. I don't expect any twists or turns in this tale, and this looks like a film better fit for Lifetime than the big screen. Long Shot May 3 Charlize Theron stars as Charlotte Field, the current Secretary of State and who's running for President. Seth Rogen stars as Fred Flarsky, a
Witch Starring Russell Shaw, Ryan Spong, Sarah Alexandra Marks, Fabrizio Santino Directed by Craig Hinde & Marc Zammit Movies about witches are about a dime a dozen, and follow the same formula: typically set in a time period long ago (since now, fortunately, the stigma of witches has been lessened and the religious fervor has diminished), in a small Puritanical town, a girl is accused of witchcraft which spirals the town into a frenzy filled with suspicion, doubt, and murder until the witch is put to religious justice. While that's not necessarily a bad formula (Robert Eggers' "The VVitch" and Mario Bava's "Black Sunday" immediately come to mind), most films fall by the wayside. "Witch" is a small film that, at first glance, seems to follow the mold before completely shattering it in a second act twist that's daring, provocative, and works in a lot of levels, but could've been more pronounced if given a bigger budget. In the small
Special Review: "Midwest Sessions" Directed by Mario Ricciardi Independent filmmaking is a fascinating concept, wherein the director and everyone involved sets out to make something unique, different, and go against the traditional status quo of what's defined as a "blockbuster." These films aren't usually seen by the masses and won't be included in the top ten highest grossing movies of all time, but they offer something those films don't: a heart and commitment by the people involved to craft something wholly distinctive that tell a story in their own way. Such is "Midwest Sessions," a local film directed by Mario Ricciardi that centers on the city of Youngstown, Ohio, and the captivating people who live there. Told in different vignettes that seem distinct and different from one another but coming together as a whole in the end, it's an engrossing film that utilizes its shoestring budget and gives great performances, decent effects a
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