5 Favorites: Liam Neeson

kThis Friday will be the release of "The Wrath of the Titans", the sequel to the remake of the film based on the stories of Greek Gods. I've spent a lot of time on this blog talking about the supreme badassness of actor, and badass, Liam Neeson, and I figured, why not do a little more. January's "The Grey" has been one of my favorite films so far this year, and with "Taken 2", and a possible cameo in "The Dark Knight Rises", there is still a lot more Neeson yet to come this year. Here are the five most badass performances, from a grade A badass.

5. Darkman (1990)

Have I mentioned that the 5 spot is reserved for personal favorites that I think people should see? I'm sure I have, but I'm doing it again! This forgotten Sam Raimi gem is about a scientist, named Peyton Westlake, who discovers the way to make a synthetic skin, but it only lasts for 100 minutes when exposed to light. When he is attacked by gangsters, and his office blown up, he is presumed dead. Westlake is forced underground, where he continues to work on his synthetic skin, in a scheme to take his revenge. This is Sam Raimi in his "Evil Dead" days, and Neeson keeps up with all of the slapstick violence, and the Raimi style camera work. He also drops a dude off of a building.

4. Kinsey (2004)

Who likes biopics?! Liam Neeson sure does! That is why he does as many as it seems he can fit into his repertoire. Bill Condon wrote and directed the story of Alfred Kinsey, biology professor, and the author of "Sexual Behavior of the Human Male". Neeson, as always, plays the title character ("Rob Roy", "Michael Collins"), and crushes it. He has an emotional disconnect from the people around him, and can't understand what makes sex such a taboo. His relationship with his wife (Laura Linney) is strained, but loving, and Neeson gives it the shades necessary to keep him human, without slipping into caricature. 

3. Gangs of New York (2002)

Whenever someone is able to to be on screen for a short amount of time, and is able to make a large impression, i become very impressed. That was Liam Neeson's character in Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York". He is a hyped up Irish priest who went to war with the Butcher's (Daniel Day-Lewis) gang. His time on screen mostly amounts to him preparing for battle, leading his troops, and getting killed by the Butcher, but he owns every moment of the short time he has. Proof that there are no small roles, especially if Liam Neeson is playing them.

2. Batman Begins (2005)

Christopher Nolan seems to get the greatest casts assembled since... well, anything. The Batman films have been no different, and the first one had the most jaw-dropping cast of the recent era. Neeson played Duchard, the supposed assistant to Ra's Ah Ghul, who takes Bruce Wayne from a third world prison, and takes care of most of the training that will eventually turn him into Batman. By the time you find out that Duchard is Al Ghul, you understand why he is so driven, and invested in Wayne's invlovement in his plans.

1. Schindler's List (1993)

Who likes biopics... and hates being used by the Nazis to make munitions to fight the Allied Powers? The answer is Liam Neeson playing Oskar Schindler (title role again). The humanity he brings to the role brought tears to my eyes. He is absolutely perfect in this Holocaust epic. Spielberg gets everything from Neeson he can in this movie, and somehow he still lost the Academy Award to Tom Hanks (I liked him better in "Philadelphia" than "Forrest Gump"). I could gush all day about this movie, and Schindler's heroism, but I won't because this is a short list. In conclusion, Liam Neeson rules!