The Very Best of Samuel L. Jackson

By Bob and Aaron 9/18/2008

The only movie coming out this weekend that looks marginally interesting is Lakeview Terrace.  This looks to be a horribly funny [as in so bad it's funny] film that stars the one and only Samuel L. Jackson. Despite an early career Oscar nomination for Pulp Fiction, Jackson has gone on to play some of the most badass roles of the past twenty years and his current film appears to be no different. Having seen many of his films, we now count down Samuel L. Jackson’s top ten film roles.

Honorable Mention: Nick Fury-Iron Man

Since it’s only a cameo, we really couldn’t put him much higher on this list, but I only hope that great things are to follow once The Avengers film. Say what you will about The Ultimates, but Jackson will be badass in this role. -RCK

Sam Jackson sample: “I’m here to talk to you about the Avengers Initiative.”

10) Danny Roman- The Negotiator

I do believe this was the first movie I saw with Sam Jackson – back when I was eleven I caught this flick with one of my friends and their dad. Back then Sam was as intense as ever, and as usual, you struggled to decide if he was the good guy or the bad guy. Also in the audience was Denzel Washington who would phone in his role in John Q. Yawn. - AWV

Sam Jackson sample: “You want my blood? Take my blood!”

9) Russell Franklin–Deep Blue Sea

I think I’ve watched the movie just long enough to see Sam get eaten by a shark. That’s about all the movie’s worth – an annoying blockbuster that would make Michael Bay’s latest seem like Scorsese’s finest. And the only reason people rent this movie is because of that hilarious Chapelle skit that you can watch HERE 

- AWV Sam Jackson sample: “They ate me – a f**king shark ate me”

8) Ray Arnold-Jurassic Park

Arnold is on here for one reason and one reason only: being raptor food has never been so cool. When Laura Dern goes into that power center and she’s looking for the light and good old Ray Arnold lends her hand to comfort her, CLASSIC. – AWV

Sam Jackson sample: "Hold on to your butts" 

7) Neville Flynn-Snakes on a Plane

Probably the only actor that has ever chosen a role based on the title of the film, this cult internet phenomenon was hilarious in theaters but forgotten ever since. At least they went back and added this badass quote after filming had wrapped. -RCK

Sam Jackson sample: “That’s it! I have had it with these motherf**king snakes on this motherf**king plane!”

6) Mace Windu-Star Wars I-III

It has been said that Jackson accepted this role only when George Lucas assured him that he could choose his light saber color and that he would die in a completely badass manner. Windu’s purple saber lets him be seen from afar in Episode II’s climactic battle, and his death is what made Palpatine look like the Emperor we all knew and loved. I’d say Jackson got his wish. -RCK

Sam Jackson sample: “In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, you’re under arrest, Chancellor.”

5) Mister Señor Love Daddy-Do The Right Thing

As the quasi-narrator radio show host of Spike Lee’s racial riot film, DJ Love Daddy sets the stage for the heat that is to follow. This role sparked Jackson’s career and led to most of the roles on this list.-RCK

Sam Jackson sample: “Whoa. Y’all take a chill. You got to cool that shit off. And that’s the double-truth, Ruth.” 

4) Zeus Carter -Die Hard with a Vengeance

I thought Sam Jackson’s Zeus was sweet in this movie and couldn’t figure out what McClane did without him in the first two movies. Looking for good Zeus quotes also made me realize that I forgot to put (shouting) before every quote, but, that’s just the way he talks. - AWV

Sam Jackson sample: “You got a problem with ebony?”

3) Carl Lee Hailey-A Time To Kill

Jackson plays the defendant in this John Grisham murder trial. After his daughter is raped, Haily gets his vengeance by killing the rapists in the only way he knows how. He then must stand up for his rights in a racially charged murder trial. Again, the movie is most known for his quote.

Sam Jackson sample: “Yes they deserved to die and hope they burn in hell!” 

2) Elijah Price-Unbreakable

In M. Night Shyamalan’s second film, Samuel L. Jackson plays frail, crazed comic book enthusiast Elijah Price, who has spent his life searching for his opposite. This creepy character leaves the audience terrified with the final revelation that he is the mastermind villain to counter Bruce Willis’s hero. -RCK

Sam Jackson sample: “They called me Mr. Glass.”

1) Jules-Pulp Fiction

Even in a movie that is so iconic and has so many memorable scenes, Jules still has some great ones in the little time he’s on screen. Whether he’s quoting the bible, talking about quarter pounders, gossiping about foot massages, or complaining about cleaning his car, he’s at his best here. And you can watch those bible quoting parts HERE, and HERE. - AWV

Sam Jackson sample: “I want you to go into that bag, and find my wallet…it’s the one that says Bad Motherfucker.”

Could “Avatar” Win Best Picture?

By Brett Hogan

 

Last week, the trailer for James Cameron’s sci-fi experiment “Avatar” debuted. While initially unimpressed with the teaser, I began to wonder: Could this film win best picture? 

 

Buzz has been generating for this movie for years. Years. The technology to make this movie didn’t exist when Cameron conceived it, so he invented it. When is the last time you heard of a director spearheading the invention of anything? The casting started in 2005. Most movies these days, even epics, are done in half that time. I could go on. 

 

The most important thing to take away from all of this is that people are saying this will be the future of movies. Now, I don’t agree with the idea that CGI will become more prevalent than it already is. But I do believe that this will set the bar miles higher for sci-fi. I mean, that is what Titanic did. And that won some awards if memory serves.

 

I’ll bet you’re asking yourself, how can you even suggest that a film like this will win Best Picture when the initial trailer was nothing better than visual stimulation? Well, there are a couple of reasons. First, the Academy has expanded Best Picture to ten films. This doesn’t guarantee anything other than improved chances for most films on the cusp.

 

Second, after last year’s Oscars debacle, which saw the best film of the year, “The Dark Knight,” not only get shafted in awards but nominations as well, the Academy is pulling out all the stops to appease those with the loudest voices in the film industry, the fanboys. Now, the Academy probably didn’t lose anything because of that other than some viewers of the award show. Perhaps if people are again outraged with the winners or nominees, the heads of the Academy would lose their jobs. So this is all about the Academy protecting itself, which is not so outrageous.  

 

 

Third, there is an economic motive here. I’ve heard this film will cost $190 million, not counting the R&D costs associated with Cameron’s inventions or the cost of getting 3-D cameras into every theater in the country. The Academy will do everything in its power to get people into the seats and make this the next “Titanic” or “The Dark Knight.” But the Academy doesn’t have much power, besides nominating and awarding, so they will slap the “Nominated for Best Picture” moniker onto every commercial and print ad to get the people who didn’t believe the critics to relent and see this movie.

 

Of course, all of this is pure conjecture, and no revolutionary film (Terminator 2, Jurassic Park, etc.) has ever won the Best Picture category because it changed the game. Except maybe Titanic. But still, could this movie actually win? My answer is no but a nomination is certain and who knows what could happen from there. We’ll know more come February 2010.