3:52 AM
David Weaver
This list is in no particular order. These are just some of my favorite films that Chris Evans, the actor and star of the new film Captain America has been in over the years that I enjoyed either based solely on his performance or it was just a generally well made and/or enjoyable film that he happened to part of in a supporting capacity.
Being a fan of Chris Evans work isn't easy. He has an indelible screen presence but isn't too good at picking the best scripts around. Now I am not going to knock the guy for taking roles in shoddy big Hollywood films such as the Fantastic Four but let's be honest here, his filmography is not something to be entirely proud of with only a handful of good films to be found at this time. The reason he has endured though has had very little to do with the quality of scripts he has chosen but more so to do with his acting ability. Despite some of his poor choices, his enthusiasm along with his charming personality and general charisma always shone through even in the poorest of quality film he often times finds himself in. I always thought he was a decent enough actor but until I saw him in Danny Boyle's Sunshine I never thought he had much range. While he is still struggling to find a foot hold on his acting career I think he is finally starting to take the necessary steps in the right direction as of late. Regardless though, these are some of my current favorite films that the young actor has been a part of in his short yet budding career.
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1.
This is not the first time that Sunshine has graced one of my top 5 lists and I am sure it won't be the last time either. This film just gets better every time I watch it and miraculously the effects seem to get even more convincing with each passing year. To say I hold a special place in my heart for Sunshine is a forgone conclusion by this point for anyone that has been following my site for the past year. But one of it's true master strokes is that it made me a believer in Chris Evans. His performance in this film is one of the main reasons I knew he would make a great Captain America. He commands each and every scene he is in which is quite a bold statement considering the talent that surrounds him. If you ever doubted the man's acting abilities then search no further than Sunshine for proof positive that he has the acting chops to sit at the big boys table.
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2.
This was my first introduction to the man "that has the ability to turn straight men gay". While this is nothing more than a simple spoof flick it also was the launching pad for Chris Evans career. Seriously, no one else came away from this with anything even resembling a career (unless they were already a known name at the time). Now the film isn't bad, I actually thinks it has some of the funnier gags in the spoof genre and let's face it, the teen romantic comedy was ripe for being lampooned. It just isn't too relevant in this day and age where we have far greater teen comedies such as Easy A that can take jabs at the genre while also being a fairly entertaining film in its own right. When all is said and done it is a fun movie that has aged surprisingly well despite its lack of relevance. But like I said before, this is where Mr. Evans got his start and we should be thankful that not only did he have a go at the material with a no holds barred approach but also became the only living survivor with a career in its wake.
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3.
I think this will be a rather controversial pick. But as I mentioned in my opening, the man hasn't made very many triple A quality films as of yet. That doesn't mean I picked Push just because of a lack of options though, I actually liked the film. It is a horribly ambitious movie that so wanted to carve out a niche in a market that was already too full to begin with. While it can't hold a candle to the established super hero films we are spoon fed on a monthly basis anymore it's rather unique mixture of people that possess supernatural abilities and a real world setting make it feel almost like an independent film version of the X-Men. Chris Evans is the man at the helm here and gives a fairly muted performance as the confused man searching for answers. I don't think this is one of his more engaging roles but anyone looking for an off the radar little indie super hero movie starring the first avenger should find the film intriguing at the very least.
4.
OK, this is my guilty pleasure of the bunch, with Push coming in at a very close second. I will admit up front that this movie is nothing more than a trashy good time filled with actors that brought their A-game to a B-game script. Chris Evans, Kim Basinger, William H. Macy and Jason Statham are in this thing...how did that happen? Well, Statham I guess I can see how that happened...as for Evans though it was his big break to show off his charisma as a leading man and ya know what, it worked. The movie itself is full of plot holes and a lot of bad decisions made by everyone but it is still a fairly fun roller coaster ride none the less. Without a doubt though the glue that holds everything together is the cast assembled here who bring some class to what is essentially a generic thriller with one admittedly clever hook. If you want to turn your brain off for a while and just bask in one of Evan's stepping stone movies then Cellular is the perfect choice.
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5.
Alright, this one is kind of a cheat but ya know what, I don't care. There were a lot of things that made Scott Pilgrim an amazing film and one of those pieces was Chris Evans. Sure he is only in the thing for about 5 to 10 minutes but what an impression he made. I can't help but think of his line delivery every time I remember the line "Prepare to feel the wrath of the League of Evil Exes". But he was only a minor piece of a puzzle comprised of several key pieces that all came together to make something truly extraordinary. I think it is quite the compliment to Chris Evans and everyone involved in the film that when I reflect back on my favorite moments I usually end up thinking of just about all the characters regardless if their part in the film was big or small. I also liked the fact that Evans shows he is a team player by playing such a small part. Any actor that is willing to add a little spice to a film while shrugging the usual god complex most of the Hollywood elite are infected with (perhaps he's just not to that point yet, who knows) is someone I can get behind...but not in that way.
Posted in: Top 5 Films Featuring
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