David Bowie Movies

David Robert Jones, later known as David Bowie, was born the son of a cinema usherette. It’s little wonder then that movies were in his blood from the beginning, although he remains most famous for his achievements as a singer and songwriter. Entire books have been written about his musical accomplishments, this list is dedicated to notable David Bowie roles in film.

While his first major film part wouldn’t come until 1976, Bowie had long been fascinated with the art of acting. After studying mime and avant-garde theatre, he landed a role in a 1967 play called Pierrot in Turquoise. This was followed by two film appearances in 1969: one as an extra and the other as a ghostly child in a black-and-white short. When his music propelled him to international superstardom, Bowie found himself in the unique position of being able to pick and choose the parts he played. This has led to a colorful and rewarding film career that’s stretched over four decades.

And to further his contributions to cinema, Bowie sired Duncan Zowie Jones back in 1971. Duncan, as you may know, it the director responsible for the award-winning Moon and 2011’s Source Code. The Bowie legacy lives on.

• Thomas Jerome Newton from The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) – Bowie gets his first starring role in a feature film, playing an alien who comes to Earth in order to retrieve water and ship it back to his drought-ravaged world. Things go smoothly at first, with Newton using his advanced technology to make the fortune needed for the transfer of resources back to his home planet of Anthea. But then he meets a young woman who introduces him to the pleasures of alcohol and television, and his will to help his race soon buckles under these alien pleasures. It also doesn’t help that he’s outed as an alien to the government, allowing them the opportunity to come in and completely foul things up. Bowie’s performance is solemn and filled with a sad dignity, while the entire human race comes off looking like a bunch of idiotic little cockroaches. Co-starring Rip Torn and directed with a surreal slickness by Nicholas Roeg, the film has deservedly gained a strong cult following over the years.
• Paul Ambrosius von Przygodski from Just a Gigolo (1978) – Bowie has referred to this critical and box-office flop as “my 32 Elvis Presley movies rolled into one.” He stars as a Prussian officer who returns to Berlin at the end of World War I and is forced to work in a brothel as a gigolo. Marlene Dietrich was lured out of retirement to play the brothel’s manager, and Bowie stated this was one of the main reasons he accepted the role (although they never actually met). I’m not claiming you’ll like this odd little melodrama, but anyone who’s reading a list of David Bowie movies should at least consider giving it a chance.

• Nikola Tesla from The Prestige (2006) – Directed by Christopher Nolan, The Prestige follows two feuding stage magicians (Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale) in 19th century London. With each searching for the ultimate piece of magic in order to outdo the other, we’re eventually introduced to scientist Nikola Tesla (Bowie), a genius who’s able to build a teleportation device. But the contraption has an unexpected side effect, one that leads to multiple murders and the execution of a lead character. Filled with twists and turns, this atmospheric tale also co-stars Michael Caine, Andy Serkis, and Scarlett Johansson.
• Andy Warhol from Basquiat (1996) – A look at the life of Jean-Michel Basquiat (Jeffrey Wright), a graffiti artist turned international art sensation who died of a drug overdose at the age of 27. Fellow artist Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) helms the film, and Bowie pops up in a clever bit of casting as pop art icon Andy Warhol. The excellent supporting cast includes Gary Oldman, Willem Dafoe, Christopher Walken, Benicio del Toro, Michael Wincott, Dennis Hopper, Claire Forlani, Tatum O’Neal, and Courtney Love.
• David Bowie from Zoolander (2001) – When not-so-bright male model Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) takes on upstart rival Hansel (Owen Wilson) in a “walk-off,” there’s nobody more qualified to act as judge than fashion trendsetter David Bowie. It’s a brief but amusing cameo in this outlandish film about a deranged designer (Will Ferrell) looking to create a brainwashed assassin to kill the Prime Minister of Malaysia. But Bowie’s cameo isn’t the only one; see of you can spot the following celebrities: Vince Vaughn, Gwen Stefani, Garry Shandling, Natalie Portman, Billy Zane, Heidi Klum, Christian Slater, and Donald Trump.
• John from The Hunger (1983) – Tony Scott (Ridley’s brother) makes his directorial debut in this British horror film based on the novel by Whitley Strieber. Bowie stars as John, a talented cellist who was transformed by his vampiric lover Miriam (Catherine Deneuve) back in 18th century France. But her promises of everlasting life weren’t entirely true, and now he finds himself rapidly growing old. Desperate to find a way to reverse the process, he seeks out Dr. Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon), an expert on aging disorders. This leads to a meeting between Miriam and Sarah, and the beginning of a passionate and ultimately violent relationship. Nobody does cool detachment like Bowie, but he also gets an opportunity to rage helplessly as he succumbs to the ravages of age. One of the better David Bowie roles currently available.

• Pontius Pilate from The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) – Martin Scorsese’s controversial adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis’s novel stars Willem Dafoe as Jesus Christ, Harvey Keitel as Judas, and Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene. Bowie also puts in an appearance as Pontius Pilate, the Roman magistrate who reluctantly sentences Jesus to be crucified. Christians around the globe were supremely pissed off by the film, even if they never actually bothered to see it. That’s a shame, as it depicts the emotional torment of Christ far better than the Mel Gibson blockbuster.
• Maj. Jack “Strafer” Celliers from Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) – A wonderfully complex tale of four men in a Japanese POW camp during World War II, Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence stars Ryuichi Sakamoto as the camp commander who develops a strange obsession with rebellious prisoner Jack Celliers (Bowie). Meanwhile, Tom Conti co-stars as a captive British officer, and Takeshi “Beat” Kitano is a Japanese soldier who alternates between harsh brutality and surprising humanity. Bowie gives a passionate performance, and his actions during the film’s climax are both ultimately defiant and profoundly genuine. Another must-see for fans of the man once known as Ziggy Stardust.
• Jareth the Goblin King from Labyrinth (1986) – When 15-year-old Sarah Williams (Jennifer Connelly) wishes aloud for the goblins in her book to come and take away her crying baby brother, she’s left dumbfounded when it actually happens. The being behind the abduction is the King of Goblins (Bowie), and he intends to keep Sarah’s brother and transform him into a creature of magic. Pleading for her brother’s return, Sarah is given 13 hours to traverse the maze known as the Labyrinth. If she can solve the numerous puzzles of the maze and avoid its many dangers, then she’ll be able to return home safely. Director Jim Henson populates his world primarily with puppets, while Bowie manages to deliver a performance that’s menacing but also profoundly sad. The film bombed upon its initial release, but it’s since developed a cult following and even inspired the two-day “Labyrinth of Jareth,“ an event in Hollywood that’s been held annually since 1997.
• Jack Sikora from Gunslinger’s Revenge (1998) – Italian westerns had their heyday in the ’60s and 70s, but that didn’t stop Giovanni Veronesi from making this tale of a veteran gunfighter (Harvey Keitel) looking to retire and settle down. Bowie dons a duster and funky John Lennon sunglasses in order to play the villain, a man who utters such lines as “I’m just going to rape you.” While it’s not the greatest film ever, fans of David Bowie movies will find it worth a look.

The next time you come across a video for “Let’s Dance” or “Blue Jean,” keep in mind that David Bowie movies are often just as entertaining as his music. Never one to sell out and appear in a string of mindless romantic comedies, The Thin White Duke has always selected fresh roles that allow him to express himself as an artist. This has resulted in a number of memorable performances, all of which can be enjoyed by subscribing to an online rental service like GreenCine or Netflix.

Tall and quirky, actor Jeff Goldblum has now entered his fifth decade of entertaining people with his unique verbal delivery and bizarre tics. Since I’m tall and somewhat quirky myself, I’ve always been a big fan of Jeff Goldblum movies. That’s why I’ve dedicated this article to exploring some of his more overlooked roles. I say overlooked because almost everyone is familiar with The Fly, Independence Day, and Jurassic Park (if you’re not, you’ve got a lot of cinematic catching-up to do). But Goldblum has been in plenty of other motion pictures, playing everything from a skinny rapist to the Devil himself.

The next time you head to your local video store or consult an online rental service such as Netflix or GreenCine, be sure to give a few of these selections a try:

• Freak #1 from Death Wish (1974) – Goldblum makes his feature film debut in this legendary Charles Bronson vigilante flick about an architect who’s pushed past his limit by all the crime around him. Freak #1 is an incredibly skinny rapist who predictably meets his match when faced with Bronson’s steely gaze and invincible moustache.
• Allistair Hennessey from The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) – Wes Anderson directs this entertaining piece of weirdness about an oceanographer (Bill Murray) on a revenge-filled quest to slay the shark that killed his partner. Along the way, he and his eccentric crew wind up rescuing his nemesis (Goldblum), a slick documentarian and oceanographer who also happens to be “part gay.”
• Mickey Holliday from Mad Dog Time (1996) – A real mess of a film, this Larry Bishop project is still worth a look to see Goldblum play a badass hitman who specializes in killing men during quick-draw competitions while seated behind a desk (yes, that’s part of the rules). He’s also romancing Ellen Barkin and Diane Lane at the same time, so he gets bonus points for that in my book. You’ll laugh way more than you’re supposed to, and I still have to wonder how this film attracted stars such as Richard Dreyfuss, Gabriel Byrne, Burt Reynolds, Kyle MacLachlan, Rob Reiner, and Gregory Hines.

• Mr. Frost from Mister Frost (1990) – It’s not available on DVD, but you can catch this vastly underrated supernatural thriller on the instant view option from Netflix. Goldblum stars as Mr. Frost, a mysterious individual who readily admits to killing 24 people and burying them in his garden. Placed in an asylum, he spends the next two years without talking, but then he speaks and tells a disbelieving doctor (Kathy Baker) that he’s Satan. In order to prove that he’s more powerful that the modern notions of science, he intends to drive her to kill him. Thus begins a cat and mouse game that allows Goldblum to demonstrate the most sinister acting of his long career. Perhaps my favorite of all Jeff Golblum movies on this list.
• Dexter King from The Tall Guy (1989) – Golblum gets to show off his romantic side in this unconventional rom-com about an American actor living and working in London. After falling for a nurse (Emma Thompson) who helps treat him for hay fever, he finds himself out of work and forced to take the lead in a musical parody of The Elephant Man that includes such numbers as “He’s Packing His Trunk.” Those who’ve ever lusted after Goldblum or Thompson will also enjoy the surprisingly steamy sex scenes.
• Jack Bellicec from Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) – In this remake of the 1956 sci-fi classic, Goldblum plays a struggling writer who’s pals with the main character (Donald Sutherland). When he finds a strange human form in his mud bath, he phones his friend and gets involved in a global conspiracy to replace mankind with alien duplicates. As you might imagine, there’s no happy ending in store for this supporting character (but at least he doesn’t have Donald Sutherland pointing and screaming at him like Veronica Cartwright). Also starring Leonard Nimoy, Brooke Adams, and Kevin McCarthy (the lead from the original version).
• Tricycle Man from Nashville (1975) – Robert Altman’s masterful black comedy takes a look at both country music and politics, bolstered by a cast that includes Ned Beatty, Keith Carradine, Lily Tomlin, Henry Gibson, Scott Glenn, Shelley Duvall, and Geraldine Chaplin. Goldblum shows up in an early movie role, riding a tricycle everywhere and serving as a linking device between various scenes. He has no lines in the film, but fans of the actor will get a kick out of watching him pay his dues in the industry.

• “Slick” Calvin Stanhope from Silverado (1985) – After the last gambling expert at the Midnight Star saloon gets gunned down by the town’s unethical sheriff (Brian Dennehy), Jeff Goldblum enters the picture. He claims that his name is Calvin, but his momma always called him Slick. Before long, he’s running the gambling inside the saloon and taking care of the local whores. Of course, this puts him at odds with the good guys, including Scott Glenn, Kevin Costner, Kevin Kline, and Danny Glover. Guess who wins? Goldblum is suitably oily in this entertaining Western from director Lawrence Kasdan.
• New Jersey from The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984) – Peter Weller stars as Dr. Buckaroo Banzai, a multi-talented neurosurgeon who also moonlights as a physicist and a rock musician. Along with his band, The Hong Kong Cavaliers, he must try to save the Earth from the diabolical Red Lectoids from Planet 10. Dressed in a cowboy hat and wearing chaps, Goldblum plays one of the aforementioned Cavaliers, Banzai’s physicist colleague from Columbia who knows how to sing and dance a little (he also plays a mean keyboard). A genre-bending adventure that’s weird enough to make Goldblum seem normal. Well, almost. Co-starring Clancy Brown, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, and Lewis Smith.
• Mitchell Kane from The Great White Hype (1996) – While this movie about black heavyweights beating up on unskilled white challengers fails to be as entertaining as hoped, Goldblum does deliver an entertaining performance as a crusading journalist who digs up enough dirt to bury unethical fight promoter Rev. Fred Sultan (Samuel L. Jackson is an obvious parody of Don King). But Sultan’s lavish lifestyle proves too much for Kane, and he’s soon scheming to get paid like everyone else. Peter Berg is entertaining as the white challenger plucked out of obscurity, as is Damon Wayans as the surly champ who likes to watch Dolemite prior to his bouts.

If you’re a fan of quirky performances, be sure to give one or more of these Jeff Goldblum movies a try. And if that doesn’t satisfy your craving for Odd Films, you can also check out the following:

• Christopher Walken Movies
• Willem Dafoe Movies
• Tim Burton Movies
• Uwe Boll Movies
• Lance Henriksen Movies

If I were making a film, one of the first actors I would go after would be Lance Henriksen. He’s just that good, especially when it comes to playing guys who are a little off-kilter or just downright villainous. But not all Lance Henriksen movies cast him as the heavy. In fact, his best-known film role was as the gentle android Bishop in James Cameron’s Aliens. Other major appearances have included The Terminator, Powder, Dog Day Afternoon, The Right Stuff, and the role of Frank Black in TV‘s Millennium. All total, Lance Henriksen has appeared or done voice work in over 120 feature films and made-for-TV movies. Not bad for a guy who didn’t learn to read until age 30.

Below, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite Lance Henriksen roles. You may be familiar with a few, while others have probably passed under your radar over the years. Whatever the case, I recommend you watch these motion pictures as soon as possible, basking in the grizzled brilliance of Lance Henriksen along the way.

• Ring Shelton from Appaloosa (2008) – When murderous rancher Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons) is sentenced to hang for killing a lawman in cold blood, he hires the notorious Shelton brothers to bust him out. They do just that, but their actions lead them to an inevitable showdown with the films heroes, Virgil Cole (Ed Harris, who also directed) and Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen). Henriksen is a grizzled god as the elder Shelton brother, a man who backs up every claim with lethal doses of violence. But he’s also not immune to the charms of a lady, especially when their impromptu hostage (Renee Zellweger) is feeling frisky.
• Buck from Color of Night (1994) – While this Bruce Willis erotic thriller kind of sucked (it won the Razzie for Worst Picture), I did enjoy Lance Henriksen’s portrayal of Buck, a crazed ex-cop driven to the verge of suicide by the unsolved murder of his own wife and daughter. You’ll also be treated to some world-class nudity courtesy of Jane March and Bruce Willis, although Lance keeps his manhood covered throughout.

• Emil Fouchon from Hard Target (1993) – John Woo’s debut film gets a boost from the presence of Lance Henriksen, who serves as the villain to Jean-Claude Van Damme’s heroic and homeless Cajun. He also plays the piano, uses a pistol with a single shot, and helps rich folks hunt down the destitute for a healthy fee. Hell, Henriksen even gets to stab Wilford Brimley with an arrow, a pleasure enjoyed by few others in Hollywood. One of my all-time favorite Lance Henriksen movies.
• Chains Cooper from Stone Cold (1991) – The feature film debut for former NFL player Brian Bosworth, Stone Cold finds Alabama cop Joe Huff (Bosworth) assigned to go undercover to bring down a gang of white supremacist bikers known as “The Brotherhood.” They’re led by Chains Cooper, and Henriksen gets to wear a chainmail shirt and posture nicely opposite his lieutenant Ice Hensley (William Forsythe). Whether he’s riding a chopper, disguising himself as a priest, or putting a bullet in the head of an unfaithful lover, Chains does it all with style. It’s also one of the rare movies where the bad guys manage to rack up a pretty respectable body count against the forces of law and order.
• Long John Silver from Pirates of Treasure Island (2006) – Okay, it’s an Asylum film, which means it’s automatically going to be cheesy. But watching Henriksen chew the scenery as the one-legged pirate Long John Silver is one of life’s rare pleasures. If only Cutthroat Island had included Lance Henriksen, maybe it wouldn’t have been such a bomb.
• Jesse Hooker from Near Dark (1987) – When an Oklahoma cowboy (Adrian Pasdar) gets bitten by a sexy stranger (Jenny Wright), he comes to realize that he’s being transformed into a vampire. Things get even more complicated when he meets her undead “family,” including the psychopathic Severen (Bill Paxton) and leader Jesse Hooker (Henriksen). Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, this combination of the horror, Western, and biker genres has generated a sizable cult following over the years, and Henriksen’s charismatic performance is part of the reason why. With a predator/prey outlook on life, he’s especially strong when sharing screen time with his companion, the vampiric Diamondback (Jenette Goldstein, who also co-starred with Lance in Aliens). To demonstrate his commitment to the character, Henriksen developed an entire backstory for his character, placing Hooker’s origin as that of a dying Civil War soldier descended upon by bat-like creatures and transformed into a vampire.
• Torquemada from The Pit and the Pendulum (1991) – During the period of the Spanish Inquisition, no figure was more feared than Inquisitor General Tomas de Torquemada. He killed thousands in a holy crusade to cleanse Spain of heretics and witches, so just imagine what kind of material Lance Henriksen has to sink his teeth into. And it doesn’t hurt that the overall story is cobbled together from the works of Edgar Allan Poe and directed by Stuart Gordon of Re-Animator fame. I especially enjoyed Torquemada’s inner conflict after having his loins set on fire by the naked body of the lovely Maria (Rona De Ricci).

• Ace Hanlon from The Quick and the Dead (1995) – Once a year, John Herod (Gene Hackman) holds a quick-draw tournament that allows him to face his enemies in the street instead of getting shot in the back. As this Sam Raimi Western begins, “The Lady” (Sharon Stone) is riding into town with the intention of entering the tournament and killing Herod for one of his many past sins. But she’s not the only contestant. Henriksen plays Ace Hanlon, a trick shot artist with a “bladder full of hot air,“ who loves to boast about his exploits in the Old West. He claims to put an ace in his deck of playing cards every time he kills a man, and he’s a big hit with the ladies thanks to his long hair, leather attire, and smooth-talking ways. But Mr. Herod isn’t the least bit impressed, especially about Hanlon’s claim to have gunned down the Terrance brothers single-handedly. An entertaining and thoroughly seedy performance from Lance.
• Cole Wilson from Dead Man (1995) – Lance Henriksen adds to his resume of Western movies by co-starring in this black-and-white offering from director Jim Jarmusch. Johnny Depp stars as William Blake, a city slicker who walks into the rough-and-tumble town of Machine expecting a job as an accountant. But he winds up accused of a double murder instead, and the town’s most powerful man (Robert Mitchum) wants his head on a platter (one of the corpses was his son). To accomplish this, he calls in a trio of bounty hunters, one of them being Cole Wilson. A notorious bastard of few words, Wilson is rumored to have had sex with both his parents before killing and eating them. The incest angle is never explored, but his love for human flesh is witnessed in finger-lickin’ detail. And never curse at him…he really hates that.
• Ed Harley from Pumpkinhead (1988) – Lance Henriksen stars in this cult classic horror movie as a grief-stricken father who approaches a witch about getting revenge on the teens who accidentally killed his young son. The witch complies, summoning up a nightmarish creature known only as Pumpkinhead (guess what its cranium resembles) who promptly begins to slaughter the youths. But with every death, Ed Harley must witness the carnage through the eyes of the monster. Quickly coming to regret his decision, he must find a way to halt the body count and save the remaining teens. Henriksen gets to portray a range of emotions rarely found in horror movies, especially when he transitions from grieving to vengeful to heroic. He would later reprise the role in Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes and Pumpkinhead: Blood Feud.

The next time you want to see a fine character actor at work, do yourself a favor and check out some Lance Henriksen movies. With his haggard face and distinctive voice, he’s been entertaining audiences with his talents since debuting back in the early ‘70s. And even though he’s reached his twilight years, there’s no slowing down; in 2010 alone, he was listed as appearing in 11 different movie roles.

Ever since he came onto the scene in the ‘80s, Mickey Rourke has been one of my favorite entertainers. Back then, he was poised to be one of the great performers of his generation, combining soulful acting ability with movie star good looks. But personal problems, addictions, and a stab at a boxing career left his career in the gutter, one that he’s been climbing out of ever since.

These days, his voice is filled with gravel and his good looks are gone (thanks to a botched plastic surgery), but Mickey Rourke movies are just as entertaining as ever. In fact, they may be even more powerful than before, because Rourke has the age and experience to pull off characters who’ve been to hell and back.

While movies such as The Wrestler, Diner, and Angel Heart remain must-see Mickey Rourke movies, I also wanted to highlight a few roles that might otherwise be passed over by the casual viewer. Most of the films listed feature Rourke in a standout performance, while others are notable for their sheer weirdness. In either case, fans of Mickey Rourke movies should get a real kick out of them.

On an interesting side note, here are few roles that Mickey Rourke turned down over the years:

• Jack Cates (Nick Nolte) from 48 Hrs.
• Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) from Beverly Hills Cop
• Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) from Pulp Fiction
• Charlie Babbit (Tom Cruise) from Rain Man
• Elliott Ness (Kevin Costner) from The Untouchables
• Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn) from Tombstone

While all of the above would’ve made for some interesting Mickey Rourke movies, it’s hard to imagine anyone but the listed actors playing the parts. Still, I imagine Rourke has been kicking himself for years for turning them down.

• John Sedley from Johnny Handsome (1989) – In sort of a reversal of real life, Rourke plays a career criminal who goes from strange-looking to handsome thanks to a doctor played by Forest Whitaker. Once he’s supposedly reformed and released from prison, John wastes no time in plotting his revenge against the man who put him inside in the first place. Lance Henriksen plays the heavy, while Morgan Freeman and Ellen Barkin co-star. Rourke gets to show off his intense side as a man looking for payback, but his scenes as a deformed crook are also filled with the expected levels of pathos.
• Captain Stanley White from Year of the Dragon (1985) – Despite having to play a character 15 years older than his actual age, Rourke delivers a riveting performance as a dedicated and casually racist cop obsessed with bringing down the Chinese underworld in New York City. His relationships with the women in his life are especially interesting, including a middle-aged wife (Caroline Kava) and a Chinese-American mistress (Ariane Koizumi). But there’s also plenty of action to be had, including a climactic shootout that’s especially thrilling.
• Armand “The Blackbird” Degas from Killshot (2009) – The film itself is nothing to write home about, but Rourke does deliver an interesting performance in this big-screen adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel about a married couple (Thomas Jane and Diane Lane) on the run from a pair of mob hitmen (Rourke and Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Rourke excels as the part-Indian assassin saddled with a psychotic partner, and his scenes with Lane and Rosario Dawson (playing his sometime-girlfriend) are especially strong. Too bad the film is such a mess, but that’s what three years of post-production will get you.
• Jan the Actress from Animal Factory (2000) – Directed by Steve Buscemi and based on the novel by Edward Bunker (Mr. Blue from Reservoir Dogs), Animal Factory revolves around a young man (Edward Furlong) who’s sent to San Quentin and winds up being mentored by a fellow inmate (Willem Dafoe). While his role is only a supporting one, Rourke turns heads as a well-muscled drag queen who loves the arts. Without a doubt, one of the more unusual and well-received roles for the actor.
• The Cook from Spun (2002) – When he’s not arguing with his girlfriend (Brittany Murphy), going down to the porn shop to “buy some fuck flicks,” or hanging out with a bizarre-looking Eric Roberts, The Cook is making another batch of his famous meth. Rourke talks with a slight speech impediment, wears cowboy boots with his jeans tucked inside, and rants about the value of pornography. But the role isn’t strictly comedic, as a soul-baring scene with star Jason Schwartzman will leave more sensitive viewers fighting back tears.
• Henry Chinaski from Barfly (1987) – Years before his life fell apart for real, Rourke starred in this gin-soaked tale from writer Charles Bukowski. As a skid-row poet and author, Henry Chinaski spends most of his time drinking his life away or banging barflies such as Wanda Wilcox (Faye Dunaway) or Tully Sorenson (Alice Krige). There’s a catfight between the ladies, not to mention several showdowns between Henry and his local bartender (Frank Stallone). Rourke does an admirable job of playing a man who’s lost himself in booze and self-pity, and he navigates the tricky emotional waters with rare ability. It’s one long bender from start to finish, so recovering alcoholics should avoid the film entirely.
• Stavros from Double Team (1997) – Rourke plays the bad guy, an international terrorist who vows revenge after Jean-Claude Van Damme’s secret agent accidentally kills his kid. Rourke is muscled up beyond belief, and his interaction with co-star Dennis Rodman is worth the price of admission alone. And let’s not forget the climactic fight sequence that includes Rourke, Van Damme, Rodman; a tiger; a minefield; and a baby.

• Marv from Sin City (2005) – Rourke is perfectly cast in this Robert Rodriguez adaptation of Frank Miller’s hard-boiled graphic novel. Playing a massive ex-con named Marv, Rourke shrugs off bullets and fists in his quest to punish whoever killed Goldie (Jaime King), a prostitute he shared a one-night stand with. As he tears the city apart (not to mention cops, gangsters, and religious leaders), Marv demonstrates that even the most hardened man isn’t immune to a little compassion. And you’ll absolutely love his interaction with his lesbian parole officer (Carla Gugino) and a creepy-quiet serial killer (Elijah Wood) with a thing for eating women. Mickey Rourke at his grizzled best.
• The Motorcycle Boy from Rumble Fish (1983) – Rourke gets to brood a lot in this Francis Ford Coppola film based on the novel by S.E. Hinton. As a legendary former gang leader, Motorcycle Boy tries to steer his younger brother (Matt Dillon) down a more peaceful path, all while contending with his reputation as a badass and a contentious relationship with his alcoholic father (Dennis Hopper). Besides, any self-respecting fan of Mickey Rourke movies will be drawn to a role where he’s partially deaf, colorblind, and somewhat off-kilter.
• Graff from The Last Outlaw (1994) – During the filming of this TV movie, Rourke displayed strange behavior to rival that of Marlon Brando. Playing a former Confederate officer who becomes an outlaw after the conclusion of the war, Rourke wears a Fu-Manchu moustache and reportedly turned to kabuki theatre for inspiration. As the manipulative Graff, he winds up switching sides and hunting down his own men. But despite his odd behavior, the TV project has gained a passionate following among Western movie fans. Co-starring Dermot Mulroney, Ted Levine, Steve Buscemi, John C. McGinley, and Keith David.

That concludes my list of Mickey Rourke movies you might not be aware of. From the well-acted to the downright bizarre, each and every one of the roles above showcase Rourke’s abilities in a different way. If you’ve only recently discovered this talented performer, dive right in and have yourself a ball.

I’ve always been a fan of Willem Dafoe movies, largely because there’s no role or circumstance that the talented actor won’t throw himself into for the sake of his craft. He’s gained recognition and critical acclaim for performances in Born on the Fourth of July, Mississippi Burning, Platoon, and To Live and Die in L.A., although none of these will be found on the following list. Instead, I want to focus on some of the more bizarre or offbeat Willem Dafoe roles, specially those where he gets to chew the scenery, stir up controversy, or act downright demented. After all, the title of this site is Odd Films.

• He from Antichrist (2009) – While Danish director Lars von Trier’s wife wasn’t sure a noted actor like Dafoe would accept a role where he’s getting naked and suffering through genital torture, the veteran performer jumped at the chance to explore the darker side of the human psyche. As a therapist who’s recently lost his young son, He and his wife head to a remote cabin for some psychotherapy. Once there, the proposed treatment goes off the rails thanks to talking foxes, rough sex, and a wife (Charlotte Gainsbourg) who’s mad with guilt. While several people fainted during the film’s debut at Cannes, it’s just one in a long string of bizarre Willem Dafoe movies.
• Special Agent Paul Smecker from The Boondock Saints (1999) – When a pair of Irish-American brothers in Boston (Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus) receive a message from God, they decide to rid the city of its criminal element. This requires guns, a little inside help, and lots and lots of rope. As the body count rises, they’re tracked by FBI Special Agent Paul Smecker, a homosexual genius who can determine the events at a crime scene by simply standing around and listening to music. He also likes to refer to his sexual partners as “fags,” and there’s no telling when he’ll engage in a little Riverdancing. Dafoe gets to chew the scenery in this Troy Duffy production, but it blends perfectly with the film’s over-the-top comic book tone.

• Max Schreck from Shadow of the Vampire (2000) – One of the most well-acted Willem Dafoe movies, Shadow of the Vampire stars our subject as Max Schreck, a supposed actor who agrees to play a vampire named Count Orlok in director F.W. Murnau’s (John Malkovich) latest film. But Schreck seems oddly dedicated to his part, and slowly members of the cast and crew begin to either fall ill or disappear. Dafoe is at his best in this E. Elias Merhige movie, never playing his role for laughs and imbuing Schreck with a darkly sad demeanor that hides a horrific secret. Udo Kier and Cary Elwes co-star, which is notable considering that both appeared in vampire movies prior to this production.
• Klaus Daimler from The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) – Wes Anderson’s fourth film follows oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) as he heads out onto the high seas to get a little payback on the “Jaguar shark” that ate his partner. Dafoe co-stars as Klaus Daimler, the toboggan-wearing crewman who looks upon Zissou as a surrogate father. Frankly, Klaus is one of the more normal characters in the film, but Wes Anderson still manages to turn out a thoroughly quirky piece of art.
• Bobby Peru from Wild at Heart (1990) – After being released from prison, Sailor Ripley (Nicolas Cage) takes off with true love Lula Pace Fortune (Lara Dern), much to the displeasure of Lula’s controlling and murderous mom, Marietta Fortune (Diane Ladd). Marietta convinces her male admirers–a gangster (J.E. Freeman) and a private eye (Harry Dean Stanton)–to find the couple, leading to a bizarre series of encounters worthy of a David Lynch movie. In the town of Big Tuna, Texas, the pair run into Bobby Peru, a dentally challenged scumbag who plans to rob the local feed store. When he’s not referring to Sailor as “Mr. Big-Round-Balls” or attempting to rape Lula, Bobby demonstrates the worst way possible to wield a shotgun or conduct a stick-up. One of the more bizarre Willem Dafoe roles.
• Armando Barillo from Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) – The third film in director Robert Rodriguez’s “Mariachi Trilogy,” Once Upon a Time in Mexico stars Antonio Banderas as a wandering musician looking for revenge somewhere south of Texas. Johnny Depp is a riot as a murderous CIA agent, and other co-stars include Salma Hayek, Mickey Rourke, Eva Mendes, Danny Trejo, and Cheech Marin. Dafoe plays Armando Barillo, a sadistic drug lord out to kill the President of Mexico and seize control of the country. While it’s a small role, Dafoe gets to show off the sadistic side that he excels at.
• Emit Flesti from Faraway, So Close! (1993) – The sequel to the popular German film Wings of Desire, this movie follows a pair of angels (Otto Sander and Nastassja Kinski) as they observe and interact with mankind. Bruno Ganz reprises his role from the first film (which inspired the Nicolas Cage remake, City of Angels), and Peter Falk, Lou Reed, and Mikhail Gorbachev all turn up to play themselves. For his part, Dafoe plays a mysterious figure named Emit Flesti who loans angels money to open pizza parlors, tempts them into drinking alcohol, and eventually reveals himself to be far more than an ordinary mortal.

• Jesus Christ from The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) – Willem Dafoe plays Jesus Christ in this controversial film from director Martin Scorsese. While he still takes care of his worldly business in a manner befitting the son of God, Jesus is constantly tempted by visions of a happy life in the arms of former prostitute Magdalene (Barbara Hershey). This didn’t sit well with the more small-minded Christian viewers, and bans and protests occurred around the globe. Violence even erupted in some cases, showing that these people missed the whole point of Jesus’s teachings in the first place.
• Norman Osborn from Spider-Man (2002) – When mild-mannered Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) gets bitten by a radioactive spider, he soon finds himself possessing all kinds of cool superpowers. Between romancing the tramp next door (Kirsten Dunst) and fighting “Macho Man” Randy Savage, things are starting to look up for the former geek. But then lovable old Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson) gets gunned down, and the father of best pal Harry Osborn (James Franco) becomes a raving supervillain after a lab experiment goes awry. As the Green Goblin, Dafoe gets plenty of opportunities to scowl, and the scenes where he talks to himself in the mirror are among the best.
• Salamo Arouch from Triumph of the Spirit (1989) – Most actors worth their salt will eventually pop up in a movie about the Holocaust, and Willem Dafoe is no exception. He starred in this somewhat true story of Salamo Arouch, a Greek Jew confined to the Auschwitz death camp and forced to box against other prisoners for the entertainment of his Nazi captors. Losing meant the gas chamber, while winners would be given extra food and lighter work. With only one clear way to save the lives of relatives and the woman he loves (all fellow prisoners), Salamo resolves to beat everyone placed in front of him. The first motion picture to be shot on location at Auschwitz.

If you’re a fan of brave performances, be sure to see the above Willem Dafoe movies. For that matter, you can’t wrong with his complete career catalogue, so go ahead and visit an online rental service such as GreenCine or Netflix to watch them all.

Before Steven Seagal ever thought about making films that mixed martial arts with a social message, there were Billy Jack movies. Through four films, actor Tom Laughlin played Billy Jack, a half-Cherokee Green Beret Vietnam vet with a proficiency for gunplay and hand-to-hand combat. As he battled racists and corrupt politicians, Billy Jack always made his mission very clear: to protect the little man and stand up for what’s right.

The second film, Billy Jack, was a massive success upon its re-release, raking in over $40 million at the box office and becoming one of the most profitable independent films of all time. This allowed Laughlin to branch out into other fields, including running for President of the United States three times, writing books on Jungian psychology, and winning a battle with what was supposed to be inoperable cancer. Apparently, even cancer is vulnerable to a roundhouse kick to the face.

The following list includes all the Billy Jack movies, including information on a possible fifth film. If you’re tired of fatcats and crooks getting away with murder, pop in one of these politically charged films and let the social activism wash over you. Eat your heart out, Steven Seagal.

Born Losers (1967) – Ultimately preaching a message of peace and understanding, this biker film allows loner hero Billy Jack plenty of chances to kick ass. The biker gang known as the Born Losers are on a rampage in a small town, raping and beating anyone who crosses their paths (well, mostly raping just the women). The cops are ineffective and the locals are cowards, so it’s up to Billy Jack to enter the fray and do what’s right. Intended to cash in on the public’s fascination with biker films, Born Losers would allow Laughlin to raise enough money to take his character of Billy Jack in the direction he has always intended. This resulted in…

Billy Jack (1971) – The most successful film of the series, Billy Jack finds our hero coming to the aid of hippie and ethnic students in a small town. Billy promises one opponent that he’ll kick him in the side of the face, and then he proceeds to keep his word. Lesson: Never doubt the word of Billy Jack. The film bombed upon its 1971 release, but a 1973 re-release saw it clean up at the box office and transform Laughlin’s alter-ego into a counterculture hero. Many critics were disturbed, however, as the peace-preaching Billy Jack never failed to resort to violence to advance his message of love and tolerance.

The Trial of Billy Jack (1974) – Tried and imprisoned for events in the previous film, our black-hat-wearing hero spends the first half of the movie locked up. Meanwhile, the students he protected in Billy Jack start up their own TV station and newspaper, sticking it to the corrupt power structure and drawing the attention of the FBI. When Billy gets released from prison, he goes on a vision quest, gets involved with a group of Native American activists, and shows up to oppose the National Guard when a state of emergency is declared. Another commercial success, but the film was once again lambasted by critics.

Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977) – A loose remake of Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, the fourth film in the series sees Billy Jack appointed to the United States Senate. The corrupt politicians hope he’ll tow the line and play the game, but they’ve obviously underestimated Billy Jack. The highlight of the film is the climax, where Billy takes to the floor of the Senate in an effort to filibuster. His passionate speech reduces many to tears, including his chief opponent (E.G. Marshall). The movie never received a wide release, and it brought the series to a close (at least for now).

Billy Jack & Jean (??) – A fifth film in the Billy Jack series has been in the works ever since 1986. At that time, the proposed film–The Return of Billy Jack–had our hero taking on child pornographers in New York City. But Laughlin suffered a neck injury and concussion while filming, and the production came to a halt. During a 1996 lawsuit, Laughlin mentioned that he was seeking funding for another Billy Jack film, and he also had plans to get a TV show off the ground. In 2004, the proposed title was changed to Billy Jack’s Crusade to End the War in Iraq and Restore America to Its Moral Purpose, but by 2006 it was shortened to Billy Jack’s Moral Revolution. Then in 2008, the title was changed to Billy Jack for President, while the most recent title is Billy Jack & Jean. According to Laughlin’s website, his goal is to “make the most powerful, explosive, and controversial political and social reform picture ever made.” There’s even been talk that Billy Jack would debate George W. Bush thanks to the miracles of technology. If you’d like to help with the film’s fundraising efforts, here’s what you’ll find at Tom Laughlin’s official website:
- $25 – Donate this amount and you’ll get a signed certificate saying that you’re an Associate Producer of the latest Billy Jack movie.
- $50 – You get the signed certificate, plus a T-shirt that marks you as an associate producer.
- $150 – You get the above items, plus two tickets to the world premiere in either New York, LA, or a city near you.
- $500 – For this level of donation, you’ll get all the items above plus a screen credit at the end of the film. If you’ve ever wanted to see your name on a movie screen, here’s your chance. Of course, that’s assuming the movie ever gets made.

So whether you enjoy socially conscious dialogue or crisp kicks to the head, be sure to check out this assortment of Billy Jack movies. Before you know it, you’ll be enrolling at the local martial arts academy and writing angry letters to politicians. A cool hat with a feather is optional.

The formula for creating a slasher movie villain is usually pretty simple: give them a mask, give them an average first name (Michael, Freddy, Jason, Chucky), and then let them go to town on every half-naked teenager in sight. That’s where this list of 10 strange movie psychos comes in, as we’ll be profiling a selection of killers who defy the standard horror conventions. From demented housekeepers to maniacal cookies (yes, cookies), we’ll cover a wide range of bizarre cinematic slayers.

Note: some spoilers are included. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.

Name: The Gingerdead Man
Played By: Gary Busey (voice), John Vulich (voice), Kyle Lupo (ridiculous suit)
Featured In: The Gingerdead Man (2005), Gingerdead Man 2: Passion of the Crust (2008), Gingerdead Man 3-D: Saturday Night Cleaver (2011)
Why They’re Strange: Thanks to his witchcraft-loving mother, executed serial killer Millard Findlemeyer (Gary Busey) has his ashes mixed with gingerbread spice. Throw in a little help from an unwitting pastry chef and a handy bolt of lighting, and the madman soon finds that his mind has been transferred into the form of a large gingerbread man cookie. He can possess anyone dumb enough to take a bite, plus the sheer craziness of actor Gary Busey renders him all the more dangerous.
Preferred Targets: Anyone he comes across, although he will need a virgin for the unholy ritual to permanently place him in a new human body.
Signature Attack: None, although my favorite features the Gingerdead Man using a rolling pin to accelerate a car into running someone down.
Known Weaknesses: Heat and/or fire. Being crucified and having a crown of thorns placed on his head (a la Mel Gibson) doesn’t do him any good, either.

Name: Vincent Smith
Played By: Rory Calhoun
Featured In: Motel Hell (1980)
Why They’re Strange: Farmer Vincent is well-known for his famous smoked meats, but his secret recipe is a little on the crazy side. I’m talking human flesh, folks, and Vincent calmly goes about bushwhacking bikers, hippies, and even health inspectors to get the necessary ingredients. And he doesn’t believe in pre-marital sex, which may be even more bizarre than turning his customers into unwitting cannibals.
Preferred Targets: Anyone who’s unlucky enough to come across the Motel Hello.
Signature Attack: Chainsaw (must wear overalls and a mask made from the severed head of a pig to get the full effect)
Known Weaknesses: Preservatives

Name: Jack Frost
Played By: Scott MacDonald (voice)
Featured In: Jack Frost (1996), Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman (2000)
Why They’re Strange: He’s a giant killer snowman! While on the way to be executed, serial killer Jack Frost is involved in a collision with a tanker carrying genetic material (are there a lot of those on the road?). He gets covered in the stuff and melted, but soon bonds with the snowy ground and returns to rape a debuting Shannon Elizabeth with his carrot nose and spout lines like “Don’t eat yellow snow!”.
Preferred Targets: Anyone will do, but he seems especially fond of murdering attractive young women (and trying to kill Sheriff Sam Tiler, the man who originally brought him to justice).
Signature Attack: Impaling someone with an icicle
Known Weaknesses: Antifreeze and bananas

Name: Belial Bradley
Played By: Nobody. It’s a puppet.
Featured In: Basket Case (1982), Basket Case 2 (1990), Basket Case 3: The Progeny (1991)
Why They’re Strange: A former conjoined twin who’s more monster than man, Belial is toted around in a basket by his normal-looking brother, Duane Bradley (Kevin Van Hentenryck). Not especially happy with his situation, Belial holds a special hatred for the three doctors who successfully separated him from his twin. By the third film, he’s met a fellow freak and become the proud papa of a brood of mutants (even getting a neat battle exoskeleton along the way).
Preferred Targets: Anyone who threatens to disrupt his relationship with his brother.
Signature Attack: Mauling people with his stubby little arms.
Known Weaknesses: As if he doesn’t have enough problems already.

Name: The Leprechaun
Played By: Warwick Davis
Featured In: Leprechaun (1993), Leprechaun 2 (1994), Leprechaun 3 (1995), Leprechaun 4: In Space (1997), Leprechaun: In the Hood (2000), Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood (2003)
Why They’re Strange: He’s a freakin’ leprechaun, for Christ’s sake. To make things even more bizarre, he’s played by the same guy who was Wicket W. Warrick in Return of the Jedi. The perfect solution if you’re looking for St. Patrick’s Day movies.
Preferred Targets: Anyone who messes around with his gold (including a pre-Friends Jennifer Aniston)
Signature Attack: Using his magic to create illusions (usually of beautiful women). When the unsuspecting victim drops their guard…BAM!
Known Weaknesses: Four-leaf clover, wrought iron, burning his gold

Name: Joseph
Played By: Vincent Cassel
Featured In: Sheitan (2006)
Why They’re Strange: When he’s not awaiting the birth of his inbred devil-child, Joseph proves surprisingly helpful. He helps his potential victims get unstuck from the mud, shows them how to drink goat milk straight from the source, and even tries to fix one of them up with his crazy-ass cousin (who doesn’t mind masturbating a dog to gain a guy’s attention). With wild hair, a deranged grin, and a love for Satan, Joseph is definitely one of the strangest movie psychos to come along in years.
Preferred Targets: Wannabe tough-guy Bart (Olivier Barthelemy)
Signature Attack: Using his crazy-man strength to kick the crap out of people.
Known Weaknesses: A guy who gets to sleep with Monica Belucci off-screen has no weaknesses.

Name: The Davis Baby
Played By: A puppet controlled by special-effects whiz (and Oscar-winner) Rick Baker
Featured In: It’s Alive (1974)
Why They’re Strange: The unnamed Davis child is so deformed that a doctor actually tries to suffocate it in the delivery room. But, hey, I guess that’s what malpractice insurance is for. The rest of the strange movie psychos on this list kill because of motivations such as revenge or just plain evil. But this entry is nothing more than a scared–albeit grotesque–infant who wants his mommy.
Preferred Targets: Anyone who frightens or tries to harm it.
Signature Attack: Biting people with its monstrous little teeth.
Known Weaknesses: None

Name: The New York Ripper
Played By: Andrew Painter
Featured In: The New York Ripper (1982)
Why They’re Strange: He talks and quacks like Donald Duck. Oh, and he‘s a physicist in his spare time. ‘Nuff said.
Preferred Targets: Women who are sexually active.
Signature Attack: Anything that allows director Lucio Fulci to show people’s guts oozing out.
Known Weaknesses: Does getting his face shot off count?

Name: The Dwarf
Played By: Adelina Poerio
Featured In: Don’t Look Now (1973)
Why They’re Strange: Why a wrinkly female dwarf is on a killing spree in Venice is beyond me. And why she’s wearing red raingear is even more mysterious. It must be a European thing.
Preferred Targets: Anyone dumb enough to walk the dark streets of Venice alone or chase after it.
Signature Attack: Knife
Known Weaknesses: None, other than the tendency to wear a bright red raincoat while the police are scouring the city for any suspicious figures out late at night.

More frightening than any picture of a severed hand could ever be.

Name: The Hand
Played By: Michael Caine?
Featured In: The Hand (1981)
Why They’re Strange: Oliver Stone directed this crazed tale of a comic strip artist who loses his drawing hand in a freak traffic accident. When the severed body part shows up and begins to murder folks, he becomes convinced that he can control it telepathically. Michael Caine…Oliver Stone…a severed hand. What could be strange about that?
Preferred Targets: Anyone who screws with artist Jon Lansdale (Michael Caine), who the hand was once attached to.
Signature Attack: Choking (naturally)
Known Weaknesses: None, other than the fact that it’s just a severed hand.

That does it for our list of 10 strange movie psychos. Sure, the names listed above aren’t as famous as Freddy, Michael, or Jason Voorhees, but can any of those guys claim to have killed people over chests of gold or once been attached to acting great Michael Caine? I think not.