Colin Farrell turned 36 years hot today and after a tumultuous career that saw him win major celebrity status well in advance of anyong seeing his actual Acting, he finally seems to have settled into life as a reasonably famous, reasonably scandal-free (unlike before), well employed and consistently delivering screen presence in films both big and small.
Photographed by Tom Munro
The two things he doesn't totally have yet are a reputation as a great actor (though he's certainly a good one) or a bankable star. He'll take another shot at both of those missing ingredients this year with Seven Psychopaths (which reunites him with writer/director Martin McDonagh who yanked an Oscar-nom worthy performance out of him in In Bruges) and the sci-fi remake Total Recall (in the Arnold Schwarzenegger role).
Regarding the latter, the last time the Irish actor headlined an 80s remake audiences ignored him. Will he fare better this time? We'll find out in August almost exactly a year after Fright Night bowed and was promptly staked.
Five Favorite Farrells and Five Favorite Fotos after the jump...
Matt Lucas and Colin Farrell in the little seen Tigerland (2000)His Best Performances
01 In Bruges (2008)
This one I've written about before.
02 Tigerland (2000)
Director Joel Schumacher has committed many sins against the cinema in his long career but he's probably been condemned for the Bat Nipples for long enough. He also basically handed Colin Farrell his career -- also with nipples -- so points for that.
03 Fright Night (2011)
The movie was weirdly shunned by mainstream audiences but god he was entertaining in it and fully invested.
04 The New World (2005)
Such a heartbreaking beautiful movie with tender performances. I prefer this Malick to The Tree of Life though I guess I'm in the minority.
05 Minority Report (2002)
Wherein he really proved his star magnetism, totally popping and focus pulling even standing right next to a bonafide mega star like Tom Cruise.
Those were easy picks for the top five though I should note that I haven't yet seen Ondine, Cassandra's Dream or London Boulevard. The rest of his performances are more problematic but they're not without their definite highlights. The worst that can be said for his performances is that sometimes they carry a whiff of "trying too hard" -- Daredevil, Alexander, A Home at the End of the World, The Way Back and Phone Booth come quickly to mind -- but trying too hard is much much better than phoning it in, which he never seems to do. At the very least trying too hard is more entertaining and what are movie stars if not entertainers?
Four More Favorite Farrell Fotos...
Smoking is Hot for you. I MEAN BAD FOR YOU.
The T-Shirt lies. He was born in 1976
Photographed by Greg Williams
all wet (photo by ???)How do you like your Colin Farrell?
How do you like your Colin Farrell served up? What do you think is his best work?