Just over a year ago, I did an open thread, asking “which character, in your mind, is the best movie villain (or movie villains) of all time?” When we moved to WordPress, we lost all our comments to that post, so, after seeing Superman Returns last night which I thoroughly enjoyed despite is flaws, I ask again, which character do you think is the best movie villain.
That post comes to mind because I delighted in Kevin Spacey‘s performance as the deliciously diabolical Lex Luthor. Just as in Se7en and The Usual Suspects, he proves he can play the villain in a variety of different circumstances. Spacey is certain to join Edward G. Robinson as one of the great actors capable of playing a compelling (and often creepy) bad guy in a great many movies. The dark geniuses of the silver screen.
Despite Kevin Spacey’s brilliance in all the above roles, I always thought Jack Nicholson‘s whimsically maniacal portrayal of the Joker in Tim Burton‘s 1989 Batman made Jack’s Joker the best movie villain of all time, but maybe I’ll change my mind after seeing Meryl Streep tonight in The Devil Wears Prada.
UPDATE; Just got back from The Devil Wears Prada and while Meryl Streep doesn’t play a classic movie villainess, her performance alone is worth the price of the ticket to see the flick.
For me its a tie:
Jason Issacs as Col Tavington in The Patriot. He’s a classic sociopath with a legitimate job. My skin crawls when I think of the church.
Liam Neeson as Ra’s Al Ghul in Batman Begins.
Okay, since my wife has been the only commenter so far, I’ll weigh in.
Both Jeremy Irons and Alan Rickman were great villains in the Die Hard series.
Charles Dance played an amazing villain in the otherwise forgettable “Last Action Hero.” As his revolver clicks empty, Arnold Schwartzenneger chastises him for making the classic movie mistake of forgetting to reload the gun. He replies “No, Jack. I just left one chamber empty,” the proceeds to shoot him.
And, of course, Chiwetel Ejiofor as the Operative in “Serenity”
How about Tobin Bell in Saw?
I’d have to do some deep thinking to feel confident about a “best” villian but Angelica Houston in Witches definately comes to mind.
*sniff sniff* “I smell… cheeeeldren!” *scruntches up nose in disgust*
Are we doing good camp?
Hands down – Max Von Sydow as Ming The Merciless! He was born to play the role!
Dialogue used in an Orb tune-thing:
The Emperor Ming: Klytus, I’m bored. What plaything can you offer me today?
Klytus: An obscure body in the S-K system, Your Majesty. The inhabitants refer to it as the planet… “Earth”.
Kathy Bates’s character in Misery was positively creepy.
And, unlike more than a few villains in movies nowadays, she wasn’t playing a cartoon character.
Anthony Hopkins’ Oscar winning performance as Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
“A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.”
Creepy!
4: Oh….that was just on cable yesterday.
Bored businessman to Grand High Witch (Houston): “It’s nice to meet a fellow philanthropist”
Grand High Witch: “You collect stamps?”
Grand High Witch to assistant: “How’s the service in this hotel?”
Assistant: “Diabolical”
Grand High Witch: “Good!”
Priceless…
Almost seventy years later, still in a class by herself …
The Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.
Margaret Hamilton added a few glimpses of humanity to this American icon. “How kind of you to visit me in my lonliness.” Sarcasm and pathos in one brief line.
And, after all, Dorothy did kill her sister. An accident? Perhaps.
Julie the Jarhead