Banana Scoop

Sometimes you can’t help but notice and say, “Hey I’ve seen that guy in at least 3 other movies this year”.  I like to think for most actors that doing one year should be more than enough to pay off that year’s bills and still live in a luxurious sense.  But then I see some actors that do 2 or 3 movies in one year, I think to myself: not only are you loaded, but you must be absolutely exhausted.  How are they able to deliver such powerful performances when they’re doubling, tripling, or even quadrupling characters in one period of time.  Forget Daniel Day-Lewis [who takes years for him to get into character], get these peoples Oscars or some sort of award quickly, because they definitely deserve it for their versatility.  So below is a list of actors who did multiple movies in the same year and were able to deliver awesome performances in them.  Be sure to remind me of the many that I missed in the comments section below!

Michael Fassbender (2011)

Movies of Notice: Shame, X-Men First Class, A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, Haywire

This is the man who inspired the list.  There have been many articles regarding how Michael Fassbender absolutely won 2011 with his record breaking 5 roles categorized as 2011 roles.  Most of which he is the lead role, making it even more astounding that he was able to fit all these movies in.  I’ve since loved him [man crush] and was delighted when I noticed he was in both 300, Inglourious Basterds, and even Band of Brothers.  The man is an absolutely awesome and humble actor, and he isn’t even slowing down by starring as a emotional robot in Ridley Scott’s Prometheus.

Robert Downey Jr. (2008)

Movies of Notice: Tropic Thunder, Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr. made his comeback in 2008.  He got nominated for an Oscar for Tropic Thunder and his movie Iron Man made hundreds of millions of dollars and inspired an entire series of blockbuster Marvel movies since then.  Kirk Lazarus may well be my favorite movie character to this date, with his completely ridiculous take on method actors.  I’ve given you my love for Tropic Thunder before, but writing about Kirk Lazarus again makes me wanna gush all the more.

Johnny Depp (2003)

Movies of Notice: Pirates of the Caribbean, Once Upon a Time in Mexico

Captain Jack Sparrow may well be one of the greatest movie characters created in the past decade.  Johnny Depp’s initial portrayal earned him a Oscar nod.  And despite he’s grown a bit stale in my honest opinion, I’ll never forget how I first reacted to this swashbuckling anti-hero with a heart of gold.  In addition, he also portrayed the best part of Robert Rodriguez’s Once Upon a Time in Mexico, so I’ll give him 2003 as an altogether good year.

Elizabeth Banks (2008)

Movies of Notice: W., Zach and Miri Make a Porno, Role Models

Admittingly one of my weaker choices, but I remember telling myself around this time, “man this chick is in everything, who is she?!”.  Her name is Elizabeth Banks and she’s adorable and lovable.  Not afraid to make fun of herself by doing a fairly degrading movie about pornos, she also turned it around as Laura Bush and then again as Paul Rudd’s on-again-off-again girlfriend in Role Models.  Given that these are not really leads and there isn’t anything deeper than what it seems, I’m honoring Elizabeth Banks for her frequent appearances in just about everything during that time.

Leonardo DiCaprio (2002 and 2006)

Movies of Notice: 2002 – Gangs of New York, Catch Me if You Can, 2006 – The Departed, Blood Diamond

Especially in his later career, Leonardo DiCaprio hardly gives a bad performance.  As of late, he’s mostly done about 1 movie a year, but there are 2 distinct years where he’s done more than one.  Of course, one of these movies for each of the year was directed by Martin Scorsese, but that doesn’t mean the opposite one wasn’t any less good.  A solid, maybe even better performance from Leo was noted in Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me if You Can, and his South African role in Blood Diamond was also a nice touch.

I suspect another fantastic year out of him when this Christmas he releases The Great Gatsby and Django Unchained.  Will all of Leo’s hard years pay off with an Oscar in his hand?

Hugh Jackman (2006)

Movies of Notice: Happy Feet, The Prestige, X-Men: The Last Stand, The Fountain, Flushed Away

I understand not all these movies are great, but you gotta hand it to Hugh Jackman [another man crush] for really giving it his all in 2006.  2 animated movies and 3 other movies where he plays a lead character can be demanding on anyone.  The Prestige was amazing, more Wolverine wasn’t necessarily a bad thing [until Origins], and the Fountain was…eh, but I did enjoy both Happy Feet and Flushed away.  What I really want him to do is host the Oscars again…

Once again, let me know which movies, actors and actresses I missed.