Friday Top Five: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

This has been my hardest top five, so far. Sure, Dustin Hoffman and Robert DeNiro have amazing filmographies filled with classic roles in iconic films, but I wasn't even alive when either of them were in their prime. I've grown up with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I've watched his career unfold in real time, and he's built a resume of movies that are varied and solid. Plus, he is arguably the best actor of my generation (okay, maybe, Ryan Gosling, but who wants to argue??). Either way, I could have made a top five list out of the movies that didn't make my list (The Lookout, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Manic, and, my personal favorite, 10 Things I Hate About You) and been totally happy with it. His directorial debut, Don Jon, is in theaters today and I am pretty excited to check it out. But, for now, here are the top five films I came up with for my list:

05. As Joe in Looper (Rian Johnson, 2012)
The prosthetic make-up was a bit more confusing than intended for me, but underneath all of that, Gordon-Levitt gives a performance so confident that it's hard to ignore the make-up. As a cold, hard killer, he manages to be intense while also showing a caring side. He is funny and bad ass at the same time, sometimes within the same scene. Looper was my favorite movie last year and it has just as much to do with Gordon-Levitt's incredible performance as it does with Johnson's brilliant time travel script.
Best Quote: "So why don't you do what old man do and die?"

04. As Tom in (500) Days of Summer (Marc Webb, 2009)
As the tagline says, This is not a love story, but it is a story about unrequited love and Gordon-Levitt carries this quirky film on his shoulders. He manages to be completely charming and endearing while acting in ways we know are unhealthy. His comedic timing matches his acting ability and he and co-star Zooey Deschannel have great chemistry. And what can't Joe do in this movie?? He laughs, he cries, he sings, he dances! He can do it all!
Best Quote: "I don't know how to tell you this, but... there's a Chinese family in our bathroom."

03. As Tommy in Stop-Loss (Kimberly Pierce, 2008)
This is a movie that is terribly underrated. Not nearly enough people have seen it and that's a shame. We get career best performances from Ryan Phillipe and Channing Tatum (at least until he made Magic Mike). But, it's Gordon-Levitt who steals the show as the mentally unstable soldier back from Iraq who can't quit cope with being home from war. His performance as this man who maybe needs violence in order to feel normal is flawless. His final moments on screen will break your heart.

02. As Brendan in Brick (Rian Johnson, 2005)
As the high school Sam Spade, Gordon-Levitt sets out to solve his ex-girlfriend's murder in this highly stylized film noir flick. This is Rian Johnson's directorial debut, and it is pretty much perfect. I love this movie so much that I don't even know how to describe how great it truly is. It's everything you want in a movie - it's cool as hell, the dialogue is incredible, the plot is complicated and smart, the direction is memorable, and the performances are all so great, especially Joe and his high school private eye who can't be distracted or deterred from his goal. Brick is a fantastic movie and one you definitely must see if you haven't already.
Best Quote: All of them??? But how about: "Maybe I'll just sit here and bleed at you."

01. As Neil in Mysterious Skin (Gregg Araki, 2004)
This is not an easy film to watch. It's about child abuse and the way it formed the lives of two very different boys, who grew up to be two very different young men. Gordon-Levitt's performance is something sad and beautiful. He totally inhabits the cockiness of youth, the swagger of thinking you will live forever. But deep down, there is so much anger and pain. Gordon-Levitt and the other lead, Brady Corbet, give about the best performances that two people can give.
Best Quote: " I met Wendy Peterson when I was ten. She was eleven, one grade ahead of me in school. If I wasn't queer we would have ended up having sloppy teenage sex and getting pregnant, contributing more fucked-up unwanted kids to society. But instead, she became my soul-mate. And... one true partner in crime."