In honor of Tom Holland and the Russo brothers’ Cherry being released this weekend, the SiftPop writers each chose their favorite movie starring an Avenger that isn’t part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Actors were chosen based off the characters who were part of the team at the beginning of Avengers: Endgame. Let us know @Siftpop what your ranking is!
When I first watched Snowpiercer, it was only because I’m a fan of Chris Evans and didn’t know much about the film other than the premise. It is set in the second Ice Age on a train built for human life to survive on earth. But there’s an uprising stirring on this luxurious machine. Evans plays Curtis Everett, the leader of the revolution, which throws the whole train into chaos. Just two years after Captain America: The First Avenger, it’s the first time seeing him in a role without the “uniform.” We get to see a sensitive portrayal of a man doing whatever it takes to survive. He’s also joined by future MCU alumni Tilda Swinton as Minister Mason. This film definitely showed me another side of Evans and was actually making a fan out of me for his acting abilities. I say if you haven’t watched it, give it a go. You won’t be disappointed. (Chantal Ashford)
Wind River is the third script penned by Taylor Sheridan, his first being Sicario, followed by Hell or High Water. That writing pedigree should tell you what sort of ride the viewer is in for: a beautifully shot film that remains grim and haunting throughout. Jeremy Renner’s Cory is a world-weary hunter who has seen too much in life. His stoic face is heavily lined; his eyes never lose their sadness. Elizabeth Olsen’s Jane is a semi-stereotypical FBI agent. She is slightly jaded, but still out to prove she can do good things in a bad world. The two are investigating a death near a Native American reservation, with Renner helping Olsen navigate the harsh terrain while giving her some key insights into the ongoing struggles facing Native American communities day-to-day. “Slow-burn” is the only word that can adequately describe this film – there is a feeling of dread from the opening minutes that builds throughout, and Renner and Olsen handle the subject matter with appropriate gravitas. Thoughts of “Hey, Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch are paired up!” vanish quickly, and what is left is a powerful and unsettling film that ably closes out what many refer to as the American Frontier Trilogy. (Donald Skidmore)
Fired Frank here for this week’s BEC, in which I jumped on writing about Bradley Cooper and what I believe to be his best. Maybe I did it as an excuse to justify all my Google Image searches for “Bradley Cooper + Handsome.” I mean, as a straight man who deeply loves his wife, if Bradley Cooper – wait where was I? Yeah, Bradley Cooper, a great actor who proved that he can pull off many roles in a production at once; directing, acting, writing… what can’t this man do?! In A Star is Born, Cooper nails his performance in the movie as a rockstar who knows how to have a good time with his sellout concerts and amazing singing; the movie even takes a detour to show how he’s a down-to-earth star who does charity work by dating the homely Ally, played by up and comer Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. So go home, put on A Star is Born and just get lost in his dreamy baby blues, and excuse me while I put on The A-Team and enjoy that underrated gem to get that theme song stuck in my head. The Silver Lining(s Playbook) here is that I used A Star is Born as an Alias sneak in a plug for The A-Team. That was my Endgame all along. This was all an American Hustle. (Frank Kemp)
For this week’s edition of “Joseph uses the BEC as an excuse to cross a movie off his list of shame,” I watched Hotel Rwanda, a 2004 movie starring Don Cheadle as Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu and hotel manager for the Hôtel des Mille Collines, famous for housing over a thousand Tutsi and Hutu refugees during the closing stages of the Rwandan Civil War and Rwandan Genocide, one of the greatest atrocities the world has ever seen. While Paul Rusesabagina’s story continues to be written (a controversial figure in Rwanda – as of writing he is on trial accused of Terrorism in the country), Don Cheadle does a phenomenal job portraying a man in what can only be described as an impossible situation. After the president of Rwanda is killed when his plane is shot down, leading to the murder of Tutsi and sympathetic Hutu by Hutu paramilitary groups, Paul must use his mind and every resource at his disposal to save the lives of himself, his family, his neighbors, and eventually the lives of the “guests” at his hotel as he is up against forces working against him. The movie also depicts how, despite the shock and condemnation of the international community to the genocide, little was done to stop it beyond UN refugee camps and the evacuation of non-Rwandan citizens from the country. While Paul Rusesabagina’s future and legacy remain to be seen, it can’t be denied that Don Cheadle, himself an activist who has drawn attention to events such as the genocide in Darfur and works to stop them, delivers a powerful performance in a story that should serve as a warning to how easily events such as the Rwandan Genocide can occur, and how easily it can be for people, especially in the west, to see such and event and fail to react. The subject matter and some language used can be triggering, but Hotel Rwanda is a masterpiece depicting a horrific event that can be, and to an extent has been, easily forgotten elsewhere in the world. (Joseph Davis)
I first watched Zodiac in a philosophy class in college, along with three other equally great movies. While I honestly don’t remember much about the class, I do remember how great the performance of Robert Downey Jr. was in this film, out one year before he became the iconic Iron Man. Zodiac follows the investigation into probably the most famous unsolved series of murders in American history, with RDJ as Paul Avery, a crime reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle and reporter on the case, starring alongside future MCU alumni Mark Ruffalo as detective Dave Toschi and Jake Gyllenhaal as political cartoonist Robert Graysmith. Here you can see flashes of the wit that Robert Downey Jr. would bring to the character of Tony Stark as Avery writes about, and is contacted by, the killer he calls “f***ered in the head.” He brings life and humor to a movie based on one of the darkest stories in American history in a way that few others could have hoped to achieve. (Joseph Davis)
One film that comes to mind when thinking of Anthony Mackie outside of the MCU would be Kathryn Bigelow’s Academy Award-Winning, The Hurt Locker. Bigelow’s Iraq/drama/war film contains a sense of authenticity seldom seen in most war films and follows a bomb disposal team during the Iraq War. Anthony Mackie co-stars as Sergeant JT Sanborn, a very by the book, “let’s follow procedure so everyone gets to go home” type. On the other hand, the newly appointed team member, Staff Sergeant William James (Jeremy Renner) is a bit of a cowboy type, who thrives under pressure and is addicted to disarming bombs of various complexities. The push and pull between these two leads is one of the primary focuses of the film and it’s great to see their relationship throughout the film go through so many ebbs and flows. They have times of bonding when placed in precarious positions, get drunk and roughhouse, and at times Sanborn has a fiery hatred for James. Mackie as Sanborn is the perfect flipside of the coin for James due to Sanborn being a more cautious individual and James being loose with procedure and utilizing his talents even when they are not necessarily needed. If you are looking for a great war film and enjoy Anthony Mackie as a performer, The Hurt Locker is a film that delivers on all fronts. (Joe Vargas)
Being one of the original Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Scarlett Johansson has pretty much been there from the beginning, appearing as Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) in Iron Man 2, which was the third film in the MCU. Although Johansson has provided many great performances since she joined Marvel’s juggernaut film series, one of the best and most unique is her soulful vocal performance in writer-director Spike Jonze’s 2013 sci-fi drama, Her, where she plays an AI named Samantha, with whom the main character, Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) becomes infatuated. While the story itself is a heartrending insight into the state of humanity in the middle of modern technology and the way how we’re both connected and disconnected at the same time, Johansson’s voice work is one of the biggest things that helps this movie achieve the level of emotion that it presents. To be able to give a beautiful humanity to an AI character can be difficult, but Johansson couldn’t have done a more stunning job. The depth of emotion that Samantha elicits helps to make you see the world through her eyes, feeling the sense of discovery that she experiences as she tries to understand human nature. No one knows for sure if Johansson will appear in any more MCU movies after her solo outing, Black Widow, is released, but if not, we can be sure that she’ll continue to turn in acclaimed performances in other films that speak to the amazing heights of her acting abilities. (Vincent Abbatecola)
Despite knowing the journey and where it leads, I embrace it and I welcome every moment of it. Let’s talk about my 6th favorite movie of all time for just a bit: a movie that is disguised with aliens, but really about linguistics, which is really about our lives as stories and how we choose to tell them. When I think of perfect movies, only a few come to mind and this is definitely one of them. What starts out as a pretty simple story about a broken person trying to communicate with extraterrestrial life turns out to be something truly beautiful by the end of it and it is in no small means because of the absolutely stellar cast, specifically Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. This is by far Renner’s best movie outside of the MCU (while I would argue that The Town is a better performance) and I would even go as far as to say this is the best movie ever featuring a MCU actor as the lead. If you for some reason haven’t checked it out yet, get on it ASAP! (Aaron Schweitzer)
This is a sneaky brilliant movie. Everyone loves a good journalism procedural, especially when it’s about uncovering a corruption plot. This is that in spades and yet so much more. Following the Spotlight team at the Boston Globe as they begin to discover a string of repeated sexual abuse within the Catholic Church that had long been hidden from the public eye, it’s a shocking story that is told in a serious, and respectful manner. Mark Ruffalo plays one of the investigative journalists, and definitely chews the most scenery while doing it. It’s impactful, powerful and magnetic. Every time I pop it on, I just can’t look away. Grounded by an absolutely brilliant ensemble, this is definitely one to add to the list of you haven’t seen it yet. (Alice Micheli)
What was the moment that the MCU became a reality? When Samuel L. Jackson showed up in Tony Stark’s home wearing that eye patch, we all knew we were in for something special. Samuel L. Jackson is that special kind of actor who shows up and makes a film just that much better. But one film defined the career that this man would have… Pulp Fiction. Jackson plus Tarantino is like a perfect combination of cinematic magic. No one says Tarantino dialogue quite like Jackson. His performance as Jules is so iconic with his Jheri curl and some of the greatest speeches in the history of film. If you haven’t seen Pulp Fiction…get on it! (Shane Conto)
Onward
It’s an Avengers team-up of sorts, with both Peter Parker and Star-Lord providing their voices to this 2020 Pixar flick. For the purposes of this list, it’s Tom Holland, not Chris Pratt, that gets credited in this entry. Holland plays an elf with who discovers he has an affinity for magic at a time where the practice has largely gone the way of whatever this fantasy world’s version of dinosaurs are. Holland’s Ian goes on a quest, guided by his role-playing fanatic brother (Pratt), in a race against time to, for a brief time, bring back the father who died when he was young. Even in voice acting roles, the performances of both Holland and Pratt give weight to the relationship. Like most of Pixar’s films, Onward really knows how to pull at your heartstrings. Since it’s Holland’s relationship with Pratt at the heart of it, the pair deserve a fair bit of credit for getting us to make the emotional investment that’s needed to make the film’s conclusion work. It’s unfortunate that due to both the pandemic shortening its theatrical run and the release of the more acclaimed Soul by Pixar later that year, Onward has gotten a bit of a short shrift. While not at the level of Pixar’s best, their pretty good is still better than most. (Jake Bourgeois)
Nocturnal Animals
Even with just one MCU film under his belt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson isn’t a stranger to playing the hero, since he was the star of Kick Ass and the 2014 Godzilla. He’s even played the unknown John Lennon in Nowhere Boy, but his standout for me would be his perfectly chilling portrayal of the sadistic Ray Marcus in Nocturnal Animals. He plays a character in a novel written by the male lead and future MCU alumnus Jake Gyllenhaal as he and his gang attack a family during a road trip, which causes his demise. This isn’t the first time he’s played an antagonist, but it’s his first playing a psychotic one. Even though his role wasn’t big, he still carried every scene he was in. The film was good, but Taylor-Johnson made it great. He made it great to where he walked away with a Golden Globe for performance. It was deserving. If you’re bored one night and need something to watch, give it a try. It’s one of those you have to experience this decade. (Chantal Ashford)
Kong: Skull Island
Monster movies are always fun when it involves the best fictional ape in film history. I’m of course talking about 2017’s Kong: Skull Island. This time we follow a group of scientists and soldiers in 1973 that are members of the Monarch organization after they receive funding from the government to explore Skull Island. Soon after realizing that the island is filled with the threat of monstrous creatures, the team must survive and find a way to escape after being stranded. The vibe this movie has going for it is clearly that of a 70s war movie, including a great soundtrack, and I absolutely love it for that. It nailed its visual style in making you feel like it’s a movie that belongs from that era. I’d also like to mention the huge amount of A-list celebrities here like Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hiddleston, John Goodman, and of course John C. Reilly, who I think steals every scene he’s in. The movie has a lot of fun dialogue that monster movies usually lack and I think that this one understands how to balance the time with Kong himself and the amount of time we should spend with the humans. This is definitely what got me excited for the upcoming Godzilla vs. Kong, and because of it I’m officially team Kong, and I don’t think you’ll go wrong with checking this one out. (Alex Henderson)
A Knight’s Tale
When thinking about Paul Bettany and his previous roles, he has been in some great films. He is fantastic in his supporting role A Beautiful Mind, but if I were asked what film I’d be reaching for, it’s a quick and easy answer: A Knight’s Tale. This film checks off every box for me as an enjoyable film: it has a simple story with a cast of truly lovable characters that you just want to spend time with. With Heath Ledger playing William, a squire who attempts to change his stars by posing as a nobleman to joust for glory, he carries the film with an earnest and charming performance. Alan Tudyk is hilarious in every moment he is on screen as one of William’s squires. But of course, there is Paul Bettany who brings in a truly delightful Geoffery Chaucer, a gambling addict writer who, after being shown pity, makes himself William’s greatest fan and hype man. Every speech, line, or remark, is quotable and presented with such flamboyant grandstanding that he steals the show and the audience’s hearts. I take such great joy in what this film sets out to do through its anachronistic music and its playful dance around historical accuracy for the greater story. Though Rotten Tomatoes might lead you to believe that this film has been measured and found wanting, I can assure you by the end you will certainly not be. (Evan Lucken)
Blackhat
If there is one filmmaker who excites me the most, it is Michael Mann. From his brilliant crime thrillers to period pieces and dramas, Mann makes something for a crowd while also having something to say. While his best film is the 1995 crime epic Heat, my favorite will be his 2006 film Miami Vice. However, he managed to squeeze in a feature film during the very packed 2010’s: a film that was panned by critics and bombed insanely hard at the box office, and in my opinion one of the very best of the last decade, Blackhat! The film stars Chris Hemsworth as a convicted hacker as he helps an investigation after an attack on the Hong Kong nuclear plant and the Mercantile Trade Exchange in Chicago. Blackhat acts like the 2010s’ Miami Vice, where the plot comes second and the characters and “vibe” come first. The film is a globe-trotting adventure filled with bright colors, cool cinematography and a romance so depressing that’ll make fans of Mann’s work cry. An absolute masterpiece of a film and unlike anything seen in the 2010’s. (John Bizub)