Ten Deep 11.12.09: Ensemble Casts
Posted by Owain J. Brimfield on 11.12.2009
With the column returning to its regular format, this week we're taking a stroll through some of the strongest ensembles in movie history!
Welcome to week 55 of 'Ten Deep'! Well, I was tempted to take a week off after the mentally exhausting last five weeks, but then I remembered I had some time off work and would otherwise be sitting on my arse waiting for Fallout 3 to finally turn up in the post, so here we go. Let's take a look back at the comments on last week's conclusion to our epic to 50 sci-fi movies.
Reactions and interactions
Overall, with the exception of a few people who found Blade Runner boring, and who I really would encourage to give it another chance, the top ten seemed to make most people happy which is definitely a good sign. Despite the various contentions that you'd expect for leaving off some movies (Event Horizon and The War of the Worlds seemed to cause the most disquiet), most people seem pleasingly accepting of the list, which makes me feel just super.
I honestly don't get how several people didn't get which scene in Alien I was referring to, though. I mean, come on, the chestburster is one of the most infamous scenes in cinema history!
Elsewhere, Bill21GigaWatts serves up his own top fifty SF movies that didn't make my list, which is a neat undertaking and interesting reading. I'd quibble with Gattaca being so low on that list but otherwise it's pretty strong indeed.
Just saying chastises me for not referencing Arthur C. Clarke when discussing 2001. Er... except I did, so I don't know what he was reading. Maybe give the column a quick once over before you comment next time, sir.
castmeastheriddlerchris wonders whether Blade Runner would have topped the list had it not been for the several do-overs the film has received over the years. While I haven't seen all of the film's numerous different versions (just the theatrical release, director's cut and final cut), I think it would likely have still made the number one on the strength of the director's cut, although there would really have been a tiny margin in it. Had it just been the theatrical version though, it certainly wouldn't have gotten that high in the list; that version just doesn't have the power the film has subsequently been afforded.
Touching on a couple of omissions, xtomx wonders at the exclusion of A Clockwork Orange and Crash. While the former has SF elements, and I could see an argument for the novel being regarded as SF, the film adaptation just doesn't really qualify in my eyes. I'd be interested to see why Ballard regards Crash as SF, as there's seemingly not much to that claim in my eyes.
Guest#3293 wonders if everyone on this site is a Star Wars geek. Yes, yes we are.
Finally, just lookin has some praise for the list, but asserts that the top ten was too populist and I chose popular films just to be cool. Er, odd comment, but ok. Perhaps the films that are the popular choices for the best SF movies are popular because they are legitimately good and recognized as such by a majority? Just a thought. Still, I'm sure you realize that choosing obscure films just for the sake of it wouldn't exactly make for an endearing or accurate column. As for THX 1138, I personally found that film insufferable, and if you want to stretch the definition of cyberpunk wide enough to include it, then you'd also have to include things like Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and The Simulacra by Dick, as well as The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester, which predated THX by fifteen years.
As a footnote, The Tortoise King wonders what the next top fifty will be. Well, I enjoyed doing a list of that size, but I haven't got any ideas yet. It'll have to be something that properly interests me, but suggestions are welcome.
Moving on!
The ensemble cast, although a natural way of doing things on TV, is a hard thing to do well in the movies, and also a pretty vague thing to describe, which naturally enough means there's probably plenty of room for embellishment with this week's crop of selections. Essentially the idea is that all the principal roles/performers have a roughly equivalent importance in the narrative, which as you can see is not quite the same as the common misconception that a great ensemble movie is one that has a huge number of big-name stars featured in it. No, although there'll be some natural element of that in here, we're going to focus more on the genuine ensemble talent that has featured in the following movies, so let's get to it.
As always, there's one golden rule: if I haven't seen it, it's not allowed on the list.
This week's golden rule notable omissions: Airport, Dangerous Liaisons, The Departed, The High and the Mighty, Nashville
Honorable mention: Serenity
All the principals from the TV show plus Chiwetel Ejiofor make this a fanboy's dream ensemble.
Honorable mention: Seven Samurai
Not necessarily the first ensemble that comes to mind, but think about and you'll see its worthy of mention.
Honorable mention: Short Cuts
Perhaps the most ambitious of Robert Altman's ensembles and prime evidence for the man as master of the large cast.
10. Much Ado About Nothing
The principals: Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, Emma Thompson, Robert Sean Leonard, Kate Beckinsale, Kenneth Branagh, Richard Briers, Michael Keaton, Brian Blessed, Imelda Staunton
Shakespeare is surely one of the breeding grounds of the ensemble cast, at least when it's adapted for the big screen, and no one does Shakespeare quite like Kenneth Branagh. The eclectic mix of English actresses and big name American stars gives Much Ado About Nothing a peculiarly cosmopolitan feel that adds a certain edge to the Bard's work (not that it were necessitated of course, as being a Brit I'm somewhat bound by nationalistic oath to acclaim old Bill as the greatest writer since time immemorial). Much is naturally made of Keanu 'Plank' Reeves in the role of Don John, mixed-race brother to Denzel (in a role my mother finds disturbingly alluring), who of course can't act to save his life, so the consensus goes. Well, he's not great, to be sure, but due to the virtues of the ensemble he emerges by the end of the film with an unsullied reputation. Also in for a kicking is Michael Keaton as Dogberry, comic relief extraordinaire as lead half of one of the unlikeliest screen tandems of all time, with communist comic turned establishment sellout Ben Elton as his sidekick. If it sounds boggling on paper just wait till you see it in action. Said kicking is entirely unwarranted in my opinion, although that may be due to the fact I'm more familiar with Beetlejuice than the Bard. Other than those over-criticized aspects though, and besides the incongruity of some of the Yanks amidst particularly English prose (although there's some merit to that indeed, as while we're used to hearing the dulcet tones of an Emma Thompson or the like wrapping their mouths around the material, it makes for a beguiling mix to hear the same stuff spout from the mouth of Neo or Dr. Wilson), Branagh has assembled a cast that does its source material proud and proves to lay the foundations of one of the most enticing Shakespearian movie outings in recent memory.
9. Ocean's Eleven
The principals: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Elliott Gould, Bernie Mac, Don Cheadle, Carl Reiner, Andy Garcia, Julia Roberts
Despite being one of the premier ensemble casts of the last several years, if not arguably the most prominent, the contemporary redoing of Ocean's Eleven only sneaks a relatively low placing on the list. In case you also take issue with the exclusions of Twelve and Thirteen which feature even starrier casts, the fact is both of those films were too unbearably smug and self-satisfied to warrant inclusion. Not to say that Clooney and co.'s first outing isn't a bit too pleased with itself too, but it manages to stay on the right side of the line throughout and never descends into a mutual lovefest. It's also not the most well-balanced ensemble on record, with a little too much of the effort going into Clooney and Pitt's roles and a little too little going into Matt Damon's role (something that was at least rectified by the sequels). Still, having said that, it's a cast that makes for an energetic and entertaining caper that's amusing as Don Cheadle's ill-conceived attempt at pulling off an accent. The "diversity" banner is perhaps better catered for than any other ensemble under consideration this week, as you'd expect from a heist flick, with the various motley mercenaries that make up Ocean's crew covering all walks of life and off-screen stardom (I haven't checked IMDB, but I'm pretty sure Shaobo Qin isn't exactly known for his plethora of supporting character roles). Every character has his moment to shine (my own favorite being Bernie Mac's attempt to discredit the gaming commission on a racial basis and claiming they should call the game "whitejack"), and as a result of the actors' talents the film attains a level of breeziness (the good kind) unsurpassed in most modern thrillers. Considering the ensemble here actually lends its name to the film, it's a good thing it lives up to its potential.
8. Goodfellas
The principals: Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino
Probably the smallest ensemble under discussion this week, and I debated whether or not it really qualified to meet the term, and obviously made the choice you see here. While Goodfellas doesn't have the widest variety of principal characters and actors, those mobsters that there are are portrayed with such vividness that the small group of them more than deserves to make it into the list. While it may, to some extent, have something to do with career typecasting (perish the thought), I don't think you could find a more convincing group of gangsters portrayed on film that you can in Goodfellas. Well, maybe you can, but that's a subject for a higher entrant in the list this week, so moving swiftly on... Picking the most superlative of the bunch is an impossible task, but given De Niro's other screen greatnesses and Pesci's similar but more effective job in Casino, I'd have to give the shot to Ray Liotta in what's ostensibly the lead role, but by virtue of the power of the ensemble, it's pretty difficult to justify that claim without having to resort to praising every other actor. Of course, as we well know, it's the definitive modern gangster flick and all the rest of it, but what turns the mildly diverting true-ish story into captivating fiction is the work of the cast, who breathe life and humanity (well, of a sort) into this motley bunch of made men (and woman). Their interactions with each other are the most priceless in the film (and if you don't believe me just tell Pesci that he's funny) and turn an already solid gangster epic into one of the 90s' true must-see movies.
7. Waiting for Guffman
The principals: Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, Fred Willard, Bob Balaban
An ensemble playing an ensemble, or a meta-ensemble if you will, had to make the list, and there was really nowhere to turn but to Christopher Guest and his loving mockumentaries. While the groups of either A Mighty Wind or Best in Show could conceivably have made the cut, I plumped for Guffman in the end due to the satisfaction of praising an ensemble of actors playing an ensemble of actors. Seemingly Guest's most overlooked work - over here in the UK at the very least - the tale of a bunch of jobbing actors and theatergoers united under the rather campy hand of one Corky St. Clair to produce a community theater show of a small Missouri town's history is utterly barmy, but devoted to its characters. If it were possible for multiple actors to steal the show then they'd all be at it here, with the male contingent in particular somehow simultaneously vying for comic supremacy and combining to create a masterclass in group improv comedy. It's mindblowing, and quite a tad unfair, that the vast majority of cinema-goers know Eugene Levy simply as "Jim's Dad". As a pastiche of community theatre it works in and of itself, but it's in highlighting the various neuroses and idiosyncrasies of the main players that the film excels both comically and dramatically. With the incentive of having their play overseen by the titular Broadway producer Guffman, the theater players are dappier than the guy from N-Dubz, and the cast is utterly remarkable given the film's strongly improvised leanings, and it shows that comic talent can't really be harnessed in words on a page. While Guest's comedic entourage would grow over his next few films, the core that remains in Guffman produces arguably the strongest ensemble performance of them all.
6. The Lord of the Rings trilogy
The principals: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Christopher Lee, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Andy Serkis, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Liv Tyler
Ah, the concession to the mainstream had to make it in here really, didn't it. For all the CGI fantasticery and fandangles, and all the millions and millions of dollars thrown at this trilogy to make it look like the proverbial shit, it's the stellar cast that does the job. An ensemble so tight, even when not sharing scenes together, that to remove one element would be like taking a single cog out of a watch - it'd just stop working. Seriously, imagine how this would have turned out had Stuart Townsend gotten to stay in Aragorn's boots after all, or had a different one of the Goonies been hired to play Frodo's loyal sidekick. While the films are ostensibly centered on Frodo's quest, that doesn't mean by any stretch of the imagination that he's the central character, with the Fellowship of the Ring and assorted other weird and wonderful characters surrounding him to the extent that this may be one of the best-cast set of films of all time. With the only really potential weak link being Orlando Bloom, who is one of those guys who always looks the part but never really talks the part, the huge ensemble at the heart of Lord of the Rings brings Tolkien's fiction to life in a way that would be totally lost were it reliant on its visual trickeries. In fashioning such a grandiose tapestry of a cast Peter Jackson shows his man-management skills as much his directorial skills, allowing talent as diverse as Sir Ian McKellen and little Billy Boyd to work together in perfect harmony. When commanding a cast of this magnitude it's imperative that the characters are allowed room to breathe, and thankfully LotR allows that and much more. Also, John Rhys-Davies used to live down the road from me, so the cast gets a few extra cool points for that.
5. The Usual Suspects
The principals: Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Pollak, Benicio Del Toro, Stephen Baldwin, Chazz Palminteri
I had to think for a little while about whether or not to include Palminteri as one of the main ensemble here, since the one thing everyone knows about The Usual Suspects (apart from the identity of Keyser Soze, thanks to a million shows thinking they're funny for dropping the spoiler, just like they did with The Sixth Sense) is the iconic police line-up shot featuring the five main malcontents. But still, his character does pretty much anchor the narrative structure and he spends a large proportion of the time playing off Spacey, so it made sense in the end. It says something about director Bryan Singer that he can take actors at seemingly two extremes of the sliding scale of talent, like Spacey and Baldwin, and turn them both into equally invigorating and enthralling pieces of the puzzle. There's nary a weak link to be found (apart from the somewhat intentional one of Del Toro's gloriously indecipherable accent), and the suspense generated by the many interactions of the leading actor-folk leads to one of the best crime thrillers of the past twenty years. It's conceivable that some of the tension may in fact be generated by confusion amongst the actors over who was actually playing the part of puppetmaster crimelord Soze, but if that's the case then it just strengthens the ensemble in my eyes. From the initial line-up to the dockyard climax the performances get better and better, and of course we all know that the final reveal turns the cast dynamic on its head and demands you to watch the film through a second time to see if it all holds together. Which it does. As criminal ensembles go, there are very, very few that could dethrone the usual suspects. Except perhaps for this next bunch...
4. The Godfather
The principals: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Richard Castellano, John Cazale
Now while my antipathy towards The Godfather as a whole is relatively well known, there are a few things I won't and indeed can't deny about the film's merits, and foremost among those is the quality of the cast, which does for the mafia what Goodfellas did for the mafia, except twenty years earlier and a bit better too. As *cough* one of the greatest films of all time *coughapparentlycough*, The Godfather has to be anchored with a set of solid performances, and thankfully that proves to be the case, with each of the primary actors here giving arguably the best performance of his or her career. I do say arguably, as Al Pacino fans tend to be quite angry and verbose people, so moving swiftly on. With a film as centered on the idea of family as this one, it's obvious that the main ensemble needs to be a set of actors who can work together to help create a symbiotic chemistry, and with Brando as the lynchpin in the role of the terrifying Don Corleone, the stage is set for cinema's premier breed of mafioso (I have no idea if I'm using that word correctly, but go with it, it'll help the flow). Apparently, someone once told me, the studio initially wanted Ernest Borgnine for the role, which is even more terrifying than the prospect of a horse's head in the bed. I'm sure that for most of you who suck up to the idea of this being one of the best films ever I won't need to expound further on the cast's merits, but suffice to say that for someone who is as bored with this film as you could find to appreciate the performances of the ensemble and place them this high in the list should speak volumes for the collective talent pool on display here.
3. Magnolia
The principals: Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jason Robards, Philip Baker Hall, Jeremy Blackman, Melora Walters
One of the quintessential ensemble pieces in modern cinema and debatably, one of the first films that springs to mind when the term is thrown up. Taking a leaf squarely out of Robert Altman's book, the much undersung Paul Thomas Anderson throws together a bevy of strangely disparate yet oddly connected people, each with seemingly coincidental relationships to others in the group, and asks them to tell us a story. Built on central themes of alienation and circular relationships, the film packs quite an emotional heft thanks to its broad array of character actors (and Cruise, who despite being seemingly the odd name out in the cast list actually turns in one of the most memorable performances, not just of the film but of his career). That the film takes place over such a relatively short space of time helps build the interactions of the interconnected storylines, and each character reaches their breaking point sooner rather than later, giving each of the actors their chance to shine (again, it's Cruise's cocky womanizer who provides the most memorable moments in that regard, but the remainder of the cast really aren't too far behind). The famous scene in which the characters all sing along to an Aimee Mann song (whatever happened to her by the way?) reinforces the connection of the ensemble; everyone has something to lose and something to gain and no character is more or less important than the next, which is important in establishing the group of actors as a cohesive bunch. As ensemble pieces go it's one of the most dramatic of our times, and well worthy of its status as a critical darling.
2. Pulp Fiction
The principals: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer
After the success of Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, itself something of an ensemble piece and one that almost made the shortlist for this week's column, you have to imagine that the man had the pick of the crop even when working with a still relatively limited budget, and what a selection of cast members he came out with on Pulp Fiction. Rising stars, stars that already risen, stars that had set and risen again off the back of their performance here... the metaphor is quite literally almost endless. Kind of. Anyway, it's still impressive to this day to look back the cast that Tarantino assembled for his sophomore picture, and even more impressive to watch them in action, from Jackson's biblical hitman to Keitel's unorthodox "fixer", to Rhames' unfortunately violated mob boss. The film's unseemly chronological structure and slick visual flair plays into the hands of the ensemble, allowing their connections and interactions to sprawl across the frame whenever QT damn well pleases, and working their respective story strands for all they're worth. With perhaps every single one of the main players emerging from Pulp Fiction with their Hollywood stock worth considerably more than when they'd entered, it was a success story all round, and it's easy to forget that this is the film that essentially relaunched Travolta's career, not to mention giving Willis the box office success he'd been denied for some time. Pulp Fiction is one of those rare films in which each of the main characters is so stylishly and stylistically realized that you can literally feel the coolness dripping from the screen. With Oscar nominations all round and an almost unhealthy degree of reverence from the cinematic community, it'd be easy to argue a case for Pulp Fiction as the best ensemble cast of all time.
1. Glengarry Glen Ross
The principals: Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, Kevin Spacey, Jonathan Pryce, Alec Baldwin
...Were it not for this film, natch. If ever you want to see an acting tour de force, a masterclass of the craft, than you need look no further than Glengarry Glen Ross, a film in which not only does every performance enhance and add to the collective mix, but in which it also stands out as a performance to be reckoned with in its own right. You could have populated an entire field of Best Supporting Actor nominations from this film, deservedly so, and still feel bitter about having to leave a couple out. While it's Baldwin's incendiary turn - let's face it, any time Al Pacino is out-outraged in a film, you know you're on to a winner - that sticks in the memory (and, indeed, in the vein of comic parody) long after the film is over, the remainder of the cast is no less impressive, if not quite as grandstanding. With the film adapted from a stage play, and filmed as little more than a big screen rendition of such, the onus is on the actors to sell the film, and sell it they do. Not knowing anything about the source material, suffice it to say that if it requires such a surfeit of acting talent to pull it off on the boards as it does on the screen, it must be pretty hard to put on a performance with any degree of regularity. David Mamet's script is compelling, but the real meat and potatoes of the film lies in the ensemble itself, pulling off what is essentially a pretty straightforward story and turning it into an unparalleled exposition of the craft of film acting. What Lemmon, Pacino, Harris, Arkin, Spacey, Pryce and the somewhat fleeting Baldwin have created here is the best acting ensemble ever committed to film.
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And finally…
Feeling aggrieved or elated at this week's ten picks? Then let me know! The magic of the interweb allows you to post your comments right here on this very page, and if they're especially insightful (or idiotic), I may even respond in the next column. Be sure to tune in next week for another edition of 'Ten Deep', but until then - keep watching the skies.
Ahhh. Thank you for the MAGNOLIA love. Perhaps BOOGIE NIGHTS deserves an honorable mention. The underrated, Thomas Jane steals scenes in that classic. "He's got coke, and he's got cash..." lol
Posted By: A. Shakoor (Registered) on November 11, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Pretty good selections, although I personally would have included Cannonball Run, if only because it featured some of the biggest names of the early 80's (Burt Reynolds, Farrah Fawcett, Jamie Farr, Roger Moore, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr), as well as some relative unknowns at the time (such as a very young Jackie Chan). And unlike the sequel, this ensemble actually worked. No, you're certainly not going to see classic acting, but for an out and out fun 90 minutes or so, you can't beat this film.
Posted By: Michael L (Guest) on November 11, 2009 at 11:12 PM
The Departed
Posted By: Kirk (Guest) on November 11, 2009 at 11:20 PM
You forgot Karl Urban and Sean Bean in LotR which I think puts it at #1
Posted By: Ser Drake (Guest) on November 11, 2009 at 11:25 PM
Really enjoyed this, to the point where I don't even have lengthy suggestions. :) And even if you watch it, Airport wasn't worth mentioning as a golden rule - its just awful. ;)
Posted By: Bill21GigaWatts (Guest) on November 11, 2009 at 11:26 PM
Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet should be on this list. Even though Pulp Fiction is my favourite film of all time, it is hard to argue against Glengarry Glen Ross being at the top of this list. I always get haunted by Jack Lemmon's Willy Lomanesque performance.
Posted By: Guest#8629 (Guest) on November 11, 2009 at 11:30 PM
When you mentioned that "scene" in Alien, I did think of the chestburster, but I also saw a flash of that scene at the end when the alien rapes Lambert.
Posted By: MBD (Guest) on November 11, 2009 at 11:31 PM
dude... how have you never seen the departed?
Posted By: Guest#0362 (Guest) on November 11, 2009 at 11:31 PM
No Boogie Nights = egregious oversight
Posted By: Don Bummini (Guest) on November 11, 2009 at 11:33 PM
No 'Outsiders?!'
Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Diane Lane...C. Thomas Howell is a stretch, but he was Ponyboy and all.
Thats a hell of a cast. And once you see The Departed, that should jump to top 5.
Posted By: Joey (Guest) on November 11, 2009 at 11:37 PM
What about Batman and Robin
Posted By: Bat tits (Guest) on November 11, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Caddyshack
Animal House
Blazing Saddles
Posted By: Guest#3982 (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 12:13 AM
This makes me very excited for The Expendables
Posted By: Yoni (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 12:33 AM
True Romance...This list has failed.
Posted By: WFTMAN (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 12:36 AM
Brilliant call on Glengarry! To me, thats always been the best acted movie there is. Pacino is amazing and deserved his supporting actor nomination, and Harris and Lemmon should have been nominated, and Baldwin probably would have up for one as well if his role was bigger. Fun to watch see Spacey being the lowkey, calm one, with guys like Harris and Pacino screaming at him. And, hey! Its Mike from 24 as a cop!
Black Hawk Down boasts a pretty amazing amount of known performers...Hartnett, McGregor, Orlando Bloom, superbadass Tom Sizemore, alternate superbadass Jason Isaacs, everyones fave William Fichtner, Bitch-hugging Jeremy Piven, the iconic Sam Shephard, Ron Eldard, Hugh Dancy, Ewen Bremner, Zelijko Ivanek, Ioan Gruffudd, Glen (AARON PIERCE!) Morshower, Without A Trace's Enrique Murciano, plus a heap of other guys.
I love this cast, although the film isn't about characterization at all, so theres not much in the way of meaty acting material. But everyones damn convincing. Even Hartnett!
Always loved Michael Mann's casts. The Insider and Heat are so brilliantly cast.
How about Apocalypse Now? Marty Sheen, Brando, Duvall, Dennis Hopper, Harrison Ford, Laurence Fishburne, Frederic Forrest and Scott Glenn...sort of.
I love Woody Allen in his prime, and Hannah And Her Sisters and Bullets Over Broadway are awesome cast performances. He always packs as many as quality actors as possible in even the smallest roles.
Deconstructing Harry has himself, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, the brilliant Judy Davis, Eric Bogosian, Mariel Hemingway, Julia Louis-Dreyfus giving a blowjob, Demi Moore, Stanley Tucci, Julie Kavner, Amy Iriving, Kirstie Alley, Elisabeth Shue, Philip Bosco, Tobey Maguire, Elisabeth Rohm, Paul Giamatti, Tony (Pauly Walnuts) Sirico, Chris Bauer and Jennifer Garner!
Posted By: Earl (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 12:51 AM
You really should get to seeing The Departed.
However, great list, and totally agree on your #1. I personally would have bumped The Godfather up to 2 and those two down based on just how well fleshed out and portrayed those principal roles were, but whatever.
A couple others: The Royal Tennenbaums, A Few Good Men, and Apocalypse Now, which I would am pretty sure they fit in with your parameters.
Posted By: Guest#9672 (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 01:31 AM
Was leaving off No Country a personal decision, or was it more of a numbers game (since it really only has 5 superb actors in it)
Posted By: the danger stranger (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 01:32 AM
Godfather's ensemble wasn't an ensemble when it was produced. Pacino was in 2 small films, Keaton wasn't Keaton and it was her first major role and Cazale was a nobody and it was his FIRST film.
so, author, you sir, are a jack ass.
Posted By: Alcoholic (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 02:00 AM
Good list man. How could you leave off "JFK" though? That had a who's who list of some of the heavy hitter's of its time, and was a great movie! But like I said, good list.
Posted By: MikeyCovs (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 02:11 AM
Another good column. I might change the order around a bit, but you can't really argue with your selections, they're all good.
Posted By: paco smith (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 02:11 AM
dude... how have you never seen the departed?
Posted By: Guest#0362 (Guest)
Read his notable omissions, dude.
Posted By: Guest#3799 (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 02:16 AM
Also, not sure if someone mentioned them yet, but the Young Guns films, also The Breakfast Club. While Estevez is definitely the lead in those films, the rest of the ensemble definitely holds their own and gets quite a bit of attention.
Unrelated to these, but Tropic Thunder I'd consider as well with Stiller/Downey/Black/Nolte leading the way plus adding in the smaller roles of McConaughey/Cruise/Hader/McBride/Coogan.
Posted By: Guest#2477 (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 02:31 AM
Thank you for putting Magnolia on the list..... Magnolia is one my fav movies. in my top 5 easily....... im tired of everyone giving it crap cause i dont see how anyone could consider that movie a dissapointment.... i think it was far above Boogie nights which get soo much credit, much more than deserved
Posted By: WhatTheHell (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 02:40 AM
I'm glad somebody else is with me on the Godfather. I'd never, ever seen in my life and was always routinely chastised for it. Finally, one of my friends let me borrow his trilogy copy... and I was bored out of my ass. Maybe it's just me, but it is just ...there. Not a bad movie by any means, but not "omg must have in my collection". I made it through the first one, and Godfather II started off promising enough, but...I gave up about halfway through. Donnie Brasco, Goodfellas, Casino, The Departed, The Usual Suspects... are all easily much better in my opinion. Maybe I'll set aside 6 hours and try again sometime, but for now...I just don't see it.
I will check out Glengarry Glen Ross and see what I think.
Oh, and I think maybe Tombstone should be in there somewhere.
Posted By: Alyaz (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 02:50 AM
Cool list but not even an honorable mention for True Romance, the film had Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Brad Pitt, Sam Jackson, Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Chris Penn, Tom Sizemore, Val Kilmer, it even had Tony Sorprano in it for gawd sake!
Posted By: Prankstar (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 03:12 AM
dude... how have you never seen the departed?
Posted By: Guest#0362 (Guest)
Read his notable omissions, dude.
Posted By: Guest#3799 (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 02:16 AM
dude... how have you never seen the departed?
Posted By: Guest#4947 (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 03:31 AM
As Derek Robbins can attest to, I love top ten lists, and yours are no different. I've been catching up on some of your other ones, like the great top 50 science fiction movies, so this is the first list I've actually read right as it was posted.
Like others have mentioned, surprised you haven't seen the Departed yet. It's been airing on TV lately, so if you don't want to dish out any sort of cash for fear of not liking it, you can catch it for free on cable (well, after paying for cable, haha).
Although it was rather cheesy, especially since it was designed that way, Mars Attacks! had an awesome ensemble cast. Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Benning, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox, Jim Brown, Natalie Portman, Jack Black, Pam Grier, amongst numerous other celebrities in the movie.
Although it doesn't fit the ensemble cast build you have of main characters being famous actors, the amount of cameos in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is stellar, bringing in nearly all of the cartoons from both Warner Brothers and Disney. Still love the scene between Donald and Daffy. There weren't many main characters in the film though, so I understand why it's not involved with the topic.
Posted By: RavenTazECW (Registered) on November 12, 2009 at 03:38 AM
Platoon had a great ensemble
Posted By: Lexie (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 04:20 AM
Serenity gets an honourable mention but Batman Begins/Dark Knight doesn't?
Posted By: caboose (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 05:26 AM
HEAT
Al Pacino
Robert Deniro
Val Kilmer
Jon Voight
Tom Sizemore
Ashley Judd
Natalie Portman
Dennis Haysbert
Jeremy Piven
Hank Azaria
Diane Venora
Amy Brenneman
Danny Trejo
Henry Rollins
While many were unknowns back then to some degree, that casting was way ahead of its time as far as how much money would have to be doled out to get the same people today. Easily my pick for best ensemble ever.
Posted By: Dave (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 05:38 AM
NO love for ANY of Guy Ritchie's films? Not even an HM for SNATCH?
Posted By: CM Wolf (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 05:52 AM
"Essentially the idea is that all the principal roles/performers have a roughly equivalent importance in the narrative..."
***********************************
I assume that "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" was disqualified as one of the movies you haven't seen?
Posted By: David O (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 05:56 AM
I would also mention:
Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? - Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, George Segal, Sandy Dennis
Traffic - Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Don Cheadle, Luis Guzman, Topher Grace, Catherine Zeta-Jones
L.A. Confidential - Russel Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, James Cromwell, Kim Basinger
Sin City - Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Clive Owen, Benicio Del Toro, Elijah Wood, Nick Stahl
Galaxy Quest - Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Sam Rockwell
The Royal Tennenbaums - Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, Ben Stiller, Anjelica Huston, Danny Glover
The Addams Family - Christopher Lloyd, Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, Christinca Ricci
Ghostbusters- Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver
Little Miss Sunshine- Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin, Alan Arkin, Steve Carrell
Posted By: Peter (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 06:03 AM
I'd argue that the LotR cast wasn't that ensamble before the movie. Don't get me wrong, loved the movie and the actors in it. However, most of the actors were not stars before the film came out.
Definite additions -
- Branagh's Hamlet (Ken Branaugh, Richard Attenburough, Judi Dench, Julie Christie, Billy Crystal, Jack Lemmon, Gérard Depardieu, John Gielgud, Rosemary Harris, Chaleton Heston, Robin Williams, and Kate Winslet)
- Apocalypse Now
- Lucky Number Slevin (persoal fav)
Oh, and dude, you NEED to see The Departed... best movie in the last 5 years easy
Posted By: Louis (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 07:12 AM
A Bridge Too Far. Dirk Bogarde, James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Edward Fox, Elliot Gould, Gene Hackman, Anthony Hopkins, Ryan O'Neal, Laurence Oliver, Robert Redford and Maxmillian Schnell. I think that may be the best ensemble cast ever.
Posted By: Guest#9666 (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 07:29 AM
Check out A Bridge Too Far and then tell me which movie has the greatest film ensemble.
Posted By: Taffin (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 07:35 AM
I'd put L.A.Confidential in the list too
Posted By: Flyin' Bryan (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 07:57 AM
Dude, if you still lived on the mainland I could totally lend you most of the golden rule omissions. Anyway, great list. This is probably the most debated top10 subject for me personally, so I could probably go on for as long as the column. But I won't.
I'm very pleased with your top pick and I can't argue about the quality of the rest. I would have included Life Aquatic or Royal Tenenbaums, but I know your feelings about Wes Anderson. Also I'm shocked Batman Begins didn't get a mention. Or Heat. Also, check out the cast for The Expendables (due out next Autumn)...Sylvester Stallone (also the director), Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham, Arnie, Danny Trejo and Stone Cold Steve Austin!
Posted By: castmeastheriddlerchris (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 08:14 AM
A few Good Men belongs there somewhere. But aside from that, great column.
Posted By: Samer Kadi (Registered) on November 12, 2009 at 08:35 AM
OK, like some of the other posters have said before me, check out The Departed..You won't be disappointed. Does Snatch, or Sin City meet you requirements? I would like your opinion on these two.
Posted By: Dwayne (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 09:09 AM
Good call on G G G R as #1. I'd put L.A. Confidential in the #10 spot.
Posted By: Cabbage (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 09:38 AM
Twelve Angry Men (1957).
Henry Fonda, Lee J Coob, Martin Balsam, EG Marshall, Jack Klugman, Jack Warden. 12 defined characters, dialogue and a single room. You cannot define an ensemble cast movie any better than this masterpiece.
And could you throw Shawshank Redemption into this category as well? Yes, Robbins and Morgans are the focal point - but the ensembles' performance is what set this apart.
Posted By: SpankyHamm (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Another vote for Branagh's Hamlet over Much Ado. Part of that is I've seen several productions of Much Ado About Nothing in my time and, although I enjoyed Branagh's, it's actually my least favorite. Keaton, in particular, is just annoying in the way he plays Dogberrry.
Posted By: CDL (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Gotta say for it's time the Breakfast Club was really a great ensemble cast, shame it couldnt make the list here.
No cannonball run movies either? I mean jeesh they had Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Dean Martin, Burt Renyolds (who was still a top draw), Roger Moore (who was 007 at the time), a young Jackie Chan, Farrah Fawcett, Ricardo Montalban....just to name a few.
I think that the Cannonball movies deserve some attention!
Posted By: billy (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Ocean's Eleven? Goodfellas? Come on, man! You ever hear of a movie called RESERVOIR DOGS!!!
Posted By: Joey. (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Did someone forget THE DEPARTED???
JACK NICHOLSON
LEONARDO DICAPRIO
MATT DAMON
MARTIN SHEEN
MARK WAHLBERG
Posted By: Elliott (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Yes. Glengarry Glen Ross deserves to be #1 in fact Jack Lemmon is probably the MVP of this movie but they all play their roles well,Ed Harris also deserves a badge for his performance. Jeez they all compliment each other so well.
Tell me.. name two good movies Travolta has been in since Pulp Fiction. I count Face/Off.
Posted By: Propagandhi (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Cop Land.
Sylvester Stallone on top of his game,Robert De Niro chewing the scenery,Ray Liotta,Mike Rappaport and my personal favourite Harvey Keitel.
Posted By: Propagandhi (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 10:42 AM
While not the greatest film ever made Ridley Scott'S Kingdom of Heaven had Liam Neeson, David Thewlis, Ed Norton, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Orlando Bloom, Martin Csoksas(Celeborn from LOTR and Yorgi from XXX), Eva Green, Kevin(Soap MacTavish)McKidd, John Finch, Michael Sheen, and Doctor Bashir himself Alexander Siddig.
Also Branagh's Henry V Had Branagh, Ian Holm, Derek Jacobi, Brian Blessed, Judi Dench, Emma Thompson, A young Chirstian Bale, and Robbie Coltrane as well as a whole lot of excellent British actors who do not get a lot of roles in things we see in the US.
Posted By: Guest#0689 (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 10:44 AM
The simple fact that you didn't have a Monty Python flick atop this list tells me you and I have a future together after all, Brimfield. Props on the Serenity mention as well.
Posted By: Tea and Crumpets (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 10:46 AM
NOTHING EVER HAPPENS ON MARS!
And how funny is it when Corky asks for more money from the town hall?
Or the foot-stool capital of the world!
Posted By: AG Awesome (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Uh...Steel Magnolias maybe...
Posted By: Guest#1264 (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Usual Suspects, Magnolia and Glengarry. Epic win! I also expected to see True Romance, but given the list, I'm not mad.
Posted By: Talon (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 01:04 PM
Ok if I missed this being mentioned somewhere I apologize but....no love for Mars Attacks?
Jack Nicholson
Lukas Haas
Annette Bening
Jim Brown
Pierce Brosnan
Sarah Jessica Parker
Glenn Close
Martin Short
Michael J. Fox
Jack Black
Natalie Portman
Danny DeVito
Posted By: weeee (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 02:59 PM
I think most of you are a little confused. He was not ranking the best ensembles, i.e. the best group of actors that all happen to be in the same movie.
He was ranking the best MOVIES that have an ensemble cast (which he defined).
That is why many movies people mentioned would not even be in consideration. Mars Attacks has a great cast, but is an awful movie, for example. The same goes for people claiming the LOTR and Godfather shouldn't count because they weren't "stars" before those movies. That wasn't the point of this list.
Posted By: matt_telthorst (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 03:13 PM
No Dark Knight? Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Eric Roberts.
Posted By: Alex (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 03:51 PM
Heat deserves a mention, otherwise good list.
Posted By: The Great Smartass (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 05:21 PM
Why the hell isn't Casino and Tombstone on this list. Look at the cast of those movies and tell me they aren't better than some of the flicks on this list.
Posted By: Tony (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 05:23 PM
I think Owain (or maybe it's another one of the movie guys on here) has said before that he doesn't really like Wes Anderson films, so I can see why Tenenbaums wouldn't get any mention, though it's hard to objectively argue against that cast.
Posted By: Guest#8761 (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 08:24 PM
how about heat> Maybe not top 5 but excellent cast with Pacino, Deniro, Kilmer, Voight, Judd among others.
Saving Private Ryan was loaded as well.
Posted By: Guest#2317 (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 08:46 PM
Funny that you mentioned Glengarry Glen Ross as I just watched it in an American Business class and everytime i watch it the cast blows me away, brilliant.
Posted By: Guest#7287 (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 09:21 PM
Posted By: y2kelly (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 10:40 PM
How about the Outsiders? It was an older flick but there is so much talent in that movie: Machio, Cruise, Estavez, Swayze, Thomas Howell, Lowe and Dillon?
And how about Young Guns 1 or 2?
Posted By: BigWar (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Unforgiven...Eastwood, Hackman, Freeman, Richard Harris
Posted By: Castor Troy (Guest) on November 12, 2009 at 11:05 PM
The Thin Red Line.
Posted By: Propagandhi (Guest) on November 13, 2009 at 09:36 AM
Just want to add two to the list:
Breakfast Club - And Emilio Estevez was not the lead, if anyone it is Judd Nelson
And anpther great ensemble cast is in a little movie I like to call Star Wars. The actors played their characters perfectly.
Posted By: C.Drama (Guest) on November 13, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Glengarry Glen Ross is a masterpiece. Superb choice for the top spot.
'The Thin Red Line' has an impressive cast list. As does 'Bobby'. Not that they have a place in this top ten but certainly worth a mention.
I personally cannot stand the Lord of the Rings trilogy but I will have to concur that the cast is pretty meaty.
Posted By: Jeff (Guest) on November 13, 2009 at 03:05 PM
Possibly not to everyone's taste, but Love Actually had a heck of a cast:
Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, Chiwitel Ejifor, Billy Bob Thornton, Emma Thompson, Rowan Atkinson, Bill Nighy, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney and Elisha Cuthbert (and I suppose you could count Denise Richards and Claudia Schiffer at a stretch).
Posted By: Scottie (Guest) on November 14, 2009 at 09:56 AM
I would also like to throw in 12 Angry Men into the pot.
Posted By: Robert (Guest) on January 11, 2010 at 07:45 PM
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