Jack Nicholson is my favourite actor. He might not be the best actor on the planet (De Niro, perhaps?), but he is colourful, he has integrity, and he is far more versatile than most people give him credit for. (Most people just see the eyebrows and the grin, and never explore his more interesting films.)
Out of sheer fanaticism, I have sat through 35 of Jack's films. Of the 22 that I haven't seen, there are very few titles that the layman will recognise. So, with pretension to being something of an expert, I thought I'd list ten that I think everyone should see:
Five Easy Pieces (1970)
Jack’s best role, and because I like Jack so much, it’s my favourite Jack movie, even if the story of One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest has a more obvious appeal. Jack plays the man who doesn’t belong, better than he does in any other film.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
McMurphy vs. Ratched is the greatest character conflict of any film ever made. This is a wild and unpredictable Jack, but also one who acts well and brings forth emotional flavour from the source material.
Chinatown (1974)
Intricate plot, cool noir-ish style, attention to detail, Jack being cool and vulnerable at the same time in a serious movie… this is as good as it gets, not that phoney James L Brooks trash he made with Helen Hunt.
The King of Marvin Gardens (1972)
For hardcore Jack fans only, this isn’t crowd-pleasing iconic ‘Here’s Johnny’ hysteria. This is a thought-provoking character-driven art house film that deserves far more recognition than it has received.
The Last Detail (1973)
Combine the wild and unpredictable Jack with a razor sharp Robert Towne (Chinatown) screenplay and this is what you get. Jack is almost as funny and vociferous as he is in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.
About Schmidt (2002)
Character deviation for the great man here, proving he can play an old loser as well as he plays a young rascal. Career-wise, this was a step in the right direction.
The Pledge (2001)
Another good recent role. A solid thriller without any superficial nonsense, this film focuses on Jack in a darker and more subdued role than those to which he is accustomed.
Anger Management (2003)
Stupid and contrived, but extremely funny. Jack lets rip in this one, working his inventive lexicon and facial quirks to full effect. Jack owns this movie: Sandler looks bland by comparison.
Carnal Knowledge (1971)
Male chauvinist slimeball Jack in its infancy. (For more of that, see pretty much any of his eighties movies.) While his character is entertaining on the surface, a sad emptiness lurks beneath. A strong early performance.
The Shining (1980)
The film is as good a showcase of Kubrick’s imagery as any, but it’s not as scary as people make out. The blood in the elevator, the crumbling old woman, and other bizarre images are frightening. Jack is good at being insane, but he’s Jack, so it’s more funny than scary.
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