Sam Rockwell's best roles

by GhostTheDireWolf | created - 29 Dec 2013 | updated - 29 Dec 2013 | Public

No real order just 10 great performances from one of the finest actors of his generation

Honorable mentions: Choke, Conviction, Joshua, Frost/Nixon, Iron-Man 2, The Winning Season

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1. Moon (2009)

R | 97 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi

67 Metascore

Astronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels of a resource that has helped diminish our planet's power problems.

Director: Duncan Jones | Stars: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, Dominique McElligott, Rosie Shaw

Votes: 376,815 | Gross: $5.01M

Probably the guys best performance which is no easy feat he really deserved an Oscar nod for this

2. The Way Way Back (2013)

PG-13 | 103 min | Comedy, Drama

68 Metascore

Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park.

Directors: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash | Stars: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb

Votes: 156,892 | Gross: $21.50M

The heart in the film comes from the young lead but the strongest and funniest lines are reserved for Rockwell's character Owen and he steals the show

3. Seven Psychopaths (2012)

R | 110 min | Comedy, Crime

66 Metascore

A struggling screenwriter inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends kidnap a gangster's beloved Shih Tzu.

Director: Martin McDonagh | Stars: Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken

Votes: 274,016 | Gross: $15.02M

Another recent performance but such a strong performance to "out-psycho" Christopher Walken takes serious talent

4. The Green Mile (1999)

R | 189 min | Crime, Drama, Fantasy

61 Metascore

A tale set on death row, where gentle giant John Coffey possesses the mysterious power to heal people's ailments. When the lead guard, Paul Edgecombe, recognizes John's gift, he tries to help stave off the condemned man's execution.

Director: Frank Darabont | Stars: Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt

Votes: 1,408,330 | Gross: $136.80M

Sam Rockwell makes a disgusting character almost likable in another of his great supporting roles

5. Lawn Dogs (1997)

R | 101 min | Drama

When Devon, a 10-year-old girl, forges a friendship with Trent, a 21-year-old outsider who mows the neighborhood lawns, things suddenly get very complicated and private.

Director: John Duigan | Stars: Sam Rockwell, Kathleen Quinlan, Mischa Barton, Christopher McDonald

Votes: 8,570 | Gross: $0.11M

His chemistry with the young Mischa Barton makes this film, the story is awesome too a must see for fans of Sam

6. Galaxy Quest (1999)

PG | 102 min | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi

70 Metascore

The alumni cast of a space opera television series have to play their roles as the real thing when an alien race needs their help. However, they also have to defend both Earth and the alien race from a reptilian warlord.

Director: Dean Parisot | Stars: Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub

Votes: 178,310 | Gross: $71.58M

Maybe your the plucky comic relief Guy? Sam Rockwell definitely was in another scene stealing performance

7. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)

R | 113 min | Biography, Comedy, Crime

67 Metascore

An adaptation of the cult memoir of game show impresario Chuck Barris (Sam Rockwell), in which he purports to have been a C.I.A. hitman.

Director: George Clooney | Stars: Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, George Clooney, Julia Roberts

Votes: 92,021 | Gross: $16.00M

An great portrayal of a real life character he is absolutely fantastic as Chuck Barris

8. Box of Moonlight (1996)

R | 112 min | Comedy, Drama

An engineer finds his first gray hair, takes 6 days off from wife, son and work, rents a car and meets different people.

Director: Tom DiCillo | Stars: John Turturro, Sam Rockwell, Catherine Keener, Lisa Blount

Votes: 6,043 | Gross: $0.72M

The film that really kick-started his career Sam and John Turtorro have a blast in this one

9. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

R | 160 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

68 Metascore

Robert Ford, who has idolized Jesse James since childhood, tries hard to join the resurgent gang of the Missouri outlaw, but gradually becomes resentful of the bandit leader.

Director: Andrew Dominik | Stars: Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker

Votes: 192,874 | Gross: $3.90M

I don't know why but he brings a sadness throughout this film that made me care about his character way more than Brad Pitt and Casey Afflecks characters

10. Matchstick Men (2003)

PG-13 | 116 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama

61 Metascore

A phobic con artist and his protégé are on the verge of pulling off a lucrative swindle when the former's teenage daughter arrives unexpectedly.

Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Nicolas Cage, Alison Lohman, Sam Rockwell, Bruce Altman

Votes: 138,358 | Gross: $36.91M

This one was a toss up either this or Conviction but I seen this more recently and it's fresher in my mind another great supporting role...



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