Even with the large ensemble of terrific actors in The Batman, many people are talking about Colin Farrell's performance as The Penguin as the highlight of the movie. the unrecognizable role is just the latest in a long career of great performance in outstanding movies for Farrell.
Looking at the actor's top-rated movies on Letterboxd, it is clear Farrell has a talent for choosing interesting and entertaining projects that show his versatility. Whether he is the star of the show or in a standout supporting role, Farrell has been a part of some unforgettable movies.
Seven Psychopaths (2012) - 3.57
In his second movie with Oscar-winning filmmaker Martin McDonagh, Farrell leads the fun cast of Seven Psychopaths which includes Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, and Christopher Walken. Farrell plays a struggling screenwriter who finds himself pulled into a real crime story when his out-of-control friend kidnaps a gangster's beloved dog.
The movie is filled with McDonagh's usual dark comedic edge as well as some interesting meta-commentary of the typical Hollywood gangster movies. Farrell is funny as well as a more grounded anchor for the movie's wilder characters.
The War Zone (1999) - 3.61
In one of his first movie roles as a young actor, Farrell joined the harrowing family drama The War Zone. Actor Tim Roth wrote and directed the movie which follows a young boy who learns a dark secret about his own family. Farrell has a small supporting role of a boyfriend of the boy's sister.
The movie is certainly not for all audiences as it deals with very difficult and upsetting subject matter in a very blunt way. However, many found it to be a powerful story elevated by great performances, including Ray Winstone as the father of the family.
The Gentlemen (2019) - 3.64
Even in a smaller supporting role, Farrell can often steal an entire movie as he does in Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen. The British crime-comedy stars Charlie Hunnam as a suave criminal looking to deal with the various dangers threatening his boss' (Matthew McConaughey) marijuana empire.
Farrell has a scene-stealing role as a tough yet kind boxing coach who does everything he can to look out for his young proteges. The movie was a welcome return to Ritchie's roots for fans of his easy projects like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.
Minority Report (2002) - 3.67
For one of Farrell's first Hollywood movies, he had the daunting task of going head-to-head with Tom Cruise in a Steven Spielberg movie. Minority Report is set in a future in which crimes are predicted and stars Cruise as a cop who goes on the run when he is identified as a future murderer. Farrell plays the movie's antagonist, the lawman hunting Cruise down.
Spielberg crafts a thrilling action-adventure better than just about any director and Minority Report is a worthy addition to his incredible legacy. Its inventive sci-fi premise sets the stage for a wildly entertaining and interesting cat-and-mouse story.
The New World (2005) - 3.70
Legendary and acclaimed filmmaker Terrence Malick took on the timeless story of Pocahontas in his historical epic The New World. Colin Farrell plays John Smith, the colonizer who comes to the new world and falls in love with the young Native woman.
The movie is a beautiful and picturesque experience like only Malick can create. Those who are interested in his movies that focus more on the scenery than characters will find it to be another triumph for the celebrated director.
The Killing Of A Sacred Deer (2017) - 3.75
At a certain point in his career, Farrell seemed to move towards very dark comedies with great success. One of the best examples of this kind of career shift is The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Farrell plays a surgeon whose life and family is put at risk when he takes a young man (Barry Keoghan) under his wing.
Writer-director Yorgos Lanthimos is able to make audiences laugh and cringe with each new scene in the strange story. Along with great performances from Farrell and Keoghan, Nicole Kidman is also excellent as Farrell's wife.
The Lobster (2015) - 3.78
Farrell first teamed up with Yorgos Lanthimos for the equally strange dark romance The Lobster. Farrell plays a lonely man looking for love who signs up for an extreme match-making program that goes to great lengths to motivate people to find partners.
Farrell brings a wonderful dry humor and sad-sack personality to his character. He is also supported by a terrific cast including Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly, and Olivia Colman who all help to bring this quirky and surreal story to life.
In Bruges (2008) - 4.00
Farrell's first collaboration with Martin McDonagh was the highly acclaimed crime story In Bruges. Farrell costars with Brendan Gleeson as two hitmen who are forced to hide out in the titular town after a job goes wrong.
Farrell showed a comedic side of his talents that he had not previously been able to show off and it resulted in one of his best performances. His chemistry with Gleeson makes for a wonderful buddy duo and the movie is as hilarious as it is violent.
After Yang (2021) - 4.02
Another of Farrell's most recent roles that is gaining a lot of attention is the sci-fi drama After Yang. Set in the near future, Farrell plays the father of a young girl whose beloved A.I. helper breaks down. As he seeks to repair it, the man begins to see aspects of his life he had grown blind to.
It is an interesting concept to take the sci-fi world of an A.I. robot and use it to delve into an intimate family drama. Director Kogonada was praised for his beautiful visuals as well as the thoughtful story.
The Batman (2022) - 4.27
There are some fans who may have seen The Batman and not even realized that Farrell was in it. The actor is completely unrecognizable under heavy prosthetics as the iconic villain The Penguin as he stars alongside Robert Pattinson's Batman who investigates a deadly conspiracy with The Riddler at its center.
The movie has been praised as a grounded, dark, and engrossing new take on the Caped Crusader. From Matt Reeves stylish directing to Michael Giacchino's epic score to the incredible cast led by Pattinson, many are calling it the best Batman movie of all time.