Ok so John Cusack has never been an actor that has paraded his private life in front of cameras or been one for hogging the limelight. Going hand in hand with that he has always picked roles that he found interesting, yes and some of them have been quite quirky and off the wall, never one to move from blockbuster to blockbuster.
But this week he does step into the world of the big budget movie with Roland Emmerich’s 2012. The movie follows an epic adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors.
So here at FemaleFirst we take a look at some of the John Cusack movies that really should be in your film collection.
- Grosse Point Blank
1997 proved that Cusack was a box office draw as this slick yet dark comedy proved that the actor really was leading man material.
A nihilistically philosophical hit man reluctantly accepts an assignment in Detroit, coinciding with his 10-year high school reunion in the ritzy suburb of Grosse Point, Michigan.
While in town, he tries to patch things up with the girlfriend he abandoned on prom night, avoid being killed by an over-zealous competitor's henchmen, and survive his surreal homecoming.
- Con Air
1997 also saw Cusack step into the blockbuster genre as he teamed up with Nicolas Cage and John Malkovich for Con Air, which was directed by Simon West.
Cameron Poe (Cage) is a highly decorated Untied States Ranger who is given a seven year sentence for killing a man whilst defending his wife.
Eligible for parole Poe can now go home to his wife and daughter, who was born while he was serving his sentence. Hitching a ride on a prison airplane his plans to get home are jeopardised as the criminals, led by Cyrus ‘The Virus’ Grisson (Malkovich), take control of the plane and intend to flee the country.
Poe alerts the officials on the ground of the situation and finds an ally in Marshall Vince Larkin (Cusack) as they try to get control of the situation before the plane is hot down.
Despite the film being met by mixed reviews by the critics Con Air was a big box office success as it went on to gross over $224 million worldwide.
- Being John Malkovich
Charlie Kaufman’s movies are always slightly off the wall and 1999 drama Being John Malkovich was no different.
The movie follows puppeteer Craig Schwartz who discovers a hidden doorway in his office, which turns out to be a portal into John Malkovich’s mind. The portal allows whoever steps through it into the actor’s mind. This leads Craig to ask: How much money can be made out of this?
The movie was a huge critical hit, and has since gone on to become a cult classic.
A string of award nominations came Cusack’s way as he was nominated for an Independent Sprit Award and London Film Critics Circle.
- High Fidelity
200 brought my personal favourite High Fidelity, which is loosely based on the 1995 novel by Nick Hornby, and sees Cusack team up with funny man Jack Black.
Cusack stars as Rob Gordon who struggles to understand women. After getting dumped by his current girlfriend Laura he decides to look up some old flames in an attempt to figure out what he keeps doing wrong in his relationships.
Also co-penning the script Cusack was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Baftas and Writers Actors Guild of America as well as a Best Actor in a Musical of Comedy nod at the Golden Globes.
- Identity
Cusack changed genres again in 2003 with psychological horror Identity, which brought together a great cast of Ray Liotta, John C. McGinley and Amanda Peet.
Stranded at a desolate Nevada motel during a violent rainstorm ten strangers become acquainted with each other, finding that they have more in common than first meets the eye, when they realise that they are being killed off one by one.
2012 is released 13th November
Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in John Cusack