Woody Harrelson in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Woody Harrelson is back on the big screen this week as he reprises the role of Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
Catching Fire is the second of Suzanne Collins' novels to be adapted and is already one of the most anticipated and talked about films of 2013.
It is great to see Harrelson back and we take a look back over his career and pick out the top six films and performances.
- The People vs. Larry Flynt
The People vs. Larry Flynt saw Harrelson take on the role of Larry Flynt in the Milos Forman directed movie.
The movie follows Flynt as he publishes Hustler and his many run ins with the law.
The People vs. Larry Flynt remains one of Harrelson's finest moments as he really does deliver a superb performance - he will grab you attention and hold it all the way until the credits role.
This is an incredibly engrossing biopic movie that looks at both the life and the career of a fascinating man - Flynt became a voice for free speech and publication.
Harrelson went on to be nominated for the Best Actor Oscar - losing out to Geoffrey Rush for Shine.
- The Messenger
One of my personal favourite Woody Harrelson movies came in 2011 when he teamed up with Ben Foster for The Messenger.
The film follows two American soldiers who have the task of informing family of soliders who have been killed in action.
The Messenger is a powerful and intelligent movie that sees both Harrelson and Foster at their very best.
You get to see how this job effects these two characters and yet it never feels fake or contrived in any way.
Harrelson went on to win the Independent Spirit Award, National Board of Review Award and San Diego Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor.
He also picked up an Oscar, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nomination for his outstanding and moving performance.
- Zombieland
Harrelson is as good in comedy movies as he is in serious drama, and Zombieland is a fantastic example of that versatility.
The movie follows Tallahassee (Harrelson) who is has to join forces with Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) to survive a zombie apocalypse.
Directed by Ruben Fleischer, Zombieland is a sharp and very funny zombie movie that is a real film in this genre.
Harrelson is clearly having a fantastic time as the gun-toting, zombie killing Tallahassee and he helps make the film a lot of fun.
- Natural Born Killers
One of Harrelson most iconic and well known movies is Natural Born Killers - hard to believe that next year this movie will be celebrating its twentieth anniversary.
The movie follows Mickey and Mallory (Juliette Lewis) are behind a series of murders that are glorified by the press.
Natural Born Killers was a movie that did divide critics and audiences when it was released - and still does - but it has gone on to be a cult classic.
Oliver Stone is in the director's chair and he has delivered a movie that is a violent and visceral experience. There is a real chemistry between Harrelson and Lewis and this really pushes the film forward.
- Kingpin
Harrelson teamed up with Peter and Robert Farrelly in 1996 for comedy Kingpin.
A star bowler whose career was prematurely "cut off" hopes to ride a new prodigy to success and riches.
This is another movie that split critics - but I happen to think that it is outrageous and hilarious.
The Farrelly Brothers have made some incredibly memorable comedy movies over the year, Kingpin is one of them.
Harrelson really is on great comic form in the role Roy Munson in a movie that is a lot of fun.
- White Men Can't Jump
In 1992 Harrelson teams up with Wesley Snipes for comedy White Men Can't Jump; which was written and directed by Ron Shelton.
Even people who don't like basketball movies will be fans of White Men Can't Jump as this was a fresh take on the sports comedy.
The script is clever and witty and the central partnership of Harrelson and Snipes are just fantastic.
Their partnership works so well as together they are laugh out loud funny.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is released 21st November.
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