One actor who has been a dominant force on the awards front in recent years is Sean Penn.
It seems that almost any time Penn stars in a film, he is likely to be nominated for an Academy Award.
I'm not sure if there is bias toward this actor or if he is just that good.
I cannot say I am the biggest fan of Sean Penn as a person, but as an actor? There are few who do it better.
Here are some of my favorite films that he has starred in.
One of my favorite movies starring Penn is Mystic River.
This is a dark film, to say the least, and Penn pulled out all the stops in playing a dangerous father who lost his daughter in a mysterious crime.
Clint Eastwood directed this incredible film.
It is tough to make a list of Sean Penn films without giving mention to the movie that won him his most recent Academy Award for Best Actor In A Leading Role.
That movie was of course, Milk, in which Penn depicted the openly homosexual politician Harvey Milk.
Another great Sean Penn starring film is 21 Grams.
This movie is directed by up and comer Alejandro Gonzalez Inarittu and also stars Naomi Watts and Benicio Del Toro.
In the movie I Am Sam, Penn stars as a mentally retarded father fighting for custody of his young daughter.
This is an incredibly moving film and quite the impressive display of acting by Penn.
It came as little surprise that he was nominated for an Oscar for this role.
Another film starring Sean Penn that I absolutely loved was The Thin Red Line.
This World War II classic was directed by Terrence Malick and also stars Jim Caviezel and Nick Nolte.
An interesting fact is that this movie is based on an autobiography.
These are just some of Sean Penn's best films and a select few of the many that showcase his incredible versatility.