3. Gerard Butler 300
Much as you cant expect an award-winning performance when wearing glittering armour, you sure as hell cant when wearing leather speedos. Thats just the law if you look like Michael Phelps in a cape, theres no way the Academys going to come knocking. To Gerard Butlers credit, he knows this, and hes just out to have a rip-roaring good time as Spartan king Leonidas. It doesnt help that the source material is just utter pulp. Cool, good-looking pulp, but pulp nonetheless. Frank Millers efforts on 300 were always light on story, heavy on aesthetic so Butler just had to pick up whatever story bones he could and chew on the ferociously. And my, does he do that. If there was actually scenery beyond the green screen, hed be chewing it with an aplomb not seen outside of Jack Nicholson. This is the Gerard Butler show, and he makes every attempt to festoon it with seething camp rage. What does it matter if the Spartans didnt have Scottish accents? Sometimes, an axe needs to be taken to history, so we end up with heroic good fun like this. To paraphrase the immortal words of Spinal Taps Marty DiBergi, this film goes all the way up to 11, and Gerard Butler is at the centre of this bombast. He only feels two emotions rage and more rage, and bestrides this picture like a shouty colossus. You cant come out of 300 and say you didnt have a good time if you did, theres little more life can do for you.
Edward Owen
Contributor
Durham University graduate and qualified sports journalist. Very good at sitting down and watching things. Can multi-task this with playing computer games. Football Manager addict who has taken Shrewsbury Town to the summit of the Premier League.
You can follow me at @Ed_OwenUK, if you like ramblings about Newcastle United and A Place in the Sun. If you don't, I don't know what I can do for you.
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