Antonio Banderas: 5 Awesome Performances & 5 That Sucked

2. Antonio Benitez - Law Of Desire (1987)

Before he was shephered into Hollywood by Madonna and then Mambo Kings, Banderas' career in Spain was defined by incredibly emotional films and stunningly profound, passionate performances. Law Of Desire is arguably the greatest of his early career.

Directed by Pedro Almodovar, the film is the story of director Pablo Quintero who becomes embroiled in a volatile love triangle with two other men, one of whom - played by Banderas - is dangerously possessive. For all of the controversy over Almodovar's frank and explicit depiction of gay sex, the bones of the film are fairly conventional and unshocking - it just so happens that the familiar feeling story unfolds in a world of colourful, extreme characters.

If anything the end is a little too standard, but along the way Banderas' hand-grenade performance and spiralling behaviour is an itchy, irresistible joy to watch.