Gerard Butler: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

2. Sam Childers - Machine Gun Preacher (2008)

Director Marc Forster returned to directing after the disappointing Quantum of Solace with this so-so film, which was slightly rescued by a very good performance by Gerard Butler. Based on a true story, the film follows a criminal biker turned born-again Christian who travels to the Sudan to help build an orphanage.

It's a film that lacks focus but finds a strong central performance from Butler, who brings with him a real sense of conviction to the role of Sam Childers. He does well in covering all the opposing bases of the character, from the drug-addled biker to the good samaritan.

The film relies on Butler to believably bring us to Childers' breaking point, where he resorts to violence to defend the kids in his care, and the actor ably succeeds in doing so. As it happens, his best talent turned out be bringing earthy authenticity to his roles.

1. Tullus Aufidius - Coriolanus (2011)

Not enough people saw Coriolanus, and it's a damn shame. Ralph Fiennes boasted not only an assured hand behind the camera but a real knack for bringing Shakespeare to life. More than that, he brought Shakespeare kicking and screaming into the 21st Century.

Coriolanus is the based-on-a-true-tale of a returning Roman general (Fiennes, rubbing his ego - but that's okay) who, successful on the battlefield, runs for office and is elected. His unpopularity sees him exiled, where he allies with his former enemy, Tullus, played by Gerard Butler.

Butler is on absolute form here, giving a searing intensity to each and every one of his dramatic line readings, thoroughly selling the 'frienemy' status Tullus has with Coriolanus, and firmly silencing any naysayers who would have thought that he was unable to pull off Shakespearean dialogue.