3. Roger Sherman Baldwin - Amistad
Having revisited this underrated pic, you come to realise what an engaging performer McConaughey can be. He plays Sherman Baldwin, a young lawyer who specializes in property law recruited by Morgan Freemans Theodore Joadson and Stellan Skarsgards Lewis Tappan, to help free a group of African slaves who mutinied against their Spanish captors and are awaiting trial - all whilst overcoming the language barrier. Just 28 at the time, McConaughey has to not only respectfully portray the real-life Baldwin whilst breathing life into him as a person, but also win the audiences support in the numerous courtroom scenes. Originally ear-marked by Spielberg for a role in
Saving Private Ryan, he instead jumped on-board this very serious-minded and moving drama with a hell of an ensemble (Hopkins, Freeman, Hounsou, Postlethwaite, Skarsgard, Ejiofor) and like in
Tropic Thunder, truly held his own, granting depth to the role without ever being patronising or over-dramatic - despite the weighty subject matter. Another marvellous turn here.