1. Larry Flynt - The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)
There are several really great films about the American justice system: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 12 Angry Men, To Kill A Mockingbird - and The People vs. Larry Flynt. Directed by Milos Forman (Amadeus, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest), the film tells the story of Larry Flynt, founder of the porn magazine Hustler. In particular, it focusses on Flynt's relationship with lawyer Alan Isaacman (Edward Norton) and his numerous court cases, particularly his 1984 libel case against Jerry Falwell (Richard Paul). The People vs. Larry Flynt is an important and enthralling film about the conflict between free speech and taste, what is legal and what is right. It presents as our protagonist a dirty-minded, sleazy, opportunistic drug addict and then makes us root for him against the stuffy establishment who try to manipulate public opinion. Harrelson received his only Oscar nomination (thus far) for his performance as the title character and it isn't hard to see why. It's a performance of great presence and juicy dialogue, and fully deserves the number one spot on this list.
Having reached the very heights of Harrelson's career, let's now take a look at five films where he didn't fare so well...