Charlize Theron turns 40 today, and to celebrate, I’ll run down the roles I’m familiar with. It’s actually appropriate, as her film Dark Places opens today. Unfortunately, it’s not a very good movie. She’s had better roles. The first film I saw Charlize in was That Thing You Do!, but her actual breakout role I haven’t seen in The Devil’s Advocate. From there, she had a lot of misfires, but Hollywood never gave up on her. Eventually, she won an Oscar for Monster (which I haven’t seen), and earned more praise for roles like North Country, Young Adult, and recently Mad Max: Fury Road.
BEST PERFORMANCE
Since I’ve already admitted to not having seen Monster, which I’m sure makes me a terrible person, I have to go with North Country as being her best role. A very close second would be Mad Max: Fury Road.
MOST ICONIC PERFORMANCE
In the film world, I’m sure she’s best known for Monster, but box office returns for Hancock and Snow White and the Huntsman would suggest that more people recognize her from those films.
MOST UNDERRATED PERFORMANCE
The Cider House Rules was the first time I saw talent in Charlize, and its still one of her best roles and films to date.
BEST PERFORMANCE I’VE HEARD WAS GOOD AND HAVEN’T SEEN
I’ve already admitted to not having seen both The Devil’s Advocate and Monster.
WORST PERFORMANCE
Just based on sheer performance, I would go with The Astronaut’s Wife, a mess of a sci-fi thriller that was made before Johnny Depp became Jack Sparrow. She’s got a few doozies on her list, so there are a few correct answers to this question.
ROLES I’VE SEEN:
1) 2 Days In The Valley (1996)
2) That Thing You Do! (1996)
3) Mighty Joe Young (1998)
4) The Astronaut’s Wife (1999)
5) The Cider House Rules (1999)
6) Reindeer Games (2000)
7) The Yards (2000)
8) Men Of Honor (2000)
9) Legend Of Bagger Vance (2000)
10) Sweet November (2001)
11) 15 Minutes (2001)
12) Trapped (2002)
13) The Italian Job (2003)
14) North Country (2005)
15) In The Valley Of Elah (2007)
16) Hancock (2008)
17) The Road (2009)
18) Young Adult (2011)
19) Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
20) Prometheus (2012)
21) A Million Ways To Die In The West (2014)
22) Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
23) Dark Places (2015)
