Movie Review Madness: Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

I don't know about you guys, but I've been tired of the slew of crappy movies that have seemed to inundate cinema for the past few years. Hence, I have been on a constant hunt for good new movies, and unsurprisingly, most of those have come from independent or foreign filmmakers. Don't get me wrong, I love blockbusters. The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, The Avengers, etc. I love action/adventure and fluffy fun too. But it's been rare these past few years to find as many great, original blockbusters and studio films as there used to be (it seems all the original work is going to television). So, to independent films I turn. And in the case of this film by relative newcomer Sean Durkin, I was right.

Martha Marcy May Marlene is an intelligent, emotional, and carefully crafted drama about a young woman who leaves her "home" and reunites with her older sister with whom she has not spoken in two years. Lucy (Sarah Paulson) is confused when her sister, Martha (Elizabeth Olsen), immediately begins acting strange: sleeping all the time, having fits, spouting weird philosophy and walking into her sister's bedroom when she and her husband are having sex. Overwhelmed with Martha's paranoid and evasive behavior, Lucy is at a loss as to what has caused this change in her sister. Fortunately for the audience, through flashbacks, we see that Martha had become involved in a cult in the Catskill Mountains.



Run by the enigmatic Patrick (John Hawkes), this commune-like cult draws Martha in until she begins to experience and witness terrible betrayal and violence. These experiences haunt her constantly as she struggles to acclimate to normal life with her sister again but the task is daunting when one considers the kind of life Martha was leading.

Sean Durkin does an incredible job creating an atmosphere of fear and mistrust, directing his actors to near perfection in locations of simultaneous isolation and intimacy. Slow-burning but effective, Durkin focuses on the emotional journey of Martha herself as we go through her painful memories with her. And unlike lesser filmmakers, Durkin does not fall prey to a one-dimensional portrait of Martha or the cult. There is a sense of realism that pervades throughout the film, helping the audience see how this could happen, how a person would react to normal society after such an experience, and why Martha struggles with mixed feelings over her relationships. Durkin is not interested in portraying a glossy, political drama about a sexy cult a la Jonestown or David Koresh. Instead he gives us a wonderfully human moment, a glimpse into what a single individual can experience in a cult.



The real revelation is this film, however, is Elizabeth Olsen. Light-years beyond her famous older twin sisters, Olsen gives an amazing performance as Martha. Masterfully capturing the various emotions that Martha experiences throughout her journey, Olsen encapsulates the role completely and lets us see - often without words - what Martha is feeling. She's a deft actress and while the whole cast is great, she gives the film its emotional punch. I enjoyed watching her every second and was amazed by her nuanced and mature performance.

Overall, it's a great film: well-written, creatively directed, and filled with wonderful performances. It's a tough subject and not everyone will enjoy watching such a psychological drama, but it's a great example of some of the original and honest film-making that Hollywood can provide. I would definitely recommend this movie and I would say that if you enjoy cerebral, nuanced, but powerful dramas, you'll enjoy this gem.

Grade: A-

Best Chemistry: 30 Couples with the Best Chemistry (Romantic)

Chemistry. It can either break or make a movie. Just think how bad chemistry has ruined some films and their plot-lines (we're looking at you, Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman) and some films have become better because of their actors' chemistry (think Ocean's Eleven and the rapport between George Clooney and Brad Pitt). For this list I looked at romantic film couples and narrowed down a list of thirty couples who made their characters' love stories completely believable and sexy. Their chemistry was so good that we enjoyed watching them and could all buy that they were falling for each other.



30. Keira Knightley and Matthew McFadyen - Pride & Prejudice (2005)

For a film like Pride & Prejudice - an adaptation of a classic romance - if you don't have a couple with chemistry, you're screwed. Luckily, Knightley and McFadyen had a slow-burning and quietly intense chemistry that sizzled underneath their proper English manners. The sexy but appropriately restrained chemistry between these two talented actors fits their characters perfectly because a believable evolution of dislike to love is allowed to take place. Without good chemistry, this film would have failed, but Knightley and McFadyen's rapport is very satisfactory.Watch them.



29. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy - Before Sunrise (1995)

As two people travelling across Europe and happening upon each other one night, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy (who would contribute to the trilogy's scripts), had to be believably attracted to each other. But Delpy and Hawke were beyond believable. It is easy to see how friendship and then love develops between these strangers because of their great chemistry. Bonus: watching their chemistry grow and evolve over the next twenty years in Before Sunset and Before Midnight adds a level of authenticity and maturity to their encounters that has yet to really be rivaled. Here's some proof of that authenticity.



28. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal - When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Aptly considered one of the best romantic comedies of all time, When Harry Met Sally succeeds partially because of the great and comfortable chemistry between its two leads. While their chemistry may not be as sexy or intense as other couples' on this list, it is clear that Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan enjoyed working together and had an easy, believable friendship. Watching the two grow as friends, best friends, lovers, and eventually husband and wife, is a pleasure like that of watching two close and dear friends fall in love.



27. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line (2005)

Like the couple they were portraying, Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon had to have an intense and believable connection that would continuously draw them together. Thankfully, they did and this connection helps raise Walk the Line to another level. As Johnny and June Carter Cash, Phoenix and Witherspoon convince the audience that these two musicians were made for each other, so much so that their love lasted through marriages to different people, addiction, infidelity, and every heartbreak in the music industry. That connection is no more clear than in their scenes together like this one.



26. Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh - Gone with the Wind (1939)

Although Leigh allegedly hated working with Gable (he apparently had horrid breath and liked young Mexican girls), that dislike might have helped fuel their chemistry. To this day, many consider Gone with the Wind as one of the greatest romances and its staying power is in large part due to the emotional and heated rapport between its leads. Even if that rapport was based in some hatred, there's a reason that they say hate and love are close cousins. No one can ever deny the electricity between these two.



25. Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas - Romancing the Stone (1984)

Turner's and Douglas' professional relationship worked so well that they would go on to do three movies together. But in this fun Robert Zemeckis adventure romance, this is where the relationship began. As two of the hottest stars of the '80s, it's not surprising that Turner and Douglas would have good chemistry. But their chemistry is so good that it adds a wonderful balance of sexy romance to the high-flying jungle adventure and comedy. Fun, light, and unabashedly funny, this movie scores as a romantic adventure with two very sexy leads.



24. Colin Farrell and Q'Orianka Kilcher - The New World (2005)

Although Q'Orianka Kilcher was 14 at the time that she filmed this poetic drama with co-star Colin Farrell (who was close to 30), their chemistry is undeniable. Tender, sensual, and heartbreakingly passionate, it is an emotional and erotic experience to watch these two fall in love, even with just the sweetest and most innocent of caresses. That connection is so intense that it only makes it that much harder to watch as John Smith leaves and Pocahontas begins life with her eventual husband, John Rolfe. This is intimacy in its most naked form.



23. Nicole Kidman and Jude Law - Cold Mountain (2003)

Despite only sharing a handful of scenes in this Cold War epic, Nicole Kidman and Jude Law do an amazing job of conveying their characters' passion for each other because of their intense chemistry. I mean that kiss alone is enough to convey the kind of passion that could withstand an entire war.



22. Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper - American Hustle (2013)

This is an interesting relationship on this list, since Adam's Sydney Prosser cons Cooper's Richie DiMaso as part of her scheme with lover and partner, Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale). Still, although Sydney is never really in love with Richie the way he is, their chemistry is still very apparent. The chemistry is so intense actually that there are moments when the audience wonders whether or not Sydney will really leave Irving for the permed FBI agent. This scene definitely makes you wonder.



21. Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke - Reality Bites (1994)

There are always couples that despite it all, can't stay away from each other. This is certainly the case for Ryder's Lelaina and Hawke's Troy, two Gen X adults who try to fight their connection for almost the entire movie, and with good reason. Lelaina is dating a nice, albeit boring, guy (director Ben Stiller) and Troy can never keep a job or a relationship. But despite all their emotional baggage and their respective attempts to self-sabotage their lives, these two characters cannot deny the intense spark that sizzles between them. That spark is so believable because of Ryder's and Hawke's undeniable chemistry.



20. Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

In this smart and taut adaptation of the Swedish crime bestseller, Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist don't seem like an obvious couple. And they certainly aren't. But one of the reasons that I believe David Fincher's version is superior to the original Swedish one (go ahead, bring on the arguments) is because of Mara's and Craig's chemistry. Comfortable, easy, and quietly intense, their rapport is so believable and so sweet that it relieves the audience to see Lisbeth connect so well with a kind and good man after her horrific experiences. Plus, it's very sexy.



19. Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson - Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

Once upon a time, Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson were a couple in real life and all literary nerds were ecstatic. Sadly, the marriage didn't last but their work did and their undeniable chemistry was most apparent in Branagh's wonderful adaptation of the Shakespeare play. As one of the classic and original couples who evolve from mutual hatred to mutual love, it's so much fun to watch these two banter, bicker, and realize their love for each other that it does sadden the audience to know that the two actors didn't stay together. But at least we can watch their wonderful and hilarious chemistry forever in this delightful romantic comedy.



18. Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

In this funny and honest dramedy, Lawrence and Cooper both give fantastic performances as two people suffering with heartbreak and mental illness. But what gives this film so much heart is the relationship that develops between these two, and the chemistry that makes that relationship so believable. That chemistry is clear in the friendship that the two actors seem to have since filming the movie and especially as their characters progress from acquaintances to dance partners to friends to lovers. We can believe that these two help heal each other because of the emotional progression that evolves between them, and the spark that was always there in the first place.



17. Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley - Willow (1988)

In this underrated George Lucas/Ron Howard fantasy, the chemistry between Kilmer and Whalley was so intense that they ended falling madly in love and marrying. The marriage didn't last but that doesn't detract from the fact that these two were clearly smitten with each other, a fact that helps make it believable when enemies Sorscha and Madmartigan start to fall in love. It's the kind of chemistry that's so good you almost feel as if you're spying when you watch them. Spy a little bit here.



16. Richard Gere and Julie Roberts - Pretty Woman (1990) and Runaway Bride (1999)

In both of these rom-coms, Roberts and Gere light up the screen with their wonderful chemistry. In some ways both plots are slightly unbelievable - she's a prostitute and he's her millionaire john then she's a commitaphobe who has made a name for herself by bailing from three weddings and he's the reporter hoping to expose her - but in each film, the attraction and friendship between these two is so apparent that each story becomes a little more believable.



15. Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas - Desperado (1995)

Some actors on this list seem to chemistry with several of their co-stars. Antonio Banderas is one of them, and there's a reason for that. In this fun Robert Rodriguez action film, Banderas and Hayek - who are easily two of the sexiest people who have ever walked the planet - set the screen on fire with their heated and spicy love affair. From the infamous kiss above to their famously sexy sex scene which still has the power to make most of us thirsty, the chemistry is not just there; it's boiling.



14. Alicia Vikander and Mads Mikkelsen - A Royal Affair (2012)

If you haven't seen this Danish period piece, stop reading this and watch it. This is an engrossing and turbulent historical drama about Danish King Christian VII's wife Caroline Mathilde and her historically significant and emotionally resonant love affair with Enlightenment teacher Johann Friedrich Struensee. It's a heady and tragic drama that pulls at the heartstrings, especially because Caroline's and Johann's love for each other is so believable. Lighting up the screen with their intense and potent chemistry, they can't help but make us root for them to have a happy ending.



13. Susan Sarandon and Kevin Costner - Bull Durham (1988)

You might have heard about this classic baseball romance, and if so, probably because the great KFC (Kevin F****** Costner) is sexy as hell. That sexiness is partially due to the great chemistry between him and co-star Sarandon whose character, Annie, has made it her mission to train minor league players in the art of love. But Annie meets her match in Crash Davis and the pair really heat things up when they finally hook up. Even though this movie famously brought Sarandon and Tim Robbins together, it's the chemistry between Sarandon and Costner that wins the day.



12. Madeleine Stowe and Daniel Day-Lewis - The Last of the Mohicans (1992)

For an action adventure about the French-Indian War, this is one hell of a love story. Managing to be more romantic than most romances, this awesome Michael Mann drama becomes a romantic epic through the relationship of Hawkeye and Cora (Day-Lewis and Stowe). We become emotionally invested in their futures and their survival as we watch these two fight for their lives and fall hopelessly in love. What could have been a side story that no one really cared about (especially since Cora dies in the original novel) becomes the emotional focal point of the film. That is all due to the incredible chemistry between Day-Lewis and Stowe whose passion for each other is so believable that we can't help but fall in love. It's so hot that they don't even need words.



11. Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio - Titanic (1997)

Yeah, you knew it was coming... Say what you want about this dramatic epic (some of us still love it) but you can't deny that Winslet and DiCaprio made a great couple. Good friends to this day, the two beautiful actors stole audiences' hearts back in 1997 because of the believable and lovely chemistry that they shared. It would have been hard for this movie to succeed so much if the main leads hadn't had any chemistry, but Winslet and DiCaprio go above and beyond in a way that makes it that much harder when they are forced to part ways. (RIP Jack)



10. Kevin Costner and Madeleine Stowe - Revenge (1990)

You probably haven't seen this tragic crime drama about a man who falls in love with his crime kingpin friend's wife because most people haven't. And frankly, the movie isn't great. But what is great is the blistering chemistry between Stowe and Costner, who star as the two forbidden lovers. Watch it for the sex scenes alone (they are aplenty) which were all improvised under director Tony Scott's blessing and wickedly hot. Don't believe me? Watch and tell me I'm wrong.



9. Eva Green and Daniel Craig - Casino Royale (2006)

In his many years on screen, James Bond has had many, many women. But what sets Vesper Lynd apart from all the others is the fantastic chemistry between Craig and Green. From the moment the pair appear on screen, it's apparent that there's sparks. Those sparks only grow as the relationship between Bond and his first female match develops emotionally and physically until it feels as if Bond will finally get a happily ever after. If you know that this great 007 flick is based on Ian Fleming's first Bond novel, you know that doesn't happen, but at least we get to see this couple for a little while.



8. Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford - Star Wars (1977-83)

One of the classic film couples... Thank God George Lucas made Luke and Leia siblings; otherwise, we would have never gotten to see the best couple in this space odyssey unfold. Antagonistic towards each other well into the second film, The Empire Strikes Back, things begin to change when space's bad boy and Princess Leia begin spending some alone time together. Cue a sexy kiss and the world's pimpest line ever and you've got a classic Hollywood romance. And the reason that romance worked? Fisher's and Ford's spot-on chemistry.



7. Michelle Pfeiffer and Mel Gibson - Tequila Sunrise (1988)

I get it. We all hate Mel Gibson now because he's a racist drunk (although Alec Baldwin is a homophobic drunk and he's not as hated; just sayin'), and this movie is pretty obscure now to most contemporary viewers. But it's worth a viewing, not only because it's a fun and entertaining drug and crime adventure, but because the chemistry between then-hot Gibson and always-hot Pfeiffer is smoking! Whether they're steaming up the hot tub or just bantering, the sparks fly and it's sexy as hell to watch the strait-laced Jo Ann surrender to the charming McKussic. Even this ask-out is hot.



6. Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock - Speed (1994)

Speed 2: Cruise Control didn't just fail because it was on a boat (really?); it failed because Keanu Reeves didn't come back and Jason Patric came in for the sequel. Part of the reason this action thriller is so much fun is because of the playful and sexy chemistry between its two leads who go from complete strangers to lovers all in the course of a few hours. Elevating the film from Die Hard On a Bus to much more, Speed provides a satisfyingly sweet relationship that become emotionally investable and exciting to watch because of the connection Reeves and Bullock so obviously have. That ending still gets me and honestly, I'm still positive that the actors should have gotten together in real life.



5. Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling - The Notebook (2004)

Again, an obvious choice, but a good one! The movie is really flawed and don't get me started on the emotional pornographer that is Nicholas Sparks (you will not see his movies on any of my best lists). But it's hard to deny that this romance has one of the best couples in McAdams and Gosling, whose chemistry was so insane that they went from enemies to lovers in real life. It's exhausting to watch this couple fight and break-up, make-up and break-up, etc., but that's because their passion is so overwhelmingly believable that none of it feels forced. And while the may have not lasted in real life, their connection will be on film forever.



4. Diane Lane and Olivier Martinez - Unfaithful (2002)

Poor Richard Gere... If your movie is going to revolve around a heated affair, the cheaters better have hot chemistry. Fortunately, Lane and Martinez went above the call of duty in this Adrian Lyne erotic thriller. Infamous for its wildly hot sex scenes, Lane and Martinez cannot help but make the audience sweat as they initially flirt and then quickly descend into an affair that's so hot that you have a hard time blaming her. From oral sex in the movie theater to reading some poetry in the bookstore, these two emit flames no matter what they're doing.



3. Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney - Out of Sight (1998)

Entertainment Weekly once asked George Clooney what his favorite scene to film was and he told them it was the infamous trunk scene with Jennifer Lopez in this sexy crime comedy. And it shows. It's probably never been more fun to watch a couple resist their attraction for each other than in this Soderbergh yarn that stands out frankly because of the chemistry between Lopez and Clooney. Like love or faith, chemistry is hard to describe concretely, but in this movie, it's so palpable that the audience can't help but fall under the spell. Thick and heady like fog or humidity, this pair's connection blinds you to everything else but the two beautiful people in front of you.



2. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt - Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

It was the movie that broke up a marriage and began Hollywood's most powerful - and beautiful - couple. Rumors had speculated for months before their action-adventure premiered in theaters that these two were involved, and those rumors only increased when we all saw that indeed, there was something for Jennifer Aniston to worry about. Jolie's and Pitt's chemistry is so smoking hot that it turns what would have been just another predictable action romp into a unforgettable game of cat-and cat that makes even the fights look sexy. What is so cool about this film ten years later, though, isn't just the chemistry, but the knowledge that this began a family and a Hollywood dynasty. Plus, it's fun to imagine that this is how they rumble in real-life. Is it voyeuristic now?



1. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Antonio Banderas - The Mask of Zorro (1998)

Time after time, movie-goers have voted this couple as the sexiest of all time. I couldn't agree more. Even at 8 years old (yes, that is how old I was when I watched this movie in 1999) I responded to the blistering, smoldering heat that ignited between these two. Teasing the audience with moments of classic sensuality and playful naughtiness, Zeta-Jones and Banderas make even the most innocent of moments erotic. They're so believable as a couple that from the moment they set eyes on each other you're rooting for them all the way. And while we're ignore the existence of the heinous sequel, we'll never forget the fire that existed between them in this great movie. They're so hot they can't keep their clothes on.

Here We Go!: First List (50 Sexiest Performances)

To begin my film blog - where you will find reviews, lists, rants, facts, and discussions on everything related to great, good, and really bad movies - I decided to do a list. I am one of the strange weirdos you will encounter once in awhile who enjoys research and making lists. And since I was a child, many of those lists have pertained to movies. That being said, I have not seen every movie ever made (no one has) and everybody - including myself - has biases and preferences. That's why I encourage you all (which may not be that many, tbh) to leave comments. Do you agree? Disagree? Did you think I missed something? If so, let me know.

So, let's get started. Because sex sells, let's start a list of the Sexiest Performances. (In chronological film order.)




1. Amy Adams - American Hustle (2013)

Before American Hustle, not many people would have probably called Amy Adams "sexy." Cute, yes. Pretty, very. But sexy? It's hard to get that label when you play a Disney princess come-to-life who seems as innocent as a lamb. But Adams proved everyone wrong with her deft and wickedly wonderful turn as Sidney Prosser, a con artist who manages to seduce almost every man around her. As Prosser, Adams exudes intelligence, confidence, and a coyness that convinces the audience that she could get away with a lot because she was so charming. And the fake British accent from time to time didn't hurt either.



2. Channing Tatum - Magic Mike (2012)

Most men would look pretty stupid trying to put on a sexy lap dance, but most men aren't Channing Tatum. Maybe it was because Tatum actually was a stripper once upon a time or maybe it was because he truly is a talented dancer. Or maybe it was because he's a terribly handsome man with a beautiful body and a playful confidence that is hard to resist. Regardless, Tatum took a subject that's usually reserved for laughs (think The Proposal) and made it hot. Men and women could sit back and enjoy his command of the stage, knowing that no one would really blame them for lusting after such a talented, talented man.



3. Michael Fassbender - X-Men: First Class (2011)

Although we did get to see Fassbender naked and ravenous in all of his endowed glory in Shameless, Fassbender's magnetic appeal reached a wider audience as the villainously sexy Magneto. It's hard for Fassbender not to be sexy, true, since the man seems to just ignite the screen with his tiger-like gaze, but the stunning German Irishman showed the entire world what they were missing when he donned Ian McKellen's cape and showed us what Magneto was like as a younger man. Perhaps if we had all known he was this hot, we might have been a little more Team Mutant Brotherhood.



4. Chris Hemsworth - Thor (2011), The Avengers (2012), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Oh, dear... None of us were immune when burly, brawling Australian Chris Hemsworth picked up Thor's mighty hammer and swung into our consciousness. Verifiably huge with the body of a god (hehe) and the rugged looks of a lumberjack, Hemsworth was the perfect Viking deity of thunder, bringing to the role not only delicious brawn and strength, but also playful humor with his wide smile and twinkling blue eyes. Plus, he may have the sexiest voice ever on screen, and that's just what a god needs.



5. Mila Kunis - Black Swan (2010)

Deciding who's sexier, Natalie Portman or Mila Kunis, is not an easy feat. But what gives Kunis the edge in this psychological thriller is her flirty confidence and mischievous sexuality. From the beginning, Kunis sets herself apart from Portman's uptight and repressed Nina who has a hard time expressing herself at all, let alone through sex. But Kunis is uninhibited and open in a frank but still sexy way that is so powerful, Nina ends up having a very scandalous sex dream about her. And it's no wonder.
















6. Scarlett Johansson - Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012), The Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Everyone agrees Scarlett Johansson is sexy. Buxom, voluptuous, and dangerously sexy with her husky voice and killer body, ScarJo has been sexy in almost every thing she's done. But what sets apart her role as Black Widow is the fact that she's a superhero first, hot babe second. Black Widow is beautiful and sexy, to be sure, but Johansson brings a tough veracity and strength to the character that assures just as much as it arouses.




7. Chris Pine - Star Trek (2009)

Relatively unknown to most American audiences at the time, Chris Pine took on the huge task of playing Captain Kirk in the J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot in 2009 and blew us all away when he proved to be an incredible action hero. Charismatic, funny, and definitely handsome, Pine managed to wipe away all memory of the chessy William Shatner and brought forth a new Kirk reminiscent of a Han Solo or Maverick: a brash and slightly naughty bad boy who doesn't play by the rules, but gets s*** done. Some of masculinity at its finest.



8. Javier Bardem - Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Spaniard Javier Bardem's entrance into American audience consciousness was nowhere near sexy when the talented actor starred as Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men in 2007. But Bardem pleasantly surprised us all when he took on quite a different role in Woody Allen's sexy romp. This time, Bardem was free to play the sensual and devilishly suave Juan Antonio, a man with so much passion one woman just doesn't do it. Usually, this would make most of us groan, but Bardem is so effective at charming his audience into falling in lust with him, that we give him a pass.



9. Robert Downey Jr. - Iron Man (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), Iron Man 3 (2013), The Avengers (2012), The Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Unlike some of his buffed out, burly co-stars, Robert Downey Jr. oozes sex appeal in a different manner. As the outrageously cocky and quick-witted genius, Tony Stark, Downey's manic but still charming energy brought the playboy superhero to vibrant life. We all knew Downey was sexy (as evidenced in some of his earlier films), but after some years of needed rejuvenation, the sexy class clown has matured into a bona fide sex god who charms the men and women around him with his unbelievable confidence and constant sense of humor. And what's sexier than that?



10. Leonardo DiCaprio - Blood Diamond (2006)

Ignoring the fact that Leonardo DiCaprio was robbed of his deserved Oscar for this role, the movie star's turn as amoral Rhodesian mercenary, Danny Archer, was by far his sexiest. Although we'll always swoon over Jack Dawson, DiCaprio was able to display his matured charisma and sensuality in this role. Showing a complicated man's story of redemption, DiCaprio purrs a perfect South African accent as he throws himself into the passionate and turbulent nature of Archer, a man who seems to just be after money, but has more underneath all the layers. And DiCaprio wears those layers very well.



11. Daniel Craig - Casino Royale (2006)

In reality, James Bond has always been sexy. But Daniel Craig's slightly cold and calculating take on the legendary ladies' man somehow ignited our fires just a little bit more than most of his predecessors. Perhaps it's Craig sizzling coolness that does it; a slow-burn fire that beckons us to search for what's hiding underneath his genteel English propriety. Bond often appears as just a stiff shirt or a mindless killing machine with no feeling, but Craig's controlled brand of masculine sexuality proves to us otherwise.




12. Angelina Jolie - Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

Saying that Angelina Jolie is sexy is like saying the sun is hot. We all know she's gorgeous, and she's got Brad Pitt to prove it. But Jolie's performance as Jane Smith, trained assassin married to competing assassin, John, is notable for her ability to shine through her scorching chemistry with future husband and baby-daddy Pitt. Jolie had perfected the badass babe before as Lara Croft and would reprise the role a few more times, but her game of cat-and-mouse with co-star Pitt reveals that she's more than just an incredibly beautiful woman. She's a vixen who can just as easily fall prey to lust and love.



13. Christian Bale - Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

In his essence, Batman is sexy. But Christian Bale's version of the Dark Knight added a little something more to the role than Keaton, Kilmer or Clooney did. Bringing a focused intensity to the role that often came off as just boredom with his predecessors, Bale made Bruce Wayne a complicated but dedicated man with normal human needs and desires as well as strength and leadership. Channeling that intensity into a superhero who wears black leather and can do push-ups on a whim, Bale made Batman/Bruce Wayne earth-shatteringly sexy in that brooding, damaged but noble way that only Batman can be.



14. Elisha Cuthbert - The Girl Next Door (2004)

If you're playing a porn star, being sexy is going to be a requirement. Still, Elisha Cuthbert forgoes the trashy Showgirls model that lesser women have chosen (*cough Elizabeth Berkley cough*) and goes for a more nuanced, innocent sexy that makes Cuthbert's Danielle a little more mysterious and a little less standard. This is the kind of girl that is stunning and does ooze sex appeal, but can also believably fall for the good-boy-next-door. Mystery, indeed.



15. Gerard Butler - The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

Before he slayed Persians as the indomitable Leonidas in 300, Scotsman Gerard Butler slayed hearts as the tortured, brilliant, and wickedly sexy Phantom. Crazy? Yes. Disturbed? Yes. Obsessive? Yes. But erotic? YES. Bringing a dangerous but magnetic sex appeal to the titular character that had eluded many great Broadway stars, Butler made audiences reconsider whether they thought Christine should really be with Raoul or not. Confronted with the sensual masculinity and artistic sexuality that Butler displayed, Raoul didn't seem like such a great choice after all.



16. Monica Bellucci - The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

European audiences knew who the Italian model/actress was before the Matrix sequel, but American audiences got a taste of the beauty's appeal finally when she planted one on Neo. Regal, statuesque, and built like Aphrodite herself, Bellucci has been called the sexiest woman in the world, and with good reason. As Persephone in the sci-fi series, she seduces with a mere lift of her eyebrow, tantalizes with a lift of her chin, and arouses with even her cool appraisal. The power of Bellucci's performance is that she is a seductress without even saying a word.



17. Diane Lane - Unfaithful (2002)

As the bored housewife who falls under the erotic spell of a French bookshop keeper (who ain't so shabby himself), Diane Lane explodes on the screen. Letting us see the fall of a woman as she succumbs to the seductions of her future lover is as captivating as Lane herself. At first nervous and afraid, reserved and shy, Lane shows how a woman used to bottling up her sexuality can unleash it like a storm, progressing from timidity to sexual turbulence. Lane makes the audience breathless as her chemistry with co-star Olivier Martinez ignites the screen and gives us a glimpse of just how intense a mom's sexuality can be.



18. Viggo Mortensen - The Lord of the Rings (2001-03)

Some men leave others in the dust, and some men just leave others far, far back in the desert. As the reluctant leader whose quiet strength and humble intelligence make him more than magnanimous, Viggo Mortensen also brought a sizzling sex appeal to the lone ranger from the north. Breathtakingly beautiful but also fiercely masculine, Mortensen plays Aragorn like a lion who sees no need to prove his ferocity until it is needed. Fortunately for us, that ferocity extends beyond the battlefield and into the bedroom where his long-time lady love, Arwen, waits for him. If only we could have seen more of that wild ferocity.



19. Rebecca Romijn - X-Men (2000), X2 (2003), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Most of us would not look good with blue makeup, red hair, and yellow eyes, but then most of us don't look like Rebecca Romijn. As the mutant Mystique who can transform into any one, Romijn managed to make the alien look pretty damn sexy. Perhaps it's the fact that Romijn was a model who could pull off the blue body makeup, or maybe it's because Romijn brings a wild, feline sexuality to the character that we just don't manage to get with Jennifer Lawrence. Either way, being bad never looked so good.



20. Hugh Jackman - X-Men (2000), X2 (2003), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Hugh Jackman has been playing the original lumbersexual Wolverine (or Logan, if you prefer) for 15 years now, and he's only gotten better. Instead of following the original comic book character to a tee, Bryan Singer and friends decided to go for a much beefier and taller version of the tortured mutant, and aren't we happy. As Wolverine, Jackman is able to put his overwhelming but devastatingly attractive masculinity on display with ease. It's hard to imagine who else could play the gruff and often closed-off but noble and ultimately loving superhero who can kick serious ass, but it's safe to say that Jackman nails it. Brawny, rough, and wildly passionate, Jackman's Wolverine never fails to arouse audiences.



21. Elizabeth Hurley - Bedazzled (2000)

Many actors have played the devil over the years - De Niro, Pacino, Mortensen, etc. - but no one has made the Lord of Hell hotter than Elizabeth Hurley. Playing up this comedy of modern-day take on Faust, the producers decided to opt for the outrageously sexy Brit Hurley in order to prove just how easily this Satan could tempt an ordinary guy. Kudos to them; they were right. Hurley's killer body, naughty sense of humor, and delicious British accent make her a hell of Lucifer, and we all understand why Brendan Fraser would be so susceptible to her manipulation.



22. Johnny Depp - Chocolat (2000)

Before Pirates of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp was another sexy pirate. Playing the seductive but kind-hearted love interest of Juliette Binoche in this sensual rom-com, Depp hits all the right notes as the wandering "river rat" Roux. Depp was made for this role and it shows as he deftly and slyly gets under our heroine's skin, all with the grand scheme to simply love her. Playing up his exotic good looks and easy but relaxed confidence, this charmer melts the screen and ups our temperatures.



23. Russell Crowe - Gladiator (2000)

Oh, Russell... Before this seriously talented but very hot-headed New Zealand actor put on some of the pounds and chose some poor movie roles, he ignited the screen in his best and sexiest role yet. As the powerful Roman general, Maximus, who sees his life ripped apart in front of him after the betrayal of his new emperor, Crowe is exquisite. But not only are his acting chops totally up to par. Crowe's command of the role goes beyond the noble hero and shows us the devastatingly sexiness of such a dedicated and honorable man. Of course, it didn't hurt that at the time Crowe was also terribly hot with his strong body, deep leonine voice, and fiery demeanor. It's hard not to fall in love with this character when he steps on the screen.



24. Catherine Zeta-Jones - The Mask of Zorro (1998)

It's a toss-up on whether Catherine Zeta-Jones was sexier in this great action romp or Entrapment (cue laser scene), but I decided to go with the role that really showed off her appeal. Zeta-Jones' sexiness in this film is certainly aided by her scorching chemistry with co-star Antonio Banderas (some of the best onscreen ever), but the Welsh goddess would still be fine without it. Sporting a Spanish accent and a fiery attitude, this dark-haired beauty plays all of Elena's moments with unbridled sex appeal, whether they're innocent, erotically curious, or dangerously aroused, and no one is immune.



25. George Clooney - Out of Sight (1998)

Another film aided by its' leads' crazy chemistry, this Steven Soderbergh crime caper features George Clooney's sexiest performance ever. It's a bold statement to be sure, but it's completely earned as the modern-day Cary Grant plays a criminal falling for the US Marshall assigned to put him back in prison. Utilizing all of his easy charm, smooth confidence, and undeniable sex appeal to break down Jennifer Lopez' defenses, Clooney also seduces the audience as he convinces everyone that this time it might be worth it to sleep with the "bad guy." That car trunk scene alone... Whew.



26. Antonio Banderas - The Mask of Zorro (1998)

It's hard to include Catherine Zeta-Jones performance on this list and not include her co-star's. In his best role to date, the walking sex god, Antonio Banderas, takes us back to the sexy days of yore as the swashbuckling, lady-killing, smooth-talking Zorro. It may seem unfair to we mortals when Banderas has in his arsenal devastating Latin looks, the sexiest Spanish accent, and some serious moves, but getting to watch Banderas fight bad guys and win seduce Zeta-Jones is plenty enough to settle us.



27. Linda Fiorentino - The Last Seduction (1994)

Sultry, seductive, and smoking Linda Fiorentino lights up the screen in this neo-noir caper. As the manipulative villainess in this crime drama, Fiorentino uses the men around to her search and destroy as she sets out to get her money, whatever the costs. With a lesser actress it would have been easy to play the role almost too sexy and over-the top, but Fiorentino uses her nonchalance and IDGAF attitude so superbly that even the audience is a little seduced by her mind games. Sex is this woman's weapon, and she's good at using it.



28. Brad Pitt - Legends of the Fall (1994)

Phew, okay, let's prepare ourselves for a minute because it's safe to say that this is one of the sexiest performances to grace the screen ever. As the damaged, tortured, and (for some of the movie) emotionally unavailable Tristan, Brad Pitt shines like the golden god that he is in this film. The long mane of sun-kissed beauty, the dazzling smile, the face... Though Tristan is one of the most heartbreaking and often frustrating characters on screen, Pitt's golden beauty and irresistible charm wash away all of his character's faults as he lives, laughs, and loves with the power and passion of a hundred men. That sex scene alone is enough to knock you over.



29. Salma Hayek - From Dusk Till Dawn (1994)

She didn't have to do much for her short screen time in this vampire flick, but spicy Salma Hayek still managed to make quite the impression. Before transforming into her creepy monstrous self, this voluptuous stunner stole audiences' breaths away as she gave a little dance for her soon-to-be victims. The power of Hayek's performance lies not only in the fact that she's out-of-this-world sexy, but that she knows it and knows that men will do just about anything to be with someone as tantalizing as her.

 

30. Demi Moore - Disclosure (1994)

Oops. In this otherwise forgettable Michael Crichton adaptation, '90s superstar Demi Moore leaves a memory as the sexually aggressive and out-for-blood femme fatale, Meredith, who tries to seduce her former flame (and now current employee). Moore's unabashed sexiness is most apparent in the infamous seduction scene where she manages to get Michael Douglas to cheat on his wife, even if they don't completely consummate their rendezvous. Although she's definitely the film's villain, it's hard to see how any man could resist such a sexually confident and erotically charged woman, especially when she looks like Demi Moore.



31. Johnny Depp - Don Juan DeMarco (1994)

So nice we had to put him on twice. Portraying the world's most legendary lover (behind Casanova, I guess), Depp once again heats up the screen as the sexy and sensual Don Juan. Unlike his performance in Chocolat, however, Depp is more explicit about his charms, proving in the film's first scene that he can give a woman the greatest pleasure she will ever know. While some would overplay the sometimes comic character, Depp manages to make Don Juan always look sincere, a feat that only seems to add to his sensual bravado.



32. Michelle Pfeiffer - Batman Returns (1992)

Forget Anne Hathaway. Batman was brought to his knees in this Tim Burton sequel when gorgeous Michelle Pfeiffer took up the whip and became Catwoman. Donned in black leather and armed with a killer attitude (pun intended), ice queen Pfeiffer slays it as the seductive villainess who makes Batman second-guess whether or not he can fight the woman who might be his match. Only Pfeiffer could handle such an intense role that other women have either bombed (Halle Berry) or merely underwhelmed us (Hathaway) with. But whether she's dancing as Selina Kyle or licking Michael Keaton's face, no one can deny Pfeiffer's crazy sex appeal in this performance.

33. Daniel Day-Lewis - The Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Daniel Day-Lewis is not a regular heartthrob like some of his peers, but this character actor melts the screen as the tracker Hawkeye. Perhaps it's Day-Lewis' intensity and authentic beauty that make him so perfect for the role, but whatever it is, he seamlessly takes on the persona of a man so loyal and so dedicated to the woman he loves, that he'll fight to the very end to save her. Sizzling with an undercurrent of wild sensuality and fierce passion that we only catch glimpses of, Hawkeye makes all women watching hope for a man like him.



32. Sharon Stone - Basic Instinct (1992)

An obvious choice, but a great one at that. Sharon Stone became a mega-star after crossing and uncrossing her legs and showing the world what was lying between. Similar to Demi Moore's blatant and aggressive sexuality but with a cooler edge, Stone became the sex symbol/femme fatale of the 1990s with her dangerously erotic and confident performance. When she's not seducing her interrogators or f****** with Michael Douglas' mind, Stone is always one sexy step ahead, never letting anyone get the better of her. And while we may never know if she was the killer or not, we don't care as long as we get to watch her.



33. Madeleine Stowe - Revenge (1990)

In this little known Tony Scott thriller, very underrated Madeleine Stowe (so underrated that it was impossible to find a gif), is the beautiful and mistreated wife of crime kingpin Anthony Quinn until his friend Kevin Costner comes into the picture. Chemistry ignites quickly and temptation proves too much for the illicit lovers who end up in a heated affair so hot their car can't take it (look it up). Stowe proves that she hasn't gotten the attention she deserves with her incredible beauty, soft femininity, and open sensuality in this melodrama, and it's worth the watch. Try not to be entranced with this ravenous gem as she finally experiences the passion she needs.



34. Kevin Costner - Bull Durham (1988)

Easily one of the sexiest movies of all time, this classic tale about love and minor-league baseball features an iconic sexy performance by Kevin Costner. When he's not seducing the audience with his speeches about "long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last for three days," he's making love to Susan Sarandon all night and painting her toenails after. While Sarandon and Tim Robbins were the couple to fall in love on the set, Costner was the one to make our hearts race as he patiently waited for Sarandon to come to her senses and choose the man who could really rock her world.



35. Kelly LeBrock - Weird Science (1985)

It's not surprising that if a pair of teenage boys used their computer to create an ideal woman, she would probably look like Kelly LeBrock. Before her career and looks hit some rough patches, she rocked it as the Barbie come-to-life in this '80s classic. Playful, outrageously sexy, and ready to have some fun, LeBrock does a perfect job of embodying every teenager's fantasy. Whether she's taking a shower or turning Bill Paxton into a literal pile of s***, LeBrock's sexy performance still manages to make us want to become scientists.



36. Rebecca De Mornay - Risky Business (1983)

"Are you ready for me, Ralph?" With just those six words, Rebecca De Mornay brought fantasy to life as the prostitute with a heart in gold, Lana. As the prostitute of Tom Cruise's dreams, the job description calls for a certain sex appeal, but de Mornay's ethereal beauty and unworldly sexiness add a hint of mystery to the actress. Unattainable and attainable all at once, de Mornay manages to toe the line of being the woman a man can only ever dream about and the girl-next-door who just wants to be loved.



37. Jessica Lange - Tootsie (1982)

We can certainly see why Dustin Hoffman stayed in drag for so long. Watching Michael Dorsey pine after the effervescently lovely Jessica Lange is completely understandable since she may possibly be the most charming creature on the planet in this classic comedy. Working out the kinks of her life as she works alongside her secret co-star, Lange cannot help but be effortlessly sexy with her breathy whisper of a voice, Nordic beauty, and kind, almost innocent demeanor. And though she's no frank sexpot like Demi Moore or Sharon Stone in this performance, she manages to seduce us all with a wink and hint of her tantalizing sensuality.



38. Phoebe Cates - Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Funny how one scene in a teen comedy could become such an iconic classic with just Phoebe Cates and a little red bikini. As another fantasy sequence that perfectly encapsulated the dreams of teenage boys, this moment is so memorable because of '80s it-girl Cates. Flashing a dazzling smile as she rises out of the water and showing her gorgeous body as she slowly unclasps the front of her bikini, what man wasn't a slobbering fool at the sight of her unveiling? Never has the girl-next-door been so sexy.



39 Harrison Ford - Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

The original action hero... Before he was one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, he was stealing hearts as the rogue professor always out for adventure. With his deep baritone voice, tall, masculine body, and carefree approach to it all, it's hard not to fall in love with the adventurer as he traipses around the world looking for treasures and saving the world. It's a testament to Ford's performance as Jones that even after all the years and the knowledge that Ford is quite old now, that he still summons fantasies of an educated explorer who just wants to show us the world.



40. Kathleen Turner - Body Heat (1981)

You should be able to consider yourself pretty damn sexy if you can get a man to throw a chair through the window in order to have sex with you. But then it's always been easy to consider Kathleen Turner in this steamy neo-noir. In this update of Double Indemnity, Turner burns up the screen as the manipulative but seductive Matty who will use any poor schmuck to get ahead, and does a pretty sexy job doing it. It's certainly not improbable that Turner's performance might have inspired many others on this list.



41. Harrison Ford - Star Wars (1977-1983)

Who's scruffy looking? Not this guy. Ford wins another spot on this list with his cocky, charming, and cool performance as Han Solo. Whether it's hanging with everyone's favorite Wookie or flirting with Princess Leia, Ford's fun take on the space outlaw still stands up as one of the sexiest. The perfect foible to strait-laced Luke and prim Leia, Ford manages to be the clown and the heartthrob all at once, especially when he's giving the best response to Leia's declaration ever.



42. Robert Redford - The Way We Were (1974)

Before Brad Pitt, Robert Redford was Hollywood's golden boy. In this tumultuous and often frustrating romance, Redford plays the impossibly handsome Hubbell. Wrong for each other in so many ways, it's the power of Redford's sexy performance that we continue to root for him and Barbra Streisand. Flawed, conflicted, and sometimes self-absorbed, Hubbell still manages to be heartbreakingly sexy because of Redford's confident ease and boyish charm. Though we know in our hearts that they'd never work out, we still yearn to see Streisand be with her dream man, even if he's a lot more real than we imagined.



43. Jane Fonda - Barbarella (1968)

Even after almost fifty years later, Jane Fonda still rules the universe as the vivacious Barbarella. This camp classic gave the world a tantalizing taste of just how sexy Ms. Fonda could be when she was in silver leather and go-go boots, before the spandex. At a time when the sexual revolution was starting to sweep the nation, it was still a big deal for Fonda to play such a - at the time - blatantly sexual woman. But the world saw what it was missing and Fonda quickly became a bona fide sex symbol.



44. Ursula Andress - Dr. No (1962)

James Bond has encountered a lot of sexy women in his long career, but it's hard to compete with one of the original Bond goddesses. From the moment that she emerges from the ocean in her white bikini and pair of lovely seashells, Bond was just one of the millions of men to drop their jaws. Though Andress didn't have as illustrious of a career as some of her other Bond successors, she still remains the pinnacle because of her effortless sex appeal in this 007 classic.



45. Anita Ekberg - La Dolce Vita (1960)

Federico Fellini gave the world an incredible gift when he placed the ethereal Anita Ekberg in the Trevi fountain. A dream woman come to life, Ekberg's overwhelmingly erotic performance as Sylvia is almost too much to handle. Devastatingly beautiful and mysterious as a dream itself, Ekberg captures the essence of fantasy as she seduces and fascinates Marcello Mastroianni. But can anyone blame him? Even in black and white, Ekberg's vibrancy shines through like magic.



46. Marilyn Monroe - Some Like It Hot (1959)

Though she couldn't not be sexy in anything she did,Marilyn Monroe was probably at her peak in this classic comedy as a boozy floozy with a heart of gold and a penchant for the wrong kind of man. Monroe never ceases to charm in this classic comedy whether she's sneaking a sip of her flask or performing in one of her knock-out dresses, and with the help of her chemistry with Tony Curtis, we get to see a multi-dimensional, adorable, and breathtakingly sexy performance by the original sex symbol herself.



47. Charlton Heston - Ben-Hur (1959)

It's hard to resist the raw masculinity of such a Hollywood powerhouse like Charlton Heston. This classic hunk is at his best in this epic drama where his manly sexuality and imposing figure really work for Judah Ben-Hur, a wronged man on the hunt for revenge. From the famous rowing scene to his run in the chariot race, Heston never fails to hold the audience captive with his intense gaze and hot-burning passion. Even when he's at the end of his rope, it's hard not find Heston wildly attractive.



48. James Dean - Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

Setting up an ideal that continues to hold up for teenagers everywhere, James Dean became a pinnacle of sexiness with his effortless and undeniably sensual performance as Jim Stark. Though the story is now tired and some aspects of the classic teen drama are dated, Dean still remains an icon because of his emotionally turbulent and soulful take on a classic character. Wise beyond his years with a certain somberness that only adds to his romantic melancholia, Dean is the essence of cool as he plants an indelible image of what every lonely teenager dreamed of being or wanted.



49. Marlon Brando - A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

It's quite impressive that even as a good-for-nothing, lousy, and inappropriate guy like Stanley, Marlon Brando still managed to melt the screen with his aggressively masculine and sexually scalding performance. Tennessee Williams had a unique ability to create some dangerously flawed characters who could still manage to charm, but Brando's intimidating bravado and fiery demeanor made Stanley more than just charming; he made him desirable, a feat when one considers just all of the harm Stanley did.



50. Rita Hayworth - Gilda

There's a reason Stephen King wrote about this dynamite performance. Blowing all other women out of the water, Rita Hayworth set the bar extremely high with this delightfully sexy, sassy, and smart role which inspired legions of women and left all men drooling. One of the most significant aspects of Hayworth's bold performance is the fact that this film was released during the Hays Code when most whispers of sexuality got a major cut. But perhaps Ms. Hayworth was just so enchanting that even Hays himself couldn't resist her delightful and irresistible sex appeal.

So, thoughts? Did I leave anyone out? Do you agree with some, all, or none? Let me know!