Tim Burton is a director who made his directorial debut with the featurette, Frankenweenie, in 1984. His full-length debut would be in the following year, with Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. His movies have become known for their quirky misfit characters and memorable aesthetic; many people quickly think of his black-and-white color palette, eerie designs, and whimsical scores from Danny Elfman when thinking of his movies. He has directed 19 movies in his nearly 40-year career, many with frequent collaborators who delivered excellent performances. Here are the best performances in his movies, ranked.
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11 Alan Rickman – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Paramount Pictures
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is an adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s musical about a barber determined to get revenge against all the people who wronged him. Alan Rickman plays Judge Turpin, who falsely convicted Benjamin Barker, sexually assaulted Barker’s wife, and now has Barker’s daughter as his ward. Rickman captures all the depths of Turpin’s evils, from his abuse of the law to his sexual thoughts about his ward. He makes Turpin fully vile and repulsive, a strong villain deserving of the harsh death Todd gives him.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
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10 Vincent Price – Edward Scissorhands (1990)
20th Century Fox
The story about a humanoid with scissors for hands, Edward Scissorhands marks the final performance for legendary actor Vincent Price. With only a few scenes as the inventor who creates Edward, Price brings life and emotion to the movie. The audience can see his love for his creation, and how this kindness is then carried on in Edward. He is a strong presence in Edward’s life, and it’s easy to see how his death leaves Edward lonely. It’s only a small part, but the movie wouldn’t be the same without him.
9 Helena Bonham Carter – Corpse Bride (2005)
Warner Bros. Pictures
The stop-motion movie Corpse Bride focuses on Victor, a young man engaged to Victoria. While practicing his vows, he accidentally marries Emily (Helena Bonham Carter), a dead woman murdered by her fiancé. With solely a voice performance, she gives Emily everything she needs. We can see the anger she feels, along with her heartbreak and loneliness, particularly when she sings about still having tears left to shed. She brings real emotion to Emily’s pain and eventual freedom from her torment.
8 Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz – Big Eyes (2014)
The Weinstein Company
Big Eyes is a biopic of Margaret Keane (Amy Adams), who produced paintings of children with big eyes in the 1950s and ‘60s. However, as the movie tells us, Margaret didn’t get the credit right away, as her outgoing husband, Walter (Christoph Waltz), pretended the paintings were his. The movie is elevated by both actors, who are great together. Adams shows Margaret’s shy nature, and how she falls for Waltz’s charm as Walter; Adams then shows Margaret’s shift into confidence as Waltz brings Walter’s violence to life in tense, heartbreaking ways.
7 Michael Keaton – Beetlejuice (1988)
Warner Bros.
Beetlejuice features Michael Keaton as the title ghost, who helps a deceased couple scare away the new people in their house. Keaton actually turned the role down several times, according to The Hollywood Reporter, before working to create some elements of the character’s now-iconic outfit. He fully embodies the character, from his rude humor to his raspy voice. He’s chaotic and campy, and brings fun to the movie while stealing the show.
6 Ewan McGregor – Big Fish (2003)
Sony Pictures Releasing
In Big Fish, Ewan McGregor plays the young version of Edward Bloom, who tells fantastical stories to his son. While the old version of Edward – played perfectly by Albert Finney – is dying, Will reminisces on all the stories his father told him. McGregor plays Edward for the flashbacks of his stories, showing how Edward came to be the man he is. He’s a charming and likable character to follow through the fantastical settings, grounding it all with emotion. He gives us an understanding of Edward, and makes his reconciliation with Will even more poignant.
5 Danny DeVito – Batman Returns (1992)
Danny DeVito becomes the iconic Batman villain in the sequel Batman Returns, which sees the Penguin take on Michael Keaton’s Caped Crusader. DeVito shows the pain of his origin story, as he was abandoned at the zoo due to his penguin-like features, and then gives in to his evil side. From his rasping voice to his waddling walk, he really becomes the Penguin. Not only does he stand out as a great villain, but he’s also a great character in every sense.
4 Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Johnny Depp takes on the title role in the musical film, while Carter is Mrs. Lovett, who becomes Sweeney’s business partner and puts the people he kills into her meat pies. Depp, with no singing experience, was seen as a risky casting choice. However, he performs the songs well, and does an excellent job showing the pain that went into Sweeney’s anger; he develops the character beyond just a killer. Carter is his perfect match, bringing a darkly humorous touch while effectively showing her own secrets, and both make it an excellent musical adaptation.
3 Jack Nicholson – Batman (1989)
Batman marks the Dark Knight’s first major movie outing since 1966, and Jack Nicholson’s Joker gives him a villain worthy of the occasion. He starts out as crime boss Jack Napier, who appears to be dead after falling into a vat of chemicals. However, he returns as the Joker, and wreaks havoc on Gotham. It’s an outrageous, off-the-wall performance for Nicholson, and created the inspiration for most modern portrayals of the character.
2 Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder – Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Depp plays the scissor-handed Edward in the movie, and falls in love with Winona Ryder’s Kim, the daughter of the woman who brings Edward home after the inventor’s death. With little dialogue, Depp shows all Edward’s innocence and emotions, making him a truly lovable character. Ryder, who grows from scared of Edward to in love with him, also brings the love and emotional aspects the movie needs. They both show the love and loneliness present in this outsider’s tale, making it a deeply emotional movie.
1 Martin Landau – Ed Wood (1994)
Buena Vista Pictures
Ed Wood tells the story of Ed Wood, who would be labeled Hollywood’s worst director. The biopic focuses on when he was making his better-known movies, along with his relationship with Bela Lugosi, played by Martin Landau. Lugosi was a horror acting legend, but by the 1950s, he was forgotten and had developed a morphine addiction. Landau shows both Lugosi’s former glory and showmanship, along with the loneliness and heartbreak of his later years. Landau, speaking with The Baltimore Sun on the movie’s release, said it was a “love letter” to the actor; his moving portrait forms the heart of the movie.
