#42 My Must-Watch Film List For Actresses & Actors

04 May 2021 - 11:54 BY Louw

My Must-Watch Film List For Actresses & Actors

I have had these moments where I walk out of the cinema thinking, “that was the role I wanted to play. I wanted to do that.”

What a beautiful and depressing feeling. It’s that pure combination between joy and sadness. The sadness is real, it’s not me being a cry-baby and selfish, it’s me allowing myself to feel and experience.

This feeling makes me want to get in the car after the cinema experience, get back home and immediately start working on my acting craft. It’s a type of inspiration that goes beyond the everyday inspiration but much deeper. It’s that sadness yet joy confusion. Let’s call it a deep-drive. That’s how I know I’m on the right path. I feel that deep drive and I want to take action. I don’t just “want” to, it’s almost like I “have” to.

Maybe you never felt this before and it’s ok, it doesn’t happen often, maybe you have and you know exactly what deep-drive feeling I’m talking about. Well, here is a list of films that made me feel this deep-drive.

Films to watch (in no particular order):

Taxi Driver by Martin Scorsese

Blue Valentine by Derek Cianfrance

Magnolia by Paul Thomas Anderson

Crash by Paul Haggis.

Batman: The Dark Knight by Christopher Nolan

Piano Teacher by Michael Haneke

Brokeback Mountain by Ang Lee

Fight Club by David Fincher

Manchester By The Sea by Kenneth Lonergan

Into The Wild by Sean Penn

Gone Girl by David Fincher

A Knight’s Tale by Brian Helgeland

Whiplash by Damien Chazelle

The Fighter by David O. Russell

Marriage Story Noah Baumbach

These are just a few I will mention, there is probably a few more but I’ll save them for a future post to give you some new films to watch after these.

Try and acknowledge why films make you feel the deep-drive feeling. See if you can identify what makes you feel this deep-drive; certain actresses, film themes, performance choices, director visions, story arcs etc.

When you know what makes you feel, it’s easier to feed that hunger more often. To keep you inspired and growing as an actor.

I always thought that’s the exact metaphor, the perfect metaphor for acting. To go blind, to ignore the danger, and to trust.

Isabelle Huppert

How did you find the technique/tool/advice? Did it work for you? What was different this time? Share with the tribe and let’s keep on creating beautiful, honest and memorable performances. Let’s execute our best selves!

Kind regards

Edwin van der Walt

#42 My Must-Watch Film List For Actresses & Actors

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