My Top 10: Joseph Gordon-Levitt Films

One of the few famous child actors to still make a living in acting. Joseph Gordon-Levitt began his career with various successful TV series such as Dark Shadows, Roseanne and 3rd Rock From The Sun.
During that time he also had a few minor roles in pretty good small budget films and cheesy kids films.

In the first few years of the 2000's, there was little activity from Gordon-Levitt, until in 2004 he returned with an impressive performance in a film that has made my top 10. For the last decade now, Gordon-Levitt has become one of the most popular and sought over young adult actors.
Appearing in a variety of films, from big budget blockbusters, to successful rom-coms and to independent low-budget films, Gordon-Levitt still has many years to come and I am sure his hardcore fans will be excited about that.

My top 10 is pretty good for an actor like Gordon-Levitt, but I can see better films taking its place in the near future. Out of his 52 films, I have only seen 21 of them. I will rank of the ones I have seen and give a short review of each of my top 10:

21) Angels In The Outfield
20) G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra
19) Sin City: A Dame To Kill For

18) Project Power
17) The Night Before
16) Snowden
15) Premium Rush
14) Treasure Planet
13) The Lookout
12) 500 Days Of Summer
11) The Wind Rises

10) Mysterious Skin - The film that re-introduced Gordon-Levitt to the world.

Two young men that have had similar troubled childhoods cross paths and together discover a horrible truth.

It is hard viewing, but Gordon-Levitt's performance reminds us how talented he is.

9) A River Runs Through It - Not on the screen for the majority of the film, but plays a vital role in this terrific and moving drama.

Part of the cast that includes a relatively unknown Brad Pitt at the time, this a terrific story about two sons in rural Montana with two polarizing beliefs. But one thing they have in common, is fly-fishing.

8) 10 Things I Hate About You - A rom-com high school film that is surprisingly charming, witty and has a feel-good tone about it.
Alongside the late great Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles, it tells the story of a new kid (played by Ledger) trying to find a guy to date the meanest girl in school.
The reason for doing this task is so Ledger's character can date her sister, and her sister can only date once this mean girl is.

7) 50/50 - One of Gordon-Levitt's most memorable performances.
Based on a true story, it centres around the a man in his 20's who is trying cope with cancer and aims to beat the disease.
With great supporting performances performances by Seth Rogan, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anjelica Huston, this is a really moving drama that pulls the right amount of heart-strings and plays to the biggest audience possible.

6) The Walk - Gordon-Levitt's latest venture and this time it is with director Robert Zemeckis.

It tells the incredible story of wire-walker Philippe Petit's 'artistic stunt of the 20th century' when he walks on a wire between the World Trade Centre towers.

It is solid story-telling that ends with a jaw-dropping climax.

5) The Trial Of The Chicago 7 - Another thrilling and dialogue heavy thriller from director and writer Aaron Sorkin that tells the story of the shocking true courtroom trial of seven relating to a anti-Vietnam war riot in 1968.

It's a well constructed piece of cinema with a strong ensemble cast with Gordon-Levitt being a big contribution as the leader of the prosecution.

4) Lincoln - Director Steven Spielberg's latest directorial duties sees the story of former American president Abraham Lincoln and hiss mission to abolish slavery.

Gordon-Levitt plays Abraham's son Robert and is a solid support for leads Sally Field and Daniel Day-Lewis who won an Oscar for his performance.

It may not have that pure cinema feeling, but there is still that Spielberg feel to it. It probably has the same feel and tone to War Horse.

3) Looper - One of the big hits of 2012. Directed by future Star Wars director Rian Johnson, Gordon-Levitt stars as a man living in the near future where time-travelling is outlawed and his job to kill off people the mob want dead.

It can get complicated and that is what makes sci-fi's like this entertaining, puzzling and highly enjoyable.

2) The Dark Knight Rises - The third and final part of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy takes place eight years after the Joker's anarchy of Gotham City.
While Batman is slowly coming back into action, a old darkness is returning.
Gordon-Levitt plays a young cop who ends up becoming a vital role into bringing peace back to Gotham City.

1) Inception - Not exactly a performance driven film, but definitely one of the best films of all-time.
Gordon-Levitt's first time with Chrostpher Nolan in this complex sci-fi espionage thriller.
Joseph's character is the right-hand man to the top extractor that has been given the ultimate test of implanting a memory into a person and making them believe it is a real memory.
Probably the most intelligent big budget blockbuster we will ever see.