On August 19th, Natalie Portman’s directorial debut finally premiered in U.S. theatres with little to no fanfare. To celebrate the momentous occasion, I decided to compile a list of Portman’s best films to date. This was quite an undertaking for me. When I was eight, Natalie Portman was the reason film first came alive for me. Until then I had enjoyed a passing appreciation of cinema, but that all changed when I realized one actress could inhabit so many different roles so convincingly. I fell in love with films and the process by which they are made. I ravenously viewed Portman’s entire filmography as quickly as I could. Understandably, I feel a long-held loyalty to some of Portman’s earlier work because I have known it since my childhood. That combined with the fact that she has starred in nearly forty films made ranking her movies a formidable and daunting task, so I compromised. Below, you’ll find a definitive ranking of Natalie Portman’s ten best movies. Naturally, I grappled with some of the decisions that made this list. Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium was especially hard to leave off, but I just could not find a place to rank it. In addition, this is a ranking of the films themselves and not just Portman’s performance in each of them. Now, without further adieu, onto the list:
10. Heat. With an all-star cast of everyone from Al Pacino to Ashley Judd to Val Kilmer, Heat is an amazing film. Heralded in the media as being the “showdown between Pacino and De Niro” that people had been waiting for since The Godfather, Heat delivered with amazing performances, stellar crime spree scenes and complex, convoluted characters. A young Natalie Portman somehow managed to steal every scene she was in as the disgruntled and disillusioned stepdaughter of Pacino’s character. It was obvious then that the young actress was a force with which to be reckoned.
9. Mars Attacks! Once again, an ensemble cast poised this film for greatness from it's outset. Portman--pre-Star Wars, mind you--stars as the first daughter in a uproarious sci-fi spoof. Having the queen of Naboo and Marty McFly themselves mock the genre that made--or in Portman’s case, would make--them household names is especially satisfying. The humor is both witty and ridiculous. Jack Nicholson and Glenn Close make a very convincing first couple. With a plethora of quotable lines and hilarious stars, Mars Attacks! deserves to be considered as classic as some of the films of which it pokes fun.
8. V for Vendetta. I really tried to think of a worthy summary for V for Vendetta but I just can’t. It’s one of those films everyone needs to see at least once, and it also demands to be seen more than just once. The action is intense, the story compelling, the themes inspiring. V for Vendetta seems to become more and more relevant with each passing year. Though Natalie Portman’s faux British accent fades in and out at times, the strength and importance of the film never does. It is resolute and unrelenting, much like the titular V.
7. Leon: The Professional. This is the film that started it all. Natalie Portman was only eleven for most of the filming of her debut picture. Albeit, there’s something decidedly more mature in her portrayal of Mathilda. It’s worth noting that twenty-two years and nearly forty films later, The Professional is still one of the ones of which Portman is most proud, and it is widely regarded as one of her best films by fans. There’s just something nuanced and special about her role in this movie. The film is haunting, heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once.
6. Star Wars: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith. It physically pains me to rank this so low, but it’s just a testament to how great the rest of Portman’s filmography is. The Star Wars movies are like my children. I love them dearly, so I’m always going to be biased towards them. I tried to avoid including any of them to keep some semblance of fairness. Still, Portman’s final turn as Padme Amidala has to be given credit. By this point in the saga, and in her film career, Portman has really come into her own creatively. She’s no longer as timid or stoic as she was in some earlier roles. She’s also given more versatile material. She goes from happy expectant mother to despondent politician and wife in a believable and saddening progression. She also delivers the best line of the prequel trilogy. Just try not to get chills, gasp or do both when she declares how liberty dies.
5. The Other Boleyn Girl. Talk about versatility. Portman is more often than not known for playing the innocent, practical type. At least, that was the case prior to her starring in The Other Boleyn Girl. Here, she completely inhabits conniving and ambitious Anne Boleyn so effortlessly it hardly seems like she is even acting. Her easy chemistry with Scarlett Johansson makes the movie all the more enjoyable to watch. This film really doesn’t get enough credit. It’s beautifully done, with nearly every scene being shot from a window or through a cracked door to emphasize the covertness of the events unfolding. The casting is impeccable. The costumes are perfect. The story is evenly paced and exceptionally acted. My family once watched this movie in its entirety and then rewound it and immediately watched it again. It’s just that good.
4. Anywhere But Here. This movie will always hold a very special place in my heart. It’s just so real. The characters feel like people. Something about this film has ingrained itself within me. I can’t hear state capitals mentioned without the opening scene playing out in my head. Susan Sarandon is as wonderful as ever. The way she and Portman play off of each other is utter perfection. I feel like this is a must-see for every mother and/or daughter in the world. The inner-workings of Ann and Adele’s relationship is crazed and exaggerated, but also familiar.
3. Love and Other Impossible Pursuits. Also known as The Other Woman, this film may feature Portman’s greatest performance ever. The movie chronicles a young woman’s strained relationship with her step-son and husband following the sudden death of her newborn. The film is subtle unlike any other. Lisa Kudrow as the complex antagonist (That title may not be fitting. You can be the judge of that.) is breathtaking. The way the story is interwoven is a creative feat, and shooting on location throughout New York breathes life into the film. Portman has a knack for playing reserved or distant characters and this is definitely the best example of that. William is especially memorable and commendable. When you can’t root for Portman’s character, you can always root for her love for him.
2. Where the Heart Is. This is probably the film that I’ve seen the most times throughout my life. I once tried to figure out exactly how many time I’ve seen it in its entirety, and I got to over fifty. I can recite almost the entire screenplay, and still I find myself popping this DVD in to watch all over again. This is the first movie that made me realize actors play different characters in different films. This is the first movie I feel like I ever truly appreciated. It somehow grabbed my attention without intricate dancing or fast-paced action montages or anything like that. I just fell in love with the characters. Where the Heart Is follows seventeen-year-old Novalee Nation as she pieces her life together after being deserted by her boyfriend and giving birth in a Walmart. The films varies from the book quite a bit, but it holds true to the heart of the novel. Natalie Portman filmed this the summer after her senior year of high school, playing Novalee from the age of seventeen to twenty-two.
1. Garden State. This one was surprisingly a no-brainer. Garden State is my end-all, be-all favorite movie. Portman’s quirky Sam will have you in stitches and in tears all in the same scene. The film is the magnum opus of Zach Braff, who delivers striking insights into the human mind and heart. Some claim this movie reaches too far, that it hasn’t aged well and that with repeat viewings you realize it just isn’t as good as you initially thought. For me, nothing could be farther from the truth. Although it is a bit pretentious at times, that’s part of its charm. It's funny and somber and irreverent and respectable all at the same time. Its simple, gritty, heartfelt and real. Its about emotions and life. It makes you laugh, cry, smile, think and feel. Isn’t that the point of any movie?
So there you have it. The definitive ranking of Natalie Portman’s best films. This is all subjective, of course, but I would consider myself the foremost expert on this topic. Like Dawson Leery with Spielberg, I firmly believe life can always be made better by popping in a Natalie Portman movie and watching the magic happen.
