ROTTEN TOMATOES: Five Favorite Films with Djimon Hounsou Comments

Five Favorite Films with Djimon Hounsou

by Jen Yamato | February 05, 2009

Summary

After giving critically-acclaimed performances in Oscar-nominated films like Amistad, In America, Gladiator, and Blood Diamond, Benin-born actor Djimon Hounsou finally gets to play a villain in this week's science fiction thriller, Push. Rotten Tomatoes spoke with Hounsou about his Five Favorite Films of all time and discussed the two-time Oscar nominee's philosophies on the nature of acting, the perils of creating a signature style, and more. Back to Article

(1-47 of 47 posts) | Reply

Books writes:
on Feb 05 2009 06:29 PM

Not my cup of tea

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Feb 05 2009 06:34 PM

In reply to this comment (#2303348)
LOL WHA?!?! Please tell me you aren't talking about those films he listed, those are all masterpieces! He is a really good actor but I think he makes to much pop corn crap.

(Reply to this)

NerdForLife writes:
on Feb 05 2009 06:38 PM

Loved his picks. "Taxi Driver" to this day, is one of my favorite films.

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Feb 05 2009 07:18 PM

I like almost everything. I don't like "The Usual Suspects". But everything else, great. I feel like seeing "Bridge on the River Kwai" again, and I think I will.

(Reply to this)

Mr. Bo Ziffer writes:
on Feb 05 2009 07:29 PM

"Taxi Driver" and "The Usual Suspects" are two of my faves. "Raging Bull" is excellent as well. I agree that Hounsou has been in way too much crap lately (like Push!!!), but he was great in "Amistad", and "Blood Diamond" wasn't too bad either.

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Feb 05 2009 07:38 PM

I like his list, but his reasons, for the most part, are lame. Scope. . . Scope. . .

Maybe he's going to do what a lot of actors seem to do. Make absolute CRAP films like PUSH with horrible horrible directors but a nice pay-day, then have the ability to do real serious acting work like Djimon's flawless portrayal from "In America."

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Feb 05 2009 07:59 PM

In reply to this comment (#2303391)
You don't like The Usual Suspects?

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Feb 05 2009 08:27 PM

"We used to tell beautiful, humane stories. We used to care about characters instead of just blowing some f***ing building down. "
-Djimon Hansou

HA HA HA. . . oh the IRONY of him doing PUSH then. . .

(Reply to this)

harrismonkey writes:
on Feb 05 2009 08:31 PM

"He is a really good actor but I think he makes to much pop corn crap."

I agree, but I sympathize with him. Unfortunately, there's only so many roles in great films that are open to big black men with heavy accents. (that probably sounds racist, unfortunately)

When he gets those roles, he's AMAZING!!! Unfortunately, the rest of the time he has to go with what he's offered (and he says as much in the interview).

The man is one of my absolute favorite actors. I really hope I get the opportunity to work with him someday.

(Reply to this)

Kokushi writes:
on Feb 05 2009 08:33 PM

Great List, and yes he need to start doing better movies.

Raging Bull 9/10 - De Niro was amazing.
Lawrence of Arabia - Have it but need to see it.
The Bridge on the River Kwai - Same as LoA
The Usual Suspects - 10/10
Taxi Driver - 10/10, my #2 in my top ever and again De Niro was amazing.

(Reply to this)

Mister_Prophet writes:
on Feb 05 2009 08:43 PM

Djimon Hounsou is awesome. Unfortunately like Jean Reno (the last featured actor), He's is as many bad movies as he is in good ones.

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Feb 05 2009 08:48 PM

In reply to this comment (#2303433)
Nope, sorry. Characters grumbled way too much making a muddy plot even muddier. I couldn't even finsh it. I heard a lot of good things, but I ended up agreeing with Roger Ebert. Mysteries should keep me guessing, but if I don't know what's going on at all, it has no purpose. But Djimon has good crime films and historical epics so it's a good list.

(Reply to this)

tgibfo writes:
on Feb 05 2009 09:35 PM

You can have great taste, talent and charisma, and that's not going to help you land quality films all the time, nor will it help you eat. Raise your hand if you'd turn down doing PUSH 2 for a $4 million paycheck just because you knew it would suck. This guy's a class act.

(Reply to this)

~*Admiral Snowstorm*~ writes:
on Feb 06 2009 03:44 AM

Great picks except The Usual Suspects. Glad to see somebody else actually likes Raging Bull as much as I do.

I like Djimon. He and Leonardo DiCaprio were the only good things about Blood Diamond, and, indeed, Djimon ends up being the only good thing in most of the movies he's in. I agree with everybody else, though, he needs to pick better roles.

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Feb 06 2009 07:31 AM

In reply to this comment (#2303458)
Man, you haven't seem Lawrence of Arabia and A Bridge to the River Kwai... what are you doing with your life

(Reply to this)

willpower writes:
on Feb 06 2009 07:38 AM

Great pics here. Love River Kwai and Lawrence, similar style but different films.

(Reply to this)

kaike_67 writes:
on Feb 06 2009 08:42 AM

This dude can act, that's a fact. Seriously, just take a look at his Oscar-nominated performances in "In America" and "Blood Diamond". His choices are all well-known films that are widely considered masterpieces, myself included.

Now, it's also a fact that he's also been in lots of crap.

(Reply to this)

vitajex writes:
on Feb 06 2009 09:14 AM

All good films, but this list has no surprises.

Seems like he played it pretty safe. Half-expect to see "Citizen Kane" and "Gone With the Wind" on there...

(Reply to this)

Islander writes:
on Feb 06 2009 09:27 AM

I EFFING HATE RAGING BULL! When are people going to realize that Raging Bull is a vacuum of talent-talent-talent-and-yet-more-talent, but an absolute waste of celluloid? When are people going to realize that there's absoeffinglutely NOTHING good about Jake LaMotta's character, and that nobody should sympathize with such a loser? Yes, Robert DeNiro nailed that role. Yes, he deserved the Oscar he got. But it's such a waste! Jake LaMotta should be quietly forgotten. He's a brutish boor who's stupid and misogynistic. He devotes his whole like to his work and ignores his family, and in the end he loses both. He's left with nothing, just as he deserves. So who the effing hell cares about him? He's a loser who got what was coming to him. There's no need to devote a 2-hour film to his pathetic life!

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Feb 06 2009 11:26 AM

Jake Lamotta was gay.

Probably.

Seriously.

Yup.

(Reply to this)

shtbaglolzz writes:
on Feb 06 2009 12:04 PM

In reply to this comment (#2303452)
As much as the fans may hate it, the movie business is exactly that, a business. I'm betting he decided to do Push for the money, and I don't blame him.

(Reply to this)

shtbaglolzz writes:
on Feb 06 2009 12:08 PM

In reply to this comment (#2304275)
Just because you don't like the character of LaMotta, does not make it a bad film. I would suggest not talking like your opinion means something to anyone browsing this website. That's the beauty of the internet. There's a million people just like you, saying things just like you. Raging Bull is a classic, too bad you're too young and too stupid to see it.

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Feb 06 2009 12:18 PM

In reply to this comment (#2304110)
Well yeah there similar in scope, same director.

(Reply to this)

Ace69 writes:
on Feb 06 2009 12:19 PM

In reply to this comment (#2304228)
how can you half expect something?

(Reply to this)

Robert K. writes:
on Feb 06 2009 12:24 PM

In reply to this comment (#2303348)
Maybe you should switch to coffee.

(Reply to this)

Solonik -. writes:
on Feb 06 2009 12:33 PM

In reply to this comment (#2304275)
Then stop complaining and go watch Push. The movie should be right up your alley, no depth to any of the characters, a comic book story and plenty of explosions. Also I am sure that all the "good" characters are perfectly likable and good and all the villains are one dimensional as well. You won't have to think about any of it, what a relief right?

(Reply to this)

rle4lunch writes:
on Feb 06 2009 02:33 PM

This guy has the acting range of a toaster. But his list is fine.

All of these films have been listed many, many times by other actors/actresses though.

(Reply to this)

tonyg6996 writes:
on Feb 06 2009 02:47 PM

I mean what is the point of movies? Do any of you know who say RAGING BULL is one of the best movies ever? The point of a movie is to ENTERTAIN, not bore the crap out of somebody for 2 hours. I mean all you guys just look at AFI's or some other bloated snobby egotistacal movie critic who just say these movies are great, who just say it to look like they know something about movies. Then all you say these films are great to make it look like you know what your talking about. I'm not saying entertaining is everything though, but if you put raging bull over say raiders of the lost ark or the godfather, then i pity your choice in movies. Raging bull does get the artsy symbolic deeper stuff right, but it's missing the other half, entertainment.

(Reply to this)

Senor_Chupacabra writes:
on Feb 06 2009 03:27 PM

In reply to this comment (#2304603)
To "entertain" is only part of the raison d'etre for film. Among other things, films are supposed to educate and enlighten and explore various aspects of the human experience.

And besides, to entertain is vague and covers a broad spectrum of meaning. Many people, including myself, were "entertained" by Raging Bull even though none of the characters were particularly likable or relatable, and even though nothing blew up.

(Reply to this)

Senor_Chupacabra writes:
on Feb 06 2009 03:29 PM

In reply to this comment (#2304603)
Also, on a purely entertaining perspective, Raging Bull is worth watching, if for nothing else, for the "entertaining" manner in which the fight scenes were shot.

(Reply to this)

steve s. writes:
on Feb 06 2009 05:40 PM

hey waits, everything you say is stupid. you are useles. no one sees you. go away......

(Reply to this)

Roger_O_Thornhill writes:
on Feb 06 2009 09:36 PM

That's one of the lamest lists posted on this site yet.

(Reply to this)

Saba I. writes:
on Feb 07 2009 12:38 AM

Solid list. I love the Usual Suspects. I with Djimon could better roles more often. He was brilliant in Amistad, In America, and Blood Diamond. Oh well. How many great roles are there for black actors with non-American accents?

(Reply to this)

StonetheCrow writes:
on Feb 07 2009 05:07 AM

" These days people are more experienced [as filmmakers] but we've just been poorly making movies lately. We used to tell beautiful, humane stories. We used to care about characters instead of just blowing some f***ing building down. "

I believe this is an exaggeration.

(Reply to this)

StonetheCrow writes:
on Feb 07 2009 05:22 AM

In reply to this comment (#2304275)
And to add to what this guy said, I also found ' Raging Bull ' surprisingly ham-handed . You can tell Scorcese was desperately padding on the emotionality to make you care about a life that was basically nothing, instead of standing back and let it tell itself. And the pedophilia bit at the end was rather clumsily tacked on.

I don't know if this would come across as blasphemy, ( and neither would I care since I'm agnostic, anyway ), but ' The Wrestler ' was far more successful at portraying similar human wreckage. It didn't have to resort to overwrought gimmickry of wife beatings and cartoony bloodletting to strike a point. Hell, I even liked ' Million Dollar Baby ' a lot better than this. Or even ' The Departed '.

Though it did have one of the most arresting opening credits in film history, ever. Fantastic stuff, always.

(Reply to this)

StonetheCrow writes:
on Feb 07 2009 05:24 AM

And to add to what this guy said, I also found ' Raging Bull ' surprisingly ham-handed . You can tell Scorcese was desperately padding on the emotionality to make you care about a life that was basically nothing, instead of standing back and let it tell itself. And the pedophilia bit at the end was rather clumsily tacked on.

I don't know if this would come across as blasphemy, ( and neither would I care since I'm agnostic, anyway ), but ' The Wrestler ' was far more successful at portraying similar human wreckage. It didn't have to resort to overwrought gimmickry of wife beatings and cartoony bloodletting to strike a point. Hell, I even liked ' Million Dollar Baby ' a lot better than this. Or even ' The Departed '.

Though it did have one of the most arresting opening credits in film history, ever. Fantastic stuff, always.

(Reply to this)

doc.grizzly writes:
on Feb 07 2009 09:36 AM

In reply to this comment (#2304275)
I hated Raging Bull when I first saw it, but after high school and I couldn't wrestle or play football anymore, I felt sympathetic toward Jake La Motta character and had a totally view of movie.

(Reply to this)

FrodoHibbs writes:
on Feb 07 2009 10:08 AM

Does this guy know what he said?
"We used to care about characters instead of just blowing some f***ing building down. "
Let's see here, Push, Never Back Down, Eragon, The Island, Constantine, Tomb Raider... do I need to go on? If he's so upset about those kind of movies, why does he keep playing in them? What a tool.

(Reply to this)

Eric S. writes:
on Feb 07 2009 10:22 AM

I have a guilty pleasure for Never Back Down and The Island. :)

(Reply to this)

nandia c. writes:
on Feb 07 2009 04:07 PM

In reply to this comment (#2304228)
Truth is, I never managed to finish this film due to the violence. The wife beating is too hard to take. I tried to watch it 5 times at least but I get too upset and I give up.

(Reply to this)

Malo writes:
on Feb 07 2009 04:57 PM

How can he be in good movies when there aren't any being made? Had to work...therefore Push. Is it just me or is it a huge Heroes ripoff??

(Reply to this)

Malo writes:
on Feb 07 2009 04:57 PM

Loved his picks!!! He always acts great!!!

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Feb 08 2009 09:13 AM

I liked Raging Bull quite a bit. Especially the part where DeNiro punches the jail wall, saying "stupid. . . stupid. . . "

Also, I read enough criticism and spotted enough to understand that the Jake LaMotta character is likely gay.

(Reply to this)

kyle x. writes:
on Feb 08 2009 07:53 PM

Hey! Check out *** SUGARBABYDATE. C OM *** There are Over millions of profiles from all over the world! No matter where you are or what you are, you can find someone just around your neighborhood. You can get their pictures, phone numbers, locations, and almost any information.Everything is FREE!

(Reply to this)

travis e. writes:
on Feb 09 2009 05:29 PM

In reply to this comment (#2303404)
Brother has to get paid, too!

(Reply to this)

toomasio writes:
on Feb 10 2009 10:27 PM

I dont blame him for making popcorn crap.

He's an actor...and he's still working. If you were getting handed millions of dollars for ****ty roles you would do it too.

actors don't make films. they are just meat puppets that get all the credit.

(Reply to this)

melanie l. writes:
on Aug 06 2009 12:29 PM

I think he's an excellent actor in all of the movies he's played in. One of my favorites were Never Back Down.

(Reply to this)

Related Links

Push

Related Articles

Most Discussed

Latest News

Latest Interviews

Latest Features

Sponsored Links