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Sam Rockwell: Film By Film
A guide to Moon's Sam Rockwell, and his best roles to date

Sam Rockwell's long been one of our favourite 27%ers, one of those people who improves any film he appears in. But with Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Choke and, most recently, Moon, he's stepped up to indisputable leading man status. In case you've missed the story so far, here are a few of his best efforts to date, showcasing the many different sides of a versatile actor...

WORDS ALASTAIR PLUMB

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Choke Matchstick Men Galaxy Quest
The Green Mile Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
Welcome To Collinwood Heist Lawn Dogs
Choke
Choke

What kind of Sam? Nympho Sam

Why he's so brilliant in it? Rockwell masterfully spits out Chuck Palahniuk's profane prose with such flair that you almost don't mind how messy the rest of the film is. Playing a sex-addicted 'historical interpreter' with a penchant for pretending to choke in restaurants, Sam's character Victor pays for his Alzheimer's-suffering mother's hospital bills by begging his windpipe-saving rescuers for money, which they promptly cough up. When he's not faking death, you see a lot of scenes with Sam forking hay and spooning girls. Everyone's a winner.

Estimated screentime? Almost all of the sordid 92 minutes.

Amount film improved by his presence? A kabillion percent. It's hard to imagine anyone else making this role work.

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Thanks' Chief's
I am the head of the Kanaldial-team, and we are a nice bunch, that can take over if USA wants us to do so. Bush is my uncle from my Kraken-days, when Clinton was our leader. If ANYONE.. ... Read More

Kanaldial@gmail.com About me

07:48, 20 November 2009 | Report This Post
Caffe is made now by Ebys
I am thirsty, and my Caffe is made for me & Endre ... Read More

Kanaldial@gmail.com About me

07:31, 20 November 2009 | Report This Post
RE: Pennywise
L: Hamsterwalt Sam should definatly get the role of pennywise in the stephen Kings IT remake and also if there is a beetlejuice remake in the future put Sam down as a possible beetlejuice sp; That is friggin' genius! Could see him as Pennywise for sure, he just needs to be cast in every film cus even if its a shitty flick he makes it tolerable. ... Read More

TheSpleen About me

20:54, 06 August 2009 | Report This Post
Sexy from Ebys
From Kanaldial's Boss: I am here still prefoundly in love with Pandora. Transformers were great(i had to go before the ending, resulting the science fiction genre to be without any ending..my will made artificiality) ... Read More

Kanaldial@gmail.com About me

21:19, 04 August 2009 | Report This Post
Pennywise
Sam should definatly get the role of pennywise in the stephen Kings IT remake and also if there is a beetlejuice remake in the future put Sam down as a possible beetlejuice ... Read More

Hamsterwalt About me

17:45, 29 July 2009 | Report This Post
Frost / Nixon
All the support in this film were excellent particularly Kevin Bacon. But Rockwell's turn as spiky historian James Reston Jr gave this film the emotional heart that it needed. It's difficult to say how much better this film was with him in it but I just can't see anyone else being able to play that character the way it was written without coming across like a complete arsehole. ... Read More

squeezyrider About me

13:23, 24 July 2009 | Report This Post
I agree what about Jesse James?
this list is redundant ... Read More

zamarov About me

11:02, 23 July 2009 | Report This Post
I agree what about Jesse James?
this list is redundant ... Read More

zamarov About me

09:46, 23 July 2009 | Report This Post
Rockwell vs Cage
It bothers me beyond belief that a talentless, ridiculously coiffered human black-hole of an actor like Nicholas Cage has been a part of the 'A-list' for the best part of 15 years, whereas a super-cool, super talented (as in the best actor of his generation), scruffy haired dude such as Sam Rockwell is part of this 27%-ers club (although I agree with thehedgehogfromhell down there that Empire should let this go, it's not doing anything for me). There truly is no justice in the world. ... Read More

evildave69 About me

23:26, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post
Left Out
how can they leave out The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford ?? ... Read More

sandiesel About me

20:27, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post
Left Out
how can they leave out The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford ?? ... Read More

sandiesel About me

20:07, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post
There's one missing …
What about The Hobbit, which HE HAS TO BE CAST IN AS BILBO BAGGINS ASAP? Sorry. Just had to get that off my chest. ... Read More

dannygray78 About me

12:26, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post
The 27%ers
Dear Empire, dear, dear Empire... no matter how many times you ram this particular conceit down our throats at every available opportunity, it isn't going to catch on. You're not going to get a warm glow in your bellies when you pass a group of young children welcoming a new friend into their gang whilst shouting "he's a 27%er!" to each other, because it isn't going to happen. It was a tired contrivance when you first thought of it, and your relentless flogging of this particular wa... Read More

thehedgehogfromhell About me

23:24, 20 July 2009 | Report This Post
Hitchhiker's Guide
Normally I love a bit of Sam, but he irritated me in this one. Zaphod is meant to annoy the living hell out of the other characters, but Mark Wing-Davey managed to make him charming. Sam seemed to just run around screaming. I thought Mos Def was the best thing about this film. A genuinely new take on a well-established character that worked perfectly. ... Read More

Gentlefish About me

14:18, 20 July 2009 | Report This Post
Confessions of a Funky Mind
His an awesome actor, and like Tim pall, ay Winstone, William H Macy and a few others, anything is watchable by Sam being in it. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (if I just say Confession people may be confused with it it being one of trhe shite Robin Askwith sex comedies) is a brilliant debut by Clooney and whats making it even better is the DVD extra of Sam's audition tape. Great bass beat and he's got some funky moves. I can just imagine a brilliant dvd extra for Moon:: Sam strutting his fun... Read More

Taz69 About me

10:38, 19 July 2009 | Report This Post
RE: The Joker
YES! Was just thinking this too. Was thinking the other day about people that could replace him, and had thought Johnny Depp because he could pull off the insanity pretty well, but Sam Rockwell, yes yes yes! I only watched the Green Mile a month or so ago, and was blown away by his performance. Yes he's funny but he pulls off the evil insanity perfectly. Chris Nolan, give the man a call. ... Read More

Martin1876 About me

14:57, 18 July 2009 | Report This Post
Jesse James
What ricman said. ... Read More

AYBGerrardo About me

02:10, 18 July 2009 | Report This Post
Ever seen this?
Rockwell as Batman, and a bit of an asshole. Hilarious. Clearly this is his finest hour, not to mention Justin Long: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOmPK13TeJs ... Read More

woody1812 About me

16:40, 17 July 2009 | Report This Post
Charlies Angel's
I totally agree with kinobick - love the little dance he does when he's doing the "I'm evil" transformation, which is a cliche classic btw... ... Read More

NicolosaBear About me

14:46, 17 July 2009 | Report This Post
Box of Moonlight?
A very early roll for Sam... and one of his absolute best. Stole the show from John. ... Read More

bdmrmapf About me

14:42, 17 July 2009 | Report This Post
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