With Incredible Hulk opening today, I thought it appropriate to post up a new top five list – something I haven’t done for a long time. Since I haven’t seen The Happening yet, I can’t include that film in the list (I doubt it would make it anyway).
This is a list of the best Edward Norton movies. Both in terms of acting and the quality of the film as a whole. List inspired by a little tangent Kurt and I got on during the most recent cinecast. At any rate, here are Edward Norton’s top five performances/films.
5) The Score
- Okay so this probably shouldn’t be on a best of list but I still really enjoy the combination of Norton, De Niro and Marlon Brando.
4) The Italian Job
- No its not as good as the original and it is a fluffy happy movie but it was fun and I can appreciate it for just that.
3) Fight Club
- I had a hard time deciding on which would be #3, #2 and #1 in this list. Fight Club is the most gimmicky of the movies. Don’t get me wrong its one of the movies I could watch over and over again and still find new things to love but it just doesn’t have the punch of the next two.
2) American History X
- If this list was just the top 5 performances then this would be my number 1. This is one powerful movie and Norton is stunning as the Neo-Nazi.
1) 25th Hour
- I’m not sure what I could say to describe how good this movie is so go check out Dave’s video review.
Thank you, good night and have a great weekend. Good luck to all on the 10,000 comment contest!
Note: Okay I’m lazy so I used Andrew’s post about Mark Wahlberg as a template for this one. 
I have more Edward Norton films on my shelf than any other actor and frankly, I’m not sure where to even begin with this, but here’s a list of my absolute favourite Norton performances:
5. Primal Fear – It’s not often a young actor gets a nomination on his first turn out the gate and Gregory Hoblit’s film plays out like a fairly predictable suspense courtroom drama but wowzers, Norton hit it out of the ballpark. It was the first time I saw him on film and I’ve never looked back.
4. 25th Hour – I can’t believe it took me so bloody long to get around to seeing this but it was an instant addition to my list of top 100 films.
3. Fight Club/Rounders – This is a tie simply because I love both of these bad-ass characters equally (though Fincher’s film is the better of the pair)
2. Down in the Valley – David Jacobson’s “contemporary western” isn’t just gorgeous, it features one of my favourite performances from Norton who manages to be both frightful and tender.
1. American History X – he stole my heart with this performance.
Honorable mentions:
The Painted Veil – A lot of folks passed this one over but this Merchant Ivory throwback is not only gorgeous, but it features one of the most mature and understated romances I’ve seen in a number of years.
The Illusionist – I’m in the “I liked this one better than The Prestige” though I did enjoy both film. I love Neil Burger’s film and I love Norton’s performance.
Kingdom of Heaven – Alright, this one is a bit of a cheat since you don’t really get to see Norton without the mask and his role is quite small compared to others but he still manages to be memorable in a film full of outstanding moments and performances.
I feel like I just wrote a book.
He is one of my favourite actors, one of the best acting talents we have working today. My top Norton movies are:
5. Red Dragon- A very underrated film imo. I much prefer it to the boring and very overrated Manhunter.
4. The Score – I don’t get why this gets as bad of a rep as it does. I find it extremely entertaining, but that might just be me because of my liking for that kind of “heist” movie.
3. Primal Fear – I think this was the first movie that he had a big part in and for that this was an impressive performance indeed. It’s one of the most underrated movies with a twist I can remember, plus it has one of my favourite actresses Laura Linney in it.
2. American History X – I would go as far to say Norton gives one of THE greatest screen performances I’ve ever seen. He normally is such a small guy in stature etc but here he was badass looking. Plus it’s a phenominal movie to boot.
1. Fight Club – My third favourite film of all time. I guess this isn’t really his movie, even though he is the main character essentially, but it just feels like it’s Pitt’s movie. Anyway not my favourite performance of his but by far my favourite movie that stars him.
(I have yet to see 25th Hour hence it’s absence from my list)
5 Down in the Valley
4 Primal Fear
3 Rounders
2 25th Hour
1 American History X
honorables:
Illusionist, Painted Veil, People vs Larry Flynt
Didn’t know he was in Frida. Now I’m more interested in that *moving it up the list a bit on Netflix*
The Score and Italian Job on a top 5 list is just plain wrong.
@ Andrew It’s not a big role but he’s good in it…not to mention that’s where he met the fabulous Salma Hayek but in general it’s just a great flick all around.
And nice to see more love for “Down in the Valley”. I guess that film isn’t quite as underseen as I thought.
All these lists are great, I love all of the Norton’s work. Saw him live in NY in Burn This in 2002. Small theater, at one point I had the thought, “I’m about 50 feet away from Edward Norton”, made me light headed! He’s an amazing presence. Loved his cameo in Frida, I think he helped finish the screenplay. Nice post!
“The Score and Italian Job on a top 5 list is just plain wrong.”
Andrew, no love for the film with Brando’s last role?:P
Norton is one of the first actors I “connected” with in my young teen years and he’s been one of the handful of actors whose work I follow religiously. I’ve seen all of his films and own almost as many. I was right around 13 when I saw American History X and Fight Club back around ’99 or ’00 and both affected my fragile young mind more than almost any other films during that time period. I’m going to rank ten, because I’m badass like that.
10. The Illusionist
A bit by-the-books perhaps, but an enjoyable mystery nonetheless.
9. Death to Smoochy
I’m not sure if this is underrated. Or just misunderstood. Or both. But I loved the twisted humor of it.
8. Red Dragon
I still hear people trash talk this nowadays. I love it though. LOVE it. Norton is great yada yada, but Ralph Fiennes creates one of the most kickass, freaky villains of the decade. And the ending!!
7. Primal Fear
The movie is average really. But when Norton is on the screen, especially during the final scenes… just wow. Hard to believe it was his first professional performance.
6. Rounders
The movie that inspired me to blow countless dollars on Hold ‘Em during my high school years.
5. Down in the Valley
Taxi Driver for a new generation. One of the best climaxes in recent memory. I’m disgusted by the negative reception this fantastic movie got.
4. The Painted Veil
Probably one of my all-time favorite romances. It really just connected with me. Beautiful imagery, music, great performances, a powerful story.
3. 25th Hour
2. Fight Club
1. American History X
Those last three don’t really need an explanation.
The Score is not a great movie. I have fun watching it though, if not just for those three titans on the screen together. Norton’s performance is very memorable, especially when he’s “playing” janitor, if nothing else is. The Italian Job is his only movie I’d actually call BAD though. Didn’t like it.
“Ralph Fiennes creates one of the most kickass, freaky villains of the decade”
Yeah, he’s pretty creepy but mostly, I admit to simply digging the bad-ass tattoo. Wowsers that was some fantastic boy painting…
I say all of Ed’s work is great, but you can’t have a ‘Best of’ list without ‘Primal Fear.’ His performance is so powerful in that film, it’s ridiculous.
i was gonna say. how can you not list primal fear? haha
i am a huge edward norton fan. if he has shown his face in a movie, i have it. yes. really. all movies, no documentaries tho.
here are my top five
5 death to smoochy
i have never seen edward norton smile so much in my life. haha the humor is just so dark. over all, a fun movie to watch. i love it! “it’s a rocket ship!!” LOL!
4/3 keeping the faith/primal fear
i cant figure out which is better.
primal fear is great bc well, watching him play two personalities was awesome and the twist in the end just blew me away
keeping the faith is over all a fun romantic comedy. it was cute in a dorky way. and i mean, edward norton directed it himself!
2 red dragon
i love this movie bc i’m really into detective like movies. the movie keeps you on the edge. and even tho certain parts of the movie makes you cringe, you just cant pull away from watching how good ralph fiennes is at being bad. to a part you felt kinda sorry for him. also! i LOVE watching edward norton in this movie bc he was so good in it. just by one expression he lets the audience know what his character is thinking.
1 fight club – well. yeah. lol
honorable
american history x, everybody says i love you (just watch this clip haha! http://youtube.com/watch?v=cxd_TlVn0e8)
i cannot put american history x as my top five bc it’s too hard for me to rewatch. i dont enjoy watching it even tho he did such an excellent job acting. everytime i bring up edward norton, someone always goes “oh from american history x?” it left a huge impression.
my 5 fav of Ed Norton
5. The Illusionist
4. primal Fear
3. 25th Hour
2. American History X
1. Fight Club
Glad to see 25th hour at #1
1. 25th hour
2. American History X
3. Leaves of grass
4. Primal fear
5. Painted Veil
6. Fight Club
In terms of performances, I don’t have a problem with Leaves of Grass being on someone’s list, but the movie is slightly better than average (at best).