Irish actor Colin Farrell has a filmography with a wide variety in it. He has competed in almost every genre, with comedy, action, and drama all to his credit. Farrell’s first major project was a BBC drama called Ballykussangel, in which he played Danny Byrne, but got his big breakout role thanks to none other than Steven Spielberg. When Minority Report was released in 2002, a whole new world of possibilities opened up beyond small UK projects.
Later in his career, Farrell developed two important partnerships with directors. The 2008 movie In Bruges marked the beginning of his long-term partnership with Martin McDonagh. They continued to work together, with Seven psychopaths in 2012 and The Banshees of Inisherin in 2022. Similarly, in 2015, Farrell teamed up with director Yorgos Lanthimos to The lobsterand then Killing a sacred deer in 2017. Partnerships like this demonstrate Farrell’s reach, as it’s not that common to have strong ties to two directors whose films have vastly different tones. However, as both directors use a mix of drama and dark comedy, the fact that Farrell can keep up with their requests is a testament to his abilities. If you’re already a fan or interested in learning more about his work, here are 10 quintessential Colin Farrell movies that will give you a great insight into his career.
10/10 In Bruges (2008)
Farrell’s first collaboration with Martin McDonagh, In Bruges shows off Farrell’s comedic chops. The dark comedy follows Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as hitmen hiding in Belgium after a job gone wrong. Neither is happy to be there and grumpy tourism ensues. When the two men fail to follow their boss’s instructions, he decides to take matters into his own hands. The film is packed with shocking and funny escapades. It’s a great starting point to learn more about Farrell’s career, as it offers a balance of humor and action that satisfies audiences with a more quirky tone and plot, making it something of a midpoint in the spectrum of these films. is going to be.
9/10 A House at the End of the World (2004)
A home at the end of the world stars Farrell and Dallas Roberts as childhood friends, with Robin Wright forming the third point in their love triangle. The story is based on a book by Michael Cunningham, who also wrote Doors. Farrell’s performance is moving and thoughtful; he does a great job with the sincerity of the script. As usual with his choice of films, it’s an unconventional story with unconventional characters that balanced some of the simpler action movies that started his journey to stardom.
8/10 The Deceived (2017)
Directed by Sofia Coppola, The cheated is about a girls’ school in Virginia during the American Civil War. Farrell’s character is a wounded soldier discovered and brought back to the school by one of the girls. Soon, events turn sour when a man’s arrival in their world causes jealousy among their ranks. In addition to Farrell, the cast includes Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning and Angourie Rice. Being only 90 minutes long, the detailed story is told at an exhilarating speed and remains unwelcoming. If you are someone who knows Farrell from his action or thriller films, The cheated makes for a great entry into the indie side of his filmography.
7/10 Widows (2018)
With an all-star cast, that’s surprising widows largely flown under the radar. With Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Jon Bernthal, Daniel Kaluuya, Brian Tyree Henry and more. The plot involves four women whose husbands left them in debt when they failed to complete a bank robbery. Steve McQueen directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Gillian Flynn (Missing girl). While the film is packed with talent, it doesn’t feel like any of the actors are competing for space. There’s political commentary, detailed character work and exciting heist scenes that manage to work together in harmony without feeling overcrowded or overly ambitious. Farrell’s role in the film is not a major one, but every element of this project is carefully thought out and essential to the big picture. It’s all brilliant work and you won’t be disappointed.
6/10 The Batman (2022)
Another smaller role for Farrell in a big movie, he plays The Penguin in Matt Reeves’ The batter. He is so covered in prosthetics that he becomes unrecognizable, especially since his usual accent is nowhere to be found. The main cast includes Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Paul Dano and Andy Serkis. We find Batman already in the second year of his superhero lifestyle, trying to tackle corruption in Gotham. equal to widows, Farrell’s lack of relatability here is a testament to his ability to blend seamlessly into an ensemble cast rather than trying to steal the scene. His performance was such a success that The Penguin is getting its own HBO Max TV series.
5/10 SWAT (2003)
SWAT is another film from earlier in Farrell’s career. He plays SWAT team member Jim Street along with Samuel L. Jackson, Michelle Rodriguez and LL Cool J. SWAT unit to prevent that. It’s obviously not Farrell’s most profound and nuanced film, but it’s still great entertainment. The fact that he has such a balance between blockbuster action and more thoughtful independent films means there’s something for everyone in his back catalog.
4/10 Phone Booth (2002)
In Phone booth, Farrell plays Stuart Shepard, a morally dubious publicist. He gets stuck in a phone booth because the man on the phone tries to extort money from him with a sniper pointing his way. Almost the entire film takes place in this one phone booth, and yet it manages to remain gripping throughout the entire running time. It’s true that the premise is a bit wonky when you actually examine it. Who would bother training a sniper on a corrupt publicist to finally make him feel guilty when much more serious corruption exists? But the fact that this detail doesn’t matter as you watch the movie speaks to the power of Farrell’s ability to emulate.
3/10 The Lobster (2015)
This list wouldn’t be typical Colin Farrell without a mention of Yorgos Lanthimos. His first film with Farrell, The lobster, tells the story of a man in a future society who is sent to “The Hotel” for being single. There he must fall in love within 45 days, otherwise he will be turned into an animal. Again, Farrell’s performance has the perfect tonal balance between darkness and comedy. In an interview with Miami new times, Lanthimos praises this ability, saying Farrell was “very much in tune with the world and the tone of the film.” Despite the absurdist plot and humour, The lobster feels very relevant and close to our current society. The discussion of our treatment of romantic relationships is based entirely on real criticism.
2/10 Minority Report (2002)
Another view of the future Minority Report is set in 2054. In this version of the future, there is a “precrime” unit that prevents crimes before they have a chance to happen. The protagonist, played by Tom Cruise, is accused of one of these future crimes. Upon learning of this prophecy, he flees the scene, and Farrell’s character subsequently leads the manhunt for him. Farrell navigates the blockbuster brilliantly, you couldn’t say it was his first film of its kind. The film poses interesting questions about the legal system and how we deal with crime. With Spielberg at the helm, it’s not an empty-headed movie.
1/10 The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
Farrell, Gleeson and McDonagh reunite for another collaboration with The Banshees of Inisherin. Set on a remote Irish island, Farrell and Gleeson play friends for life until Gleeson’s character abruptly decides their friendship is over. After being friends for so long, both are experiencing consequences for this decision. It’s a funny movie, but it also retains a real sense of melancholy and heartbreak as the men try to navigate what is essentially a breakup. Speak against Collider, McDonagh says Farrell is “very sensitive to sad, darker material, but also brilliant at understanding comedy.” This sums up much of his career, which has been devoted to funny, yet thoughtful and sensitive material. The Banshees of Inisherin feels like something of a culmination of all the work Farrell has put into his career so far, although it’s far from over, this is one of his best performances to date.