#7, Morgan Freeman

Actor: Morgan Freeman

#1 Film: The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

4 other top films: #2, Driving Miss Daisy (1989), #3, Million Dollar Baby (2004), #4, Seven (1995), #5, Street Smart (1987)

Critique: From narration in many films, voicing in many films, and acting in many films, Morgan Freeman has changed the thought of acting in various different ideals. In by far his best performance ever in The Shawshank Redemption , Morgan Freeman plays his character Red to perfection.

Recognitions: Morgan Freeman has been nominated for 4 academy awards and 4 Golden Globes. He has won the Golden Globe for Best Actor for his performance in Driving Miss Daisy.

#8, Russell Crowe

Actor: Russell Crowe

#1 Film: Gladiator (2000)

4 other top films: #2, A Beautiful Mind (2001), #3, The Insider (1999), #4, Cinderella Man (2005), #5, L.A Confidential (1997)

Critique: Though he has only produced 29 films in his career, Russell Crowe has taken on his roles to perfection. In a span of three years from 1999 to 2001 Russell Crowe was nominated for back to back academy awards for his perfomances in The Insider, Gladiator, and A Beautiful Mind. Till today I have not seen anyone who can match that record, he has done it and with ease because he is able to bring such greatness to his roles as an actor.

Recognitions: Russell Crowe has been nominated for 8 Screen Actor Guild Awards and has won 1 for his performance in A Beautiful Mind. He has been nominated for 3 academy awards and won 1 for Maximus Meridius in Gladiator. To add to those he was also nominated for 5 Golden Globes and has won 2, so even though he has only made 29 films, he has gotten much recognition for them.

#9, Denzel Washington

Actor: Denzel Washington

#1 Film: Training Day (2001)

4 other top films: #2, The Hurricane (1999), #3, Malcolm X (1992), #4, Glory (1989), #5, Antwone Fisher (2002)

Critique: For 28 years now, the work of Denzel Washington has been seen on the big screen and awarded for his performance. The platform on which Washington has appeared as an actor is incredible from his performance in Glory till now in The Taking of Pelham 123, he has not stopped to show us any less of what he is capable of doing. His acting is beyond excellent, his movies are great, and the caliber to which he sets films is astronomical. I speak for everyone when I say, Denzel Washington is nothing less of a great actor in the world of film.

Recognitions: Denzel Washington throughout his life has been nominated for 72 awards, 5 of them academy awards and 5 Golden Globes. He won 4 awards including the academy award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Glory as Private Trip, he has also won 7 awards for his performance as Malcolm X in Malcolm X. He has won 4 awards for Best Actor in his performance in The Hurricane including the Golden Globe. In his best film, Training Day, Washington won 7 awards for Best Actor including the academy award for his performance as Detective Alonzo Harris.

#10, Leonardo DiCaprio

Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio

#1 Film: The Aviator (2004)

4 Other Top Films: #2, The Departed (2006), #3, Blood Diamond (2006), #4, Titanic (1997), #5, Catch Me if You Can (2002)

Critique: As I was accumulating the data for this countdown I did realize how much of an impact Dicaprio made for it. His work has been acclaimed for 16 years and the movies he has starred in have been magnificent. Films that also deserve some recognition for his work are Revolutionary Road (2008), Gangs of New York (2002), Romeo and Juliet (1995), and his earliest acclaimed film, What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993). What I notice as I continue to see Dicaprio's work, is that he has created every role he has been given a complete work of art.

Recognitions: Dicaprio has been nominated for 30 awards in his film career, but only 2 of those have been for academy awards, and 7 for Golden Globes.

Actor/Actress Countdown Week

In these following weeks, I will be counting down from 10 to 1 the best actors and actresses, this week starting with the actor day by day I will be stating the name of the actor, his best films, his #1 film, a critique for his acting and the recognitions they have received.

#1, Beauty and the Beast

Title: Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Signature Quote: "Of course I came back, I couldn't let them hurt you."

Script: 4.9

Directing: 4.9

Acting/Voices: 4.9

My Grade: 4.9

Abstract: Belle is a nice and ordinary girl who lives a simple life in town with her father. The Beast is a arrogant man who in reality is a prince, who was transformed to a Beast. When Belle's father is taken prisoner in a castle by the Beast, she is forced to find him and persuade the Beast to let him free, but when she arrives at the castle the Beast influences her life more than she could ever think of and in a way, she transforms him into someone he never knew he could become.

Critique: Indeedly the most beautiful love story ever told, Beauty and the Beast to me is the greatest achievement in the world of film. The only animated feature ever nominated for Best Picture in 1991, Beauty and the Beast is by far the best animated film ever drawn up and that is why it is ranked #1 on my countdown. Ressurecting the world of animation to me in the early 90's shows why Beauty and the Beast is much more than just an ordinary film, it is an extraordinary love story. Incredible and excitedly genius Beauty and the Beast, is a very indulging and enjoying film to watch. The most beautiful love story ever told, Beauty and the Beast, is #1 on my animation countdown for now and ever because it reached new heights in the world of animation.

Recogntions: Beauty and the Beast, was nominated for four academy awards including Best Picture, Best Score, and Best Song. It received the award for Best Score and Best Original Song, though it failed to receive the award for Best Picture it is widely accalaimed as the best animation film ever made.

#2, The Lion King

Title: The Lion King (1994)

Signature Quote: "Remember who you are, you are my son, the one true king. Remember.."

Script: 4.9

Directing: 4.8

Acting/Voices: 4.8

My Grade: 4.9

Abstract: After the death of his memorable father, a young lion cub, Simba longs to take the throne of king in the circle of life.

Critique: Greatness is the word which I think of in The Lion King. This film was not great because of it's animation, but because of it's story. The circle of life in animals which is constantly displayed in this film is amazing in everyway. A great film to watch overall.

Recognitons: The Lion King won the award for Best Score in the academy awards, but failed to win the award for Best Original Song.

#3, Toy Story 2

Title: Toy Story 2 (1999)

Signature Quote: "Ride like the wind Bullseye."

Script: 4.9

Directing: 4.9

Acting/Voices: 4.8

My Grade: 4.9

Abstract: All the toy's are back, but this time their back to save Woody. After Woody is stolen from a yard sale, which he was there by an accident, the whole group led by Buzz is on a mission to rescue Woody before he is sent to a museum in Japan to be put on display forever.

Critique: Bringing back with them the whole gang, this full length film is filled with much more than the first and is in a category of it's own. This to me is hands down the best sequel in film ever created because of the brilliant story and animation created. Toy Story 2, is much more than just an animated film, it is a breakthrough in film and in animation. After seeing Toy Story 2, I realized what Pixar's greatest film was. A great, great movie to watch and observe the greatness of 3-D animation at it's best.

Recognitions: Toy Story 2 was nominated for 1 academy award for Best Original Song, and for 2 Golden Globes including Best Original Song. It received the award for Best Film in a comedy or musical in the Golden Globes as well.

#4, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Title: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Signature Quote: "Magic Mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?'

Script: 4.9

Directing: 4.8

Acting/Voices: 4.8

My Grade: 4.8

Abstract: A grueling and masterful tale about love, death, jealousy and evil spins in all different ways.

Critique: An everlasting classic throughout 72 years Snow White yields so many different themes in ideas in itself. Each character represents a symbol to the extreme and exemplifies greatness in them. For example the queen represents envy and jealousy to great heights, Snow White herself love and kindness. If one were to think about it long enough this film is truly one of the best ever produced in film. Perfect to so many levels Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs anchors a creative and timeless classic in so many ways.

Recognitions: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first feature film created by Walt Disney Pictures and was ranked 49th on American Film Institute's 1998 top films of history.

#5, Pinocchio

Title: Pinocchio (1940)

Signature Quote: "I'm a real boy!"

Script: 4.8

Directing: 4.9

Acting/Voices: 4.8

My Grade: 4.8

Abstract: This film tells the story of one magical night in the toy shop of Geppetto and how a little man Jiminy Cricket helps change a boy's life in many ways.

Critique: A timeless classic in many ways, shapes, and forms Pinocchio is one of the greatest films in existence. The story Walt Disney was able to create with this film was one of the greatest ever.

Recognitions: Pinocchio won the academy award for Best Song and for Best Score.

#6, Toy Story

Title: Toy Story (1995)

Signature Quote: "You are a toy!!"

Script: 4.8

Directing: 4.8

Acting/Voices: 4.9

My Grade: 4.8

Abstract: Woody(A toy cowboy) fears that his owner Andy has a new favorite toy (buzz lightyear) and now he is on a race against to keep Andy's preference with him instead of Buzz.

Critique: As I said in a previous blog, Toy Story in the world of animation is a monumental achievement because of it's 3-D animation and it's incredible characters. The story John Lasseter creates on toy's is nothing short of genius in a single word. Toy Story still continues to be renowned as one of the greatest reached goals in the world of film using technology. Toy Story stands #6 on my blog not for it's animation alone, but also for it's amazing use of story writing in all aspects.

Recognitions: Toy Story was nominated for many awards in different award ceremonies, it's greatest win came when Director John Lasseter won the award for Special Achivement in the acadmey awards.

#7, The Incredibles

Title: The Incredibles (2004)

Signature Quote: "My name is not Buddy! It's not Incrediboy either, that ship has sailed. I only wanted to help, and what did you say? Fly Home, Buddy, I work alone. It tore me apart."

Script: 4.7

Directing: 4.8

Acting/Voices: 4.8

My Grade: 4.8

Abstract: In his prime, Bob Parr "Mr. Incredible" was the best superhero anybody could offer. He had super-strength he was married to the prettiest superhero "Elastigirl" and he took down all the villains in town. Now Bob Parr works behind a desk, listens to a police scanner and tries to relive "the glory days" of when he was a superhero. When Bob learns the identity of a new villain Syndrome (an ex-little boy who used to be Mr. Incredible's #1 fan) he and his family of crime fighters are on a mission, a mission to destroy Syndrome and save their town from destruction.

Critique: The Incredibles is once again another great achievement by Pixar in the field of animaation. The reason it has a lower score than Aladdin is because it is a more recent film and is graded harder. But if you were looking at which is the better film, The Incredibles is definitely a better film.

Recognitions: The Incredibles was nominated for 4 academy awards. It received the award for Best Animated Feature and Best Achievement in Sound Editing. It was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay and Best Achievement Sound.

#8, Aladdin

Title: Aladdin (1992)

Signature Quote: "I can show you the world."
Script: 4.9

Directing: 4.8

Acting/Voices: 4.8

My Grade: 4.8

Abstract: Aladdin is a local street rat, he and his pet monkey Abu make a living stealing from the local marketplace. Once Aladdin and Abu get stuck in the Cave of Wonders they awaken a Genie who has been prisoner in his lamp for many years. Once the Genie has awaken he grants Aladdin any three wishes of his choice. After Aladdin has figured out what he wishes to do which is get closer to one of the women he once met in the marketplace, Jasmine, he is on a mission to free the Genie.

Critique: Once the glow of 1991's epic Beauty and the Beast escaped the world of animation, Walt Disney pictures created Aladdin which is single handily one of the best animation films made and that is why it is ranked 8th on my countdown. The script John Musker and Ron Clements were able to create with this film is one of the best.

Recognitions: Aladdin received the academy awards for Best Score and Best Music. The song "A Whole New World" received many awards and continues to be acclaimed to this day as the best song ever in an animation film.

#9, A Bug's Life

Title: A Bug's Life (1998)

Signature Quote: " They can't know the truth, the truth you see is bad. I will be branded for this mistake for the rest of my life, my children's children will down the street and people will point and say. "Look, there goes the spawn of Flik the Loser".

Script: 4.8

Directing: 4.8

Acting/Voices: 4.8

My Grade: 4.8

Abstract: Among millions of ants, Flik an inventor is a gifted and skilled ant. When Flik accidentally loses all the food of his colony, he is determined to help rescue them from the threatening grasshoppers that want to take over them.

Critique: A Bug's Life, is one of Pixar's greatest films for it's animation and incredible story tale. Flik, I believe resembles the strong willed and creative main character which puts life in a story. Because of Flik's determination is why A Bug's Life is great. Thrilling, funny, and fantastic A Bug's Life is a great film to watch.

Recognitions: A Bug's Life made four times it's budget in the box office and received a 91% from Rotten Tomatoes.

#10, Wall-E

Title: Wall E (2008)

Signature Quote: "Waaaaall-E"

Script: 4.8

Directing: 4.8

Acting/Voices: 4.7

My Grade: 4.7

Abstract: Wall-E is a earth robot programmed to find and locate pieces of remains and allocate them. When Eve, a space robot arrives to earth to find traces of life, Wall-E falls in love with her. As a gift, Wall-E gives Eve a plant he found on land. Once Eve receives the plant she is sent back to her command center in space, which hoists people who have awaited to go back to earth for 800 years. So now, Wall-E is on a chase to find Eve and save the fate of humanity.

Critique: As I said in a previous post about WAll-E, is indeedly is a great film to watch and enjoy. Wall E is a story unlike any other. Wall-E is a film unlike any other Pixar are film, because it relates to the older ages and deals with serious and beneficial issues. Wall-E is a film to savor and enjoy watching as Wall-E chases Eve across the universe.

Recognitions: Wall-E won the award for best animated feature in 2008 and was nominated for five more including Best Original Screenplay and Best Original Score.

#11, Ratatouille

Title: Ratatouille (2007)

Signature Quote: "Where are you going?, Back to the restaurant, they'll fail without me! Why do you care?, because I'm a cook!

Script: 4.8

Directing: 4.6

Acting/Voices: 4.8

My Grade: 4.8

Abstract: Remy is a rat, however unlike many of the rats in his pack he loves to cook. After Remy is seperated from the rest of his pack, he ends up in his idol's(Gusteaus) Paris restaurant. Now Remy has the chance to become a chef, the only problem is he is a rat. So now, Remy must cook and act through the body of a garbage boy, Linguini in order to become the star chef he has always wanted to be.

Critique: Winning the award for Best Animated Feature in 2007, Ratatouille is one of Pixar's best. The story of a rat dreaming to be a chef in Paris is like no other. Grossing 150 million in the U.S, Ratatouille remained at the top of the box office for several weeks.

Recognitions: Ratatouille was nominated for five academy awards, including Best Original Screenplay and Best Score. It received the award for Best Animated Feature in 2007 and is ranked #1 on Rotten Tomatoes Best Film of 2007.

#12, Monsters Inc.

Title: Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Signature Quote: " Leaving the door open is the worst thing an employee can do, because it could let in a child."

Script: 4.7

Directing: 4.6

Acting/Voices: 4.8

My Grade: 4.7

Abstract: In Monstropolis there is one combined fear and that fear is a child. Sully and Mike are bestfriends which work at Monster Inc., Monstropolis's main source of energy. When Sully lets Boo (a little girl) into Monstropolis, he and Mike must find a way to send her back to the human world before they are found with her.

Critique: When people ask me what the foundation of 3-D animation is, there are three two films that come to mind, Toy Story and Monsters Inc.. What Pixar was able to establish with these two movies is beyond my imagination. Monsters Inc. , is a exceptional film for everyone to enjoy and treasure. To think that Pixar was able to establish such a completely great film with great characters is incredible. 2001's best animated feature without question.

Recognitions: Monsters Inc. was nominated for 4 academy awards including Best Animated Feature and Best Score. It won the award for Best Song, If I Didn't Have You. Unfortunately, it lost to Shrek for Best Animated Feature.

#13, Kung Fu Panda

Title: Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Signature Quote: " There are no accidents."

Script: 4.8

Directing: 4.7

Acting/Voices: 4.7

My Grade: 4.7

Abstract: In Valley of Peace, China lies the furious five of Kung Fu Tigress, Monkey, Mantis, Crane, and Viper. These five have practiced Kung Fu their entire lives, but when Po, a civilian is chosen as the Dragon Warrior they are not as enthusiatic as him about being the savior of China. Po has always heard about Kung Fu, but he never expected himself to accept the highest honor of receiving the Dragon Scroll and defeating the greatest enemy of China, Tai Lung (an ex-Kung Fu Master). So now Po, must master Kung Fu in a matter of days and be able to stop Tai Lung from destroying the Valley of Peace and getting the Dragon Scroll.

Critique: Personally I believe Kung Fu Panda was the best movie of 2008. Besetting on the rest of the films of 2008, Kung Fu Panda had the best script and appealed to the audience more than any other film. Yes, I believe Wall E was an excellent film and I have it on my countdown as well, but for my own personal preference I believe Kung Fu Panda was more suited to the audience of younger ages and Wall E appealed more to audience of older ages.

Recognitions: Kung Fu Panda won 11 Annie Awards including Best Picture over Wall E, but when it came down to the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes Wall E edged out Kung Fu Panda in the awards for Best Animated Feature.

#14, Cars

Title: Cars (2006)

Signature Quote: "Cars didn't drive on Route 66 to make great time, they drove on it to have a great time."

Script: 4.7

Directing: 4.6

Acting/Voices: 4.6

My Grade: 4.7

Abstract: Lightning McQueen is a egotistic racecar who's only goal in life is to become the first rookie ever to win the Piston Cup, but after he gets sidetracked and ends up in Route 66 he learns a lessons on life and how to be a better person.

Critique: Cars to me is much more than just an animated feature, it is a breakthrough when speaking of animated films. The visual work that Pixar performs in this film is beyond amazing and the message they get across is memorable.Whythis film did not win best animated feature in 2006, I don't know because it is one of the best when talking about animation in films.

Recognitions: It was nominated by many as the Best Animated Feature of 2006. "Our Song" won the academy award for best original song, and the film itself was nominated for Best Animated Feature in 2006.

#15, Finding Nemo

Title: Finding Nemo (2003)

Signature Quote: "My son, he was taken by these divers."

Script: 4.8

Directing: 4.6

Acting/Voices: 4.7

My Grade: 4.7

Abstract: From the Creators of Monsters Inc., comes the tale of father who would do anything just so he can reach his son. Marlin's life is made special by one person, his son Nemo. After he is taken he goes across the entire ocean in search of him.

Critique: Acclaimed as one of the best animated films of all time, Finding Nemo is a animation masterpiece. Swimming and Searching the entire ocean, Marlin the clown fish is the main character everybody searches for in an excellent film. Winning Best Picture in 2003 Finding Nemo is considered Pixar's Best Film produced.

Recognitons: Finding Nemo won the academy award for Best Picture in 2003.

Animated Week

Today will be the beginning of animation week for flixtrends. When people look and watch animated features they believe they're films simply for kids and people of younger ages., but animated films speak to the audience in more ways than we are aware of. So throughout this week I will be displaying different animated films that have had success in the box office and in the academy awards as well. And I will also be counting down from 15 to 1 everyday the best films.