In a conversation with Interview Magazine back in 2018, Jennifer Jason Leigh unveiled her top three favorite movies from her acting career. Today, we present you with these three films that Leigh cherishes the most.
3. Georgia (1995) – IMDb: 6.7
‘Georgia‘ is a 1995 American independent film directed by Ulu Grosbard. The film explores the relationship between two sisters, with Leigh portraying the punk singer Sadie Flood. The narrative explores familial bonds and artistic struggle with a raw and emotional storyline.
Following its release, the film received the Grand Prix of the Americas Award for Best Picture at the Montreal World Film Festival. Leigh’s portrayal in ‘Georgia’ earned her accolades as the Best Actress from both the Montreal World Film Festival and the New York Film Critics Circle.
Critics have appreciated the film for its deep character development and actor performances. For instance, critic James Berardinelli said it’s ‘a tour de force for Leigh,’ while LA Times’ Kenneth Turan praised the actress for her ‘exceptional performance.’ ‘Georgia’ also holds an 81% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
2. Anomalisa (2015) – IMDb: 7.2
‘Anomalisa‘ is a 2015 stop-motion animated psychological comedy-drama. Written and directed by Charlie Kaufman, the film is based on Kaufman’s 2005 audio play. Leigh lent her voice to the character of Lisa Hesselman, a woman who grabs the attention of a customer service expert amidst his existential crisis.
The movie received critical praise and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, a groundbreaking achievement for an R-rated animation. It also won the Grand Jury Prize at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival, becoming the first animated film to win this award.
With a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an average score of 88 on Metacritic, ‘Anomalisa’ has the viewers’ approval as well.
1. The Hateful Eight (2015)
Another one of Leigh’s favorites is Quentin Tarantino’s 2015 Western mystery thriller, ‘The Hateful Eight.‘ The film features an ensemble cast including Leigh as ‘Crazy’ Daisy Domergue. The story revolves around eight strangers seeking refuge from a blizzard in a stagecoach stopover post-American Civil War.
Tarantino’s vision for the film evolved from a sequel concept for ‘Django Unchained’ to a standalone project. It’s notable for Ennio Morricone’s original score, his first for a Western in over three decades and the only one for a Tarantino film. The score won an Academy Award for Best Original Score.
Released by The Weinstein Company, ‘The Hateful Eight’ was met with positive reviews and generated over $156 million worldwide. Leigh’s performance was particularly recognized, earning her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The film has an approval rating of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 68 on Metacritic.
