George Clooney is a bona-fide megastar. Having recently turned his hand to directing, he still manges to charm his way into some of the best films out there. Here's some of his best work...
5. LEATHERHEADS
An ode to 1930's screwball comedies, Leatherheads – which was directed by and starring Clooney – is the story of the birth of the NFL as we know it today. Clooney plays an over-the-hill NFL player who tries to convince a college football star (The Office's John Krasinski) to turn pro and join his team. Renee Zellwegger plays a spunky young journalist who's tasked with investigating the college football star's life and supposed heroic victory in World War I. Naturally, she drives a wedge between them and causes friction between them. Although it underperformed at the box-office, Leatherheads is still a decent sports comedy and a fine effort from Clooney.
4. OCEANS 13
Correcting the too-smart-for-its-own-good Ocean's Twelve, the final chapter in the Ocean's Trilogy goes right back to the slick roots of the first one. Clooney, Pitt, Damon et al are all back on their A-game and it shows throughout. You can see everyone's having a blast and it's hard not to be swept along with it. Al Pacino plays a ruthless casino owner who's double-crossed one of the crew (Elliot Gould) and has left him penniless. With the assured mix of high-tech robbery, surprise cameos and semi-baffling endings, Ocean's Thirteen is the perfect bookend to one of Clooney's greatest works.
3. WELCOME TO COLLINWOOD
Written and directed by brothers Anthony & Joe Russo, who've worked on Community and the upcoming Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Welcome To Collinwood is an overlooked crime comedy that has a fantastic ensemble cast. George Clooney, Sam Rockwell, William H. Macy and Luis Guzman are criminals who are trying to pull off the perfect crime – a safe is hidden in an abandoned building and holds a fortune in diamonds. The only problem is, the criminals trying to get at it aren't the most skilled. Clooney produced and had a small role in the film, but it's all about the whip-smart dialogue that the Russo brothers would later use in Community.
2. THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX
Wes Anderson adapting Roald Dahl just seems like the most obvious thing in the world. Of course Wes Anderson and of course Roald Dahl. Therefore, casting George Clooney as the slick, confident Mr. Fox is equally obvious. Playing every bit the devilishly clever caper-criminal that he's done, you can almost see Clooney past the stop-motion animation. Like all Anderson films, the cast is spectacular – you have Bill Murray playing a badger, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwarztmann, Michael Gambon and many many more. A delightful children's tale with a wry sense of humour.
1. THE IDES OF MARCH
Would you vote for Clooney as a politician? We would. Directed by Clooney and written by none other than House of Cards' Beau Willimon, The Ides of March takes the same cynical eye that HoC has and aims it at political campaigning. Gosling plays a campaign manager to presidential hopeful Clooney. With a fantastic supporting cast, including the late great Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti and Jeffrey Wright, Ides of March showcases Clooney's ability to change genres in an instant. He's directed screwball comedies, spy thrillers and now political dramas. Fans of House of Cards will undoubtedly note the similar tone and feel that Ides of March has.
Also see: Five of the best from Sandra Bullock
Win the Top 5 George Clooney & Top 5 Sandra Bullock movies on DVD with thanks to Tower Records