My Top 5 Natalie Portman Movies

Here are my top five Natalie Portman movies. Portman has shown throughout the years that she is a versatile actress, and these selections demonstrate that.

Leon (1994) - There are two versions of this movie, in which Portman plays a child from a bad family, who ends up the apprentice to a hit man. I reviewed it already, and the review can be found here. The reason I put it in my top five isn't that it's one of my favorite movies so much as that it shows us that at such a young age, Portman was already a force to be reckoned with. She was only twelve or thirteen during filming, but she comes across as a much more mature actress than that. Very impressive.

Closer (2004) - It's not that between 94 and 04 Portman did nothing. She had several films that were very good, but this is her first real breakthrough into being an actress that handles adult scenes very well. Closer is the story of four individuals and their love lives. Also notably, Portman stars alongside big names like Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, and Jude Law. This isn't one for the kids, though, due to very suggestive scenes, lots of adult dialog, and a certain scene in a strip club.

V For Vendetta (2005) - In a 1984-style world, Portman plays Evey, who was minding her own business until she runs into self-styled freedom fighter V. What happens then opens her eyes to the society that she lives in. Very interesting ideas are presented throughout the film. Portman has her head shaved on screen for this role, and that's one of her many heart-wrenching scenes.

Paris, Je T'aime (2006) - Here we see Portman in a smaller film, but one of her most interesting too! Paris, Je T'aime is a French film about love, with mini segments featuring couples. Portman was in the section titled 'Faubourg Saint-Denis.' Most of the film was in French with subtitles, but there is a decent mix of languages used. It's beautifully put together, one of those movies where you sit still after it's done, just thinking. Miranda Richardson, Juliette Binoche, Willem Defoe, Nick Nolte, Maggie Gyllenhaall, Bob Hoskins, Elijah Wood, Gerard Depardieu, and Wes Craven all made appearances.

The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) - One of Portman's most pop culture oriented films, The Other Boleyn Girl also starred Scarlett Johansonn, Eric Bana, and Kristen Scott Thomas. It's the story of the Boleyn sisters and their contention for the love of Henry XIII, and the resulting tragedy. Portman plays the "bad" sister in this film. The costuming is gorgeous, and you even get to see the baby Elizabeth who would go on to become queen.