1. Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Perhaps no film has lived a second life as outstanding as Frank Darabont’s prison drama The Shawshank Redemption in 1994, which disappeared from theaters after a disappointing reappearance at the box office as a hit on video and television. . . Based on Stephen King’s story, the film revolves around an unjustly convicted man (Robins) who befriended another prisoner (Morgan Freeman) for decades. Regardless of the subject and the setting, Darabont and its cast have a warm and welcoming feeling, which can only be felt when spending time with best friends.
Maybe that’s why Shawshank is still the best movie among IMDb users. Robbins and Freeman competed in the SAG, but only Freeman was nominated for an Oscar. The film practically went 0-7 at the Academy and lost to Forrest Gump in the Best Film category.
2. Mystic River (2003)
Clint Eastwood’s somber investigation of how childhood traumas give birth to adult suffering earned Robbins the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. The story revolves around three friends: Jimmy Marcus (Sean Penn), an ex-con; Dave Boyle (Robbins), a blue-collar worker; and Sean Devine (Kevin Bacon), a police detective. Their innocence was destroyed as little boys when Dave was kidnapped and sexually abused by two guys masquerading as police officials. Years later, when Jimmy’s daughter (Emmy Rossum) is killed, Dave, still plagued by his past, becomes a suspect in the inquiry led by Sean and his colleague (Laurence Fishburne).
Robbins discreetly communicates the psychological harm caused by his teenage maltreatment, brooding and viewing vampire movies to connect with someone who understands his anguish. In addition to his win, Penn was named Best Actor. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but lost to “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”
3. Short Cut (1993)
Robbins is just one of 22 characters in this intimate Robert Altman epic. Based on the writings of author Raymond Carver, the film explores the lives of Los Angeles residents who struggle with work, love, and death. Robbins plays Jean Shepard, a police officer who has an affair with a recently divorced woman. The lives of this diverse group intersect in unexpected, funny, and sometimes tragic ways, but Altman skillfully emphasizes the random nature of existence. Surprisingly, he won a special “Best Ensemble” award at the Golden Globes, but no actor was recognized at the Academy Awards. Altman competed for best director but lost to Steven Spielberg.
4. Bob Roberts (1992)
With this political drama, Robbins makes his directorial debut. A satire of famous right-wing singer Bob Roberts, running for Senatorial. During the campaign, honest reporters try to expose corrupt politicians as crooks. Given the current political landscape, this nibbling film may be unfamiliar. However, Robbins is a self-proclaimed “populist” and has a natural look behind the camera. The film also highlighted his interest in politics, becoming the actor’s primary focus. Robbins was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy / Musical.
5. High Fidelity (2000)
Robbins makes a brief but notable cameo in the film. Steven Freeers’ comedy about love and documentary. John Cusack plays Rob, the record store owner, who talks about his first five breakups, including the breakup he goes through with his girlfriend Laura (Iben Hjejle). Robbins plays Ian Raymond, an impatient intellectual trying to connect with Laura. In a fun sequence, Ian visits a record store and has nightmares about Rob and his fellow actors (Todd Louiso and Jack Black). Apart from raw housing, High Fidelity is fun, nuanced entertainment with laughter and a great soundtrack.
6. Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
If you’re looking for a fun movie outing, you may want to look elsewhere because Jacob’s Ladder is a terrifying acid journey through a wormhole of paranoia, depression, and anger. Robbins plays a Vietnam veteran grieving the loss of a son in this thriller directed by Adrien Lyne. When he begins to experience strange hallucinations, he begins to suspect that he and his military platoon are the victims of some kind of medical experiment. The line keeps the tension tight because fantasy and reality are inseparable, and Robbins perfectly captures the wounded soul of an injured character.
7. War of the Worlds (2005)
This adaptation is based on H.G. Wells, a summer blockbuster with popcorn. Tom Cruise plays Ray Ferrier, who must fight to protect his children when alien war machines invade Earth. Robbins plays Harlan Ogilvy, a surviving farmer who protects Ray and his daughter (Dakota Fanning) from evil invaders but can kill them all. Director Steven Spielberg creates a truly terrifying image of an attacked world, filling the screen with horrifying and shocking images reminiscent of 9/11.
