Similar to my ’10 Sean Connery Movies Everyone Should See’, this isn’t meant to be a ‘best of’ list or a ranking based on whether or not
the critics liked these, as some of an actor’s most memorable performances don’t come
in their best received movies.This is more of an overview of some of the films that I think best represent John Travolta's career.
1)
Grease – 1978
This
is the definitive ‘early Travolta’ movie. He sings, he dances, he’s has a charm
about him. The movie is fun, and the songs will be stuck in your head all day.*
2)
Urban Cowboy -1980
I find this one to be one of his most
enjoyable movies (though not as successful as ‘Saturday Night Fever’ or ‘Grease’).
John Travolta and Debra Winger are both solid and their characters have an
entertaining love-hate relationship. This one also has some pretty good music in
it.
3)
A Civil Action- 1998
You don’t have to be a fan of courtroom
drama type movies to have a good time with this one. Its good story and solid
cast (John Travolta, Robert Duvall, William H. Macy, Jon Lithgow, and Tony
Shalhoub) make it a really enjoyable watch.
4)
Bolt- 2008
You may be thinking “Wait. Bolt? Why?”
After the silliness of ‘Wild Hogs’ and ‘Hairspray’ but before the
harder-hitting ‘Taking of Pelham 123’, ‘From Paris With Love’, and ‘Savages’
there was this often forgotten animated movie with Travolta voicing a dog named
Bolt. It’s an enjoyable family movie, with some genuinely funny moments.
5)
Swordfish – 2001
From ‘The Punisher’ to ‘Criminal Activities’ post-2000 Travolta has
taken on more villain roles, and he was really on his game in this action/crime
film. You also get Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry and Don Cheadle as an added bonus.
6)
Broken Arrow – 1996
For the first two decades of his career
Travolta had usually been cast as the nice guy (Hell, later that same year he
would play a literal angel in “Michael”). So this was his first real ‘villain’
role. Sure he played a criminal in 1994’s “Pulp Fiction”, but really everyone in
that movie is a criminal so that doesn’t count.
7)
Saturday Night Fever – 1977
Though he had been in two movies and on TV’s
‘Welcome Back Kotter’ prior to this film, ‘Saturday Night Fever’ played a huge
part in making John Travolta a star. A huge success, the film was nominated for
several awards and the soundtrack became one of the best-selling film
soundtracks of all-time.
8)
Phenomenon – 1996
In the mid-late 90's John Travolta was a
man who could not be stopped and this is one of his hit films of that time. The
last half-hour may be a little too sappy but the rest is pretty good.
9)
Pulp Fiction- 1994
Most
of you probably could’ve guessed this would be on the list. While it is an ensemble
film rather than a Travolta-led one, he is one of the highlights of it. The
dance scene with him and Uma Thurman in the Jack Rabbit Slim’s Restaurant is
one of the most memorable moments in what has become an iconic film.
10)
Face/Off- 1997
This one is a strange but extremely fun
action movie. The plot involves John Travolta and Nicholas Cage switching faces,
so you get a good portion of the film with Travolta and Cage kind of doing their
best impressions of each other. It’s overacting at its finest.
Honorable Mentions: Michael (1996), Blow Out (1981), Get Shorty
(1995)
Have a suggestion for review? Leave it in the comments.
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