Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ENSEMBLETON — George Clooney’s latest directorial effort, “The Monuments Men,” is headed to theaters this weekend and features an incredibly strong cast.
The ensemble features heavyweights like Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin and Clooney himself. Even if the film falls short of people’s expectations it will still feature some stellar performances.
With “The Monuments Men” release just days away, here’s a look at some of the great ensemble casts over the years.
It has been well documented in numerous KSL.com articles as well as on the Flicks Junkies Podcast that Wes Anderson films are not for everyone, but his casts are always stellar. The best of these may be his 2012 effort “Moonrise Kingdom.”
This strange story of teenagers in love features strong performances from Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and a short, but scene stealing cameo from Jason Schwartzman.
The film is quirky and bizarre, but the cast is well worth your time.
#poll
It seems if you want a great little film with an amazing ensemble cast you need to get Bill Murray involved.
The 1984 film “Ghostbusters” has become a classic over the last 30-plus years and most of that is thanks to its amazing cast.
The film includes Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver and one of the funniest performances you’ll ever see from Rick Moranis.
The film is hilarious and is one of the most quotable movies of all time. Put anybody else in those roles and it just wouldn’t be the same. Think about it, Murray is Venkman; Venkman is Murray.
I recently mentioned “12 Angry Men” in a light-hearted article about why you should be grateful for winter. Now it’s included on this list because it’s truly an amazing film with some of the best performances to ever be caught on film.
The cast is led by Henry Fonda along with screen legends Lee J. Cobb, Jack Warden, Ed Begley and Jack Klugman, to name a few.
The film is a cerebral and exhausting drama that will leave you in awe with what the cast accomplished.
“12 Angry Men” is often cited as one of the greatest performances by a cast in film history, and the accolades are well deserved.
Many may recognize Christopher Guest as the Six-Fingered Man from “The Princess Bride,” but some know him as the man who brings us some of the funniest mocumentaries of all time.
While Guest’s films are a riot, “Best in Show” is one of his best, and the cast is phenomenal.
For those who are familiar with Guest’s films you’ll recognize the faces, but they somehow managed to up their game for this 2000 comedy about competitors in a national dog show.
The strange and hilarious film includes memorable roles from Eugene Levy, Fred Willard, Catherine O’Hara, Christopher Guest and John Michael Higgins, to name a few.
It’s hard to pinpoint one character that stands out above the rest because all of them are so watchable and relatable, in their own strange way.
Guest’s films are a little like Anderson’s where they are not for everyone, but if this is up your alley, you’re going to love “Best in Show.”
Ensemble casts are nothing new, but the idea behind it may have been perfected in 2001 with “Ocean’s Eleven.”
The film was clever, unexpected and hilarious; and it didn’t hurt that it featured a star-studded cast that was too big to put on one poster.
With names like George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia, Casey Affleck and Carl Reiner, it sounds more like a guest list to a high-end Hollywood party than the cast of one single film.
That cast has accounted for four Academy Award wins and another 20 nominations. Not a bad group to throw together.
“Ocean’s Eleven” is fun, inventive and one of the most entertaining and watchable films of the past 30 years and much of that is credited to the amazing ensemble cast.
This same group even made a less-than-impressive “Ocean’s Twelve” watchable and made “Ocean’s Thirteen” the sequel the original deserved.
Honorable Mention:
What ensemble casts are your favorites? Let us know on the comment boards, Facebook, Twitter or feel free to send an email.
