Top Ten Jack Nicholson Movies Review

Although these days Jack Nicholson is more likely to be found courtside at a Lakers games than on the screen, his body of work speaks for itself. A three-time Oscar-winner, Nicholson had an incredible run between 1969 and 1975, giving one great performance after another. Like most of my Top Ten Lists, this one is highly subjective, concentrating for the most part on those years, and does not even include his most recent Academy Award-winning role in 1997's As Good As It Gets or his iconic turn in 1992's A Few Good Men ("You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!").

Which says a lot about of the quality of his work in the films listed below:

1. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975): Smilin' Jack kicks ass and takes names as Randall Patrick McMurphy in Milos Forman's adaptation of Ken Kesey's novel. A letter-perfect performance, asNicholson won his first of three Academy Awards. MGM Home Video.

2. Chinatown (1974): "My sister...My daughter...My sister! My daughter!" Nicholson is sleazy private eye Jake Gittes in Roman Polanski's neo-noir masterpiece. With Faye Dunaway, John Huston, and Burt Young. Paramount Home Video. 

3. Five Easy Pieces (1970): A tour-de-force performance as musical prodigy turned iteinerant oil rigger Bobby Dupea, with Karen Black as his girlfriend Rayette.  Directed by Bob Rafelson, from a script by Adrien Joyce (Carole Eastman).  Sony Home Entertainment.

4. Easy Rider (1969): Jack steals the show from Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper in the epic biker film as as George Hanson, a small-town Southern lawyer the two meet when jailed for "parading without a permit." Available on DVD from Sony Home Entertainment.

5. Carnal Knowledge (1971): Director Mike Nichols and writer Jules Ffeiffer get the best from Jack, Ann-Margaret, Art Garfunkle and Candice Bergen as a quartet of misbegotten and misguided lovers. MGM Home Video.

6. The King of Marvin Gardens (1972): Jack's brilliant opening monologue elevates this so-so effort from Bob Rafelson into the top ten. With Bruce Dern, Ellen Burstyn, and Scatman Crothers. MGM Home Video.

7. The Last Detail (1973): Nicholson excels as foul-mouthed Billy 'Bad Ass' Buddusky in this little gem from director Hal Ashby. With Randy Quaid. MGM Home Video.

8. The Shining (1980): Stanley Kubrick's over-the-top rendering of Stephen King's novel allowed Jack enough rope to venture into self-parody. With Shelley Duvall and Scatman Crothers. Warner Home Video.

9. Terms of Endearment (1983): Jack copped a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for pretending to be attracted to Shirley MacLaine in this tearjerker adapted from Larry McMurty's novel.

10. About Schmidt (2002) and The Departed (2006): Two more recent performances that prove Jack still has it. In the former, he's a widower dealing with his his dead wife's infeidelity and his daughter's impending marriage. Under the direction of Martin Scorsese, he gives a measured performance in the latter film, even if he doesn't attempt a full-blown Boston accent.

Honorable Mention:

Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

The Wild Ride (1960)

The Raven (1963)

A Ride in the Whirlwind (1965)

The Shooting (1967)

Hell's Angels on Wheels (1968)

Psych-Out (1968)

A Safe Place (1972)

The Passenger (1975)

Tommy (1975)

The Missouri Breaks (1976)

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)

Reds (1981)

Prizzi's Honor (1985)

Broadcast News (1986)

Ironweed (1987)

Batman (1989)

The Two Jakes (1990)

A Few Good Men (1992)

Hoffa (1992)

Wolf (1994)

The Crossing Guard (1995)

Blood and Wine (1996)

As Good As It Gets (1997)

The Pledge (2001)

Something's Gotta Give (2003)

The Bucket List (2007)

If you enjoyed this Top Ten Movies review, you may also enjoy

My Top Ten Top Tens

Top Ten Paul Newman Movies

Top Ten Marlon Brando Movies

Top Ten Oliver Reed Movies

Top Ten Johnny Depp Movies

Top Ten Bruce Willis Movies

Top Ten Clint Eastwood Westerns

Top Ten Movie Musicals of the '60s

Top Ten Biker Movies

Top Ten Classic Horror Movies

Top Ten Horror Movies of the '60s

Top Ten Horror Movies of the '70s