Birthday Special: October-born actors and their best movies to watch this month

Christoph Waltz, Kate Winslet, Matt Damon, Amitabh Bachchan, Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Joaquin Phoenix, and Julia Roberts have two things in common: they are fine and versatile actors and they were all born in October. As we are well into the tenth month of 2023, it’s time to celebrate these actors and their stellar performances. We’re talking about Waltz as an SS colonel, Bachchan as a Mumbai gangster who faces a moral dilemma with his brother and mother, Phoenix pouring his heart and soul into playing the Joker, and Reynolds as the witty and whacky Deadpool. 

Christoph Waltz (October 4)

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

If you ever wanted to see an actor play the role of a villain to perfection, Waltz, as the cunning and ruthless Colonel Hans Landa is the one to watch. He goes by the nickname ‘The Jew Hunter’, and that tells you all that you need to know about the psyche of the character in this Quentin Tarantino film revolving around a group of soldiers whose mission is to take out Hitler’s Third Reich. He is a scene stealer right from the moment he appears in front of the camera and you see the depths of his cruelty in the way he behaves and the things he says, all the while being unmoved. he is by the events and the effect it has on people. The performance earned Waltz his first Oscar (Best Supporting Actor), and he was also the first actor to win an award for his work in a Tarantino film.

Django Unchained (2012)

 

Waltz teamed up with Tarantino once again, where he played a German bounty hunter named Dr King Schultz, who promises to free slave Django, played by Jamie Foxx, if he succeeds in helping him track down the homicidal Brittle brothers. Compared to most of his performances where he plays the villain, Waltz is kind of like a hero here as one gets to see a character with a soft side. Tarantino knew exactly who he was casting when he wrote the role specifically for Waltz, so much so that it earned the actor his second Oscar. 

Kate Winslet (October 5)

Titanic (1997)

 

There’s no prize for guessing the most iconic and recognisable role of Winslet’s career. The romance and chemistry between Jack and Rose is timeless. In the film that won 11 Oscars, Winslet plays Rose DeWitt Bukater, a spoilt young girl, who transforms into a rebel after she falls in love with Jack. By the way, we still think both of them would have easily fit on the door. 

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

 

Winslet’s portrayal of Clementine Kruczynski—far from the serious dramas and period films that she’d done before—is one of the many fine examples that show her acting range. Jim Carrey and Winslet have incredible chemistry as they bring one of the best modern stories to life. Despite being 19-years-old, the film and her performance continue to be fresh in our hearts. 

Matt Damon (October 8)

Good Will Hunting (1997)

 

This performance will make you fall in love with Damon. He played Will Hunting, a math genius who’s struggling to make peace with his past. He’s a perfectly imperfect person, one who makes mistakes but has a good heart. Over the course of the film, you realise the method to his madness and the pain he is going through. This is one of Damon’s finest roles for a screenplay written by his best buddy Ben Affleck. 

The Bourne movies (The Bourne Identity (2002), The Bourne Supremacy (2004), The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), The Bourne Legacy (2012), Jason Bourne (2016)

 

This franchise was Damon’s true calling. He proved to the world that he can very well play the part of an action hero. He was modest and humble at one point and was able to effortlessly transform into the ruthless and efficient assassin, Jason Bourne. While the first movie gave us a glimpse of what was in store, the second and third films were far more sleek and entertaining. For a long time, the series was considered to be the best action-spy franchise, but sadly, the thrill and buzz were missing in the final installment of the 2016 film. 

Amitabh Bachchan (October 11)

Anand (1971)

 

The film tells us how to celebrate life to the fullest. While we fall in love with Rajesh Khanna’s infectious smile, Bachchan’s character, Dr. Bhaskar Banerjee comes across as the most affable and relatable. He is the best friend one could ask for. His frustration on being unable to find a cure for his friend and to see a man, devoid of all emotions, finally break down in that epic last scene were the defining moments of the movie.  

Deewar (1975)

The angry young man of Bollywood never looked angrier and menacing than in this iconic movie that gave us a host of memorable scenes and dialogues. Bachchan is in top form in the role of the coolie-turned-gangster, whose brother, a cop, is assigned to put him behind bars. The character arc is spectacular—a young boy who cleans shoes on the streets of Mumbai goes on to become a wealthy smuggler, only to realise he will never be complete or happy living this life. 

Hugh Jackman (October 12)

The Prestige (2006)

Directed by Christopher Nolan, The Prestige revolves around the life of two magicians from London in the 1890s who pit themselves against each other. Jackman plays Robert Angier, a magician who's obsessed with the limelight and his rival, (played by Christian Bale) Alfred Borden's secrets. Jackman plays the villain, you love to hate because you realise how real, yet raw his emotions and jealousy is. Watching him being unable to come to terms with the fact that he’s the second-best magician and how it drives him to the verge of insanity is pure cinematic bliss. 

Prisoners (2013)

You may have seen him as the superhero Wolverine in countless movies, but Jackman is much more than that. You probably are unaware of his emotional range because you probably haven’t seen his performance as Keller Dover, a father who finds out that his young daughter and her friend have disappeared on Thanksgiving Day. He takes matters into his own hands and finds himself at odds with the lead detective on the case, played by Jake Gyllenhaal. With the investigation and leads going nowhere, a desperate Dover ends up kidnapping the man he thinks is behind his daughter’s disappearance. The reason why you relate to the character is because you know this is every parent’s nightmare and Jackman makes it look very convincing and makes you appreciate the performance even more. 

Ryan Reynolds (October 23)

Buried (2010)

It’s tough to be the only actor in a film considering audiences are only going to watch you right from the start to end. But Reynolds rose up to the challenge and gripped everyone’s attention from the get-go. He played Paul Conroy, an American working in Iraq, who is kidnapped and placed in a wooden coffin with only a phone, a pen and a lighter at his disposal. With his situation getting worse with every passing minute, we’re holding our breath, very much like him, as he attempts to break free and hope to get rescued.

Deadpool (2016)

Ryan Reynolds is Deadpool. And when you watch the movie you realise that he is the only choice to play the part. Be it the humour, drama, fun, sarcasm, or sass, Reynolds gives his all to give a stellar performance. Despite him spending the majority of the movie behind a mask, his charisma shines through. 

Joaquin Phoenix (October 28)

Her (2013)

 

This is inarguably Phoenix’s sweetest performance to date. It’s a heartwarming story of Theodore Twombly, a writer who makes a living writing personal letters for others. Heartbroken and lonely after his marriage ends, he finds a companion in Samantha, the AI host of a new operating system. He spends a lot of time speaking to her and eventually falls in love with the virtual assistant. He feels his connection with the AI host is real and we see the love and pain behind his emotions.  

Joker (2019)

How does one top Heath Ledger’s performance as Joker? That question is finally answered, thanks to Phoenix’s sensational performance. Despite the bar being set extremely high, the actor gave it his all for a role that was no less than a character study into the mind of a madman. Be it the smile, the laugh, the shape of his body, he delivered with bravado and finesse. No prize for guessing that he took home the Oscar for Best Actor. 

Julia Roberts (October 28)

Pretty Woman (1990)

This performance makes you laugh and cry at the same time. This love story between a young prostitute and a millionaire (Richard Gere) sweeps us off our feet with the adorable chemistry and infectious energy between the lead pair. Thanks to her impeccable comic timing and banter, and not to forget the red dress, Roberts went on to earn her first Best Actress nomination at the Oscars. 

Erin Brockovich (2001)

This film earned Roberts an Academy Award for Best Actress, one she thoroughly deserved. She played a blunt and foul-mouthed single mother in this legal drama that exposes a cover-up in the town where she lives and the people responsible for the mess. Backed with a solid plot and a compelling supporting performance by Albert Finney, the film is a must-watch and even inspiring in many regards.