Sure, Kevin Spacey has been, for all the wrong reasons, in the news for the better part of the two years now, but before being #MeToo’ed, he was considered one of the best actors in the world. With his dramatic acting talents, Spacey managed to win a Best Acting Oscar for “American Beauty” and a Best Supporting Actor award for “The Usual Suspects.” Will we ever see him at the movies again? The answer to that question remains unanswered, but, for now, the body of work he’s left us speaks for itself.
#10: John Williamson
“Glengary Glen Ross” (1992)
James Foley’s 1992 adaptation of David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play was Spacey’s homecoming as an actor. The fact that he ended up holding his own in one of the best acted movies of the last 30 years is commendable enough of an accomplishment. Yes, Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Alan Arkin and a career-best performance from Alec Baldwin energize the film forward but it’s Spacey’s no-nonsense manager John Williamson that left us with the most lasting impression. A cruel man that never hesitated to let his employees know they were dispensable at all times.
#9: Lt. Chris Sabian
“The Negotiator” (1998)
Spacey doesn’t spend the majority of his time making Hollywood blockbusters; but when he does it, he does it well. In this formulaic but engaging action thriller, he’s a Chicago hostage negotiator locked in a battle of wits with fellow negotiator Danny Roman, played by Samuel L. Jackson. This is one case where the actors make the movie: whether in the action sequences or the quiet moments in between, the chemistry between Spacey and Jackson ensures this one is well worth the price of admission.
#8: Sam Rogers
“Margin Call” (2011)
Spacey is at the top of his game in JC Chandor’s “Margin Call,” a thrillingly intense look at what went down on Wall Street the evening before the 2008 crash. Writer-director. Chandor focused his action on a 24-hour period and the mosaic of characters including chief of the bumbling firm, Sam Rogers (Kevin Spacey), carries the film forward. However, Spacey’s Rogers is the soul of the film, a wounded man who has given his life to a business and an institution that has relied for years on illegal conduct In the end, Rogers great compassion is reserved for his ailing dog at home.
#7: Lloyd Chasseur
“The Ref” (1994)
Denis Leary’s bumbling, clumsy criminal doesn’t know what he’s in for when he takes this duo hostage. Spacey plays one-half of this bitter couple, who are on their way home from a failed marriage counseling session, and who are heavyweights when it comes to doling out insults. With his acerbic wit and fantastic comedic timing, Spacey and his wife, played by Judy Davis, spit out abuse of the highest order. With this film’s expert mix of comedy and drama, it’s a wonder it didn’t do better at the box-office.
#6: John Doe
“Se7en” (1995)
He’s a dark shadow over the entire film, but Spacey only shows up near the end of this David Fincher psychological thriller. But, he completely owns every scene he’s in. As the serial killer hunted by detectives Mills and Somerset, Spacey is a calm and menacing psychopath who projects an air of self-righteousness and arrogance, and a personality so twisted and complex you’re never certain what’s on his mind. Spacey’s depiction of pure evil will haunt you long after the film is over.
#5: Det. Sgt. Jack Vincennes
“L.A. Confidential” (1997)
Channeling Dean Martin on his director’s advice, Spacey portrays Vincennes as a swaggering, cocky, too-big-for-his-britches guy who ain’t the most honest cop on the block. He cares more about Hollywood glamor, his own reputation and his TV show than he does about solving real cases. But, that changes when one of his actor friends is murdered. Soon enough Vincennes is putting his nose to the grindstone to crack the case. Complex, layered, and ever evolving, this Spacey performance will have you questioning things to the very end.
#4: Buddy Ackerman
“Swimming with Sharks” (1994)
Need an actor to portray a bastard of a boss? Hire Kevin Spacey. Though he later reprised this type of role in “Horrible Bosses,” Spacey is at his sadistic best as Buddy Ackerman, a movie big shot and boss from hell. One of Spacey’s most devilish creations, Buddy is a perfect fit for the actor since he allows him to mix wit and scathing humor as he targets a young writer with consistent humiliation. However, when Ackerman finally reveals his vulnerability, we see layers we never expected.
#3: Francis “Frank” Underwood
“House of Cards” (2013-)
Allowing Spacey to turn on a dime from sickly sweet to cold as ice, Frank Underwood is a United States politician with grand plans to seek the highest office in the land – and he never misses an opportunity to tell us his plans directly. With enough Southern charm to win over almost anyone, and enough cunning to beat anyone at politics, Underwood is what we’ve come to expect from a standout Spacey role: Witty, power-hungry, narcissistic and driven, and for that, the actor earned a Golden Globe nod.
#2: Roger “Verbal” Kint
“The Usual Suspects” (1995)
Deservedly winning Spacey his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor is this suspicious but seemingly naïve and innocent con artist who suffers from cerebral palsy. Laying the groundwork for the film, Spacey uses his interrogation by police to narrate the story of the legendary, faceless criminal mastermind Keyser Söze and a drug deal gone spectacularly wrong during. Though he’s shifty and spineless, Verbal is another layered character in Spacey’s arsenal – a fast-talker and low-man on the totem pole, but one with more to him than meets the eye.
#1: Lester Burnham
“American Beauty” (1999)
Though he was almost dumped for a bigger name, Spacey surprised everyone with his portrayal of this spectacular mid-life crisis – and won the Oscar for Best Actor. Playing a middle-aged man who hates his job, whose wife is cheating, and who’s infatuated with his daughter’s friend, Spacey goes on a journey of self-discovery, transforming from a suburban loser to a man in charge. Playing the part with kindness, intelligence and even some rebellion, Spacey ensured this funny and sad performance was a high point in his illustrious career.
The short version: "Woman Unknown" was a compromise. The jury deadlocked over "Possible Love" and "NAZA," not able to com to terms, fell back on their #3, May el-Toukhy's film.