From his humble debut as a young punk terrorizing a supermarket in 1974’s Death Wish to his classic era of “unorthodox science types” in blockbusters like Jurassic Park and Independence Day, Jeff Goldblum has accumulated an intriguing acting resume across all kinds of genres. Who could forget his miniature but memorable appearance in Annie Hall (“I forgot my mantra”) or his off the wall turns in cult movies like Earth Girls Are Easy and The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, for starters? And then there was The Fly, in which he turned in an heroic performance as a scientist who fuses himself with an insect to horrific, heartbreaking results. This week, Goldblum’s back on the big screen in the newsroom comedy Morning Glory, in which he stars alongside Rachel McAdams as the network head of a TV show anchored by Harrison Ford and his old Annie Hall alum, Diane Keaton. All that and he somehow finds the time for his “other” job, tinkling the ivories in his jazz outfit, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra.
So, what are his five favorite films? “What do I like watching over and over again?” He ponders. “Well certainly The Godfathers when they come on — you’re bewitched and you can’t stop watching them. But that’s everybody’s answer, I’m sure… ”
I like Woody Allen. Crime and Misdemeanors I liked a lot. I think it’s just wonderful. I also enjoy many of those — I like Hannah and Her Sisters, and Husbands and Wives; I like Broadway Danny Rose. This morning I was watching Love and Death, with Diane Keaton which I like a lot. But Crimes and Misdemeanors is maybe the best one of those.
Let’s see… I like David Lynch. I enjoyed Mulholland Drive. I loved it. I just think he’s spectacular — I’d love to work with him.
89% Tomatometer)
The Coen brothers. You know, I liked their last movie, A Serious Man. I thought that was terrific.
98% Tomatometer)
Polanski. Rosemary’s Baby I keep coming back to, and I like Chinatown a lot. Those aren’t radical choices but I enjoy them. The truth is that I enjoy them a lot, and everybody knows they’re wonderful.
92% Tomatometer)
.For funny movies, Scorsese — you know, I have an affection for The King of Comedy. It’s just fun to watch. I like Rupert Pupkin… it’s hilarious. I like that it’s dark, and how this guy gets to be famous. But I like De Niro’s performance; I like Jerry Lewis; I like Sandra Bernhard. I like the Ray Charles song that comes on at the beginning. It’s terrific.
Morning Glory is in theaters November 12.
