When it comes to iconic actors, it’s fair to say that Matt Damon is up there with some of the best.
The actor, now 54, has starred in various much-loved movies from The Bourne Identity to Good Will Hunting, and he always delivers when it comes to keeping his audience entertained. But, even though he’s taken on a number of major roles himself, his favourite films are a little different.
An interview has resurfaced on Facebook where the actor spoke to Letterboxd, and got talking about his favourite films, and he listed four that left a lasting impression. Though we think we know all there is to know about our favourite actors, there are some things that always manage to surprise us.
After he listed his all-time favourites, one person said: “The fifth movie would have to be Good Will Hunting.” Another wrote: “He is modest not to mention his movies.”
But, it turns out, when it comes to Damon’s go-to flicks, his taste is quite varied. Here are his four ultimate favourite films.
The Godfather Part 1 & 2 (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972; 1974)
For those who somehow haven’t seen it, The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film. It was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo.
The story is based on Puzo’s best-selling 1969 novel, and it’s often considered to be one of the greatest and most influential films of all time. Not to mention, it’s a landmark of the gangster genre.
Stars of the movie include Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and James Caan, and it was the highest grossing film of 1972. Not to mention, it’s still widely loved by fans today.
Midnight Run (Martin Brest, 1988)
To add some variety, Damon also included Midnight Run in his top four. The American action comedy film was directed by Martin Brest and written by George Gallo.
It stars Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin, among other notable names. If you haven’t seen it, the plot focuses on a bounty hunter who pursues a former Mafia accountant who is also being hunted down by a rival bounty hunter. The F.B.I., and his old mob boss, are also on his case.
Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino, 1994)
The ’90s classic Pulp Fiction also made the list. The American independent crime film was both written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, and he developed the story with Roger Avary.
The plot centres around four intertwining tales of crime and violence in Los Angeles, and features stars such as John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis and Uma Thurman.
As for the title, this is linked to the pulp magazines and hardboiled crime novels that were really popular during the mid-20th century. They were known for depicting graphic violence and containing punchy dialogue.
Jaws (Steven Speilberg, 1975)
Most people think Jaws, the 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg, is a great movie. It’s based on the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley.
The movie stars Roy Scheider who plays the role of police chief Martin Brody. Together with the help of a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a professional shark hunter (Robert Shaw), he attempts to hunt down a great white shark that keeps attacking beachgoers at a summer resort town.
Being shot mostly on location at Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, Jaws was the first major motion picture to be filmed on the ocean. Perhaps understandly, this led to a troubled production, as it went overbudget and took longer than predicted to shoot.