The Five Best Movies Starring Timothy Olyphant

Timothy Olyphant in Los Angeles

Timothy Olyphant’s career is nearing its 20 year mark. The 46-year-old actor made his professional acting debut in a 1995 off-Broadway production of The Monogamist.  Throughout the 90s, Olyphant made more than 10 on-screen appearances between his television and film roles.  His big break came in the 1999 film, Go, and since then, Olyphant has built a reputation as a solid actor who can take on any role he is given.    However, even after appearing in several successful films, Olyphant has found time to nurture his small-screen career. In 2004, Olyphant landed a starring role on CBS’ western themed series, Deadwood.  For the show’s entire two-year run, Olyphant played real life historical figure, Seth Bullock.

When Deadwood ended in 2006, Olyphant made several small television appearances before landed another leading role in the FX series, Justified.  Olyphant’s character, Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, “os something of a 19th-century–style, Old West lawman living in modern times.”  Givens eccentric style of enforcement has helped himself and the show gain a large number of dedicated fans.

Due to the show’s success many fans have focused their attention solely on Olyphant’s television career.  However, several of his film roles are noteworthy as well.  Here are the five best movies starring Timothy Olyphant.

5. Hitman

As its title suggests, Hitman is the story of a professional hitman, Agent 47, played by Olyphant.  In the film, Agent 47 is hired by a a group called “The Organization” which ends up having hip followed by both Interpol and the Russian Military. Although the film received mostly mixed reviews, Robert Ebert gave Hitman three out of four stars and stated: “Hitman stands right on the threshold between video games and art. On the wrong side of the threshold, but still, give it credit.”

4. The Girl Next Door

Many fans consider The Girl Next Door one of their favorite Timothy Olyphant films.  The Girl Next Door is a classic high school tale of a teenage boy who falls in love with the pretty girl next door; however, he is shocked when he finds out that the girl is a former adult film actress.  However, despite being a fan favorite, the film received mostly mixed reviews.  James Berardinelli of Reelviews stated: “The Girl Next Door builds up enough good will during its successful first half that we’re willing to forgive some of the strange and disappointing convolutions the plot takes us through during the final 45 minutes. There are two primary reasons why it’s not hard to recommend this likeable (albeit raunchy) romantic comedy: director Luke Greenfield and his screenwriters have a genuine feel of what it’s like to be a high school outsider, and it’s been a long time since there has been as appealing a young couple as Emile Hirsch and Elisha Cuthbert.”

3. A Perfect Getaway

The 2009 thriller, A Perfect Getaway, starred Timothy Olyphant as Nick, a hiker and veteran of the Iraq war. While hiking, Nick comes in contact with several other hikers who are discussing a murder that recently took place in Honoloulou.  As the film progresses, it is revealed that one of the couples Nick and his girlfriend met while hiking are actually the psychotic killers who have mastered the skill of killing people and then using their identities.  Famed film critic, the late Roger Ebert gave the film positive reviews and stated: “So here’s a thriller that worked for me. I didn’t see revelations approaching, because I didn’t expect any. At one point in the film, I wondered about something, and then thought, nahhh, couldn’t be. Could be…I enjoyed the acting…Timothy Olyphant is convincing as a man who is impossible to kill, as is Kiele Sanchez as a woman who likes that aspect of his character…The plot will require some discussion after the film is over. Is it misleading? Yes. Does it cheat? I think not. It only seems to cheat. That’s part of the effect. All’s fair in love and war, and the plots of thrillers.”

2. The Crazies

The 2010 film, The Crazies, definitely lives up to its title.  The movie follows a local sheriff, David Dutten (Olyphant), who attempts to investigate a toxin that has contaminated the town’s water supply and caused residents to go insane and die. The film received mostly positive reviews and has been deemed one of “the rare horror remake that works.”  Claudia Puig of USA Today stated: “The film shocks and scares us, but it wisely avoids gruesome extremes. Eisner focuses instead on the evil that lurks within and nearby, a spreading disease and the fearsome sight of a family member becoming infected and going bonkers. It all happens at lightning speed, which underscores the fear factor. Satellite imagery conveys the ominous sense of being watched.”

1. Go

After being fired from the 1998 film, Practical Magic, Timothy Olyphant landed his breakout role in the 1999 film, Go. In the film, Olyphant plays a drug dealer named Todd Gaines who gets caught up in an unusual drug deal situation. Go tells the story of the drug deal told from three different points of view, and helps shape the characters through different lenses.  The movie’s quick pacing and random dialogue has often led to comparisons to the 1994 classic, Pulp Fiction. Go was a critical success and also turned an impressive profit at the box office.  Rogert Ebert gave Go a positive review and said that it “has energy and wit, and the performances are right for the material…”

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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