Halle Berry’s four favourite movies
Halle Berry has come to be known for eclectic filmography, working on a range of projects that have shown her to be a tenacious and committed actor. After starting out as a model, Berry eventually worked her way towards film and television, with her first role on Living Dolls in 1989. From there, she worked with Spike Lee on Jungle Fever, which sparked her first foray into method acting as she remained in character on and off set. Berry has also collaborated with Matthew Vaughn and Marc Foster, becoming the Black woman to win an Academy Award for ‘Best Actress’ for her role as Leticia Musgrove in Monsters Ball.
Given the range of performances that she has given, from horror films to actions and dramas, it’s no surprise that Berry has a similar taste in film that has inspired her as a performer.
Berry listed Mike Nichol’s iconic 1967 The Graduate as one of her all-time favourites. Largely praised as being one of the most influential films ever made, The Graduate is an ode to the uncertainty of growing up and the suffocation of high society in the suburbs. The film has a delicate under-layer of nihilism as Benjamin explores the possibilities and restrictions of his future, ultimately trapped by the expectations of his parents and that his life doesn’t really belong to himself. It’s a wonderful feat of filmmaking that has remained timeless in its observations on freedom and growing up, with perhaps one of the best endings of all time.
The 1989 movie adaptation of Steel Magnolias is another one of Berry’s favourites, with a stellar ensemble cast including Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Julia Roberts and Sally Fields. The story is based on the play of the same name written by Robert Harling, detailing the lives and tragedies of a group of women living in Louisiana, convening in a beauty salon every day as they bond over womanhood and motherhood. It’s one of those unique films where you’re watching great actors both at the beginning and peak of their careers, being one of Julia Roberts’ very first roles and one of Sally Fields’ most celebrated performances, both toeing the line between melodrama and comedy and creating a multi-faceted portrait of small-town life and the struggles of everyday people.
In stark contrast to the warmth and comfort of Steel Magnolias, Berry listed Jordan Peele’s masterpiece Get Out as one of her favourites. Peele revitalised the horror genre with the story of Chris, a photographer who meets his girlfriend’s family for the first time, becoming a commentary on racism, white supremacy and the delusional lack of self-awareness that comes with privilege. The film was revolutionary, with countless hidden details and layers to the script that rightfully earned it the Academy Award for ‘Best Original Screenplay’. It’s a truly perfect movie that has only grown in relevance over time, which is a testament to Peele’s genius.
And finally, Berry listed The Shining as one of her most loved films. The film is perhaps one of Stanley Kubrick’s most iconic pieces of work, with staggering performances from Shelley Duvall and Jack Nicholson as an isolated couple living in a hotel over the Winter. The innovative camera work and unsettling mood have influenced years of horror films, with countless filmmakers being inspired by the director’s cutting-edge ideas and meticulous eye for detail.
Berry drew parallels between The Shining and her recent film Never Let Go, saying that she was perhaps drawn to the project due to its similarities with The Shining, both exploring religion, generational trauma and spirituality within the language or horror. Never Let Go is now showing in cinemas, with Berry praising the originality of the script, saying that ‘she’d never seen anything like it before’.
