Michael Fassbender names his five favourite movies of all time
Contemporary cinema has seen a vast influx of Irish acting talent, with the likes of Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Kerry Condon and Brendan Gleeson each operating at the very height of their abilities. Elsewhere, Michael Fassbender has long attracted the eyes of critics, appearing in modern classics such as 12 Years a Slave as well as iconic franchises such as Marvel’s X-Men.
Whilst eagle-eyed movie lovers might have discovered Fassbender back in 2006 with the release of Zack Snyder’s bombastic action flick 300, the actor wouldn’t be on the lips of every studio until two years later, appearing in the Bafta and Cannes winner Hunger by Steve McQueen. Ever since, Fassbender has been a favourite of filmmakers, with his fierce acting chops attracting the eyes of Quentin Tarantino, Andrea Arnold, David Cronenberg and many more.
It’s no surprise then that the actor has gathered a strong legion of fans, with Fassbender treating them to a list of his five favourite movies of all time through an interview with the Academy.
First on his list is a comedy classic beloved by critics and audiences alike, the seminal Coen brothers film The Big Lebowski. Starring the likes of Jeff Bridges, Steve Buscemi and John Goodman, Fassbender says of the movie: “Love that film…From the beginning, Jeff Bridges strolling around a supermarket buying milk and paying for it with a check, I was in immediately. It’s an incredible script. It’s a great film. And that’s when I said, ‘Okay, I’m going to stop reading reviews on films.’”
From a 1990s classic to a modern crime epic, Fassbender’s film is one that has long been dissected by burgeoning young filmmakers, Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund’s City of God. Recalling his unique experience watching the film, Fassbender stated, “I remember, in the first two minutes of the film, I was on a trajectory. It was such escapism. That was the best experience. That’s when I realized that’s the best way to see a movie — not having a clue about it or anything about it. It was such a good afternoon”.
Making sure he ticks off the staples, the actor’s next pick is the Francis Ford Coppola ‘Best Picture’ winner, The Godfather, starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and Diane Keaton. “It’s got to be my favourite film,” Fassbender admits, “People always say, ‘Don’t ask me what my favourite film is!’ But there is a favourite film for me. Because of where it was in my life — around that time when I decided to become an actor — it resonated so much”.
His penultimate pick is the mockumentary and dark comedy Man Bites Dog from 1993, a curious independent flick that tells the story of a film crew who follow around a ruthless killer, only to begin helping the murderer. Speaking about the movie, Fassbender states: “I got introduced to acting when I was 17, in the early to mid-90s, and Man Bites Dog was a huge film in and around that same time. It’s a Belgian film. I think they made it for like 50 grand, and it’s incredible”.
Finally, what favourite films list isn’t complete with a little sprinkling of Martin Scorsese? Fassbender’s final pick is the 1973 film Mean Streets, the movie that would kickstart the director’s industry dominance. “Scorsese was a massive influence on me,” he told the publication, “Even though I would say my favourite Scorsese film would be Goodfellas, I have to go with Mean Streets — just because again, at that time in my life, it was such a huge influence on me”.
Take a look at Fassbender’s full list of favourites below.
Michael Fassbender’s favourite movies:
- The Big Lebowski (The Coen brothers, 1998)
- City of God (Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund, 2002)
- The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972)
- Man Bites Dog (Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel, Benoît Poelvoorde, 1993)
- Mean Streets (Martin Scorsese, 1973)
