Paul Mescal names his five favourite movies of all time
Irish actors are thriving in contemporary cinema, with the likes of Barry Keoghan, Saoirse Ronan and Cillian Murphy dominating the world of cinema and TV. Yet, few can compare to the utterly captivating personality of Paul Mescal, the Oscar-nominated star behind 2022’s British independent hit Aftersun and 2020’s Normal People, adapted from the beloved novel by Sally Rooney.
Quickly rising from indie star to one of the industry elite in the space of just half a decade, Mescal’s organic acting style allowed him to quickly seize success, most recently starring in Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers and Garth Davis’ Foe. His ascendancy shows no signs of slowing either, with Mescal soon to collaborate with the likes of such acclaimed filmmakers as Ridley Scott, Chloé Zhao and Richard Linklater.
Thanks to his affable personality and almost instant rise to prominence, Mescal has attracted quite a loyal legion of fans, with the actor revealing a glimpse into his preferences during an interview with A-Frame where he listed his five favourite movies of all time.
First up is the heartbreaking Derek Cianfrance drama Blue Valentine from 2010, starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. “I saw it, and I was so deeply, profoundly upset by that film,” Mescal reflected, “I think it was the first time that I remember, like, truly wanting to switch off from the world for… 15, 20 minutes after the film. The performances and also the study of naturalism as a form of acting was so apparent to me in that film that it’s stuck with me ever since”.
Clearly a romantic at heart, Mescal next picks out Noah Baumbach’s ‘Best Picture’ nominee Marriage Story from 2019. Starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, the harrowing breakup movie tells the story of a couple struggling through their divorce. “Marriage Story was my favourite film of that year,” Mescal recalled, “I like when films allow actors to act, and that’s the centrepiece of Marriage Story — these two towering performances. The screenplay is so strong, and the ending is so moving”.
Finishing off his trio of romance movies is the classic James Ivory film The Remains of the Day from 1993. Starring Anthony Hopkins, one of Mescal’s most beloved actors, the latter says of the iconic Oscar-winner: “There’s just something so deeply sad and frustrating about watching Anthony Hopkins’ character trying to navigate expressing his feelings. It’s such a masterful performance, and one that my dad will watch and quote frequently”.
Moving away from romance and into one of cinema’s most sobering films, Mescal’s fourth pick is the 2015 László Nemes film Son of Saul, which tells the story of the trials of a Jewish prisoner in a WWII concentration camp. “It’s my favourite film of the last ten years,” Mescal declares, “It’s just a masterpiece. It’s a super-talented actor meets director meets DP, which only can happen in film. A different kind of alchemy happens on stage. But after the first ten minutes of that, I remember my jaw being on the ground and being like, ‘This is a masterpiece’”.
His final choice is a personal one, opting for Elia Kazan’s A Streetcar Named Desire, a play which he starred in during its modern-day West End revival. “I feel honoured to play a part that is so brilliantly written,” he said of his character, originally played by Marlon Brando in the 1951 film, “Obviously, I feel frightened. I’m really trying to unremember and remember the parts of Brando’s performance, as to not copy or even attempt to emulate it, but to remember what about his performance aligned with what I feel when I read the script”.
Paul Mescal’s favourite movies:
- Blue Valentine (Derek Cianfrance, 2010)
- Marriage Story (Noah Baumbach, 2019)
- The Remains of the Day (James Ivory, 1993)
- Son of Saul (László Nemes, 2015)
- A Streetcar Named Desire (Elia Kazan, 1951)
