Top 10 Aaron Eckhart

In the Company of Men (1997)

Probably not one of his most endearing roles, Aaron Eckhart makes a lasting impression as playboy Chad, in Neil LaBute’s misogynistic drama, about two guys on a revenge rampage against the opposite sex. The part sparked a strong working relationship with LaBute, who Eckhart worked with on a further five projects. Screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, the film received critical appraise, giving Eckhart the opportunity to reach for more interesting projects and diverse roles. However, it also branded Eckhart as somewhat of a mean spirited lothario - typecasting which he worked hard to shake off later in his career.

Your Friends & Neighbors (1998)

Eckhart’s second film with LaBute wasn’t as financially successful as their previous project, but still received a positive response from critics and audiences, alike. It also saw Eckhart starring alongside funnyman Ben Stiller who, at the time, was emerging as a fresh new face on the comedy scene. However, Your Friends & Neighbors is a far cry from a Stiller-style scenario, as it sees Eckhart and Stiller – plus additional cast members – becoming bored with their respective partners and falling into the arms of alternative lovers. Eckhart gained 30Ibs to play Barry – a name which, alongside the remaining five adulterous characters, isn’t revealed until the end of the film.

Erin Brockovich (2000)

Based on a true story, Steven Soderbergh’s inspiring drama packed more punches than anyone expected, putting on-screen bad-boy Eckhart at the centre of global blockbuster success. Starring alongside Julia Roberts, Eckhart rode up on his Harley to sit on the sidelines, but still managed to give a convincing performance as Erin’s (Roberts) caring biker boyfriend. The story of Erin Brockovich – which portrays one woman’s legal battle against a corporate power plant, polluting a local area’s water supply – saw Roberts earn a whopping $20 million and went onto win five Academy Awards. While Eckhart wasn’t given a standing ovation, the film played an influential part in cementing his Hollywood career.

Possession (2002)

Eckhart reunited with director Neil LaBute for a third time, to play the romantic lead Roland Michell in the scintillating drama, Possession. Keen to cast Eckhart in the reminiscent role of a charming man with a wondering eye, LaBute’s film focuses on a couple whose search to uncover a famous poet’s secret love affair eventually results in their own steamy story. The cast and crew, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Eckhart’s on-screen romantic partner, filmed on location in Whitby, England. Paltrow is said to have snubbed the local mayor in favour of getting her work done, which reportedly struck a nerve with the locals. Directors, Sydney Pollack and Gillian Armstrong were called in to work on this project but after several re-drafts of the script LaBute made the final cut.

Paycheck (2003)

Complete with slicked back hair and a sharp suit, Eckhart positioned himself brilliantly as a thorny billionaire in Ben Affleck’s side, for the film Paycheck. As calculating Rethrick, Eckhart goes up against all-American boy next door Affleck and blonde bombshell Uma Thurman as the villain of the piece. Director John Woo’s plot twisting tale didn’t prove to be the box office hit studio bosses were hoping for, but it managed to place Eckhart in the foreground of a big budget Hollywood movie. Interestingly Affleck’s pal Matt Damon almost took on the part of good-guy Michael Jennings, but after discovering how similar the character was to Jason Bourne, he decided to turn it down.

The Core (2003)

With Hilary Swank by his side, Eckhart descended into the Earth’s core to save the world from complete and utter destruction, in this 2003 Armageddon epic. Loosely based on the novel Core by Paul Preuss, the film sees Eckhart in his first stereotypical all-American hero role, after years playing second fiddle to his cleaner cut counterparts. The film’s opening scene –which takes place in London’s Trafalgar square – sees a flock of pigeons flying crazily into walls, due to the Earth’s damaged gravitational pull. The computer generated aspect of this nine minute scene took six months to put together, and it’s reported that the crew decided to replace one of the CGI birds with a trout for laughs.

Thank You for Smoking (2005)

In 2005 director Jason Reitman cast Eckhart as the central figure in this satirical comedy about the stigma associated with smoking. Saturated with underlying irony, this film sees Ekhart as the chief spokesperson and smooth talking spin doctor of a major tobacco company. Funnily enough, not one member of the cast is seen smoking a cigarette throughout the entire duration of the film. When it came to casting, Reitman is said to have written personal letters to the people he had in mind, requesting they come down to the studio to read for their part. Furthermore, at the time of the film’s release, several trade publications claimed heartthrob Tom Cruise demanded a sex scene involving his wife Katie Holmes be toned down to a PG-rating level.

The Black Dahlia (2006)

Based on the novel of the same name by James Elroy, The Black Dahlia sees two intrepid policemen (Eckhart and Josh Hartnett) become seduced by the darker side of the law, whilst working on a murder case together. With Brian De Palmer on directorial duties, The Black Dahlia promised more than a sprinkling of dismal, and a smattering of sex. But it’s over the top use of film noir – such as femme fatale Scarlett Johansson – and exaggerated acting didn’t go down well with audiences or film critics. Amidst a mediocre plot, Eckhart stands out as one of the more memorable and likeable aspects of the film. Ironically, Eckhart almost didn’t make the grade, with Mark Whalberg originally lined up to play the character of Lee Blanchard.

No Reservations (2007)

A Hollywood remake of the German cooking rom-com Mostly Martha, No Reservations called on Welsh wonder Catherine Zeta Jones to heat things up the kitchen - with a little help from leading man Eckhart. The film sees duo Jones and Eckhart serve up a treat as Manhattan chefs in this delightfully delicious comedy. A far cry for Eckhart’s usual roles, the part didn’t earn him critical acclaim or mark a significant turning point in his career, but it did demonstrate his willingness to venture into various genres of film.

The Dark Knight (2008)

In his most publicised role to date, Eckhart donned the white knight persona to play Gotham’s District Attourney, opposite Christian Bale, in the most eagerly anticipated Batman movie of all time. With an all-star cast, including the late Heath Ledger, Eckhart faced the possibility of fading into the background. However, his performance as the noble - turned villain two-face - Harvey Dent made an impressive impact on audiences and critics of the film world. Director Christopher Nolan is said to have cast Eckhart after watching him as public relations guru Nick Naylor in Thank You for Smoking.

Jennifer Trevorrow