Top 10 Movie Portrayals of Real Life Bad Guys

You can't invent vilans like this. Welcome to Kiker's blog, and today I'll be counting down my picks for the top 10 best movie portrayals of real life bad guys.

10. Ray Liotta as Henry Hill-Goodfellas (1990): Even next to a remarkable performance from Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta shines as real life gangster Henry Hill. Though director Martin Scorcese prevented Liotta from meeting Hill until filming was complete, the actor studied recordings of the gangster which helped him get into character. Narrating the story, Liotta as the Irish-Italian gangster helps us understand the mob world, and what a man like Hill would do to survive.

9. Matt Stone as Saddam Hussein-South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut (1999): He was once the most dangerous man in the world, but you wouldn't know it based on this depiction. Cartoons can get away with more, and South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone use this to their advantage when lampooning Saddam and his lover, Satan. Though it's not the most realistic, this portrayal of the Iraqi dictator is as memorable as they come.

8. Gary Oldman as Lee Harvey Oswald-JFK (1991): Chances are if you weren't alive when President Kennedy was assassinated, the picture you have in your mind of Lee Harvey Oswald is actually of Gary Oldman. Though the two look remarkably similar, there's more to this portrayal than this appearance. Oldman acted as a detective while researching his role, which helped him embody in an almost eerie manner, the man accused of killing the president.

7. Johnny Depp as John Dillinger-Public Enemies (2009): While many film gangsters are simply impersonations off other film gangsters, this Depp performance is a cut above. Depicting the infamous depression era bank robber, he slaps on his best sardonic smile and acts with meticulousness, restraint, and boldness, in the face of the police and the FBI. Cool as ice and not afraid to get his hands dirty, Depp's Dillinger is cool, calculating, and real.

6. Brad Pitt as Jesse James-The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007): While critics agreed this film missed its mark, they were unanimous in their praise of Brad Pitt and his Oscar nominated costar Casey Affleck. While the relationship between the two wild west figures is what moves the plot along, Pitt definitely personifies the legend that is the outlaw Jesse James. It's perfect casting, as he's able to shift from murderer, to loving father, to crazy son of a bitch seamlessly.

5. Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas-American Gangster (2007): This is one performance that proves gangsters can be cruel, as well as suave and smooth. New York drug lord and crime boss Frank Lucas is known for his style and flare, and confidence shines through in every scene thanks to Washington's stellar performance. Though the actor tries his hardest not to glamorize the drug world, its hard not to fall for Lucas' charms.

4. Eric Bana as Mark "Chopper" Read-Chopper (2000): Before becoming an improbable star thanks to thanks to a run of semi-autobiographical novels, legendary Australian criminal Chopper Read was one of the baddest guys from the land down under. By studying the criminal up close in person, and undergoing an intense physical transformation, comedian Eric Bana is able to use his breakout performance to channel choppers' instability and fearlessness. Meaning we see some mean fits of rage interspersed with some sad disappointments.

3. Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos-Monster (2003): Sent to death row for seven murders, Wuornos is as far as you get from Charlize Theron. Theron transformed physically with extra weight, makeup, and false teeth, but it's the psychological transformation that's most striking. Theron's mastery over body language, and even eye movements convey more about the character than words. And underneath the face of a mentally disturbed, damaged woman, Theron plays Wuornos with empathy and emotion.

2. Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin-The Last King of Scotland (2006): Winning the Oscar for his work, Whitaker truly became the feared Ugandan dictator. Charismatic and easy, Amin possessed characteristics typical of a beloved leader. But his jovial nature quickly transitioned into violent, paranoid behavior, and Whitaker perfectly presents these traits. Tracing Amin's descend into madness during his murderous and repressive reign over Uganda, the film and Whitaker himself remind us how scary the truth can be.

1. Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler-Downfall [Der Untertang] (2004): Set in the bunker where Hitler died, this German film humanizes the Nazi leader in a way few thought possible, or necessary. Delusional and demanding as ever, the Fuhrer is brought back to life unbelievably by Bruno Ganz, but instead of portraying him as unquestionably evil like so many before him, Ganz gives the character dimension mixed with his fanaticism, Making for an unsettling film, but a stellar performance.

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