Marisa Tomei Top 10

30th January 2015

Oscar-winning actress Marisa Tomei continues to impress as she stars in the feel-good rom-com, THE REWRITE, available digitally from 2 February 2015, and on Blu-ray and DVD from 9 February 2015 courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The following is a compilation of Tomei’s top 10 performances to date…

THE REWRITE (2014)

THE REWRITE is a pleasant, feel-good romantic comedy, starring Hugh Grant as Keith Michaels, a washed-up screenwriter who goes broke and begins teaching a screenwriting course in upstate New York to make ends meet. It is there where he meets Holly Carpenter (Tomei), an attractive single mum working to earn a degree. As fate may have it, the two fall for each other whilst also learning from their past. With a heavyweight supporting cast that includes Allison Janney, JK Simmons and Bella Heathcote, THE REWRITE is Grant’s first rom-com in five years and arguably one of his best. The film also successfully re-teams Grant with director Marc Lawrence, who previously collaborated on Music and Lyrics, Two Weeks Notice and Did You Hear About the Morgans?

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

As one of her break-through performances, Tomei is fantastic in this courtroom comedy, playing the role of “Cousin Vinny’s” fiancée, Mona Lisa Vito. After two college friends are wrongly suspected of murder, they decide to hire their cousin Vinny as their attorney. However Vinny, played by Joe Pesci, is a personal injury lawyer from Brooklyn, newly admitted to the bar and has no trial experience. Mona Lisa Vito’s arguments with Vinny show off Tomei’s witty edge. She received an Academy Award for this film for best actress in a supporting role.

Welcome to Sarajevo (1997)

This British war film is based on Michael Nicholson’s novel Natasha’s Story. It depicts the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina while focusing on the life events of reporter Michael Henderson (Stephen Dillane) and journalist Jimmy Flynn (Woody Harrelson). Tomei fantastically portrays the role of American aid worker Nina, who assists in evacuating several orphaned Sarajevan children. A brutal and dramatic thriller that documents the true horrors of war.

What Women Want (2000)

This romantic comedy features Mel Gibson as egotistic business executive Nick Marshal, and Helen Hunt as his highly successful competitor. After an accident, Nick begins to hear women’s thoughts and the events that follow play out to be comically entertaining. Tomei plays Lola, one of the single women Nick seduces using his telepathic powers. Nick’s special ability to read Lola’s thoughts and desires drive her crazy and she becomes hilariously obsessive about him.

Alfie (2004)

In this remake of the 1966 film Jude Law plays the title role of Alfie, a womanizing British bachelor who works as a limousine driver in Manhattan, picking up wealthy clients and seducing them. However, when Alfie sleeps with his best friend’s ex-girlfriend, he is forced to reconsider his lifestyle and begins to think there might be more to life than sleeping with women. Tomei plays a single-mother named Julie whom Alfie sleeps with every once in awhile, but does not want to consider her his girlfriend officially.

Anger Management (2003)

In Anger Management, Tomei plays Linda, the devoted girlfriend to Dave (Adam Sandler) who winds up in anger management therapy after a misunderstanding with a stewardess aboard an airplane. In order to solve Dave’s anger, he consults specialist Dr. Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson) who approaches therapy in a very unorthodox and psychotic way: throwing out Dave’s CDs, flirting with Linda, and sleeping in the same bed as Dave. Tomei’s character sticks with Dave through his struggles and serves as a much needed shoulder to lean on.

The Wrestler (2008)

In 2008 Tomei featured in The Wrestler, a multi-award-winning drama film starring Mickey Rourke who portrays Randy “The Ram” Robinson, an aging professional wrestler with a strong passion for the sport. Although his health is failing, he desperately clings to his glory days. Tomei delivers an outstanding performance as Cassidy, a stripper who is similarly past her prime. The pair attempt a relationship but Randy finds his quest for a new life outside the ring a dispiriting struggle. The film was wildly successful, obtaining several awards with Tomei receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Cyrus (2011)

Tomei and John C. Reilly portray two single love-searchers who meet at a party and begin a relationship. After John (Reilly) starts to realize Molly (Tomei) is avoiding ever taking him to her place, he follows her home and discovers a man living with her – Molly’s 21-year-old son, Cyrus, played by the comical Jonah Hill. Hilarity ensues as the two grown men fight for Molly’s attention.

Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)

This romantic-comedy has a stellar cast, and begins with a married couple who are at odds – Cal (Steve Carell) thinks their 20-year relationship is going well, while Emily (Julianne Moore) suddenly wants a divorce and admits she has been having an affair. Cal inevitably moves out and meets the smooth-talking, good-looking, Jacob (Ryan Gosling), who revels in single life. Jacob coaches Cal on how to pick up women in bars and become a man that Emily will fall back in love with. Tomei plays Kate, an outgoing school teacher who attends the same bar as Cal who woos her and persuades her to go home with him. The seemingly predictable rom-com has a substantially unpredictable and entertaining twist; good value for its Golden Globe nomination.

The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)

Based on the best-selling novel by Michael Connelly, this crime thriller follows the dramatic events of criminal defence attorney Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey) who works out of his Lincoln. After being asked to represent a wealthy client who he believes to be guilty, things become dangerous for Haller and the people in his life. Tomei plays a prosecutor and Haller’s ex-wife, who never approved of his defending guilty criminals. This film instigates the transformation of Matthew McConaughey from rom-com sensation to a drama-thriller star.

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The Rewrite is available on digital platforms from 2 February, 2015 and on Blu-ray and DVD from 9 February, 2015, courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

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