The 10 Best Michael Fassbender Movies You Need To Watch

25 SEPTEMBER 2014 FEATURES, FILM LISTS BY AMANDA RUTLLANT

Apart from being absolutely gorgeous, Michael Fassbender is one of the most talented actors
of his generation. Born in Heidelberg, Germany, but raised in Killarney, Ireland, he had an
early interest in film and acting. At age 19, Fassbender moved to London to study at the
Drama Centre London and later dropped out to tour with the Oxford Stage Company to
perform the play Three Sisters.
Before he became a world renowned actor he participated in several theatre plays and
independent movies, including the stage version of Quentin Tarantinos Reservoir Dogs,
which he produced, directed and stared.
His big break came in 2006 when he played the part of a Spartan warrior in Zack Snyders
blockbuster 300 and stared in Steve McQueens independent drama Hunger. The latter earned
him the British Independent Film Award for his performance. A year after that, he played a
secondary role as a German-British spy in Tarantinos Inglorious Bastards and a handsome
Irishman with a secret in Fishtank.
2011 proved to be a great year for Fassbender as he stared in three major productions: A
Dangerous Method, X-Men: First Class and Shame, where he pared up again with director
Steve McQueen. Rumors say he would have been nominated for an Academy Award for his
performance in Shame if it wasnt for all the frontal nudity and explicit sex scenes. He was
finally nominated for an Acadamy Award for best supporting actor in 2013 for 12 Years a
Slave; another collaboration with Steve McQueen.
Although not all Fassbenders movies have been an amazing demonstration of his talent as an
actor (like The Counselor and Jonah Hex), hes a chameleon and manages to play

tremendously different, challenging and complex characters. As The Guardian says, He is

the actor every project thinks of good-looking, smart and adventurous.

10. 300 (2006)

300, directed by Zack Snyder and based on Frank Millers comic, is the story of the Battle of
Thermopylae that happened in 480 B.C. between a small contingent of 300 Spartan warriors
led by King Leonidas of Sparta and the mighty Persian army of over a million soldiers and
beasts led by the mortal turned god, Xerxes. It was a battle within the Greco-Persian war that
lasted three days and took place in the constricted passage of Thermopylae.
In this movie Fassbender plays the role of Stelios, a Spartan warrior who follows Leonidas
(Gerard Butler) to Thermopylae, where they will encounter the powerful Persian army, led by
Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro). Stelios is portrayed as a brave Spartan warrior who seeks the
beautiful death, death by a worthy adversary in a glorious war, where the names of the brave
soldiers who fought in it would be heard for centuries.
As he and a couple of soldiers sneak up on the Persian army and discover how powerful it
actually is, Stelios cant do anything else but smile, he knows that this is his chance to die a
beautiful death. Fassbenders part in the movie explains perfectly what the Spartan warrior
ethics was all about.
The fighting sequences are also amazing and all the guys get a round of applause for their
performance and physical skills.

9. Jane Eyre (2011)

Jane Eyre, directed by Cary Fukunaga, is an adaptation of Charlotte Bronts novel that has
the same name. It tells the story of Jane Eyre (Mia Wasikowska), an orphan girl who was sent
away to live in Lowood, a school for girls, at the request of her wretched aunt, Sarah Reed
(Sally Hawkins). After several years of strict disciplining Jane leaves Lowood and finds a job
as a governess at Thornfield hall with the help of Alice Fairfax (Judy Dench). There, she will
have her first encounter and relationship with a man, Mr Edward Rochester, owner of the old
(and kind of haunted) manor.
Fassbender plays the role of Edward Rochester; the cold master of the Thornfield mansion
where Jane Eyre is governess to Adele Varens (Romy Settbon Moore), a young orphan
French girl. Their relationship starts out roughly when Jane startles Mr Rochesters horse that
falls on top of his leg spraining his ankle. But Jane intrigues Mr Rochester, who tries to
understand her, asking about her tale of woe. The relationship between both characters
becomes more intense as both hide secrets from one another which are hard to ignore.
Fassbender shows how his character evolves throughout the movie, peeling away the layers
of anger and coldness that hide his insecurities and doubts as his relationship with Jane
evolves. By the end of the movie Mr. Rochester is stripped from all his secrets, no longer a
harsh master, and totally head over heels for Jane Eyre.

8. X Men: First Class (2011)

This blockbuster, directed by Matthew Vaughn, is the fifth movie of the X-Men saga and
serves as a prequel to the franchise. It tells the story of Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and
Erik Lensherr (Michael Fassbender) before they come to be Professor X and Magneto,
respectively. Set in the middle of the Cuban missile crisis, Erik, a Jewish mutant who can
manipulate and generate electromagnetic fields, seeks to avenge his mothers assassination
and goes after the man who murdered her, Dr. Klaus Schmidt (Kevin Bacon), a German SS
scientist.
Dr. Schmidt, a mutant himself, is on a mission to destroy humankind and Charles Xavier,
with the help of the CIA, is determined to stop him. Xavier and Erik meet in a failed attempt
to stop Schmidt and become friends. They start recruiting a group of teenage mutants to help
them in the mission to stop Schmidt but the philosophical differences between Xavier and
Erik grow to be too big and once Dr. Schmidt is out of the picture, Erik, now as Magneto,
will take his place.
Fassbender and McAvoy deliver an amazing performance as they portray Professor X and the
vengeful young Magneto. The relationship between Professor X and Magneto gives the
movie a dynamic tension and constantly makes us question human nature.
Where Professor X sees goodness in humans, Magneto sees fear and destruction and
Fassbenders performance reminds us that this sentiment is rooted deeply in the life of
Magneto; not only mutant but also a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps. As we are
reminded of this we see in Magneto not only anger, but pain, which makes him a relatable
and multidimensional character. This movie gives a fresh perspective on one of the most

influential characters of the X-men franchise. Thanks to Fassbenders performance we get to

know a side of Magneto never seen before.

7. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Tarantinos Inglourious Basterds is a twisted tale set in a fictional Nazi Germany that tells the
story of two plots to assassinate Hitler and his followers, including The Jew Hunter SD
Standartenfhrer Hans Landa (played by Chistoph Waltz). One plot is planned by a young
French Jewish cinema proprietor (played by Melanie Laurent), and the other by a team of
Jewish-American soldiers led by First Lieutenant Aldo Raine (played by Brad Pitt). Both
plans involve locking the Nazis up in a cinema while their watching a German war movie
and killing them.
Fassbender plays the part of a British spy and film critic, Lt Archie Hicox, who is recruited
by the Basterds to help them carry out Operation Kino. When planning the heist in a bar
full of German Nazi soldiers, he ends up giving himself away, causing a huge shoot out that
leaves everybody dead but Miss Bridget von Hammersmark (played by Diane Kruger), a
German movie star that was also recruited for the operation. Luckily Aldo and Bridget
manage to get away. In the end, the good guys win and history is rewritten by Tarantino
and his amazing cast of actors.
Even though Fassbenders participation in the movie is brief, his performance is memorable.
From the minute he appears in the movie to the minute hes killed off, he keeps it cool. The
rendez-vous scene is probably one of the tensest and dramatic scenes of the movie, when an
SS Officer surprises the crew and Archie blows their cover. Archie and the Officer sustain a
long conversation that feels more like a pistol duel. Fassbenders smooth performance really

maintains the atmosphere of suspense and excitement and his poker face makes the audience
hope that he and the others get out of there alive.

6. Prometheus (2012)

In Ridley Scotts prequel to Alien, Prometheus, Fassbender plays the role of David, an
android that travels with a space crew to an unknown planet to meet their makers only to
discover a threat that could cause the extinction of the human race.
Although the movie leaves much to be desired, there is no doubt that Fassbenders
participation in it is not only amazing but probably one of the best elements in the movie; he
definitely steals the show.
Out of all the characters the one with most depth and complexity is clearly David, an android
that looks exactly like a human being (so he doesnt freak out the crew) and has a tremendous
awareness of himself and his functions on board the spaceship. David, a dark and
undecipherable character from the beginning, starts showing his true intentions when they
reach their destiny, where he seeks a way to use the planets threats to exterminate the crew.
Davids robotic personality and later take of consciousness of himself is portrayed perfectly
by Fassbender. Only Fassbender, with his unique charisma and over the top acting skills, is
able to act as a soulless android with a huge ego.

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5. A Dangerous Method (2011)

A Dangerous Method, a historical movie set in the years before of World War I and directed
by David Cronenberg, explores the complex relationships between Carl Jung (played by
Michael Fassbender), founder of analytical psychology, Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley),
initially a patient of Jung (and his lover) and later one of the first female psychoanalysts and
Sigmund Freud (played by Viggo Mortensen), founder of the discipline of psychoanalysis.
The film depicts the birth of psychoanalysis through the relationship these characters sustain
with each other and it does so in an interesting, easy to understand way.
Jung, a young newlywed physician, meets Sabina, a wealthy and extremely intelligent
Russian Jew, as she was referred to him by a colleague due to her acute hysteria. He then
decides to use the talking method that was being developed by Sigmund Freud who, at the
time, was a well-known but controversial Viennese physician and Jungs mentor.
Jung starts to feel strong desires towards Sabina but contains himself due to the fact that he is
married and she is his patient. He speaks of this to Freud who refers Jung to a far more
disturbed patient, Otto Gross (Vincent Casse), who suggests him to not repress his feelings.
Jung, taking Grosss advice, starts a passionate sadomasochist affair with Sabine that is
frowned upon by Freud.
The affair and their difference of opinion on the emerging discipline of psychoanalysis
started to put a strain on their relationship that finally takes a turn to the worst just before the
beginning of the war and, after a heated discussion about psychoanalysis and Jungs
relationship with Sabina, the friendship ends on a sour note.
Fassbender gives an amazing performance as a philistine Swiss bourgeois complacent
coward psychiatrist with an uncontrollable desire to engage in a prohibited relationship with

his patient. This, paired with Knightleys and Mortensens amazing performance, builds up
the explosive and intense relationship between the characters and explains the dark and
dubious corners of psychoanalysis and human behavior.
As the story evolves and Freuds and Jungs relationship starts having setbacks due to their
opposing opinions on the psychoanalytical model, Fassbender gives Jung character and
conviction and convinces the audience of Jungs evolution in a subtle but strong way.
Towards the end of the movie, Jung is no longer portrayed as a submissive disciple of Freud,
but rather has transformed himself in a young analyst with his own mind and theories about
this new talking method proposed by Freud.

4. Fish Tank (2009)

Fassbender plays another disturbing character in Andrea Arnolds movie; Connor OSullivan,
a handsome middle class Irishman with a secret.
The movie revolves around the life of Mia (played by Katie Jarvis), a strong tempered middle
class lone 15-year old who, as any normal teenager, hates the world and has a hard time
finding her place in it. She lives with her absent mother and little sister in a housing project in
London and their lives will be shaked when her mother meets Conner. As Mias mothers
first stable boyfriend, he acts as a father figure to her and her sister; helping Mia come out of
her shell.
The four of them act as if they were a family, going on Sunday trips to the country and
hanging out together. But as the movie evolves, so does the relationship with Mia and
Conner. A strong tension between both characters starts building up as Conner starts

spending more time with Mia, encouraging her to peruse dancing and taking a genuine
interest in her that she probably never felt before.
As the situation starts to change, the audience starts seeing Conner in a different light. He is
not the same charming, handsome selfless father figure we saw at the beginning of the movie
as his personal interests and attraction towards Mia start to conflict with the family harmony
and stability.
Fassbender gives a performance that both charms and unsettles the audience as the movie
develops and we see the opportunism and indifference of his character towards the chaos hes
created. The character, however, is not portrayed as your typical sex predator, but as a nice
guy who doesnt really deal with his problems very well, as Fassbender himself says. This
is what makes the film even more real, showing us the day to day struggles of the London
working class.

3. 12 Years a Slave (2013)

This Oscar Best Picture winning film is his third and latest collaboration with McQueen.
Fassbender goes form victim to victimizer in this movie and plays the role of the Mississippi
Slave Owner, Edwin Epps. This is yet another historical drama based on real events of the
life of Solomon Northup (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor), a New York State-born free African
American, who is kidnaped by two men in Washington D.C. and sold into slavery. Northup
then works on cotton plantations in the state of Louisiana (one of which is Eppss) for twelve
years before he is finally released.

Fassbenders character is portrayed as a complex and deeply tormented slave owner which
gives more depth to what could have been a classical bad white land owner who tortures and
denigrates his slaves. He lives in a world where slavery is allowed and thus does not question
the fact that he is entitled to do whatever he pleases with his slaves; a sentiment that will
conflict with his passion and desire towards the young and beautiful slave Patsy (Lupita
Nyongo), one of his prized belongings. Not only that, but the vile and ruthless opinions of
his wife about Patsy will lead him to sustain a sadomasochist relationship with her that will
take them both to the edge.
We applaud not only Fassbenders performance in this movie, but also Chiwetel Ejiofors and
Lupita Nyongos amazing performance. This tale shows us the shades of grey related to
slavery in North America in the mid 1880s and makes us reflect on human condition and the
concept of freedom.

2. Shame (2011)

Another incredible movie collaboration between McQueen and Fassbender. It seems like
Michael Fassbender and Steve McQueen can do no wrong! This movie tells the story of the
detached but highly functional sex-addict, Brandon, who enters into a downward spiral of
confusion and chaos when he receives the unexpected visit of his estranged sister (played by
Carey Mulligan), apparently the only women with whom he can connect with.
Brandons cold, almost psychopathic, but painfully human personality is excellently
portrayed by Fassbender. The long sustained scenes in the movie transport us to Brandons
monotonous and extremely lonely lifestyle and shows us a man who deeply longs to connect

with the world around him. Its obvious by Fassbenders performance that we are not dealing
with your average playboy, but with an extremely disturbed and tormented sexual addict.
Whats really a shame is that Fassbender was robbed of being nominated for an Academy
Award for his performance in this movie due to the full frontal nudity in it.

1. Hunger (2008)

Fassbenders acting in this movie is hands down one of the best performances of the last
decade. The movie is a historical drama that tells the story of Bobby Sands, the Provisional
Irish Republican Army (IRA) member and political prisoner, who led the second IRA hunger
strike that was triggered when Republican prisoners lost their political status because it was
revoked by the British government in 1976 during the Thatcher administration.
It reenacts real events that happened in the Maze Prison in the period leading up to the hunger
strike and Sands subsequent death. The movie has almost no dialogue which puts the
precarious and demining material conditions of the life of these prisoners in front stage (we
can almost smell the excrement inside the cells), and takes Fassbenders performance to a
whole different level of kinetic expression.
Probably one of the most mind blowing scenes of the movie is the 20 minute long real time
conversation Sands has with the prison priest (played by Liam Cunningham); a tremendously
philosophical debate between two men with incredibly different views on life. Fassbender
conveys the convection of any liberation movement leader to a T. The phase that helps us

understand the whole movie is said my Fassbenders character in way thats hard to forget: I
have a belief, and in all its simplicity its the most powerful thing, so powerful it trumps life
itself.
Not only is his performance impeccable but his body transformation is too. For the role,
Fassbender went on a 600 calories a day diet that left his almost to his bones. Now thats
conviction!
Author Bio: Amanda is a 26-year-old Chilean sociologist and is currently finishing her
studies in documentary filmmaking. She volunteers at an NGO that works with children,
teaching them math and Spanish, taking photos, and giving them a lot of love. She love
movies, football and travelling. Follow her on vimeo (www.vimeo.com/arutllant) and flickr
(www.flickr.com/photos/arutllant/).

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