Day 2: Top 10 Hollywood Male Actors

Aside from being a book lover, I am also a self-proclaimed movie fanatic. I always find myself enjoying trailers from upcoming movies and browsing through the net for any whereabouts of a movie that's been a talk of the town. Despite such adoration, I carefully choose which movie to see and critically screen every detail of it. One of the factors I consider whenever I watch a movie is the character and the star playing the role. Here are my top favorite Hollywood actors to date:

10. Robert DeNiro/Tom Hanks

Robert DeNiro with Drew Barrymore in Everybody's Fine (2009)

Robert DeNiro was an unpopular actor when he started, until he appeared in the movie Bang the Drum Slowly (1973) as Bruce Pearson. The role earned him a Best Supporting Actor Award from the New York Film Critic's Circle. Since then, he became a household name. A year later, he earned the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as the young Vito Corleone from the 1974 gangster film, The Godfather: Part II. Six years later, he brought the Academy Award for Best Actor as Jake LaMotta from the Raging Bull movie.

DeNiro had several directorial credits as well. He debuted on A Bronx Tale (1993) starring Francis Capra, Chazz Palminteri, and DeNiro himself. He then directed The Good Shepherd (2006) starring Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon.

DeNiro had played different roles in different genres. He's one of the few actors in Hollywood who had played roles in action (The Godfather II, 1974), comedy (Meet the Parents, 2000), suspense (Hide and Seek, 2005), fantasy (Stardust, 2007), and drama (Everybody's Fine, 2009), as well as voiced animated films (Shark Tale - 2004, Arthur and the Invisibles - 2006).

*****

Tom Hanks as Professor Dorr in The Ladykillers (2004)

Like Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks has been one of my favorite actors of all time. With numerous films made, Hanks had proven himself to be a very worthy actor by winning several acting awards including Golden Globe for Best Actor Award (Big - 1988, Philadelphia - 1993, Forrest Gump - 1994, Cast Away - 2000) and Academy Award for Best Actor (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump).

He had also voiced for several animated films including the Toy Story Trilogy (1995, 1999, 2010) as the main protagonist Woody, The Polar Express (2004) as the Santa Claus (and several other characters), and had a minor role in the well-acclaimed animated film Cars (2006) as Sheriff Woody Car.

He also directed the 1996 film That Thing You Do!.

Hanks was best known for playing the protagonist Robert Langdon from the critically-acclaimed suspense-thriller novels The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, both written by New York Bestseller Dan Brown. He is set to appear again as Langdon in Brown's final installment, The Lost Symbol, which is set to be released on 2012.

Ben Stiller as Gaylord Focker in Meet the Parents (2000)

9. Ben Stiller

If I'd be asked of an actor who acts seriously in romantic comedy film, first person comes to mind would be, yes, Ben Stiller. Starring several rom-coms (If Lucy Fell in 1996, There's Something About Mary in 1998, Meet The Parents in 2000, Along Came Polly in 2004, and The Heartbreak Kid in 2007).


Stiller has been noted for his roles in serious comedy, although, in films, he had done black and political comedies.


He was also into writing and directing, among of which are Reality Bites in 1994, The Cable Guy in 1996, Zoolander in 2001, and Tropic Thunder in 2008.


Ben Stiller had voiced animated films as well. He has been credited as the popular lion Alex of the movies Madagascar in 2005 and Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa in 2008. He was also part of the critically acclaimed animated film Megamind in 2010 alongside Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, and fellow comedy actor Will Ferrell.

Brad Pitt as the Greek hero Achilles in Troy (2004)

Tom Cruise in the 1996 film, Jerry Maguire

8. Brad Pitt/Tom Cruise

Ben Affleck with Gwyneth Paltrow in Bounce (2000)

7. Ben Affleck

Book of Eli (2010)

6. Denzel Washington

Pierce Brosnan as James Bond

5. Pierce Brosnan

Bruce Willis as Korben Dallas (The Fifth Element, 1997)

4. Bruce Willis

Adam Sandler with Drew Barrymore (50 First Dates, 2004)

3. Adam Sandler

Richard Gere with Julia Roberts (Runaway Bride, 1999)

2. Richard Gere

Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder in Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Depp as the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Johnny Depp as Frank Tupelo in The Tourist (2010)

Captain Jack Sparrow of The Pirates of the Caribbean series

Depp as Ichabod Crane in The Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Victor Van Dort, Corpse Bride (2005)

Willy Wonka (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 2005)

Depp as Mort Rainey in Secret Window (2004)

1. Johnny Depp 

The Bridal Misfortune 7

I thought I was already having a good day. Everything seemed to be perfect. I left for work early to prepare the business report for the stockholders. Things were doing great. I was able to convince the stockholders that we open up a second location for The Island Paradise. Although, it wasn't easy being the CEO and the president of the company that my dad had established, I am having a great time throwing words with the stockholders, who - at this point - are more interested of becoming famous like a Hollywood star rather than earning from their investments. They have filled me with hard work, especially after what happened to me two years ago.

As much as possible, I don't want to talk about it anymore, but I guess it's already a part of letting go and moving on.

Two years ago, I was supposed to marry the woman of my dreams. I loved her like I've never loved anyone before. She was the only one that I loved. She was my life.

She stood 5'7" tall, Margareth caught my heart right away the moment I set my eyes on her. It was a dinner party - an anniversary celebration for the hotel that I had opened. Yes, The Island Paradise. SHe was one of the models that made the TV commercial for my hotel. Although, I have already seen her numerous times on TV, magazines, and print ads, I was like starstruck when I saw her in person. She was the most beautiful I have ever seen.

She was taking a glass of champagne offered by the waiter when I decided to approach her. Everyone in the party seemed to be very busy and so I took the courage to talk to her.

Margareth was very friendly and lovely... and of course, beautiful. She seemed to be so fragile. She has a very enigmatic, yet fulfilling smile. And her brown eyes laugh along with her chuckles. Her skin looks delicate that it makes me long to touch it. To sum it all up, she was irresistible. A beauty for keeps. What I liked so much about her was her ability to bring good conversations. Everyone must agree that women find it hard to keep conversations on track, especially on first encounters. But Margareth was a pro at lengthy talks. She looked like she's having a great time with me... and she looks delicate. She bites her lower lip when she feels anxious with the discussion, and brushes her fingers softly against my skin when she's having a good laugh. Everything that evening was magical.

The next thing I knew, we were both naked in my bed. I was on my back, facing the ceiling, catching my breath. She, then, turned her back on me. I hugged her and cuddled her close to me.

"Lovely," I whispered in her ear. "I love you."

I put a soft kiss on her nape.

"Hmmm," was all she said. It wasn't totally what I expected but I still smiled. I closed my eyes and imagined what could possibly happen to both of us.

"Let's go to sleep, Benedict. It's late now."

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BOOK REVIEW

LUMAYO KA NGA SA AKIN (Stay Away From Me)

Bob Ong

Grade: 4 out of 5

If you are looking for a trilogy book rolled into one, then this book is definitely for you. It is a three-part book which offers satirical comedy from beginning to end. Providing old antics mixed with new cranks, Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin tackles not only of personal issues but also political and social awareness. It's genre is a combination of action, romance, comedy, horror, suspense, thrill, animation, advertising, music videos and a lot more.

Bob Ong, known for his comic yet striking comedy, has written the book in a way that readers would have to make a double take to lengthen the comic experience. Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin promises not only to tickle your funny bones but also to instill real-life lessons and moral values.

Most of the time, Ong tries to remind Filipinos their traditional values they used to live up with. This was delivered in a way that a reader would laugh it out, but would pause for awhile and think if it does happen in reality.

Although, there were times when the jokes seemed like they were cutout from newspaper write-ups; however, Ong managed to pull it off by backing it up with a funny nonsense comedy.

Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin is an ideal comic illustration converted into scripts, with effects and other superficial elements. You wouldn't be ashamed of getting your own copy, and once read, shelving it beside your Shakespeare collections.

The Bridal Misfortune 6

I hurried to get to the elevator as ‘Justin’ chased me. He kept calling me by a different name but I continued ignoring him. It wasn’t me after all. It was all but a miracle when the elevator door opened as I approached. I went in and pressed the ‘ground’ button, closing the door, leaving Justin behind. He sprinted, but he did not make it. The door shut and I smiled in relief. I had enough humiliation so I decided to call it a day.

What a waste! I said to myself. I thought of going home and not pushing through the application. Maybe, they’d call me back when they realize that I have not gone to the interview yet. I hoped. Somehow. On the contrary, I thought of it – everything that had happened on that day – as a blessing. I couldn’t figure out how to work with a psycho like Justin. He scared the hell out of me when he dragged me to his office. Seriously, I almost fainted earlier. The thought of him suddenly kissing me felt like hell.

Or maybe I was overreacting. I must admit, he kissed nice. Okay. He was good. I mean, the kiss was good – but not him. What kind of a good guy who would kiss a girl out-of-the-blue? The enrage I felt earlier poured over me again, and I thought of punching the walls of the elevator, but then I just kept it to myself. I could feel the CCTV staring at me like I was a criminal on the loose.

The voice prompt had said that I was already on the ground floor. I rushed out of the elevator as soon as the door opened. I hurriedly went out of the hotel. On my way, I bumped into a tall guy wearing a gray suit. I was about to apologize to him when, on my earshot, I saw Justin. Instead, I gave the guy an apologetic smile. I saw his expression full of surprise. I thought he would say something when he opened his mouth halfway, but no words came out. I suddenly felt an adrenalin rush when I could already hear Justin calling out.

“Hey! Wait up!” Justin yelled.

I ran as fast as I can. I know I looked horrible, running out of the hotel but I don’t have a choice. I have to get rid of him, as soon as possible.

“Benedict,” I heard him say. “What are you doing here? I thought you’re supposed to be in client meeting now?”

I didn’t hear the other things they talked about because I already got inside the cab waiting outside the hotel. I looked at both guys as they looked at me. I told the cab driver to drive away. Fortunately, the driver politely followed what I just told him. As the cab was getting away, I looked again to the guys’ direction. My jaw dropped when I realized that they were brothers, judging from the way they look and the features of their faces.

It was a good thing that I got rid of them already. I would never set foot to that hotel again, ever – or maybe soon enough for them to forget me.

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The Bridal Misfortune 5

He cupped my face and kissed me deeply - no, passionately. I was too surprised to react. My whole body froze as I let him conquered my senses. I did not even notice that my body trembled. 

Then suddenly, his hands started to explore my body - that was when I woke up from the, er, sensual feeling that his touches had given me. I transformed myself in defense mode, all of a sudden. My knees landed on his groin with half of my force. He screamed at the top of his lungs while crouching in pain, his hands on his 'precious jewels. To his dismay, I slapped him with the remaining half of my force.

"What was that for?" he quizzically asked.

"What was that for?!!" I mocked. "That was for the kiss without my permission!"

I then grabbed my bag and things, and started walking out when I suddenly stopped just as I passed by him. Without a word, I hit him with my bag.

"Ow!" was his only reaction.

"...and that was for bringing me here in your office, which is the definite reason why I am already late for my job interview, thanks to you!" then I turned my back on him.

"Margareth! Wait!" he called.

I was already at the door when I froze. I was not sure if I misheard him, but I thought he called me by a different name. I held the knob when he held me by my arm.

"Margareth, please! Let's talk!"

"What did you just call me?" I grinned. "Mister, you got it all wrong. I am not the person you think I am. My name is not Margareth and I don't know you, so please let go of me before I call the security of this building," I said with all confidence. Although, I thought there was something wrong with what I said. Call the security?, I chuckled at the back of my mind. Like I am the owner of this hotel?

"You don't have to hide it from me. I know you, after all, I was really the one you love - and not Benedict," he attempted to get near me. I stepped back as he closes his distance.

"Not a chance!" I covered his face with my hand. "You?! I fell in love with?! Man, you've got some guts! Why would I fell in love with a guy whore? Leave me alone!" I said as I opened the door and went out. I ignored him as he called out for 'me'.

"Margareth! Wait!"

Amelia, the secretary, was about to stand up and approach us when I gave her a demoralizing look. She paused, sat down again, and went back to whatever she was doing, as if she had not heard or seen anything. I felt like remorseful for the treatment I gave her, but brushed it aside. Instead, I hurriedly ran for the elevator for me to 'avoid' the guy chasing me.

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