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Playing emcee to some of thebest movies of all time , the war genre is renowned for develop absorbing and nuanced characters of the highest order . Whether these be fabricated face or someone ground on real - living figures , the most memorable character are unremarkably complemented by the brilliant quality of the functioning coming from the individual playing them . As such , the distinctive status quo sees the most compelling characters combined with the most talented A - lister ' performances to make the literary genre ’s most celebrated and influential role .
However , while such roles are typically affiliate with the film in question ’s independent eccentric , the genre also featuresseveral great supporting warfare movie rolesfrom A - List thespian . From thebest anti - war moviesever made towar films that do n’t focalize on the USA , these far-famed back up role have featured in some of the most prominent and lauded moving-picture show that the genre has to volunteer , varying in orbit from memorable cameo appearances to major affirm roles within the picture ’s story .
10Christoph Waltz As Hans Landa
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
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In Nazi - occupied France , a grouping of Judaic - American soldier known as " The Basterds " execute a mission to terrorize the Third Reich . Simultaneously , a young Jewish picture palace owner plot to defeat Nazi leaders give ear a premiere at her theater . Both architectural plan meet in a in high spirits - stake showdown filled with legal action and revenge.
2009’sInglourious Basterdsowes a gravid batch of its considerable winner to one of the fine support war moving picture roles of all time . realise the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor off the back of his acclaimed performance , Christoph Waltz ’s stem as SS Colonel Hans Landa is the stuff of fable . One of thebest state of war moving picture villainsof all clip , Waltz ’s mission comport the horrific sobriquet of " The Jew Hunter " as a result of his technique in locating Jews hiding throughout take France .
The introduction of a quality is one of the most important character of a lineament ’s arc , and these 10 character unveiling are the best ever .
A baddie who can flip-flop between affable and merciless at the flip of a electric switch , Landa is an galvanising sieve presence courtesy of Waltz ’s magnificent performance . While the Austrian histrion arguably was n’t an A - Lister until his breakout part as Landa , Waltz sure was in the aftermath . realise a second Academy Award for his second Tarantino collaboration in 2012’sDjango Unchained , Waltz has made various blockbuster appearances since , most notably as Ernst Stavro Blofeld in theJames Bondfranchise .
9Hugo Weaving As Tom Doss
Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Hacksaw Ridge is a historical warfare film based on the dead on target story of Desmond Doss , a soldier in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of WWII , who lay aside 75 Isle of Man without firing or carry a gun . He was the only American soldier in WWII to fight on the front lineage without a weapon , as he believed that while the war was rationalise , kill was nevertheless improper due to his rearing .
A big A - Lister jazz for his bow in smash hit franchises likeThe Matrix , The Hobbit , andThe Lord of the Rings , Australian actor Hugo Weaving ’s best pocket-sized role comes against the background of 2016’sHacksaw Ridge . Mel Gibson ’s acclaimed war movie tells the story of Desmond Doss , a scrupulous objector during WWII who carried 75 bruise men to safety during the Battle of Okinawa without discharge a shot .
Mel Gibson Academy Awards nominations and wins
Movie
class
Result
Braveheart ( 1996 )
Best Picture
win
Custom image by Yeider Chacon.
good Director
Lost
Weaving work Desmond ’s Fatherhood , Tom Doss , a veteran of the First World War suffer from PTSD who vehemently oppose his boy get together the war effort after the horrors he witnessed during his service . However , while Weaving ’s character only features concisely , he turns into agoosebump - inducing war movie momentfor the geezerhood , turbulently disturb his son ’s court - martial to protest that his stance of pacificism is protected by the United States Constitution .
In Nazi-occupied France, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “The Basterds” execute a mission to terrorize the Third Reich. Simultaneously, a young Jewish cinema owner plots to kill Nazi leaders attending a premiere at her theater. Both plans converge in a high-stakes showdown filled with action and revenge.
8Barry Pepper As Daniel Jackson
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Tom Hanks stars as Captain John Miller in Steven Spielberg ’s 1998 WWII pic . Saving Private Ryan tells the story of Miller ’s statement of a party of soldiers who gamble their life in an attempt to extricate Private James Ryan from the combat in Europe , so as to spare his kinsfolk from losing all of their sons after Ryan ’s Brother are killed in the war . Matt Damon , Edward Burns , and Tom Sizemore also star .
While Barry Pepper is n’t Hollywood ’s most large A - Lister , the Canadian - American histrion has been a staple of cinema since the late nineties . come out in the acclaimed like ofThe Green MileandTrue Grit , Pepper also boasts one of the state of war genre ’s most memorable supporting roles on his mention list , with said part taking the form ofSaving Private Ryan’sscripture - cite sniper , Private Daniel Jackson .
In an amazing bit of immersive point , Jackson can be insure with a contusion on his thumb ; a common injury associated with operating a rifle bolt .
A deadly marksman up to of nail down an enemy sniper through the scope of his own rifle in the middle of a rainstorm , Jackson is one of the more memorable character reference in Steven Spielberg ’s epic state of war offering , courtesy of a slick performance from Pepper in his first major torso of work . An indispensable member of Captain Miller ’s police squad thanks to his good marksmanship , Jackson ’s death in the movie ’s epic climactic battle represents one ofSaving individual Ryan’smore catgut - twist deaths .
7Ben Foster As Matthew Axelson
Lone Survivor (2013)
Lone Survivor is a dramatization of the United States Navy SEALs ' Operation Red Wing , an unsuccessful military operation that aimed to track down the leader of the Taliban . The film follows the four - valet SEAL squad , and the danger and psychological strain they face on their deputation .
A lauded fictional character actor known for his pensiveness and intense stem in the likes of3:10 to Yuma , Hell or High Water , andKill Your pet , Ben Foster continue his usual sterling work with an first-class execution in 2013 ’s visceral military action state of war drama , Lone Survivor . Foster play Matthew"Axe"Axelson , a dramatized interpretation of the real - life story Navy SEAL sniper pour down in action during Operation Red Wings , with theAlpha Dogstar doing justice to his fallen bang with a gritty and stirring performance .
The American ’s ground arc in Peter Berg ’s hail picture show captures the inferno that Axelson must have gone through while simultaneously producing a shot of the fallen soldier ’s huge fortitude and bravery in the face of insurmountable odds . It speaks volumes to the quality of Foster ’s performance that Axelson ’s family were among those who extol his evocative take on the fall soldier , leave his supporting theatrical role with the ultimate sealing wax of approval .
6Anthony Mackie As J.T. Sanborn
The Hurt Locker (2008)
From director Kathryn Bigelow comes The Hurt Locker , the 2008 Academy Award gain war thriller moving picture that follows Jeremy Renner as Sergeant William James and his bomb administration team as they sail beyond enemy lines during the Iraq War . The movie explores the trauma and accentuate the soldiers confront as they attempt to unarm active explosives on the field , with the repercussions commence to take their cost on the squadmates .
Earning spherical recognition for his role as Sam Wilson in theMarvel Cinematic Universe , Anthony Mackie has become one of Hollywood ’s frontmost A - Listers since debuting in 2002’s8 Mile . In summation to his bow as Wilson , Mackie also gas one of the honest stand purpose in state of war picture show story with his impressive take on Sergeant J.T. Sanborn in Kathryn Bigelow ’s 2008 Oscar attraction , The Hurt Locker .
A nuanced mortal tormented by the notion of die needlessly , Sanborn is a considerably more layered case than his tough human race outside would point …
Hacksaw Ridge is a historical war film based on the true story of Desmond Doss, a soldier in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of WWII, who saved 75 men without firing or carrying a gun. He was the only American soldier in WWII to fight on the front lines without a weapon, as he believed that while the war was justified, killing was nevertheless wrong due to his upbringing.
ContentiouslyMackie ’s safe movieperformance , the American ’s grounded bow as Sanborn captures the heart - pounding tension of working on an army dud disposal unit with unflinching clarity . A nuanced individual tormented by the notion of exit needlessly , Sanborn is a well more layered fictional character than his baffling man outside would indicate , a worthy foil to Jeremy Renner ’s adrenaline nut William James against the backdrop of one of the o.k. war moving-picture show ever conceived .
5Cillian Murphy As A Shivering Soldier
Dunkirk (2017)
This epic tale of World War II tells the story of soldiers from Belgium , Britain , Canada and France , who are surround by the German US Army , and the dangerous military operation that evacuated and saved the lifetime of thousands .
One of Hollywood ’s biggest names right now , courtesy of his Academy Award - pull ahead performance as the titular character in Christopher Nolan’sOppenheimer , Peaky Blindersstar Cillian Murphy is as A - tilt as they came . In improver to his Oscar - winning bow in the 2023 movie , the Irishman ’s frequent coaction with the aforementioned Nolan has seen him produce one of the most memorable minor function ever run into in a New war moving-picture show , with his depiction of an unnamed , shell - scandalize soldier in 2017’sDunkirk .
Cillian Murphy and Christopher Nolan film collaboration
Batman Begins
2005
The Dark Knight
2008
Inception
2010
Tom Hanks stars as Captain John Miller in Steven Spielberg’s 1998 WWII film. Saving Private Ryan tells the story of Miller’s command of a company of soldiers who risk their lives in an attempt to extricate Private James Ryan from the fighting in Europe, in order to spare his family from losing all of their sons after Ryan’s brothers are killed in the war. Matt Damon, Edward Burns, and Tom Sizemore also star.
The Dark Knight rise up
2012
Dunkirk
2017
Oppenheimer
2023
entrance a harrowing snapshot of posttraumatic stress disorder in his abbreviated time onscreen throughout Nolan ’s epical warfare film , Murphy ’s incredible depiction of a soldier frozen unbending with hurt is unnervingly veritable . He ’s a profoundly conflicting fictional character by the end ofDunkirk , with the hearing still feeling implausibly sorry for him even after he inadvertently causes the death of Barry Keoghan ’s George Mills in a scuffle .
4Andrew Scott As Leslie
1917 (2019)
Set against the backdrop of war - shoot France during WWI , 1917 is directed by Sam Mendes and stars George MacKay and Dean - Charles Chapman as two new British soldiers tax with delivering a grievous message to finish an attempt that could the life of thousands of other soldier at risk . The film use tenacious takes to make it appear that the intact narrative takes place over the course of two uninterrupted shots . Mark Strong , Colin Firth , and Benedict Cumberbatch also star .
A critically acclaimed warfare sashay from conductor Sam Mendes , 2019’s1917is wide regarded as one of thebest British state of war moviesever made . While the film primarily follows George Mackay and Dean - Charles Chapman ’s case as they race to call off a doomed offence , Mendes ' movie is littered with minor appearances from British A - Listers . The like of Mark Strong , Richard Madden , and Benedict Cumberbatch all feature , but the highlight supporting performance comes fromSherlockstar , Andrew Scott .
… Leslie ’s laconic gallows humor makes it seem like he takes legitimate pleasure in distinguish the horrors of no man ’s landed estate .
Lone Survivor is a dramatization of the United States Navy SEALs' Operation Red Wing, an unsuccessful military operation that aimed to track down the leader of the Taliban. The film follows the four-man SEAL team, and the danger and psychological strain they faced on their mission.
A world - aweary army veteran , Scott ’s acid - tongued Lieutenant Leslie make quite the impression in five instant of silver screen prison term . Pulling no punches in describing the duo ’s chance of successfully stock out their mission , Leslie ’s laconic gallows humor make it seem like he takes legitimate pleasure in line the horrors of no human race ’s estate . Scott signs off a singe cameo for the ages by blessing the two men with " holy water " from his whisky flask and asking them to throw their flare gun for hire back over the top when they inevitably capture a German bullet .
3Ed Harris As Erwin König
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Enemy at the Gates is a war film directed by Jean - Jacques Annaud , go down during the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II . It follows a tense face-off between a Russian sniper , Vassili Zaitsev , and a German sniper , Major König , as they engage in a strategical game of qat - and - mouse .
One of the mostunderrated war movies from the 2000s , 2001’sEnemy at the Gateschronicles a deadly tie-up - off between two elite sniper during the Battle of Stalingrad . Serving as the incompatible enhancer to Jude Law ’s Soviet protagonist Vasily Zaitsev , Academy Award - nominated role player Ed Harris takes on the substantiate role ofEnemy at the Gates’lead baddie ; Wehrmacht sniper school instructor , Erwin König .
An ice - coolheaded sharpshooter of near preternatural ability , theWestworldstar ’s calculating charge is one of the most merciless villains that the genre has to offer . uncoerced to crouch to any moral David Low in order of magnitude to squeeze his prey into make a fateful error , König represent as the ruthless cat to Zaitsev ’s mouse across 131 electrify minutes . Harris has made a career out of act first - charge per unit villain and the German sharpshooter stands as one of the most cunning and dangerous antagonist that he has ever brought to life onscreen .
2Robert Duvall As William Kilgore
Apocalypse Now (1979)
In Francis Ford Coppola ’s classic Vietnam War film , generally based on Joseph Conrad ’s novella Heart of Darkness , an army Captain is tasked with assassinating a scalawag Colonel who has make a cult - like compound in the Kampuchean jungle and is currently waggle his own warfare outside the army ’s view . Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando star topology as Captain Willard and Colonel Kurtz respectively , with an ensemble cast that includes Robert Duvall , Laurence Fishburne , and Dennis Hopper .
Loosely establish on Joseph Conrad’sHeart of Darkness , 1979’sApocalypse Nowis a seminal music genre oblation fromThe Godfatherdirector Francis Ford Coppola . One of thebest war movies of the 1970s , Coppola ’s revere mental picture also act boniface to one of wider cinema ’s most iconic stand character in Robert Duvall ’s surfing fanatic , Lieutenant Colonel William"Bill"Kilgore .
Duvall was beaten to the Academy Award by Melvyn Douglas for his body of work onBeing There .
A voiceless - nosed ground forces commandant encountered by Martin Sheen ’s Captain Willard on his commission to assassinate Marlon Brando ’s Colonel Walter Kurtz , Duvall ’s masterful take on the instantly quotable Kilgore earned him an Academy Award for Best corroborate Actor nomination . A unblushing warmonger who gradually reveals himself as the genuine villain ofApocalypse Nowthrough his legitimate cacoethes for armed conflict , Kilgore stands as one of the more amoral and memorable supporting face that the genre has to put up .
1Edward Norton As King Baldwin IV
Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Kingdom of Heaven is a historical epos directed by Ridley Scott . Set during the Crusades of the 12th one C , the film stars Orlando Bloom as Balian , a blacksmith who becomes a knight and protector of Jerusalem . The plaster cast includes Eva Green , Jeremy Irons , and Liam Neeson . The movie explores themes of honour , trust , and difference of opinion in a turbulent period of history .
One ofGladiatordirectorRidley Scott ’s good motion-picture show , the historical warfare dramaKingdom of Heavenboasts an enviable all - star cast that have liberal figure like Orlando Bloom , Eva Green , and Jeremy Irons . Accordingly , it comes as little surprisal that the 2005 movie also plays host to an array of superb patronise bows from the A - Listers in the vein of Liam Neeson and Brendan Gleeson .
Between emotionally exhausting character reference objet d’art and smash hit Zea mays everta flicks , Norton ’s best movies show how much of a chameleon he really is .
From director Kathryn Bigelow comes The Hurt Locker, the 2008 oscar winning war thriller film that follows Jeremy Renner as Sergeant William James and his bomb disposal team as they navigate beyond enemy lines during the Iraq War. The movie explores the trauma and stresses the soldiers face as they attempt to disarm active explosives on the field, with the repercussions beginning to take their toll on the squadmates.
However , the highlight ofKingdom of Heaven’ssupporting A - List roles is undoubtedly the mesmerizing performance turned in by Edward Norton as Baldwin IV , the philosophical Leper King of Jerusalem . convey an incredible amount of emotion even though Baldwin always hold his face hidden behind a mask , theFight Clubstar in the first place did n’t want to be credited for his purpose to add an surplus stratum of mystique to his mysterious character .
This epic tale of World War II tells the story of soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France, who are surrounded by the German army, and the dangerous operation that evacuated and saved the lives of thousands.
Set against the backdrop of war-torn France during WWI, 1917 is directed by Sam Mendes and stars George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman as two young British soldiers tasked with delivering a dangerous message to stop an attack that could the lives of thousands of other soldiers at risk. The film uses long takes to make it appear that the entire narrative takes place over the course of two continuous shots. Mark Strong, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch also star.
Enemy at the Gates is a war film directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, set during the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II. It follows a tense confrontation between a Russian sniper, Vassili Zaitsev, and a German sniper, Major König, as they engage in a strategic game of cat-and-mouse.
In Francis Ford Coppola’s classic Vietnam War film, loosely based on Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness, an army Captain is tasked with assassinating a rogue Colonel who has created a cult-like compound in the Cambodian jungle and is currently waging his own war outside the army’s purview. Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando star as Captain Willard and Colonel Kurtz respectively, with an ensemble cast that includes Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, and Dennis Hopper.
Kingdom of Heaven is a historical epic directed by Ridley Scott. Set during the Crusades of the 12th century, the film stars Orlando Bloom as Balian, a blacksmith who becomes a knight and defender of Jerusalem. The cast includes Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, and Liam Neeson. The movie explores themes of honor, faith, and conflict in a turbulent period of history.
