Eva Mendes is a kind of middle of the road actress that can pull out the attitude when she needs it but can also be edgy when it’s required. Playing the part of the good girl doesn’t really seem to fit that well without a lot of help around her, but playing the all-out bad girl really isn’t her strength either. In other words, she’s middle of the road as I mentioned. This isn’t a bad thing as it leaves her the ability to be versatile and possibly seen as an individual that can fit a lot of roles so long as she has someone alongside her that can help to bolster her performance. Those movies in which she’s not as much of a presence tend to be those in which she doesn’t have a really strong actor next to her. That being said, she’s been in a number of good movies but it’s usually with those that can pick up whatever slack that might be left.
Here are her five best movies.
5. Training Day
This was her big breakthrough role since she had to play the part of the cop’s wife and as the wife to the worst of the bunch she had some presence but not a lot. In fact near the end it came out that she was someone that knew what her husband was all about but didn’t seem intent on pulling away even after learning what kind of danger she and their son could be in. Somehow this seems kind of odd to think about since one would believe that anyone in this position would be looking for a way out. But then again Alonzo was kind of a charismatic figure that knew how to get what he wanted. Roger Cormier of Mental Floss has a few interesting facts about this movie that go into further depth about it.
4. The Other Guys
Sometimes the guys that get the job done aren’t the ones that are in the news all the time since those people don’t do it for the glory or the fame, they do it because it’s their job and their duty. Terry and Allen are the guys that get no respect and tend to be mocked quite often, but are simply out to do what they know how to do. The fan response to this movie was kind of mixed since some people have kind of lost faith in Wahlberg and Ferrell, but others thought it was great since they firmly believe these two men are absolutely great and can do no wrong. It’s a toss-up really as to how good or how bad they are, and it usually comes down to a matter of opinion.
3. Hitch
Rotten Tomatoes is often the kind of site you can go to when you want to see a troubling rating since the site isn’t known to be all that kind to movies that a lot of people think are great. But in this case it would seem that the fans weren’t quite as forgiving as RT since the percentages were pretty close, but RT was definitely more on board with this movie. The whole idea of a ‘date doctor’ being able to set up just about anyone and make them more appealing to the opposite sex is kind of funny in an era where online dating and book after book exists to help people figure out how to get out of their own way.
2. We Own the Night
Adam Nayam of The Ringer has a lot of good things to say about this movie and honestly it’s easy to see why since the movie is one of those that is way too underrated since it deals with a very real and heavy subject. When Bobby distances himself from his family he paints himself as the black sheep since he does hang around with some of the worst people in society, whether he knows it or not. When his brother is shot and then when their father is killed however Bobby sees no other option but to switch sides as he allies with his family and their extended family, the police, to finally take down the people he once thought were his friends.
1. The Place Beyond the Pines
This is a story that’s built on unresolved issues since Jake never really managed to get closure and wasn’t able to survive long enough to know his son or explain why he’d done the things he’d done. His killer, Avery, went on to have a decent life that wasn’t perfect but was at least enough to do something with, though he had a few serious issues that had to be dealt with. Jason, Jake’s son, is the only one that might have finally gotten some closure in his tumultuous life.
She’s a good actress, but she needs someone else there to help out.
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