After climbing to the acting pinnacle during the 1990s, Kevin Spacey's career slowed to a crawl in the 2000s, with a few quality exceptions in a string of an unexceptional films.
But with "Casino Jack" -- a biopic about disgraced lobbyist Jack Abrahamson that opens today in St. Louis -- the 51-year-old Spacey is once again generating Oscar buzz for lead acting.
So why not take a look at Spacey's 10 best roles? And let's give honorable mentions to "The Big Kahuna," "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," "A Time to Kill" and "The Shipping News."
10. 21 (2008) Micky Rosa: One of only two notable performances in the 2000s, Spacey plays an M.I.T professor who recruits a gang of brilliant math students to break the blackjack tables in Vegas. Based on a true story.
9. The Ref (1994) Lloyd Chasseur: A sleeper film that is a fave with Denis Leary fans, in which Leary plays a burglar who breaks into the home of a seriously dysfunctional middle-class family during the holidays. Spacey and Judy Davis play the bickering couple.
8. Superman Returns (2006) Lex Luthor: Like Gene Hackman before him, Spacey makes "over the top" work while playing the Man of Steel's arch-villain. Spacey's deliciously evil turn almost makes up for a wooden performance from the lead, Brandon Routh.
7. Iron Will (1994) Harry Kingsley: This underrated and relatively unknown film about a dogsled race during the Depression stars Mackenzie Astin as a teen trying to support his mom by entering the race. Spacey plays a cynical reporter won over by the boy's courage.
6. Swimming With Sharks (1994) Buddy Ackerman: This extremely dark comedy takes a scathing look at the inside world of Hollywood producers, with Spacey shining as the sleazy, mean big shot and Frank Whaley holding his own as Buddy's lackey/protege.
5. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) John Williamson: Spacey plays the weasly office manager, while Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris and Alec Baldwin get the juicy moments from David Mamet's play taken to the screen. (Remember, always be closing.)
4. Se7en (1995) John Doe: Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt track down a psychopath who kills according to the Seven Deadly Sins. Spacey passed up credits on this film, which makes his strong performance even more chilling.
3. L.A. Confidential (1997) Jack Vincennes: The best all-around film on this list, Spacey plays a slick cop whose years of compromise come to an end when he can no longer stomach the corruption. Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell and Danny DeVito all deserved supporting-actor Oscar nods. None got them. This and "Pulp Fiction" are the best films of the 1990s.
2. The Usual Suspects (1995) Roger "Verbal" Kint: A dogged cop pursues five career crooks and a crooked cop who are tied to numerous thefts, a couple of dozen dead sailors and a mysterious villain named Keyser Soze. Spacey got the supporting-actor Oscar for what is really the film's lead. (Note: Pete Postlethwaite, who played Mr. Kobayashi, died Sunday at age 64.)
1. American Beauty (1999) Lester Burnham: One of the great lead performances of the last 20 years, Spacey brings wit, charm and desperation and melancholy, to his portrayal of a middle-aged man questioning every aspect of his life and loves. He certainly deserved the best-actor Oscar he won for this role.
If you've never seen "The Usual Suspects," rent it and watch it today. If you've already seen it, then enjoy the film's closing scene by clicking here.
Since it's tough to find a scene from "L.A. Confidential" not filled with profanity, make due by checking out the trailer. Click here.
How about this short but sweet drive-through scene from "American Beauty"? Please click here.
Just one more from "American Beauty," with Spacey succinctly explaining what a 1970 Firebird does for him. Please click here.
