let me tell you something George
you would have been great at anything
welcome to watch Mojo and today we're
counting down our picks for the top 10
performances by Ray Liotta do you really
want me to go there yeah let's go there
for this list we're looking at the best
performances of this acting Legends
career while Leona worked in many
different media including his role as
Tommy Vercetti from Grand Theft Auto
Vice City we've kept it exclusively to
movie and TV performances for this list
as we will be looking at these roles in
depth be warned that some plot points
will be revealed so a spoiler alert is
now in effect which Ray Liotta
performance is your favorite be sure to
let us know in the comments
number 10. Peter DeLuca The Place Beyond
the Pines in this crime drama Ray Liotta
plays a police officer who is as corrupt
as they come although his screen time is
limited he still makes a memorable
appearance his character plays by his
own rules and it's either his way or the
highway in fact his mere presence around
others is menacing and inspires fear you
can't just walk in here yeah I can no
you can't what's that
because it's my house
look
you assume that I have a warrant and
I'll assume that your mother has papers
okay director and writer Derek C in
France revealed that the part was
written specifically for Leota in his
performance shows why he was a perfect
fit fourteen thousand dollars well it's
not going to be an even split because
the Lion's shares going to our hero
consider it unofficial Hazard pay
while often known for exuding charm and
his roles he doesn't do so here and
makes for a cop that we would never want
to come across you know that thing
you and Scott even talking about
follow me
number nine Samuel Rhodes identity
officer Rose Rex's transporting a
prisoner here in this psychological
Thriller things are not what they seem
and this especially holds true for
leota's character Samuel Rhodes a
correctional officer who finds himself
stranded with nine strangers at a motel
during a rainstorm initially there's
nothing about him that seems too out of
the ordinary save for some occasional
outbursts and if he tries anything if he
tries anything I'm going to shoot him
and if there's something out there and
it comes in here I'm going to shoot it
and if any one of us tries anything I'm
gonna shoot him only he's not actually a
correctional officer turns out he's a
convict pretending to be one he had
everyone fooled and it's an unexpected
twist that no one not even the audience
sees coming hey what am I supposed to
wear man
you're in it after the shocking
revelation we see his true colors and
boy is it chilling
where are the keys to the truck the fact
that he was acting normal beforehand
only makes the performance even scarier
leota's disturbing turn as this Master
of Disguise is one of the reasons this
underrated flick deserves a watch number
eight Henry Oak narc if there's
something Ray Liotta knew how to do it's
play controversial figures of law
although this one seems to have good
intentions in narc we see him play Henry
Oak a police officer seemingly willing
to go to deep and often unethical
lengths to get what he wants and solve
the case behind the death of a fellow
cop the only thing you need to know
about me that I'm going to bag the
that killed Mike
that means breaking every point of
procedure then they're broke whether
he's on or off the job there never seems
to be a dull moment whenever Lieutenant
Oak is on screen the film is dark gritty
and entertaining and a key contributor
to that is leota's performance you
understand I understand that great
number seven Fred young blow he was my
hero yeah it was great I didn't feel
what up boy playing the father of lead
actor Johnny Depp's George Young Leota
gives the character depth and makes
someone that viewers can sympathize with
despite being strong-willed kind and
hard-working he still faces Financial
hardships and struggles to make ends
meet but with all of that he remains
true to himself and continues to be a
strong role model for George look George
this is the way it goes
sometimes you're flush and sometimes
you're blessed and when you're up it's
Never As Good As It Seems and when
you're down you never think you're going
to be up again but Life Goes On
remember that
money isn't real George
doesn't matter it only seems like it
does even despite knowing that his son
is working in the drug business he still
loves him all the same I don't like it
it's not what I would have chosen for
you
but it's your life
got nothing to do with me
I couldn't stop if I wanted to could I
in blow Leota practically writes a
Playbook on how to portray a loving and
caring father
number six Jay Morata marriage story all
right here's the fact Jack
I charge 950 an hour Ted is 400. if you
have a stupid question you call Ted so
we've seen how electrifying Leota could
be playing a police officer now try
picturing him using the same energy to
play a lawyer as Charlie Barber's
attorney he has a no-nonsense approach
to divorce and he is the epitome of
being a straight shooter don't quote
your kid
he's just telling you what you want to
hear
trust me he's telling her the opposite
in the courtroom he is fierce always
having a response and counter in his
Arsenal ready for any of the arguments
presented against his client Laura I
like how you refer to Charlie's theater
as a ramshackled downtown dump when
you're arguing custody but when you want
more money he's a big Rich genius
Broadway director you can't have it both
ways in marriage story Leota once again
proved that even with very little screen
time he could still have an impact and
leave his Mark listen if we start from a
place of reasonable and they start from
a place of crazy when we settle we'll be
somewhere between reasonable and crazy
number five Charlie Metcalf ER Jerry no
way I see it
doctors are mean
they want to make us cry but you know
what
if you don't
I won't what do you say
let's show them let's both not cry in a
guest star appearance in the season 11
episode time and death leota's turn as a
hospital patient is Mesmerizing the
focus remains solely on leota's
character Charlie throughout the
episode's run time as he's being treated
by doctors we see him go through all the
Motions in a matter of life and death as
both the doctors and viewers are there
for the whole tragic and heartbreaking
ride hi Mom
said
oh
so Charlie
's gonna win a long trip what's most
impressive is that leota's personality
goes through a dramatic Progressive
transformation going from being
initially stubborn and reluctant to Aid
to being absolutely heartbroken and
hopeless Leota puts on a master class
without skipping a beat the entirety of
the episode it's no surprise he went on
to NAB and Emmy for Outstanding guest
actor in a drama series in 2005.
so sorry
don't think about that
okay
let's take it easy number four Gary
figgis Copland being a cop ain't easy
and Leota shows it
as a police officer who lives in a town
filled with corruption among its ranks
which he actively participates in Leota
demonstrates the psychological toll it's
taken on him he brings emotion
aggression and energy to the role and
shows why no one should ever push his
characters buttons you've got a problem
with me helping her grow in trouble
luckily he proves to be a worthy Ally to
Sylvester Stallone's character Freddie
Heflin and even goes on to save the
latter's life during the film's climax
even in a supporting role alongside
Hollywood heavyweights including
Stallone Robert De Niro and Harvey
Keitel Leota still found a way to shine
you butt heads with these friends of
ours you're gonna come at them head on
they got lives Freddy
families number three Shoeless Joe
Jackson Field of Dreams
welcome back
thanks Joe oh my God but that shoot is
Joe Jackson playing this disgraced
baseball Legend requires a certain level
of skill and Leota was up to the task as
Jackson Leota makes his presence felt in
the film The Shame and honesty he feels
can be sensed by viewers and whenever he
speaks about his love for the game fan
of baseball or not one can't help but
get goosebumps I've heard that old men
wake up and
scratch itchy legs that have been dust
for over 50 years
that was me
I'd wake up at night
with the smell of the ballpark in my
nose
the cool of the grass on my feet
The Thrill of the grass Field of Dreams
is often considered an iconic piece of
cinematic history and Leota is a driving
force behind the film's magic if you
build it
he will come
the portrayal will have sports fans and
moviegoers alike yelling Say It Ain't So
Joe
number two Ray Sinclair something wild
hi baby
if we were ever to do a list on the top
10 worst movie husbands we'd be sure to
include racing Claire on it he is as
Despicable as they come he is obnoxious
abhorrent and violent and Leota embodies
these traits to a T and puts them on
full display during the scenes he's
present in
wow hey
but his determination to get in the way
of protagonist Charlie Diggs and his
love interest Lulu is somewhat admirable
and shows leota's versatility and strong
ability to play a charismatic foil and
antagonist I thought I was crazy
by the time I got out of there though
they all had respect for me Charlie he
was nominated for a Golden Globe for
best supporting actor in a motion
picture in 1987 for his efforts
oh yeah Charlie before we continue be
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number one Henry Hill Goodfellas as far
back as I can remember I always wanted
to be a gangster arguably his most
popular role Leota shines as an
up-and-coming and later established
mobster in the Scorsese classic while
every aspect of the movie keeps viewers
eyes glued to the screen it's ultimately
leota's charm and Persona while
portraying Hill that entertains us
throughout what do you do
what what do you do I'm in construction
I don't feel like you're in construction
no I'm a union delegate he's easy to
root for and fun to watch and all of
this despite playing a criminal Now take
me to
Egypt being a mobster never looked so
fun and cool and while many actors
portrayals of Mafia characters have been
considered iconic leotas is right up
there among the greats and one no one
will forget anytime soon
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