Worst To Best: Mark Wahlberg

The Truth About Charlie (2002)

The Film: Jonathan Demme directs this ‘grin and bear it’ mystery thriller, a remake of Stanley Donen’s classic Charade .

Thandie Newton plays a Brit newlywed who discovers her husband’s been killed and still owes $6m.

Wahlberg FTW: Wahlberg’s set up for a fall attempting to fill Cary Grant’s sizeable shoes, but he’s convincing in the protector role – if you’re running from salivating fiends, you definitely want Wahlberg on your team.

To see Mr Wahlberg discussing his own career, including Boogie Nights, The Departed, The Other Guys, Ted, Transformers 4 and Pain & Gain, check out the video below.

The Substitute (1993)

The Film: Wahlberg’s first movie role was in this made-for-TV movie, a daft scholastic thriller in which Amanda Donohoe mysterious substitute teacher may have a murderous dark side…

Wahlberg FTW: Posing in a vest and doing the ‘sullen’ thing, Wahlberg (who is billed in the film’s credits under rap name Marky Mark) gets around 10 minutes of screen time and milks them for all they’re worth.

The Happening (2008)

The Film: M. Night Shyamalan’s shambolic natural disaster pic.

Wahlberg stars alongside Zooey Deschanel, faced with a world gone crazy as some sort of airborne toxin prompts people to commit suicide.

Wahlberg FTW: Somehow, Wahlberg manages to play it dead straight – no mean feat when there are scenes that have him attempting to outrun the wind…

Max Payne (2008)

The Film: Never was a title more apt. This painfully moronic adaptation of the popular video game stars Wahlberg as the eponymous NYPD detective – a man bent on exacting revenge against his wife’s murderer.

Wahlberg FTW: By this point, Wahlberg’s an Oscar winner, but Max Payne shows him struggling to graduate from phenomenal support player to dependable leading man.

Still, he brings an impressive physicality to the role, and looks super-legit taking out a SWAT team with nothing more than a handgun…

Planet Of The Apes (2001)

The Film: Tim Burton attempts to give the Planet Of The Apes franchise a kick up the backside with this sort-of-reboot, sort-of-remake.

It’s business as usual as an astronaut (Wahlberg) crash lands on a mysterious planet ruled by banana-loving primates.

Wahlberg FTW: The spotlight’s firmly on the impressive prosthetics here, meaning Wahlberg has little too do other than scrabble around some middling action scenes and a yawn-inducingly underdeveloped romance.

To see Mr Wahlberg discussing his own career, including Boogie Nights, The Departed, The Other Guys, Ted, Transformers 4 and Pain & Gain, check out the video below.

The Corruptor (1999)

The Film: Wahlberg dons the badge again as another NYC copper, this time teaming up with Chow Yun-Fat’s immigrant policeman, who’s on the tail of the drug-shifting Chinese Triad.

Wahlberg FTW: Working with director James Foley for the second time (after 1996’s Fear ), Wahlberg looks lost in a role that demands he read between the lines of a resolutely by-the-numbers script.

Still, all this on-screen police training will pay off dividends down the line…

To see Mr Wahlberg discussing his own career, including Boogie Nights, The Departed, The Other Guys, Ted, Transformers 4 and Pain & Gain, check out the video below.

Rock Star (2001)

The Film: Chris ‘Izzy’ Cole (Wahlberg) just wants to be a rock star, but he’s stuck fronting a lame tribute band.

Except then he gets a call inviting him to become the lead singer of awesome rock outfit Steel Dragon.

Wahlberg FTW: Drawing on his brief career as a rap star, Wahlberg looks right at home entertaining throngs of slathering music fans.

He even makes ponytails cool again…

The Big Hit (1998)

The Film: Wahlberg keeps chipping away at that ‘leading man’ spot, this time as hitman Melvin Smiley. He agrees to take on a kidnapping job in order to get rid of his girlfriend’s debts.

What a fella.

Wahlberg FTW: This early in the game, Wahlberg struggles to capitalise on his character’s innate humour, meaning the comic scenes often fall flat.

There’s no faulting his charm, though, which justifies his headlining turn.

Renaissance Man (1994)

The Film: Penny Marshall takes the helm of this likable if throwaway comedy, with Danny DeVito playing a desperate businessman who takes a job as a teacher in the army.

Wahlberg FTW: Dipping his toe into the comedy pool, Wahlberg lets DeVito do the heavy lifting, instead turning in a surprisingly under-stated performance.

“His low-key style is oddly reminiscent of that of a young Tommy Lee Jones,” praised Reel Views.

Fear (1996)

The Film: A stalker thriller that put Wahlberg up front and centre with an equally fresh-faced Reese Witherspoon, this teen-friendly drama from James Foley has Wahlberg going dark as a jealous jock who’ll do anything to keep his girl.

Wahlberg FTW: Essentially playing a teenage Travis Bickle, Wahlberg proves he’s got big screen potential – even if he mostly lets his chiselled jaw and bulging biceps do the acting.

Traveller (1997)

The Film: Pat (Wahlberg) gets in touch with his roots when he heads up to North Carolina to meet the Irish Travellers who are part of his heritage.

Despite a frosty reception, he finds a friend in cousin Bokky (Bill Paxton).

Wahlberg FTW: Snatching the role out from under Josh Hartnett’s nose, Wahlberg shows us he deserved it with a fragile performance that revealed Marky Mark has an unexpectedly sensitive side.

To see Mr Wahlberg discussing his own career, including Boogie Nights, The Departed, The Other Guys, Ted, Transformers 4 and Pain & Gain, check out the video below.

Broken City (2013)

The Film: Ex-cop and private detective Billy (Wahlberg) is tasked with keeping tabs on the wife of Mayor Nicholas Hostetler (Russell Crowe), except that’s just the tip of the iceberg in a twisted tale of power politics.

Wahlberg FTW: The film makes some pretty radical leaps in plausibility, but Wahlberg’s on the money as the try-hard investigator.

Equal parts warm and dangerous, he plays up the tension of a former addict edging ever-closer to the brink of relapse.

The Yards (2000)

The Film: Yet another early-career role that had Wahlberg on the poster moodily gripping a firearm.

Here he stars opposite Charlize Theron and Joaquin Phoenix as an ex-con attempting to graft a living post-prison. But who can he trust?

Wahlberg FTW: Wahlberg plays up the vulnerability thing, both stoic and damaged. He’s too good for what is a run-of-the-mill crime saga.

Contraband (2012)

The Film: Wahlberg plays family man Chris Farraday, who’s forced back into the business of drug dealing when his brother in law fudges a deal with scary kingpin Giovanni Ribisi.

Wahlberg FTW: Despite having earned himself kudos as a newfound comedy talent, Wahlberg is still drawn to these gritty thrillers that rely him to flex his pecks and have rock-hard morals.

When he does it so well, though, who are we to deny him?

The Lovely Bones (2009)

The Film: Peter Jackson takes up another book adaptation, though this one has slightly fewer orcs and slightly more Susan Sarandon as a booze-guzzling granny.

Wahlberg stars as Jack, whose daughter Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) goes missing…

Wahlberg FTW: Though his relationship with on-screen wife Rachel Weisz is about as convincing as Pete Burns’ lips, Wahlberg is quietly affecting as a grieving father.

Four Brothers (2005)

The Film: When a woman is killed in an apparently-random hit on a grocery store, her four adopted sons - Bobby (Mark Wahlberg), Angel (Tyrese Gibson), Jeremiah (André Benjamin) and Jack Mercer (Garrett Hedlund) – set out for revenge.

Wahlberg FTW: “We can't bring her back, but we can send her some company!”

As the oldest of the titular sibs, Wahlberg is commanding and occasionally terrifying in an otherwise coasting thriller.

To see Mr Wahlberg discussing his own career, including Boogie Nights, The Departed, The Other Guys, Ted, Transformers 4 and Pain & Gain, check out the video below.

Date Night (2010)

The Film: Steve Carell and Tina Fey play a husband and wife whose marriage isn’t so much on the rocks as suffering from a serious case of narcolepsy.

The solution? A posh night out on the town that sees them mistaken for a pair of crooks.

Wahlberg FTW: Wahlberg shows up in a brief role as Holbrooke Grant, Fey’s beefy, clothes-phobic former client.

Finally locating his funny bone for good, Wahlberg’s hilarious as the suave Bond-alike. This could be the start of something special.

The Perfect Storm (2000)

The Film: Wahlberg goes epic with director Wolfgang Petersen as a fisherman caught in the storm to end all storms.

Meanwhile, George Clooney is Billy Tyne Jr, who’s dead set on ‘one last fishing trip’ before the season closes. Bodes well…

Wahlberg FTW: After working together on Three Kings , Wahlberg and Clooney again share fantastic chemistry.

In fact, Wahlberg got so into character that he even stayed above the real Bobby Shatford’s bar – and checked IDs at the door one night.

I Heart Huckabees (2004)

The Film: Marmite moviemaking from director David O. Russell, in which existential detectives Bernard and Vivian Jaffe (Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin) attempt to solve other peoples’ problems.

Wahlberg FTW: Before Date Night or The Other Guys , Wahlberg delivers a laugh-out-loud performance as a petrol-obsessed fireman.

It’s raw, tender and really, really funny.

We Own The Night (2007)

The Film: Set in 1980s Brooklyn, James Gray’s crime drama stars Wahlberg as an NYPD officer.

Meanwhile, his brother Bobby (Joaquin Phoenix) is working a nightclub and has become entangled in the affairs of one of his regulars – a Russian gangster.

Wahlberg FTW: Movie myth has it that Wahlberg worked a dual role as actor and bodyguard on the film – Phoenix would get into character by yelling insults at Robert Duvall, which would’ve resulted in a tussle if Wahlberg hadn’t been there.

On the acting side of things, Wahlberg’s a cop again…

The Italian Job (2003)

The Film: A remake of the Michael Caine classic following a team of trained thieves who decide to rip off a former friend who double crossed them.

Wahlberg FTW: Though he’s mostly up-staged by all the mini action, Wahlberg brings a beefy swagger to this pumped-up redo.

To see Mr Wahlberg discussing his own career, including Boogie Nights, The Departed, The Other Guys, Ted, Transformers 4 and Pain & Gain, check out the video below.

Invincible (2006)

The Film: In this 1970-set tale, Wahlberg tackles the role of real-life football pro Vince Papale.

He goes from 30-year-old bartender to football ace for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Wahlberg FTW: Balancing cheeky adorability with hangdog grit, Wahlberg effortlessly elevates director Ericson Core’s otherwise by-the-numbers sports flick.

Shooter (2007)

The Film: Director Antoine Fuqua offers some claret-soaked escapism in this action drama.

Wahlberg’s Marine sniper attempts to clear his name after being branded a wannabe assassin by insidious government forces.

Wahlberg FTW: “I don’t think you understand. These guys killed my dog!”

All growly menace and pent-up angst, Wahlberg is the kind of underdog you can’t help but root for.

The Other Guys (2010)

The Film: Wahlberg and Will Ferrell play two disaster-magnet coppers who are disgraced in the eyes of the law and stuck doing mundane office work.

When the office’s top cops come a cropper, they’re handed a high-profile case that they better not mess up…

Wahlberg FTW: Just four months after he rocked a hilarious cameo in Date Night , Wahlberg proves that it wasn’t just a fluke with this rib-tickler of a turn.

Talk about a revelation.

The Basketball Diaries (1995)

The Film: Adaptation of Jim Carroll’s novel, which revolves around Jim’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) freefall into full-on drug addiction.

Wahlberg FTW: DiCaprio headlines, but Wahlberg impresses in an early role that has him playing one of the guys – and dabbling in the cliff-diving, booze-glugging and general stupidity that involves.

Rolling Stone called him “astonishingly good”.

Ted (2012)

The Film: When young John Bennett wishes for his teddy bear to come to life, it miraculously does.

Fast forward 30 years and the bear’s still hanging around, threatening to ruin John’s (Wahlberg) relationship with his girlfriend (Mila Kunis).

Wahlberg FTW: Wahlberg’s comic flow is in full swing by this point, and he finally takes the lead with the kind of confidence he has every right to.

He doesn’t even seem phased at working alongside a CGI bear…

To see Mr Wahlberg discussing his own career, including Boogie Nights, The Departed, The Other Guys, Ted, Transformers 4 and Pain & Gain, check out the video below.

Three Kings (1999)

The Film: David O. Russell directs this war drama, set in the wake of the Persian Gulf War, when four soldiers decide to steal gold that was pinched from Kuwait.

Wahlberg FTW: Wahlberg’s first team-up with Russell results in one of his finest early roles.

He’s particularly impressive in an intense torture session.

Entourage (2004-2010)

The Film: It’s not a film, but it’s based around the film industry, if that helps?

One of HBO’s finest creations, Entourage came partly from the brain of Mark Wahlberg himself, based on his own experiences in Tinseltown.

Wahlberg FTW: Wahlberg’s made four appearances on the show, playing himself in cameo form only.

We love a guy who can poke fun at himself, and Wahlberg definitely does that with Entourage .

The Fighter (2010)

The Film: Based on the real story of boxer Micky Ward (Wahlberg), who went pro in the 1980s – with a little help from his wayward brother Dicky (Christian Bale).

Wahlberg FTW: Back with David O. Russell, Wahlberg delivers an intense, physically commanding performance that saw him training for four years before the cameras rolled.

Though it was co-stars Bale and Melissa Leo who went home with Oscar gold (the former terrifyingly emaciated), Wahlberg’s this picture’s rock.

Boogie Nights (1997)

The Film: Paul Thomas Anderson plumbs the tortured depths of the porn industry in the 1970s and 80s, where innocent Eddie Adams (Wahlberg) is transformed into porn ginormo Dirk Diggler.

Wahlberg FTW: He bagged the role thanks to buddy DiCaprio (who passed it up due to Titanic commitments), and most famously donned an impressive prosthetic schlong.

Most extraordinary by far, though, is Wahlberg’s portrayal of a good guy chewed up and spat out by an industry. Wonder if he related?

The Departed (2006)

The Film: Crime saga from director Martin Scorsese, based on Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs.

Wahlberg plays no-nonsense Staff Sergeant Dignam, who sends Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) undercover to infiltrate a mobster’s harem.

Wahlberg FTW: He’s back in a supporting role, but Wahlberg proves he’s got the chops to make one heck of an impression.

Coiled up and ready to blow, he gives Dignam more depth than all of his fledgling leading roles combined.

To see Mr Wahlberg discussing his own career, including Boogie Nights, The Departed, The Other Guys, Ted, Transformers 4 and Pain & Gain, check out the video below.