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As Clooney graces the screen with 'Leatherheads,' we recall his best roles

By Kim Morgan
Special to MSN Movies

Film critics like to toss around the "next so-and-so" line ad nauseam: the next James Dean, the next Marlon Brando, the next Cary Grant. It's annoying, frequently... more untrue and, as much as I like him, Hugh Grant is not the next Cary Grant — sorry. It's far too easy to compare actors. But then there's George Clooney: a guy whose looks, attitude and impressive acting chops deserve such classic comparisons. The man can skillfully play soulfully understated to uniquely over-the-top with nary a sweat. The brown-eyed, witty charmer does indeed recall cinema's golden age — sometimes it's Gable, sometimes it's William Holden or Burt Lancaster and, yes, even Grant — while maintaining his signature uniqueness. Amidst all the pretty boys and overtly manly men, no one's like George Clooney.

Starting his career in thankless TV roles and moving to major stardom as the dreamy Dr. Doug Ross on television's "ER," Clooney managed the difficult transition from TV stud to major Hollywood player (unlike, say, David Caruso). Shrugging off missteps such as "Batman & Robin" and excelling with both daring, interesting material and directors (Robert Rodriguez, Steven Soderbergh, Joel and Ethan Coen) while becoming a talented producer and director in his own right, Clooney is the Man, a classy heartthrob, a cocktail nation's favorite liberal and, in his most inspired moments, an artist.

As his period comedy "Leatherheads" hits screens — directed, produced by and starring George — we count down our 10 favorite performances by Clooney. He is, as far as we're concerned, one of the greatest movie stars living. To quote his character in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"— he's bona fide. (James Patrick Cooper/Retna Ltd.)