Acquire, Hire Or Fire: Jared Leto Films.

​This feature is where we discuss a topic of film and decide which three movies from that specific topic fit into the categories of ‘acquire, hire or fire’. We will be getting guests to do their versions too. Guests may include readers, fellow writers or even stars of film. Today, it’s Cineroom reader Matt McGlynn.
 
'Acquire' means a film you would buy, 'Hire' means you would rent it and 'Fire' of course means you wouldn’t give it the time of day.
 
Today’s theme is ‘Jared Leto films’.

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HIRE:
Urban Legend is a great film and is one of my favourite from the 90s. It was one of Jared Leto’s first performances but unlike in Requiem for a Dream, he didn’t get chance to showcase his talent as it wasn’t that kind of film.
 
The movie is an uncertified spoof of different urban legends from the slasher/horror genre. This was a film in which you can only really watch once because of the twist involved, but if you enjoy pure cannon fodder repeatedly; then it is a great film to watch. It also kind of showcases, in some respects, what the classic horror genre (Scream for example) was all about!

FIRE:
Right, let me say, I don’t dislike Panic Room, it is an alright film but it’s certainly not one his films I will be rushing to watch again in a hurry. Plus, it’s easily forgettable.
 
Leto is good in Panic Room, I don’t actually mind him here; but when considering all his films as actor, this is probably his worst outing. The cornrows… what are they all about?! I would probably watch it again, but from a Leto’s perspective, it’s just not his best – especially compared to my ‘Acquire’ film!

The reason I want to acquire Requiem for a Dream is because this is the type of film that I think should be made more often. This style of filmmaking is exactly what I love making/creating and of course watching. The best thing about this film is how it is true to life it is. It’s at ease on one hand, and then gritty on the next. It’s realistic as life doesn’t always have a ‘happy ending’.
 
It’s also quite special to me because this movie is one of the films that, when at film college, proved to me that a lot of the time; stripped-back indie filmmaking is best. Jared Leto, for me, first sprung into life in this film and showcased the talent he has in abundance.