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Top 5 Scenes That Made Me Obsessed With Cillian Murphy

April 2007

• Kerry |
• Bonnie |
• Sarah |
• Julia |
• Dernhelm |
• Celticgrl |
• Madra Rua |
• Morrigan |
• Lilith |
• Melty_Girl |
• Pierspaul |
• Wissky |
• The Automatik |
• Claudia

Kerry's List

• #5. Red Eye, Jackson's transformation

  That look Jackson gives Lisa when she realizes he's threatening her is brilliant. His transformation from the suave guy she thinks is hitting on her to a sinister character is just incredible. And once again, the director makes the most of his eyes in that scene.

• #4. Disco Pigs, Darren/Pig's falling apart scene at the Palace

  When Pig goes off to the toilets and finally falls apart every single feeling he has felt the entire way through the film comes out. This is one of the most emotionally charged scenes in the film and Cillian as usual plays it incredibly. Every single tear looks genuine and his anger is explosive.

• #3. The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Teddy and Damien's final scene

  This was one of the most recent films I saw Cillian in so I had already taken notice. But that final scene gave me a huge lump in my throat. Even the tiniest facial movements Cillian makes convey more emotion than anything they can put in a script. It was heart wrenching to watch the brothers get torn apart so brutally.

• #2. Breakfast on Pluto, Kitten's interrogation

  This is probably one of the saddest parts of the film as everything is ripped away from Kitten so we see how truly lost and sad the character is. The fact that "she" feels safer inside the cell and wants to stay is heartbreaking. Every single body movement and eye flicker Cillian makes in these scenes is done to pure perfection. Not for one second in this entire film can one look away for fear of missing a single thing he does. Also, it's absolutely timeless.

• #1. Disco Pigs, Sinéad calls Darren to look at the dress she's made

  I challenge anyone to watch this and not fall in love with Cillian right then and there. The change in his face is as breathtaking as it gets. Never have I seen an actor who can actually genuinely act using his eyes and jaw movements even more than his actual words.

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Bonnie's List

• #5. Red Eye, the Bay Breeze

  Jackson flirts with Rachel McAdams in the taco bar and "guesses" her favorite drink. So-o-o-o-o-o charming! I would melt in front of him like putty!

• #4. Red Eye, Lisa's escape

  A couple of seconds just before she stabs Jackson in the neck with the pen, you see the minutest letdown of his guard in his face and neck. What an actor!

• #3. Red Eye, the mile-high club

  Slipping out of the bathroom, Jackson grins at the flight attendant in a sexy way when she scolds him and says, "This is not a motel!"

• #2. Breakfast on Pluto, Kitten's confession

  Kitten describes to her interrogators how she downed bad guys with squirts of Chanel No. 5, swinging "her" hips in the secret agent scene. The climax is when "she" rips off the outfit to reveal lingerie in yellow satin and black lace!

• #1. Intermission, "I want to have your babies..."

  Near the very end, John asks his girlfriend to live with him, marry him, have his kids, etc. He looked like little boy blue with those eyes. Reminded me of my husband when he told me he was in love with me and hoped I would not see other men.

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Sarah's List

• #5. Intermission, "A list of things I want...

  Here is a character that has a no real idea on how to tell people what he wants, which makes this scene a great one for me. Throughout the entire film you watch John struggle with the huge mistake he's made and the conflict that's seen within the character himself is something I've not seen done as wonderfully as Cillian does. The final release of honest love and desire for that love is perfectly fitting and a bit awkward, just as you would imagine John to be when it comes to emotions. When he gives that little smile at the end you feel like he's truly achieved something great.

• #4. Disco Pigs, morning on the beach

  The obsessive love Pig has for Runt seems melodramatic in theory but Cillian makes it something totally different and this scene always gets me. Had it been any other actor I don't think it would have worked. The complete love and acceptance in Cillian's eyes right before the disappear beneath that blue blanket is enough to stop your heart and realize what you're watching, an extremely graceful performance.

• #3. Batman Begins, "He's here... the Bat Man..."

  Purely for my psychotic side, I loved this entire performance. There is a line that's walked in this performance; the balance between comical insanity and dull drama. This moment in particular is a favorite. The way words are dropped or his eyes darting around and always searching and the manner in which he simply becomes Dr. Crane are what get me the most. It seemed to me like he added a great passion for the things he was doing, as if the compensation for his personal history (at least the history from the comic series) comes to a head when Batman comes around and wants to play. That excited eagerness that slips into his voice sends chills everywhere.

• #2. Breakfast on Pluto, "I think you mean the oven, young man..."

  The ending scene is brilliant I think, mostly for Cillian's performance and his reaction to things and acceptance. She knows that her mother has more or less gone on in life without her and will continue to do so, and the subtle hint of knowing some more but feeling the need to not tell it gets me. Cillian is pitch perfect with timing and tone and presence. It's kind of like Kitten has the knowledge of the truth and what really happened and that's finally enough for her. She can let go and it's a beautiful moment to watch.

• #1. 28 Days Later..., rescuing the girls

  Okay, so it's more than a moment, more than one scene, but basically from the time you see Jim cranking the siren to the moment the three of them run out of the house, I'm in total adoration and love for this man as a performer. The film up to that point had been filled with rage-infested people who, for no reason they can comprehend themselves, want to do nothing but destroy and kill. At this point, Jim is filled with a rage as well; he is different, yes, but it's still rage and still powerful enough to drive him to reign down the violence. It's once again Cillian's ability to walk that line between over the top and under the weather that makes it a stunning performance for me. A film filled with rage and here you see it again but under different circumstances and you almost can't tell the difference—but because we know it's Jim, this character that has become alive, real and important because of Cillian's performance, you don't lose your faith in him.

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Julia's List

• #5. Cold Mountain, outside the cabin

  When I saw this movie at the theater I nearly jumped out of my seat when I recognized Cillian in this emotional and frightening scene. He was fantastic and it was astonishing how much he brought to that tiny part.

• #4. Disco Pigs, in the disco

  I watched this alone at home expecting to have a little eye candy and cool movie. I was at the beginning of my obsession for Cillian and I was blown away by the set up for violence in the disco. The entire film (the language, the look) was mesmerizing. I then said, "This guy is going to get an Academy Award some day."

• #3. Intermission, taking down Mr. Henderson

  When Cillian has enough and hits his manager on the head and jumps around on top of the check-out tables—adorable and funny.

• #2. On the Edge, romance at the party

  The tender scene in Rachel's bedroom at the New Year's Party. Cillian is just gorgeous in that scene.

• #1. 28 Days Later..., looking for hamburgers

  When Jim wakes up in Hospital and discovers an abandoned London, I was hooked. But the scene that really makes the list is when he beats the boy with the baseball bat, and instantly internalizes the experience. For a not-very-tall man, he has a presence that doesn't allow the viewer to look away. This quiet hero with the potential for violence was addicting.

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Dernhelm's List

• #5. Batman Begins, the courtroom

  Maybe it's because I first saw Dr. Crane's freckled, bespectacled face in the 500-foot glory that is IMAX, but whenever I see those plump, pink lips dip down to the witness stand microphone I still get a flutter in my belly. The prim coldness of his manner makes his beauty all the more sharp, lending such a lovely contrast to the raw chaos of the Scarecrow persona he dons later on. There's also the initial shock of hearing Cillian's normally lilting voice masked in a crisp American accent, which definitely lends a slight air of the surreal for anyone who knows what he sounds like. It's an ethereal, Twilight Zone moment, one I probably have Chris Nolan's cinematographer mostly to thank for.

• #4. 28 Days Later..., at the gates.

  I've only seen this movie once, as much as I love it. When I came out of the theater, I felt like I had been punched in the gut with a sledgehammer ... which is exactly the way a good horror movie should leave you. I've never wanted to spoil the memory by going back. That being said, the moment that stands out the most in a film full of stand-out moments was the loss of Frank at the gates to the military compound. Since Jim woke up in the hospital, he'd let others take care of him: Selena on the streets, Frank on the road. When Frank begins to turn, Jim is faced with the instant transfer of responsibility as the guardian of his makeshift family ... his first task being to take down his friend. It's a white-knuckle moment, with Jim having only seconds to pull himself together to do what must be done, struggling between denial and reality. Ultimately, this is where Jim first really gets in touch with the willful violence in himself, which comes surging forth for the climax of the film.

• #3. Red Eye, the pen

  Aside from the often heavy-handed dialogue, watching Cillian in a genuine "bad guy" roll was a deliciously guilty pleasure akin to that extra squirt or two of butter on your matinee popcorn. He plays with the role the way his character does with his hostage, easily oscillating from cruel calculation to manic fury within the same scene. The crowning glory for the horror fan in me was where he's chasing Lisa through the plane with a novelty pen protruding from his throat, every bit of his usual charm or cool utterly lost as he rages after her like a wounded predator.

• #2. Breakfast on Pluto, the peepshow

  Tarted up and put on display at the peepshow, Kitten still manages to hold all the cards. Heartbreakingly lovely in her golden curls, she holds court over her unseen patrons with the bored ease of an empress. She turns a put-down into a sensual history lesson, and holds her ground on her music history ... without revealing a bit about who she really is. Cillian does an amazing job of conveying her isolation in her gilded cage, the sadness under the mask ... and how it shatters when the one man who she's waited for her whole life pays her a visit.

• #1. The Wind That Shakes the Barley, the climax

  I wish I could tell you what this scene is. But if you haven't seen it, there's no way in hell I'm going to spoil it for you. All I'm going to say is that Cillian perfectly—and wordlessly—captures the moment. He radiates Damien's conflicting fear, pride, helplessness, and power all in the clench of his jaw and the slant of his shoulder. This scene will haunt me for years to come.

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Celticgrl's List

• #5. Sunburn, racing to catch Aideen

  The end where he is running to the airport through the swamps near Newark Airport and falls in the muck and then gets up and just keeps running. It really makes you wish for Sunburn 2. What will happen when he goes home?!!!

• #4. Breakfast on Pluto, begging Mammy

  Umm, the whole movie. Do I really have to pick one scene? Really? Okay, then I pick the scene where he asks his "mammy", "Oh, Mammy, can I have the price of the dance and a cup of coffee?" That just puts me in stitches. There are so many other scenes but I love this one.

• #3. Intermission, "fancy a bit of mature?"

  The scene when Oscar brings him to the "mature" pub. Both John and Oscar are standing there, drinks in hand watching the aging couples on the dance floor as Billy Ocean's "Loverboy" plays. The look on his face is priceless.

• #2. The Wind That Shakes the Barley, meeting Dan

  Without spoiling it for those who haven't seen it ... the train platform scene when it changes Damien's destiny and draws him into a war he didn't want to be a part of.

• #1. On the Edge, in Rachel's room

  When Rachel asks Jonathan "Why do you want to die?" and he responds "I don't want to die. I just don't want to live." That just smacked me right in the head! I was gutted and had to hit the pause button. I have a family member that attempted suicide and nearly succeeded. The way he delivers the line, so matter of fact. He doesn't want to die, but what is the alternative? Feeling like shit everyday of your life?

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Madra Rua's List

• #5. Red Eye, Jackson Rippner in the airplane bathroom

  The usual nice side of Cillian Murphy's acting career comes out in this devious, manipulative, cunning, dangerous, and incredibly well played character. Just the different mentality of this character alone that Cillian played wanted me to be in Lisa's stead.

• #4. The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Damien telling Teddy why he made the choice he did

  I'm not going into detail, so as not to spoil readers about this powerful scene. Damien quietly listens while his brother speaks, and finally when he looks up into his brother's eyes and Damien tells his reason, I couldn't help but shed a tear. Or two.

• #3 28 Days Later..., Jim on zombie killing rampage

  Cillian plays the rather shy, self kept, defenceless Jim. A man who would probably die right off in the beginning if it weren't for Selena and Mark. Over the course of the movie, Jim ever so slowly begins to build up his confidence and desire to be strong to make it through this ordeal. After finding out that there is indeed the "outside world" left, his character changes entirely. The result is a powerful takeover as Jim slashes his way to rescue Selena and Hannah. It ends on a (powerful) lip locking session with Naomie Harris. Now if only I could be saved like that.

• #2. Intermission, John telling Deirdre that he wants to be with her always

  After a series of mistrials, including getting a gunshot wound, John finally pulls himself together and goes up to Deirdre and tells her what he wants, her. Always and forever. Those eyes deadlocking on Deirdre while John pours his soul out to her—pure romance without being cheesy. A talent from Cillian that only a few possess. I melted into a pile of goo and forever claimed that I'm going to nab myself a man just like that.

• #1. On the Edge, as Jonathan Breech

  This was the film that introduced me to Cillian and I really can't nail down my favourite scene as the whole movie made my heart skip beats. Running into the church during his da's funeral service. Picking on Rachel. And of the course the last scene with the ice cream. Jonathan's cocky attitude, upfront talk, and handsome good looks had me from the start. And who could forget, "Wanna come back to my place for some coke and some sex?"

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Morrigan's List

• #5. Sunshine, Capa's message

  The eyes! The voice! I must admit this was the first time the full force of Cillian's charisma had really hit me, and it left me kind of gasping for breath for the rest of the film. In a few short sentences he manages to get across the vulnerability, determination and intelligence of the character, and his performance was a major part of why this is my favourite film of the year.

• #4. Batman Begins, Dr. Crane takes his own medicine

  After his disturbing, unruffled smoothness throughout the film so far, it was amazing to see the fear toxin change Crane into a babbling, terrified child, and the moment when he checks out completely broke my heart.

• #3. Red Eye, the check-in queue

  There are a whole host of subtleties in the way Jackson makes his first contact with Lisa, and I was incredibly impressed with the way Murphy says one thing with his lines and overt actions, and something else entirely with his body language. Not many actors could bring this much complexity to a character this early in the film.

• #2. 28 Days Later..., Jim's photograph

  The key to the believability of this film is Jim's transformation, which has already been mentioned several times here. My favourite moment, though, is when he finds the note from his parents on the photograph. It almost sets the starting point for his quest for survival, and his expression when he sucks it up and abandons his hopes of coming back to a normal life is superb.

  #1. Sunshine, the ending

  I'm not giving it away, because not enough people will have seen it yet. But—Oh. My. God.

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Lilith's List

• #5. On the Edge, the funeral

  Picture a sombre church, parishioners all decked out in black, a glowering priest. Into the scene storms a lanky boy whose affecting presence belies his slim frame. Bursting with bravado he strides up to the coffin and knocks on it! What nerve! But then, in a simple move that stole my heart, he rubs his thumb along the polished wood. In this little caress, Jonathan's boldness vanishes and we glimpse the feelings he's trying to hide. This was my first introduction to Cillian and it reeled me right in.

• #4. Disco Pigs, Sinéad's new dress

  Cillian's transformation in this role is astounding. Pig starts out as such a boy—he's smitten with Runt, but in a wholly immature way. You see this in the first disco scene. He watches her adoringly, but even his jealousy is part of their childhood game. But then comes the scene when Sinéad shows off her new dress. Cillian's performance here marks the shift in the movie. Darin descends from the steps a boy, but the look on his face as he drinks her in is of a man. Cillian's transformation is simply amazing.

• #3. Intermission, bashing Mr. Henderson's head with the peas

  John has no idea how to express his feelings, and Cillian plays this perfectly, careening from restrained indifference to bursts of passion like when he busts into Deirdre's apartment. My favourite burst is after Mr. Henderson breaks up John and Oscar's fight and he's toppled with a can of peas. I love watching Cillian's face when he realises what he's done and triumphantly parades across the counter. It's such a moment of pure joy— until, of course, he trips and unceremoniously crashes to the ground himself!

• #2. Batman Begins, "Do you want to see my mask?"

  I got to see this on opening day at an IMAX theatre, with Cillian's gorgeous face a mile high. What a treat! Once my heart palpitations subsided, I found myself thrilled by his hard-hearted Dr. Crane. Cillian's face here is masked whether or not he's wearing that burlap sack. Crane's smiles are judicious and fleeting, it's clear that he's calculating every minute. But when he's in the cell talking to Falcone, that mask slips just a little. He takes off his glasses, sighs, and asks in a weary voice, "Would you like to see my mask?" It's a wonderful acting choice, perfectly marking that thin line where Dr. Crane ends and the Scarecrow begins.

• #1. Breakfast on Pluto, Billy leaving Kitten

  I'd been obsessed with seeing this since first hearing of Cillian in drag—real drag, not Sunburn-drag! But even after a year of reading about how he studied with the London transvestites, I still wasn't prepared for his transformation. It's difficult to to select a single scene in Pluto, but the one that truly broke me was after Billy Hatchet leaves. Cillian's tear-blurred eyes never looked bluer as Kitten says she knows that Billy was "joking about the roses and the sweets too ... But it was nice while it lasted." She gets up, takes a few steps towards the trailer, her slender profile looking so lonely against the background of the quarry, and kicks up a bell-bottomed leg in frustration. It's an extraordinary display of frailty in this exceptionally strong character.

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Melty_Girl's List

• #5. 28 Days Later...,"It's not all fucked."

  The first Cillian movie I ever saw, and I have to admit, it took me a year to follow up and investigate whether he'd been in other movies. Horror is not my genre, but I love Danny Boyle, and this wasn't the first time I've eagerly read the credits on a Boyle film so I could put the name to a new face—thanks for the obsession, Danny! Anyway, the scene in question starts with an ultraviolent, blood-covered Cillian eagerly thrusting his thumbs into his enemy's eye sockets. Then, in a little longer than a heartbeat, our hero is kissing our other hero(ine), and maybe all is not all fucked. It's a wonderful transition from Cillian ... and I'm a sucker for how he whimpers between the kisses.

• #4. On the Edge, "But ya are cute."

  I don't think this is his best film, but yow, is Cillian hot in this one or what? He looks incredible here: I devoured all the lingering close ups on those unbelievable big blue eyes, the miles of cheekbones, the always slightly parted bee-stung lips, the bangs, the sideburns ... In the early scene where his love interest retaliates against his rude behaviour in group therapy by repeatedly slapping his face and challenging him, "Do you think I'm cute now?" Cillian goes from cocky charmer to irritated to confused and unsure of whether to go along with bloodplay. And it's all gorgeous.

• #3. Batman Begins, "He's here... the Bat... Man."

  I wasn't quite obsessed enough to run out and catch this film at the theater, Chrises Nolan and Bale notwithstanding. By the time the DVD arrived, I'd been going crazy to see it. Cillian's Crane is every inch the cold, clipped, controlled doctor, but when he asks, "Would you like to see my mask?" we get a hint of the anguished malevolence running under the surface. The payoff is the scene in the Arkham mental hospital basement: when he rips off his mask, and tells his crew that Batman is approaching, Cillian reveals a surprisingly passionate anticipation about his nemesis and a haughty recklessness that are thrilling to watch.

• #2. Breakfast on Pluto, "Ohhhh, I wish that could happen!"

  Technically, I was already obsessed when I saw this one, but Cillian's performance lived up to my expectations and them some. The scene where Kitten tries to get Billy Hatchet to stay with her and they dance to Bobby Goldsboro's insipid "Honey" is one of many wonderful scenes, but I especially loved Cillian's purring seduction. He's so sexy, so endearing, and Kitten's romantic fantasy about Billy taking her to the hospital is at once comic and pathetic. Though I adore this scene, their slow dance should have ended in a kiss—actually, the whole movie could have used more happily sexual moments for Pussy Kitten, a la the novel.

• #1. Disco Pigs, "Beautiful face, yours."

  This is the scene that rendered me forever obsessed (and prompted me to immediately rent all Cillian's other films). Runt calls Pig to come take a look at the skirt that she's made, and when he sees her all dressed up, he's jolted by a surge of love and lust. Before Cillian even gets to his lines, the expressions that pass over his face rapidly communicate a series of intense feelings: surprise, tenderness, want, overwhelm, embarrassment, hesitation, weak-kneed-ness, longing. The face of Cillian Murphy in love is a wondrous thing to behold. Great acting, great beauty, stick a fork in me, I'm obsessed.

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Pierspaul's List

• #5. Sunburn, scene with Davin and Robert

  There's a scene where Davin goes to borrow money from Robert. They are sitting on the deck talking about why Davin wants the money. The interaction between Davin and Robert is amusing and Cillian has a way of pronouncing the word "cow" that has me in stitches every time I hear it.

• #4. Breakfast on Pluto, Kitten with the Mohawks

  Cillian looks fabulous in a dress, he has better legs than me, and seeing him jump around to "Wig Wam Bam" makes me nostalgic for Top of the Pops.

• #3. Disco Pigs, second bed scene:

  After the scene at the top of the church where Pig realises his true feelings for Runt, he's lying in bed and he puts his hand through the wall to touch to Runt's hand. The look on Pig's face is heartbreaking as you see that he doesn't have the language to tell Runt how he feels.

• #2. On the Edge, scenes with Stephen Rea

  The therapy scenes with Stephen Rea are my favourite parts of the film. Cillian gives the character vulnerability and humour and he makes wearing short pyjamas and oversize sweaters look sexy.

• #1. Breakfast on Pluto, interrogation scene

  Cillian so completely morphed into the character of Kitten that until the scene in the jail, where he's walking around the table in his undershirt, not only had I forgotten that Kitten was a boy, I had also forgotten that the character was being played by a man.

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Wissky's List

• #5. On the Edge, "You think I'm cute?"

  Beating out both "You think you love me?" and some serious gum chewing at the bowling alley, this scene is a great example of turning on a dime. From cocky to angry to bewildered, Cillian moves from teasing pursuer to victim so fast he'll make your head spin.

• #4. Breakfast on Pluto, Kitten meets his mother

  He does awkwardness so well, asking silly survey questions while stealing glances at She-Who-Bore-Him. Sadly, I am filled with white-hot jealousy by his hair, his outfit, and his face. At this point in the movie, Cillian has reached his beauty apex.

• #3. Disco Pigs, Pig's Monologue

  With his naked vulnerability and heartbreakingly unrequited desire, Pig reminds us just how bad love hurts.

• #2. Batman Begins, "Would you like to see my mask?"

  He walks in, telegraphing irritation using the set of his shoulders and a short exhalation. It is in this scene that Cillian Murphy makes it clear he can act as if he has no human heart whatsoever, and that he can do it by barely moving a facial muscle. This man knows how to use stillness.

• #1. 28 Days Later...

  Cillian enters the room after cutting his hair and shaving: Sure, the man could act. And he was pretty. Until I saw this, though, I really hadn't given him his due as the most utterly beautiful man on the planet. Something snapped in my brain at this point, and my eyes glazed over. A brief hospital stay and I was all better.

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The Automatik's List

• #5. The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Teddy and Damien in the cell

  Part of the immense joy of this movie is watching Damien O'Donnell discover and then fight for his own beliefs. When he is forced to confront his brother Teddy in the very cell where he had once been willing to change places with him, his conviction is calm and almost frightening: "I shot Chris Reilly in the heart ... I will not sell out," he says softly. And you believe him.

• #4. Intermission, finding Deirdre's bra

  When we see John as he finds Deirdre's bra under the couch cushion, it's like we're looking through a peephole at a most intimate moment. His whole body crumples from the emotional weight of the unexpected, unwelcome memory. It's one of the most genuinely touching scenes of a man crying in cinematic memory.

• #3. Breakfast on Pluto, Xanadu with Father Liam

  It's difficult to pick just one scene from this movie since any time Kitten is on the screen you can't tear your eyes from her. But I'll try. Sitting on the swing at Xanadu, Kitten explains to the unseen, unknown Father Liam about "the laughter that hides tears" and although her voice is drained and her expression blank, you feel her pain as intensely as if it were your own.

• #2. Batman Begins, Dr. Crane and Carmine Falcone

  The cold, blue-eyed stare is one thing. But when Dr. Crane tells Falcone, "I know what he'll say—that we should kill you," his face twists into such a malevolent sneer that you know he doesn't even need to wear the Scarecrow mask to be terrifying.

• #1. 28 Days Later..., eyeball gouging

  They say you'll never forget your first time ... seeing Cillian Murphy in a movie, that is. Jim's transformation from a wide-eyed, overwhelmed innocent to someone who kicks ass and takes names eyeballs is above and beyond anything ever. I've seen the movie three times now and that scene still gives me the shakes.

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Claudia's List

• #5. Intermission, knocking off Henderson and "go fuck yourselves!"

  Every once in a while I love to see a dark comedy. Intermission was the first time I noticed that Cillian had tremendous potential for dark comedy. I loved every scene he was in, especially this one. His character John is boyish and absolutely clueless, so completely different from most of the characters I had seen Cillian portray at the time I saw this. And this particular scene was really, really great, mostly because you can see that finally John has had enough of taking crap, and you can't help but cheer when he throws that can of peas. Then when an apology was expected for what he did, he just goes and tells his bosses to go fuck themselves. Bravo John!

• #4. 28 Days Later..., "That was longer than a heartbeat."

  Before this scene, Jim had had my sympathy, or more specifically, my compassion. I just couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Waking up naked and alone in London, finding his parents' corpses, gaining and losing a father figure (Frank), threatened by both the infected and the even more dangerous uninfected soldiers who beat him and almost executed him ... I just couldn't help but thinking, "Poor guy!" Finally, Jim becomes so enraged with all that's happened to him, that he leaves all fears aside and becomes the one to be feared. It's such an incredible transformation, both fascinating and terrifying. One of Cillian's finest moments to date.

• #3. Batman Begins, "Would you like to see my mask?"

  I was pleasantly surprised to see Cillian in this movie. I just wish he had had more screen time, but he managed to steal every single scene he was in. Before this particular scene, his character, Dr. Jonathan Crane, seemed like nothing more than a corrupt shrink who got Falcone's thugs out of jail time for some reason. You knew he was hiding something but still, he didn't seem that dangerous. And all of a sudden... surprise! The nut had taken over the nut house and insanity had never looked sooo good! It was fantastic moment for me, both as a Cillian fan and a Batman fan. No Batman villain besides Jack Nicholson had been able to be so scary. All of the others had been pretty much laughable. About goddamn time.

• #2. On the Edge, "Come on, you wanker!"

  Now, this was when I first noticed Cillian, and it's also the very first scene I saw him in. It was midnight, and I was carelessly switching channels, when suddenly... there he was. The bully had just cracked the bottle and the guy with the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen decided to face him and show that despite his seemingly harmless appearance he had more guts than that big bad bully who was threatening his friend. I just couldn't help but think, "Who is that guy? The one with the unbelievable blue eyes I can just drown in, the lips of a sex god. And also, the one who's got more talent than most young actors nowadays." So I stayed tuned until I got to catch the movie title and, of course, the credits. I just knew I had to remember his name, and keep my eyes open in case I saw him again. Thank God I would!

• #1. Red Eye, sea breeze

  Maybe it's the romantic in me, plus the fan girl who can't help but sigh whenever I see this scene. It was a really beautiful exchange between two people who seem... I don't know... meant to be. Despite the way that things turned out afterwards, it's still my favorite Cillian moment. In this scene, he just exudes charisma, elegance, and charm that's just mesmerizing, and, of course, mind-blowingly seductive. So that was it. From really enjoying his acting and loving his eyes, I became completely obsessed with Mr. Cillian Murphy.

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