Top five Mark Wahlberg's films

Mark Wahlberg is an Oscar nominated American actor. Born in a working class area in 1971, he dropped out of high school and spent short periods in jail for petty crimes during his youth. In 1991, he enjoyed a short career as a pop star as "Marky Mark and the funky bunch", before turning to films in the mid 1990s. As an actor, he has received critical and commercial acclaim. This article examines his greatest films.

The Basketball Diaries (1995)

Mark Wahlberg's breakthrough film came in 1995, where he played Leonardo DiCaprio's hot-headed best friend Micky in "The Basketball Diaries". The film is based on the harrowing diaries of a drug addict and poet Jim Carroll. "The Basketball Diaries" explores despair and heroin addiction in a group of school friends in 1990s, New York. Wahlberg delivers a memorable and striking performance as the troubled Micky, stealing scenes from both DiCaprio and their co-star Juliette Lewis.

Boogie Nights (1997)

One of the most popular Mark Wahlberg's movies is this tale set in the seedy world of pornography film. Wahlberg plays Eddie Adams, also known as
"Dirk Diggler", as a young man seeking fame and fortune in the 1970s. He is recruited as a porn actor and enjoys great success. However, he soon gets caught up in the world of drugs and the lifestyle of the porn industry.

The Departed (2006)

Wahlberg reunited with Leonardo DiCaprio in this Martin Scorsesse thriller. Wahlberg's performance as Dignam won him an Oscar nomination for the
"Best Supporting Actor". Set in Boston, "The Departed" is one of Scorsesse's finest achievements dealing with police corruption and trust in the Mafia underworld.

Shooter (2007)

Mark Wahlberg's "Shooter" is an enjoyable, fast moving action film, based on a Stephen Hunter's novel. Wahlberg plays Sergeant Bob Lee Swagger, an army sniper. The latter comes out of a self-imposed exile to try to stop an assassination attempt on the US president. Wahlberg brings his trademark conviction and his acting skills to make "Shooter" one of the more memorable and enjoyable action films.

The Fighter (2010)

Wahlberg plays the role of true life boxer Micky Ward "The Fighter". This film looks at the harsh realities of the boxing world, and follows Micky's dream to turn pro. His trainer and brother, Dicky Eklund (played by Christian Bale) is also a boxer who has fallen into drug addiction and crime. A powerful and moving performance by Wahlberg is a reminder of how far he has come, since his Marky Mark days and Calvin Klein advertisements.