Top 5 - Cool Cats

I've seen some movies recently that have made me think of what it means to be "COOL".  Movies where the men are men, but with romantic souls, big guns, and awesome wardrobes.  So today I thought I'd take a stab at naming my all-time Top 5 Cool Cats, who defined "COOL" in the movies.

1. Robert Mitchum - For me, it doesn't get any cooler than Mitchum.  Whether on the run from mobsters, or the cops, or shooting it up in a western or a war movie, he was always cool. With his drooping eyes, his swagger, and his way of not taking anything too seriously, he was always cool.  To see him at his coolest, check out "Out of the Past" and "Thunder Road".

2. James Coburn - Nobody really wore clothes better, and nobody was as quietly intense, or as deadly with a knife as Coburn.  Check him out in "The Magnificent Seven", "Our Man Flint", and "The Skyriders".

3. Jean Reno - A modern-day cool cat, known mostly for his work in French films, but who does the occasional film in English.  He's brooding, intense, and with his drooping eyes, always has an undercurrent of sadness and resignation. Check him out in "Ronin", "Mission: Impossible", and "The Professional".

4. Chow Yun-Fat - The coolest cat in Hong Kong, Chow is intense, romantic, and resolute.  Check him out in "Anna and the King" (he particularly defines "cool" in the battle on the bridge), "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", and "Bulletproof Monk".

5. Steve McQueen - He'd probably be tops on most lists.  For me, he makes the list on the strength of three movies. Check him out in "The Great Escape" (terrific sequence with the German's chasing him on his motorcycle), "Bullitt" (best-ever car chase sequence), and the original "The Thomas Crown Affair" (He and Faye Dunaway sizzle while playing chess).