12. “Intermission” (2003)
Who Cillian plays: John, a kleptomaniac supermarket employee who recently separated from his girlfriend Deidree (Kelly Macdonald). John Crowley’s “Intermission” follows John as he attempts to win Deidree back and gets revenge on her new boyfriend by robbing the bank he works at, while also following their loose circle of friends as they get into various misadventures.
Why he’s great: “Intermission” is a film that’s bigger than one star in its cast, but Murphy’s performance as John is one of the clear highlights. He gets to showcase his comedic chops — a rarity in his career of typically grim films — and proves a lovable disaster of a romantic hero. His big scene where he finally admits how much Deidree means to him is the film’s most heartfelt moment, and a perfect demonstration of his ability to play the swoony romantic hero. —WC