In 2008, Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne released "Christmas on Mars," a supremely odd, seven-years-in-the-making DIY film about isolation and madness (or something). Despite the fact that the incredibly prolific Coyne managed to create two stellar albums in 2009 (Embryonic and the full-length cover of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon), he wants to keep busy. He told Billboard that he was planning his next movie, and he's really looking to get some star power this time around.
"I'm in the process of begging Justin Timberlake to be part of it," Coyne said. "If I'm lucky I'll be able to wear him down in another year." It's part of a larger push to get some big stars into the new project, which doesn't have a title but does have a much simpler scope as far as sets go. "My only goal was that I didn't have to build space station-looking sets every time I wanted to have someone say something, only because I built those sets myself every time we shot something for 'Christmas on Mars' over the seven years we took to make it," he explained. "This one is set in someone's house and in a back yard and in a slaughterhouse; all those are available to me right here, so I don't have to build everything this time."
It would be insane to speculate what might be going on in Coyne's head as far as film ideas go, though we can only hope that he wants Timberlake to play a butcher of some sort. In fact, if JT does sign on, it would be the latest in a line of steadily improving film roles for him. Here are the five best Timberlake film roles, in order of greatness.
Ronnie in "Black Snake Moan"
As the anxiety-ridden National Guardsman boyfriend of Christina Ricci's Rae, Timberlake spends the movie hunting down his missing woman. "Black Snake Moan" is barely a movie, but Timberlake sweats his way through panic attacks, beatings and intense monologues of devotion to the promiscuous Ricci.
Frankie Ballenbacher in "Alpha Dog"
In the profoundly underrated "Alpha Dog," Timberlake plays a gang member with an emo heart of gold. It's a compelling performance that drives home Timberlake's ability to change levels and tones.
Everything on "Saturday Night Live"
Considering the current state of "Saturday Night Live," they should deeply consider just offering Timberlake a gigantic contract to be a part of the cast, because he's profoundly funny. Not only is he an excellent foil for Andy Samberg in songs like "D--- in a Box" and "Motherlover," he has also killed in plenty of other sketches. Remember when he slipped in a mention that he "totally hit that" with Britney Spears in the middle of that sketch about immigrants coming to America? That was awesome.
Everything on "The All New Mickey Mouse Club"
Obviously.
Pilot Abilene in "Southland Tales"
Like "Black Snake Moan," "Southland Tales" is barely a movie, but that doesn't stop Timberlake from stealing the show. He narrates the film using quotes from the Bible and Robert Frost, drinks heavily, suffers a head injury and lip syncs the Killers' "All These Things That I've Done" while dancers do a kick line on top of some skee ball machines. (And that's probably the part of "Southland Tales" that is easiest to follow.) Timberlake's gusto and inspired weirdness would make him a perfect fit in a Wayne Coyne production — or a David Lynch film.
What's your favorite Justin Timberlake performance? Let us know in the comments!