Melanie Lynskey

Melanie Jayne Lynskey (born 16 May 1977) is a New Zealand actress. Known for her portrayals of complex women and her command of American dialects, she works predominantly in independent films. Lynskey is the recipient of two Critics' Choice Awards, a HCA Award, a Gracie, a New Zealand Film Award, a Hollywood Film Award, and a Sundance Special Jury Award, as well as Gotham, Satellite, Saturn, Golden Nymph, Independent Spirit, Screen Actors Guild, and Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Description above from the Wikipedia article Melanie Lynskey, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Up in the Air (2009)

BrilliantAction-packedFast pacedOriginal

Corporate downsizing expert Ryan Bingham spends his life in planes, airports, and hotels, but just as he’s about to reach a milestone of ten million frequent flyer miles, he meets a woman who causes him to rethink his transient life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jason Reitman
CAST:  George Clooney  •  Vera Farmiga  •  Anna Kendrick  •  Jason Bateman

Corporate downsizing expert Ryan Bingham spends his life in planes, airports, and hotels, but just as he’s about to reach a milestone of ten million frequent flyer miles, he meets a woman who causes him to rethink his transient life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jason Reitman
CAST:  George Clooney  •  Vera Farmiga  •  Anna Kendrick  •  Jason Bateman

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1991. High school freshman Charlie is a wallflower, always watching life from the sidelines, until two senior students, Sam and her stepbrother Patrick, become his mentors, helping him discover the joys of friendship, music and love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Chbosky
CAST:  Logan Lerman  •  Emma Watson  •  Ezra Miller  •  Paul Rudd

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1991. High school freshman Charlie is a wallflower, always watching life from the sidelines, until two senior students, Sam and her stepbrother Patrick, become his mentors, helping him discover the joys of friendship, music and love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Chbosky
CAST:  Logan Lerman  •  Emma Watson  •  Ezra Miller  •  Paul Rudd

Chu and Blossom (2014)

A militant performance-artist and a tall Korean foreign-exchange student become trapped in a small Southern town.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles Chu  •  Gavin Kelly
CAST:  Alan Cumming  •  Melanie Lynskey  •  Caitlin Stasey  •  Annie Potts

A militant performance-artist and a tall Korean foreign-exchange student become trapped in a small Southern town.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles Chu  •  Gavin Kelly
CAST:  Alan Cumming  •  Melanie Lynskey  •  Caitlin Stasey  •  Annie Potts

Abandon (2002)

A psychological thriller about a senior at one of America's most prestigious universities. Under enormous pressure to complete her thesis and earn a top job at one of the world's most competitive consulting firms, Katie is still coping with the sudden unexplained ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Gaghan
CAST:  Katie Holmes  •  Benjamin Bratt  •  Charlie Hunnam  •  Zooey Deschanel

A psychological thriller about a senior at one of America's most prestigious universities. Under enormous pressure to complete her thesis and earn a top job at one of the world's most competitive consulting firms, Katie is still coping with the sudden unexplained ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Gaghan
CAST:  Katie Holmes  •  Benjamin Bratt  •  Charlie Hunnam  •  Zooey Deschanel

But I'm a Cheerleader (2000)

Megan is an all-American girl. A cheerleader. She has a boyfriend. But Megan doesn't like kissing her boyfriend very much. And she's pretty touchy with her cheerleader friends. Her conservative parents worry that she must be a lesbian and send her off to "sexual ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jamie Babbit
CAST:  Natasha Lyonne  •  Brandt Wille  •  Bud Cort  •  Michelle Williams

Megan is an all-American girl. A cheerleader. She has a boyfriend. But Megan doesn't like kissing her boyfriend very much. And she's pretty touchy with her cheerleader friends. Her conservative parents worry that she must be a lesbian and send her off to "sexual ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jamie Babbit
CAST:  Natasha Lyonne  •  Brandt Wille  •  Bud Cort  •  Michelle Williams

Claustrophobia (2003)

A serial killer armed with a crossbow pistol is murdering people from their own rooftops. When three young coworkers at a poorly-attended slumber party start hearing footsteps on the roof, they fear the worst.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Tapio Kines
CAST:  Melanie Lynskey  •  Sheeri Rappaport  •  Mary Lynn Rajskub  •  Judith O'Dea

A serial killer armed with a crossbow pistol is murdering people from their own rooftops. When three young coworkers at a poorly-attended slumber party start hearing footsteps on the roof, they fear the worst.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Tapio Kines
CAST:  Melanie Lynskey  •  Sheeri Rappaport  •  Mary Lynn Rajskub  •  Judith O'Dea

Coyote Ugly (2000)

Graced with a velvet voice, 21-year-old Violet Sanford heads to New York to pursue her dream of becoming a songwriter only to find her aspirations sidelined by the accolades and notoriety she receives at her "day" job as a barmaid at Coyote Ugly. The "Coyotes" as ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David McNally
CAST:  Piper Perabo  •  Adam Garcia  •  John Goodman  •  Izabella Miko

Graced with a velvet voice, 21-year-old Violet Sanford heads to New York to pursue her dream of becoming a songwriter only to find her aspirations sidelined by the accolades and notoriety she receives at her "day" job as a barmaid at Coyote Ugly. The "Coyotes" as ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David McNally
CAST:  Piper Perabo  •  Adam Garcia  •  John Goodman  •  Izabella Miko

Detroit Rock City (1999)

In 1978, a Kiss concert was an epoch-making event. For the three teen fans in Detroit Rock City getting tickets to the sold-out show becomes the focal point of their existence. They'll do anything for tickets -- compete in a strip club's amateur-night contest, take ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Adam Rifkin
CAST:  Giuseppe Andrews  •  James DeBello  •  Edward Furlong  •  Sam Huntington

In 1978, a Kiss concert was an epoch-making event. For the three teen fans in Detroit Rock City getting tickets to the sold-out show becomes the focal point of their existence. They'll do anything for tickets -- compete in a strip club's amateur-night contest, take ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Adam Rifkin
CAST:  Giuseppe Andrews  •  James DeBello  •  Edward Furlong  •  Sam Huntington

Flags of Our Fathers (2006)

EpicIntenseTragicDramatic

There were five Marines and one Navy Corpsman photographed raising the U.S. flag on Mt. Suribachi by Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945. This is the story of three of the six surviving servicemen - John 'Doc' Bradley, Pvt. Rene Gagnon and Pvt. Ira Hayes - who ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Clint Eastwood
CAST:  Ryan Phillippe  •  Adam Beach  •  Jesse Bradford  •  Paul Walker

There were five Marines and one Navy Corpsman photographed raising the U.S. flag on Mt. Suribachi by Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945. This is the story of three of the six surviving servicemen - John 'Doc' Bradley, Pvt. Rene Gagnon and Pvt. Ira Hayes - who ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Clint Eastwood
CAST:  Ryan Phillippe  •  Adam Beach  •  Jesse Bradford  •  Paul Walker

Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Wealthy and precocious teenager Juliet transfers from England to New Zealand with her family, and soon befriends the quiet, brooding Pauline through their shared love of fantasy and literature. When their parents begin to suspect that their increasingly intense and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Jackson
CAST:  Melanie Lynskey  •  Kate Winslet  •  Sarah Peirse  •  Simon O'Connor

Wealthy and precocious teenager Juliet transfers from England to New Zealand with her family, and soon befriends the quiet, brooding Pauline through their shared love of fantasy and literature. When their parents begin to suspect that their increasingly intense and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Jackson
CAST:  Melanie Lynskey  •  Kate Winslet  •  Sarah Peirse  •  Simon O'Connor

Itty Bitty Titty Committee (2007)

High School grad and all American gal, Anna, finds her purpose and herself after she hooks up with the radical feminists in The Itty Bitty Titty Committee.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jamie Babbit
CAST:  Melonie Diaz  •  Nicole Vicius  •  Guinevere Turner  •  Carly Pope

High School grad and all American gal, Anna, finds her purpose and herself after she hooks up with the radical feminists in The Itty Bitty Titty Committee.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jamie Babbit
CAST:  Melonie Diaz  •  Nicole Vicius  •  Guinevere Turner  •  Carly Pope

Say Uncle (2005)

A young gay artist, desperate to replace the relationship he had with his recently relocated godson, is targeted by a neighborhood mom as a potential threat to the community.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Paige
CAST:  Peter Paige  •  Kathy Najimy  •  Anthony Clark  •  Melanie Lynskey

A young gay artist, desperate to replace the relationship he had with his recently relocated godson, is targeted by a neighborhood mom as a potential threat to the community.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Paige
CAST:  Peter Paige  •  Kathy Najimy  •  Anthony Clark  •  Melanie Lynskey

Shattered Glass (2003)

The true story of fraudulent Washington, D.C. journalist Stephen Glass, who rose to meteoric heights as a young writer in his 20s, becoming a staff writer at The New Republic for three years. Looking for a short cut to fame, Glass concocted sources, quotes and even ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Billy Ray
CAST:  Hayden Christensen  •  Peter Sarsgaard  •  Chloë Sevigny  •  Rosario Dawson

The true story of fraudulent Washington, D.C. journalist Stephen Glass, who rose to meteoric heights as a young writer in his 20s, becoming a staff writer at The New Republic for three years. Looking for a short cut to fame, Glass concocted sources, quotes and even ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Billy Ray
CAST:  Hayden Christensen  •  Peter Sarsgaard  •  Chloë Sevigny  •  Rosario Dawson

Sweet Home Alabama (2002)

RomanticBrilliantCharmingCute

New York fashion designer, Melanie Carmichael suddenly finds herself engaged to the city's most eligible bachelor. But her past holds many secrets—including Jake, the redneck husband she married in high school, who refuses to divorce her. Bound and determined to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andy Tennant
CAST:  Reese Witherspoon  •  Josh Lucas  •  Patrick Dempsey  •  Candice Bergen

New York fashion designer, Melanie Carmichael suddenly finds herself engaged to the city's most eligible bachelor. But her past holds many secrets—including Jake, the redneck husband she married in high school, who refuses to divorce her. Bound and determined to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andy Tennant
CAST:  Reese Witherspoon  •  Josh Lucas  •  Patrick Dempsey  •  Candice Bergen

The Frighteners (1996)

Once an architect, Frank Bannister now passes himself off as an exorcist of evil spirits. To bolster his facade, he claims his "special" gift is the result of a car accident that killed his wife. But what he does not count on is more people dying in the small town ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Jackson
CAST:  Michael J. Fox  •  Jeffrey Combs  •  Jake Busey  •  Chi McBride

Once an architect, Frank Bannister now passes himself off as an exorcist of evil spirits. To bolster his facade, he claims his "special" gift is the result of a car accident that killed his wife. But what he does not count on is more people dying in the small town ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Jackson
CAST:  Michael J. Fox  •  Jeffrey Combs  •  Jake Busey  •  Chi McBride

EverAfter (1998)

RomanticCharmingBeautifulEpic

A “modern” young woman of the 16th century, Danielle is as independent and wise as she is beautiful and kind. Against remarkable odds, she stands up to her scheming stepmother and works miracles on the lives of everyone around her, including the crown prince of France!  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andy Tennant
CAST:  Drew Barrymore  •  Dougray Scott  •  Anjelica Huston  •  Melanie Lynskey

A “modern” young woman of the 16th century, Danielle is as independent and wise as she is beautiful and kind. Against remarkable odds, she stands up to her scheming stepmother and works miracles on the lives of everyone around her, including the crown prince of France!  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andy Tennant
CAST:  Drew Barrymore  •  Dougray Scott  •  Anjelica Huston  •  Melanie Lynskey

Touchback (2011)

A former high-school football star loses his shot at a college scholarship due to a devastating gridiron injury, but gets a second chance at living his dream.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Handfield
CAST:  Brian Presley  •  Kurt Russell  •  Melanie Lynskey  •  Marc Blucas

A former high-school football star loses his shot at a college scholarship due to a devastating gridiron injury, but gets a second chance at living his dream.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Handfield
CAST:  Brian Presley  •  Kurt Russell  •  Melanie Lynskey  •  Marc Blucas

The Big Ask (2014)

The Big Ask is a dark comedy about three couples who head to the desert to help their friend heal after the death of his mother. They would do anything for him - except for the one thing he wants.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas Beatty  •  Rebecca Fishman
CAST:  David Krumholtz  •  Zachary Knighton  •  Jason Ritter  •  Melanie Lynskey

The Big Ask is a dark comedy about three couples who head to the desert to help their friend heal after the death of his mother. They would do anything for him - except for the one thing he wants.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas Beatty  •  Rebecca Fishman
CAST:  David Krumholtz  •  Zachary Knighton  •  Jason Ritter  •  Melanie Lynskey

Happy Christmas (2014)

After a breakup with her boyfriend, a young woman moves in with her older brother, his wife, and their 2-year-old son.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joe Swanberg
CAST:  Anna Kendrick  •  Melanie Lynskey  •  Mark Webber  •  Lena Dunham

After a breakup with her boyfriend, a young woman moves in with her older brother, his wife, and their 2-year-old son.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joe Swanberg
CAST:  Anna Kendrick  •  Melanie Lynskey  •  Mark Webber  •  Lena Dunham

1 Mile To You (2017)

After a teenager's friends die in an accident, he finds running allows him to remember them perfectly. Running, however, also brings him notoriety. He is caught between keeping the past alive and making new memories in the present.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leif Tilden
CAST:  Graham Rogers  •  Billy Crudup  •  Liana Liberato  •  Stefanie Scott

After a teenager's friends die in an accident, he finds running allows him to remember them perfectly. Running, however, also brings him notoriety. He is caught between keeping the past alive and making new memories in the present.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leif Tilden
CAST:  Graham Rogers  •  Billy Crudup  •  Liana Liberato  •  Stefanie Scott
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