An actor and director, he is beyond excellent

Sean Justin Penn is an actor, director, screenwriter, and producer known for his versatile roles across genres. He started his acting career with television and slowly progressed to films. From his debut in the drama Taps to doing a diverse range of films throughout the 1980s, Penn continues to surprise his fans with a variety of critically acclaimed roles. Penn received two Oscar nominations, won his first Academy Award for Best Actor in 2003 for Mystic River, and a second one for Milk. He has also won a Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival for She's So Lovely and two Best Actor Awards at the Venice Film Festival for the indie film Hurlyburly and 21 Grams.

Penn made his film directorial debut with The Indian Runner, followed by The Crossing Guard and The Pledge; all of which were critically well-received. While his fourth film, a biographical drama survival movie Into the Wild garnered critical acclaim and two Academy Award nominations. So here is a list of a few of his films that one must watch

I Am Sam This 2001 film by Jessie Nelson stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Dakota Fanning, and Laura Dern besides Sean Penn. This drama film stars Sean Penn as a father with an intellectual disability, Dakota Fanning as his bright and inquisitive daughter, and Michelle Pfeiffer as his lawyer. The film is an attempt to convince the audience that a grown man with the intelligence of a seven-year-old is capable of caring for his daughter. Though the film received negative reviews, for his new role as Sam, Penn was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Sweet And Lowdown This 1999 film written and directed by Woody Allen, stars Anthony LaPaglia, Uma Thurman and John Waters besides Sean Penn. Jazz being a functional character in every Woody Allen film, found its way in this film as well. With Penn as Emmet Ray, an immensely confident 1930s guitarist who lives forever in the shadows of Django Reinhardt, the film revolves around his romance with a cheerful deaf girl, played by Samantha Morton, who stays by his side despite all odds. Penn flawlessly played the guitar in the film, earning himself and Morton a nomination at the Oscars in Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

Mystic River This 2003 is one of those films that show’s Penn in his real acting element. A film by the famed and legend director Clint Eastwood, based on the novel by Dennis Lehane follows Penn as an ex-criminal who is out there to take revenge for his daughter’s murder. This film won him, his first Oscar as Best Actor.

A few other films are Dead Man Walking, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Bad Boys, and At Close Range.