Sean Penn is one actor who has definitely been the center of a good amount of controversy in recent years. It seems he cannot stay out of the spotlight, whether he means to or not.

I cannot say I am the biggest fan of Sean Penn as a person, but as an actor? There are few who do it better. Here are some of my favorite films that he has starred in.

One movie that is tough to glance over when discussing Sean Penn movies is Milk, in which he potrays true life political figure Harvey Milk. This was a great movie, and even if you are not familiar with the story of Harvey Milk, chances are you will enjoy this film.

One of my favorite movies starring Penn is Mystic River. This is a dark film, to say the least, and Penn pulled out all the stops in playing a dangerous father who lost his daughter in a mysterious crime. Clint Eastwood directed this incredible film.

Another great Sean Penn starring film is 21 Grams. This movie is directed by up and comer Alejandro Gonzalez Inarittu and also stars Naomi Watts and Benicio Del Toro.

Another great movie that is worthy of mentioning is Carlito's Way. Penn plays David Kleinfeld, a friend and lawyer of Carlito, who of course is played by Al Pacino. This film didn't quite recapture the magic that Scarface had, but it came pretty close.

Finally, one other movie that nabbed Penn an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role was 1999's Sweet And Lowdown. This is a great music film.

These are just some of Sean Penn's best films and a select few of the many that showcase his incredible versatility.