Greatest Actor Of All Time

[Pike B]

My top 10.
10: Brad Pitt: Best Performance: Twelve Monkeys
9: Denzil Washington: Best Performance: Training Day
8: Sean Penn: Best Performance: Carlito's Way
7: Tom Hanks: Best Performance: Philadelphia
6: Morgan Freeman: Best Performance: Shawshank Redemption
5: Al Pacino: Best Performance: Scent of a Woman
4: Jack Nicholson: Best Performance: One Flew Over Cuckoos Nest
3: Johnny Depp: Best Performance: Ed Wood
2: Robert De Niro: Best Performance: Raging Bull
1: Marlon Brando: Best Performance: On The Waterfront/Godfather
All top actors in incredible roles.

[theworm2345]

1: Cristiano Ronaldo: Best Performance: Every Game

[Pike B]

1: Cristiano Ronaldo: Best Performance: Every Game
:D :D
Indeed, but hardly oscar worthy!!

[Dodge]

5: Al Pacino: Best Performance: Scent of a Woman



Scandalous choice for his best performance. One of his worst IMO

I'd nominate Dog Day Afternoon

[Pike B]

Scandalous choice for his best performance. One of his worst IMO

I'd nominate Dog Day Afternoon
Only oscar win. And he was brilliant. But he's always. Could have been any one of those two, or Godfather, Serpico, Carlito's Way, Heat.. Very hard to pick one. I stand by my choice.

[ken foree]

nice number 1 pikeb, i'd go with 'on the waterfront' over the godfather. for nicholson i might have chosen the shining - when he's drunk talking to the ghosts in the bar... simply amazing.

[Pike B]

nice number 1 pikeb, i'd go with 'on the waterfront' over the godfather. for nicholson i might have chosen the shining - when he's drunk talking to the ghosts in the bar... simply amazing.
I was edging towards The Shining I really was, but he was so fantastic in Cuckoos Nest. Just got the edge for me. As for Brando, I also would go for Waterfront if pushed. But Marlon was the greatest. Hands down. I picked up two Brando box sets on play.com for very good price. Worth a look.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Only oscar win. And he was brilliant. But he's always. Could have been any one of those two, or Godfather, Serpico, Carlito's Way, Heat.. Very hard to pick one. I stand by my choice.

After years of varied and creative performances they finally gave him the gong for a film where he just basically shouts in a Cajun accent. It's an enjoyable performance but not a great one and certainly not one that challenged him as an actor.

Cracked.com have a good gag about it in this article (http://www.cracked.com/article_14915_rough-drafts-past-oscar-acceptance-speeches.html)

[skitz3]

Robert Mitchum - Night of the Hunter.

[jmurphyc]

Robert Mitchum - Night of the Hunter.

I've been dying to see that film for a few years now. I've heard great things about it. I would also include Daniel Day-Lewis in the top 10. He hasn't been in many films but he's excellent in most films that I've seen him in. Also, what about the older generation of actors such as James Stewart, Bogart, Cary Grant, etc. I'm a big fan of James Stewart myself.

[jebus]

10. Tom Hanks - Philadelphia
9. Tom Cruise - Rain Man
8. Benicio Del Toro - 21 Grams
7. James Stewart - It's a Wonderful Life
6. Philip Seymour Hoffman - Love Liza
5. Al Pacino - Heat
4. Robert Duvall - Apocolypse Now
3. Marlon Brando - Apocolypse Now
2. Jack Nicholson - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1. Robert De Niro - Raging Bull

Don't understand how Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp would make anyone's top ten list to be honest, both have done good work (Pitt in Babel, Depp in Edward Scissorhands for me), but they certainly can't control the screen in the way I feel the ten I've picked can

[osarusan]

Dustin Hoffman in Lenny.

The only reason anybody would vote for a different acting performance is because the haven't seen this one.

[jmurphyc]

Sean Penn in Mystic River was another sensational performance.

[ken foree]

I've been dying to see that film for a few years now. I've heard great things about it. I would also include Daniel Day-Lewis in the top 10. He hasn't been in many films but he's excellent in most films that I've seen him in. Also, what about the older generation of actors such as James Stewart, Bogart, Cary Grant, etc. I'm a big fan of James Stewart myself.

night of the hunter is fantastic. very offbeat for its time. mitchum is terrific - i was gonna post some older generation additions to pikeb's list too and jimmy stewart would've been one of the first ones on it. orson welles, joseph cotten, and edward g. robinson (check out "key largo" with him if you like bogart) jump to mind and the names of john gielgud, sydney poitier, laurence olivier, john barrymore, and alec guinness among many many others should really get shouted.

[Pike B]

night of the hunter is fantastic. very offbeat for its time. mitchum is terrific - i was gonna post some older generation additions to pikeb's list too and jimmy stewart would've been one of the first ones on it. orson welles, joseph cotten, and edward g. robinson (check out "key largo" with him if you like bogart) jump to mind and the names of john gielgud, sydney poitier, laurence olivier, john barrymore, and alec guinness among many many others should really get shouted.
That's what it's all about. All great names there. Maybe this list should be top 50!!

[Pike B]

After years of varied and creative performances they finally gave him the gong for a film where he just basically shouts in a Cajun accent. It's an enjoyable performance but not a great one and certainly not one that challenged him as an actor.

Cracked.com have a good gag about it in this article (http://www.cracked.com/article_14915_rough-drafts-past-oscar-acceptance-speeches.html)
Ya, I figured this was going to get a reaction. Again, very tough to single out one Pacino performance but hey, whatcha gonna do...

[Pike B]

10. Tom Hanks - Philadelphia
9. Tom Cruise - Rain Man
8. Benicio Del Toro - 21 Grams
7. James Stewart - It's a Wonderful Life
6. Philip Seymour Hoffman - Love Liza
5. Al Pacino - Heat
4. Robert Duvall - Apocolypse Now
3. Marlon Brando - Apocolypse Now
2. Jack Nicholson - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1. Robert De Niro - Raging Bull

Don't understand how Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp would make anyone's top ten list to be honest, both have done good work (Pitt in Babel, Depp in Edward Scissorhands for me), but they certainly can't control the screen in the way I feel the ten I've picked can
Have to disagree. I think Depp in particular does hold a film. He has done a lot of average stuff, but for me is always on form. Rare if ever have I been dissappointed with his performance.
Your ten aint bad at all, some great actors in there. Duvall in particular was one I almost had in my own. Excellent actor.
But Tom Cruise??? He's good but better than Depp and Pitt?? Not for me.

[Angus]

All a bit noveau but I agree that each of these guys is a proper actor with proper credibility.

I never tire of watching Lawrence Olivier - great in Spartacus even though the blockbuster nature of that movie is difficult to rise above.

John Wayne is a controversial actor and generally plays the same caricature of himself - but for a proper performance look at the Searchers

[Wangball]

Robert Shaw's performance in Jaws is something to behold

Also love Philip Seymour Hoffman in anything he does, from thrash like Along Came Polly all the way to his performance as Capote in, In Cold Blood he never disappoints, he near steals the show in Boogie Nights with a relatively minor character

[TonyD]

Daniel Day Lewis is the best actor i've ever seen. Incredible in everything he's been in (and I don't think he's ever been in a film which does him full justice).
Edward Norton hasn't been mentioned here but he's damn good too. American History X, Primal Fear are two great performances.
Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of those scene stealing character actors. Great in Charlie Wilsons War recently.
Alec Guiness of the older generation is superb. Bit similar to Day Lewis in that he had a bit of a chameleon like quality.

[Pike B]

Daniel Day Lewis is the best actor i've ever seen. Incredible in everything he's been in (and I don't think he's ever been in a film which does him full justice).
Edward Norton hasn't been mentioned here but he's damn good too. American History X, Primal Fear are two great performances.
Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of those scene stealing character actors. Great in Charlie Wilsons War recently.
Alec Guiness of the older generation is superb. Bit similar to Day Lewis in that he had a bit of a chameleon like quality.
Tough to pick a Daniel Day Lewis best performance though..
I'd go for, My Left Foot.
Ed Norton, would have to be Primal Fear or Fight Club and Hoffman is always quality to watch. Alec Guiness again another top actor.
What is your top ten then???

[Kingdom]

night of the hunter is fantastic. very offbeat for its time. mitchum is terrific - i

Is that the film where the little keeps saying "yonder"? If it is I loved that film.

Ah yes good old google...
"Now watch, and I'll show you the story of life. Those fingers, dear hearts, is always a-warring and a-tugging, one agin t'other. Now watch 'em! Old brother left hand, left hand he's a fighting, and it looks like love's a goner. But wait a minute! Hot dog, love's a winning! Yessirree! It's love that's won, and old left hand hate is down for the count!"

[Billsthoughts]

I think the actors are only as good as the script/films they have to work with.
2 of my My favs....
Pacino in The Godfather. The way he handles the character transformation is great. Hes great in Dog Day Afternoon but it only really goes to illustrate the limited range of most of the roles hes had since.
Daniel Day Lewis in Gangs of New York. His performance just eats up the screen.

[Rocky77]

Someone's already said it, but Edward Norton was first class in Primal Fear and American History X.

And then there's this guy...

http://i2.bebo.com/037b/2/medium/2007/10/23/19/399376024a5906126796m.jpg

[superfrank]

A top ten performances of sorts:

Bruno Ganz as Hitler in Downfall
Clint Eastwood in, well, any western he's been in
Gene Hackman in the French Connection
Jack Nicholson in The Shining, One Flew Over The Cuckoo Nest or As Good As It Gets
Michael Caine in Get Carter
Edward Woodward & Christopher Lee in The Wicker Man
Christian Bale in American Psycho
Peter Sellars in Dr. Strangelove

[Pike B]

A top ten performances of sorts:

Bruno Ganz as Hitler in Downfall
Clint Eastwood in, well, any western he's been in
Gene Hackman in the French Connection
Jack Nicholson in The Shining, One Flew Over The Cuckoo Nest or As Good As It Gets
Michael Caine in Get Carter
Edward Woodward & Christopher Lee in The Wicker Man
Christian Bale in American Psycho
Peter Sellars in Dr. Strangelove
Bale in American Psycho. Outstanding.

[Pike B]

I think the actors are only as good as the script/films they have to work with.
2 of my My favs....
Pacino in The Godfather. The way he handles the character transformation is great. Hes great in Dog Day Afternoon but it only really goes to illustrate the limited range of most of the roles hes had since.
Daniel Day Lewis in Gangs of New York. His performance just eats up the screen.
Didn't like Gangs myself but Day Lewis was incredible. Haven't seen There Will Be Blood but I heard again average film Great Day Lewis. Any truth in that???

[holidaysong]

Pacino and De Niro are my favourites in no particular order.

[Billsthoughts]

Didn't like Gangs myself but Day Lewis was incredible. Haven't seen There Will Be Blood but I heard again average film Great Day Lewis. Any truth in that???

Its not a terrible film but a bit of a mess in places alrite.
No There Will Be Blood is a good film. In fact Day Lewis performance is the film to some extent. I dont think there is much of it he isnt in. I always like John Cussack in anything Grosse Point Blank in particular. Hackman great in French Connection as is his co star in Jaws. Actually there was a great documentary on the making of the French Connection on the telly there a few years ago when they screened the film. Is probably on the DVD version. Friedkin and Hackman didnt really get on at all so even their recollections of key scenes or meetings are completely at odds.

Interesting nobody putting forward any women....

[Pike B]

Its not a terrible film but a bit of a mess in places alrite.
No There Will Be Blood is a good film. In fact Day Lewis performance is the film to some extent. I dont think there is much of it he isnt in. I always like John Cussack in anything Grosse Point Blank in particular. Hackman great in French Connection as is his co star in Jaws. Actually there was a great documentary on the making of the French Connection on the telly there a few years ago when they screened the film. Is probably on the DVD version. Friedkin and Hackman didnt really get on at all so even their recollections of key scenes or meetings are completely at odds.

Interesting nobody putting forward any women....
Grosse Point Blank, one of my favourites. Cusack is always watchable.
I watched 'Money for Nothing' the other night from 1992. Pretty good film. Cusack finds 1.2million in cash on the road and decides to keep it. Only problem is he's not too bright. Based on true events. Worth a look if your a Cusack fan.

[ken foree]

That's what it's all about. All great names there. Maybe this list should be top 50!!

yea pikeb you could make a case for a list of a hundred.

[Pike B]

yea pikeb you could make a case for a list of a hundred.
That may take awhile to type out, but go ahead buddy!!

[TonyD]

Tough to pick a Daniel Day Lewis best performance though..
I'd go for, My Left Foot.
Ed Norton, would have to be Primal Fear or Fight Club and Hoffman is always quality to watch. Alec Guiness again another top actor.
What is your top ten then???

Very tough to pick a top ten. I'd probbaly give you a different list tomorrow, but, off the top of my head:

Day Lewis - Gangs of New York/My Left Foot
Pacino - Scarface/Dog Day Afternoon
Jimmy Stewart - Rear Window/It's a Wonderful Life (Yeah soppy as hell, I know :o)
De Niro - Once Upon a Time in America
Alec Guinness - Bridge On the River Kwai/The Ladykillers
Sean Penn - Carlitos Way
Paul Newman - Cool Hand Luke
Jack Nicholson - Cuckoos Nest
Steve McQueen - Papillon
Ed Norton - American History X

Other random thoughts :

Prefer Pacino to De Niro, Brendan Gleeson is best Irish actor, John Cusack is also an excellent shout- Grosse Point Blank superb film, almost included Denzel Washington in top ten for Training Day

If it was confined to TV, then most of the cast of The Wire, would be certs. Michael K Williams who plays Omar is especially good.

[Kingdom]

off the top of my head:



De Niro - Once Upon a Time in America
Alec Guinness - Bridge On the River Kwai/The Ladykillers

Paul Newman - Cool Hand Luke
Jack Nicholson - Cuckoos Nest
Steve McQueen - Papillon
Ed Norton - American History X

Other random thoughts :

Prefer Pacino to De Niro, Brendan Gleeson is best Irish actor, John Cusack is also an excellent shout- Grosse Point Blank superb film, almost included Denzel Washington in top ten for Training Day.

Two absolutely outstanding performances. I love McQueen and De Niro, and both of these are probably my fav films.

[cheifo]

Great thread.Seems we have veered more towards greatest ever performances which is proably more interesting
12-Brando-On the Waterfront(cab scene with Steiger is still amazing)
11-Lemmon and Mattau-Odd couple
10.Nicolson-The Shining
9. Ray Milland- The lost Weekend
8 De Niro -Taxi Driver
7 Alec Guiness- The Ladykillers(love it-great choice Tony D)
6 Lee Remick- Days of the wine& roses
5 Mithchum-Night of the Hunter/Cape Fear(an actor def in touch with his dark side)
4 Orson Welles-A touch of evil
3-Bogart-Castleblanca(even though the French copper nearly stole the show)
2-James Mason-Odd man Out
1-Rod Steiger-The Pawn Broker

Not sure about order and have left a load out.Will have to think about the ladies and modern films.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Robert Shaw's performance in Jaws is something to behold
..Absolutely. I believe I'm right in saying also that he was nowhere near first choice for the role.

Richard E. Grant in Withnail & I gives a towering performance as well.

[ken foree]

Not sure about order and have left a load out.Will have to think about the ladies and modern films.

i took it very literally to mean we were only discussing the men because it'd be criminal to overlook the fairer sex's contribution to the history of celluloid!

[jebus]

Personally I'd pick 'There Will Be Blood' as Day Lewis' finest performance

[Wolfie]

A few performances yet to get a mention (in no particular order):

John Hurt - The Elephant Man
Ben Kingsley - Schlinders List
Samuel L Jackson - Pulp Fiction
Russell Crowe - A Beautiful Mind

[gustavo]

My Top Ten actors and my favourite performance by them in no order


1. Robert DeNiro (Deer Hunter or any of his)
2. Christopher Walken (Catch Me If You Can)
3. Kevin Spacey (American Beauty )
4.Jim Carrey (Truman Show) , comedic acting is just as if not harder to pull off effectively as dramatic acting and this guy is a master at both
5. Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Before the Devil Knows you're Dead ) Could have picked any of his perfomances really
6. Billy Bob Thorton ( Sling Blade )
7. Paddy Considine ( Dead Man's shoes) Really powerful performance in that
8. James Stewart (It's a Wonderful Life)
9. Vincent Cassel (Irreversible)
10. Colin Farrell (Tigerland) ye'll probably all laugh but I think he's a really good actor

[Burny89]

Don't know how people mentioning Denzel Washington haven't brought up Man on Fire yet

[Pike B]

Don't know how people mentioning Denzel Washington haven't brought up Man on Fire yet
Cos he's better in Training Day...

[HarpoJoyce]

Peter Lorre pre- and post- war actor from central Europe. He was Hungarian when he first started.


In 'M' the criminal fraternity of a German city are under pressure to find a child murderer.


jUDUbxsNjV0&feature=related

[cheifo]

Dont like Harrison Form films much but his best film is Frantic.

Harpo that clip is extroadinary.I am dying to know what happened next.Whats the film called?

[HarpoJoyce]

Dont like Harrison Form films much but his best film is Frantic.

Harpo that clip is extroadinary.I am dying to know what happened next.Whats the film called?

Frantic is by Roman Plonaski isn't it? It has a good start but is a long film. Still Harrison Ford is in almost every scene. I always feel there is an over-earnest way about him.

That film above is "M" by Fritz Lang (1931) it was an early talkie and is about the hunt for a child-murderer in Berlin. It resembles the hunt for an murderer and assailant in Dusseldorf in the late 1920's but Lang denies this.

http://www.imagesjournal.com/issue05/reviews/m.htm

http://www.asne.org/kiosk/writingawards/1998/hunter4.htm

[bennocelt]

Bob Hoskins

saw the movie "this is britain" this week, was a little dissapointed by it as i love most things shane meadows does
but it got me back thinking to his best work (in my opinion), his boxing movie "24Seven", a really powerful movie and really sad ending
Hoskins is in it and jesus i swear he should have won 5 oscars for that performance in it, brilliant
But most of his movies are brill
hasnt he played stalin a few times as well!!

[oldyouth]

Gene Hackman in any role. Totally believable and can play comedy, drama or thriller parts with total conviction

[Pike B]

Yeah Hackman is class - my favourite film with him is Mississippi burning. Great performance and Defoe is great in it as well
He's pure class in Unforgiven.

[bennocelt]

Dennis Hopper deserves a mention. Did ye know he was in Rebel Without A Cause...?

acting ability? mmmm? but always played the dope head well, had it down to a tee

[cheifo]

Watched 1984 for the first time last night.Could it be a tougher job to try and do justice to the book? Having said that John Hurt does a remarkable job as Winston IMO.
Like most people, I hate remakes, but I would be intrigued to see what a good director could do with the great material, if someone gave it a try.