Leo Di…
A part of “Young Hollywood” that seems to not only be surviving…but thriving…
Mufasa
[quote]Djwlfpack wrote:
holifila wrote:
…I’ll also throw in Leo in “Blood Diamond” I’m usually not a big fan of his, but he nailed this part, and was also good in “The Departed” although I thought BD was a better movie.[/quote]
I’ll second that Leo nod, I was just about to mention his performance in both films. I’ve tirelessly trumpeted Leo’s career and talent as one of the finest in my generation. From his performances in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” to “Romeo and Juliet” and now “Blood Diamond” the guy can definitely act and has done so for quite some time.
Hell I think he out did both Jack and Matt Damon in “Departed.” On a tangent, I recommend everyone who hasn’t seen “Blood Diamond” to go out and rent it, to say that the movie is intense is an understatement.
[quote]Mufasa wrote:
Hey, neph!
This stuff is most fun when you can discuss and debate it!
[/quote]
Really? But it’s so much easier to criticize without really adding anything to the discussion. Short and sweet, baby.
Actually, it’s pretty difficult for me to get worked up over filmed dramatic performances; good writing leaves much more of an impression on me.
But if I had to pick something off the top of my head, Roberto Benigni in La Vita è Bella.
[quote]Mufasa wrote:
Leo Di…
A part of “Young Hollywood” that seems to not only be surviving…but thriving…
Mufasa[/quote]
Ok… I liked him in Romeo and Juliet, and I was surprised that I did.
I was in high school at the time, though, so what did I know?
I didn’t get much from him in The Departed. Mostly, I don’t think he took me from A to B as his character was supposed to develop in the film. Matt Damon did somewhat of a better job, I think.
[center]…Boil them in oil, I say…boil them in oil…!( WC Fields on kids!)[/center]
See, neph, you 'ole CURMUDGEON, you!
You like this stuff!
Mufasa
Kenneth Branagh in Henry V. Absolutely amazing performance.
[quote]nephorm wrote:
Actually, it’s pretty difficult for me to get worked up over filmed dramatic performances; good writing leaves much more of an impression on me.[/quote]
I think it’s both. Man on Fire was a great movie. It was great because, even though the action was mostly condensed into the last half of the movie, the writing AND the acting kept it from getting dull in the beginning.
Because of the actors in it (even Walken), you knew that something was about to jump off and everything before was just leading up to it. The writing kept it from getting overly boring and is the only reason you end up caring more for the girl when she actually does get kidnapped.
Bad writing can fuck up a movie no matter how great the acting is. Great writing can even make up for shortcomings in acting…like Terminator 2.
[center]…We few, we happy few, we Band of Brothers…! For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my Brother…![/center]
YES!!!
Mufasa
[quote]Mufasa wrote:
[center]…We few, we happy few, we Band of Brothers…! For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother…![/center]
YES!!!
Mufasa[/quote]
I got chills just READING that quote. so good!
[quote]holifila wrote:
Come to think of it, maybe I just like chicks playing crazy.[/quote]
If it’s a chick, it’s not an act…
How about Nick Castle, he truly brought a quiet fury to his role.
I’m only sort of kidding, I love “Halloween” and he played the role of The Body, also known as Micheal Myers when we don’t see his face (so most of the movie).
[quote]Mufasa wrote:
When Ingrid and “Joan of Arc” came up, I did bring up to the Group that they needed to really see the performance of Milla Javovich in “The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc”. (I actually own that one on DVD).
It is perhaps a more “realistic” performance…and will give you some of the most realistic depictions of Medieval Warfare ever on Film.
Mufasa[/quote]
Mufasa,
I think you should watch a film from 1928 starring Maria Falconetti (aka Renee Jeanne Falconetti) called The Passion Of Joan Of Arc. Her portrayal of Joan of Arc in La Passion is widely considered one of the most astonishing performances ever committed to film. It is. Nothing compares really.
I’ve got the movie poster framed nicely above my fireplace. I don’t think you’d be perturbed that it is a silent film, since you seem to be a fan of Chaplin. I prefer Buster Keaton.
On a side note, Broken Flowers was a decent film…but not one of Jim Jarmusch’s best, I like Mystery Train. I think he’s brilliant.
Sean Penn and Tim Robbins in Mystic River. I don’t like Sean Penn normally, but those two were stellar.
Molotov:
Thanks for the “heads-up”!
I’m on it!
Mufasa
[quote]holifila wrote:
A few others that I think are great:
Robert Mitchum in “Night of the Hunter”
Orsen Wells in “Touch of Evil”
Barbara Stanwyck in “Double Indemnity”
Christopher Walken in “Deer Hunter”
[/quote]
Robert Mitchum in Night of the Hunter was one of the most terrifying performances on film ever. His character scared the shit out of me more than any horror/slasher flick ever did.
Absolutely brilliant performance that gets overlooked by the general public these days. it’s a crime that mitchum never won an oscar. He was an incredible actor. Rent the film Out of the Past and you’ll see what im talking about. Mitchum was light years ahead of his time in terms of the depth he brought to characters.
My other nominations for most powerful performances:
Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront
Paul Muni in I was a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
Edward G. Robinson in Key Largo (his intro scene when he’s sitting in the bathtub with the cigar and the fan blows me away every time I see it.)
More recent movies I would have to include:
Denzel Washington in Glory
Tom Hanks in Philadelphia
Al Pacino in the Scarface remake
Forest Whitaker in Last King of Scotland
[quote]Dweezil wrote:
Sean Penn and Tim Robbins in Mystic River. I don’t like Sean Penn normally, but those two were stellar.[/quote]
You beat me to it. I’m not normally a Penn fan either, but the range of his performance in that flick really floored me.
[quote]Mufasa wrote:
Hey, guys…
…Know what I watched last weekend?
- “Clueless”… [/quote]
It may not be dramatic, but Stacey Dash has some serious leg action going on in that flick.
“STELLA!!!”
Tatsuya Nakadai in Kagemusha
Jackie Gleason in everything but specifically The Hustler