[quote]xXSeraphimXx wrote:
I have always found Pacino and Nicholson overrated, some good films but, it is always “them” no real range.I mean how many times can Pacino get angry and Nicholson give that creepy grin/laugh. De Niro has been going downhill for quite sometime now.
I would add Gary Oldman to the list of greats. [/quote]
I agree with you man, you really know your stuff. (add Denzel to that list of “same”)
I nominate Cate Blanchett, she has that chameleon ability to be a totally different person. Most of the so-called greats play the same person, just in a different character if that makes any sense (see above). Unfortunately, now that she’s older and does the botox thing it has affected her ability to truly nail the nuances of facial expression.
Oldman has the chameleon ability as well, but he’s not a Hollywood darling, so…
Just want to add that Pacino’s performance in Godfather II is one of my favorite performances, by any actor, of all time. Then he listened to all those people that raved about his over-the-top angry rants and started doing the same shit over and over…
edit to add: Oldman’s one shortcoming is his lack of a screen “presence” or “aura”, if that makes any sense
[quote]James Brown wrote:
Daniel Day Lewis / Di Niro. Probably the former.
Other mentions - Kevin Spacey, Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino.
With that said, how do you even define what it means to be considered the greatest?[/quote]
Yeah…it’s like trying to decide who the best band of all time is (please, no one start).
De Niro has had some outstanding performances, but I’m not sure I even enjoy watching him anymore. It seems like the same-old/same-old. And it’s easy to put the ones who’ve died before their time (Philip Seymour Hoffman, etc.) on a pedestal.
DDL, PSH and the character actors like them are the ones that keep me coming back for more. I also like Bale and Joaquin Phoenix; McConaughey and DiCaprio are really growing on me too (especially MM).
[quote]mbdix wrote:
Matthew M. is solid, but he hasn’t made me laugh in a movie that I can think of. Hanks, has made me go through all the emotions in his performances. [/quote]
[quote]mbdix wrote:
Matthew M. is solid, but he hasn’t made me laugh in a movie that I can think of. Hanks, has made me go through all the emotions in his performances. [/quote]
[quote]James Brown wrote:
Daniel Day Lewis / Di Niro. Probably the former.
Other mentions - Kevin Spacey, Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino.
With that said, how do you even define what it means to be considered the greatest?[/quote]
Really like that list. Spacey has played some really awesome roles.
The greatest is going to be subjective. If you go by Oscars you can’t go wrong with Daniel Day Lewis or Katherine Hepburn. Most people are going to pick their favorites by what movies they really liked.
My favorites/who I think can fit different roles in no order:
Christian Bale - from machinist to batman
Heath Ledger - Lords of Dogtown to Batman to 10 things I hate about
Johnny Depp - all of his eccentric roles to Public Enemies/Blow
Most of the people listed seem to always fit the same character, which isn’t bad, I love Stephen Segal/StalloneArnold/Statham/Ferrel/Jim Carey etc movies but I wouldn’t consider them great actors.
To be honest Tom Cruise is a really good actor, whether or not people like his personality outside of film. I am not saying he is the greatest by any means though.
I consider Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson to be way at the top though.
Matthew McConaughey has definitely stepped his game up. Really liked him in True Detective and Dallas Buyers Club. To be honest, anyone who is willing to deliberately shed muscle for any reason gets kudos from me.
I could never say anyone actor/actress is the GOAT…but there are several that have impressed me in many parts, for many years. Gene Hackman has already been mentioned, he would make my short list, Robert Duval as well.
