Best actor alive right now?

[CRXican]

Stop leaving out Edward Norton dammit

 

[compuwiz1]

My faves, not in any particular order:

Clint Eastwood
Robin Williams
Robert Deniro
Al Pacino
Dustin Hoffman
Jack Nicholson
Adam Sandler
John Travolta
Tom Hanks
John Malkovich
Edward Norton
Morgan Freeman

 

[Lola]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio.

I agree, also Tom Hanks

 

[SphinxnihpS]

Clint Eastwood hands down.

No single actor has bee in more EXCELLENT films than he has. Add to this the fact that he is a gifted screenwriter and director and there is really no competition.

 

[PricklyPete]

the Analrapist is the only real actor up there.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

There's a lot of diverse talent out there. Just figuring out what 10 should make 'the top 10 list' can be a challenge, let alone ranking them. Tom Hanks leaps to mind (Saving Pvt Ryan, Forrest Gump, Cast Away) but even he's succumbed to sleepwalking through movies of late (I saw The Da Vinci Code, I really can't imagine Angels & Demons being any different). Leo DiCaprio is a contender, consistently good in everything he does (it helps his recent movies were made by Sam Mendes, Ridley Scott, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg).

Will Smith pulled off an I am Legend. How many actors can pull off a movie where it's just them for two-thirds of a movie (save Tom Hanks in Cast Away or De Niro in Taxi Driver)? Seven Pounds was a mighty bore of a movie but I watched it till the end solely because of Smith's presence. I feel Ed Norton and Pitt are yet to give the performances of their lives, would love to see them both in a spiritual successor to Fight Club.

And of course, like a lot of people have already mentioned, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Daniel Day-Lewis are a class apart. If I could choose just one, it would probably be Leo DiCaprio for all around appeal, ability and choice of films.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
the Analrapist is the only real actor up there.

I recently watched all three seasons for the first time. Went through them in about 3 weeks. Extraordinary stuff. Pity it got canceled. But I hear there's a movie coming out next year.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: JackOfHearts
First thing google pops up is Robert De Niro and I agree....

So Bing is the "decision engine" and Google is the "opinion engine"?

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Chuck Norris > *

except for Alec Baldwin.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
the Analrapist is the only real actor up there.

I recently watched all three seasons for the first time. Went through them in about 3 weeks. Extraordinary stuff. Pity it got canceled. But I hear there's a movie coming out next year.

Beyond a pity. I never get bored re-watching those shows.

 

[waggy]

the more i read this thread the more i want to change my list. there are far to manyd amn good actors and actress's.

 

[JDub02]

Alot of good actors mentioned. I'd like to add Jim Caviezel, Gary Sinise, Denzel Washington, and Hugh Laurie to the underrated list.

I can't think of too many women that come to mind as standout actresses. Probably because women are born with the ability, so there's alot of competition. The one who is really surprising me now is Katey Sagal. She probably has more acting ability than the rest of the cast of Sons of Anarchy. I always find it amazing that Peg Bundy pulls off a believable biker chick.

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
There's a lot of diverse talent out there. Just figuring out what 10 should make 'the top 10 list' can be a challenge, let alone ranking them. Tom Hanks leaps to mind (Saving Pvt Ryan, Forrest Gump, Cast Away)

My problem with Tom Hanks is that I always see Tom Hanks, not the character. Those might have been great movies, but they might as well have been called "Tom Hanks Goes to War", "Tom Hanks is Kind of Retarded", and "Tom Hanks Gets Stuck on a Desert Island". I may be exaggerating, but I have the same problem with some other big names in this thread.

Maybe it's my problem of perception, not his inability to transform (at least since Philadelphia). But I don't feel this is an issue with some truly great actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Daniel Day-Lewis, and even someone like Sam Rockwell. These guys tend to disappear into their roles for me.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Originally posted by: CoinOperatedBoy
My problem with Tom Hanks is that I always see Tom Hanks, not the character. Those might have been great movies, but they might as well have been called "Tom Hanks Goes to War", "Tom Hanks is Kind of Retarded", and "Tom Hanks Gets Stuck on a Desert Island". I may be exaggerating, but I have the same problem with some other big names in this thread.

I do see your point. I just remembered one of his recent pictures was Charlie Wilson's War. A very 'normal' part that could have been played by just about anyone else, he really didn't 'make it his own'. Not a bad job, just on par. What I like about Hanks is how effortless his performances seem. Kind of like how Hugh Grant always plays the charming, bumbling, romantic manchild in all his movies (and does it really well) but still possesses an endearing quality that makes up for the lack of range. Hanks is like that, at least to me (and maybe a million others).

How do you feel about Morgan Freeman? Your opinion of Hanks reminds me of what a lot of people say about Freeman and how he always plays the incredibly wise black man who forms a bond with the lead white guy and waxes poetic on the deeper meaning of life.

 

[maziwanka]

deniro and pacino WERE awesome until they started putting out crap like 88 minutes and righteous kill. they don't even fucking try anymore. it's horrid

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: JDub02
Alot of good actors mentioned. I'd like to add Jim Caviezel, Gary Sinise, Denzel Washington, and Hugh Laurie to the underrated list.

I can't think of too many women that come to mind as standout actresses. Probably because women are born with the ability, so there's alot of competition. The one who is really surprising me now is Katey Sagal. She probably has more acting ability than the rest of the cast of Sons of Anarchy. I always find it amazing that Peg Bundy pulls off a believable biker chick.

yeah she is amazing. that is a good show. i just started watching it. wish i found out about it last year.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

What about The Green Mile? I really think Hanks played a wonderful character in that film. I didn't see Tom Hanks, I saw Paul Edgecomb, and this is even after I had read the books and already had an image of the character in my mind who was nothing like Tom Hanks.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: JDub02
Alot of good actors mentioned. I'd like to add Jim Caviezel, Gary Sinise, Denzel Washington, and Hugh Laurie to the underrated list.

I can't think of too many women that come to mind as standout actresses. Probably because women are born with the ability, so there's alot of competition. The one who is really surprising me now is Katey Sagal. She probably has more acting ability than the rest of the cast of Sons of Anarchy. I always find it amazing that Peg Bundy pulls off a believable biker chick.

watch Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice... follow it up with one of her silly movies like Death Becomes Her. also, Angels in America, where she plays like 5 different characters.

I'd rate her higher than any male listed in this thread.

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel

Originally posted by: CoinOperatedBoy
My problem with Tom Hanks is that I always see Tom Hanks, not the character. Those might have been great movies, but they might as well have been called "Tom Hanks Goes to War", "Tom Hanks is Kind of Retarded", and "Tom Hanks Gets Stuck on a Desert Island". I may be exaggerating, but I have the same problem with some other big names in this thread.

I do see your point. I just remembered one of his recent pictures was Charlie Wilson's War. A very 'normal' part that could have been played by just about anyone else, he really didn't 'make it his own'. Not a bad job, just on par. What I like about Hanks is how effortless his performances seem. Kind of like how Hugh Grant always plays the charming, bumbling, romantic manchild in all his movies (and does it really well) but still possesses an endearing quality that makes up for the lack of range. Hanks is like that, at least to me (and maybe a million others).

How do you feel about Morgan Freeman? Your opinion of Hanks reminds me of what a lot of people say about Freeman and how he always plays the incredibly wise black man who forms a bond with the lead white guy and waxes poetic on the deeper meaning of life.

Yeah, I would put him in the same boat, but I hasten to say that I can still acknowledge that both of these guys can turn out great performances. Freeman was defined for me by his role in The Shawshank Redemption, and Hanks by Big.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: jjsole
Sean Connery is an alltime great, but what has he done lately...

Depp, Pitt, and DiCaprio are at the top of their game. My preference goes to Pitt. I also think Philip Seymor Hoffman and Daniel Day Lewis are outstanding.

For old timers that are still great, that would be Hopkins and Freeman. Hoffman and Deniro...can't think of an outstanding performance by them in over a decade.

Morgan Freeman hasnt really done anything that impressive as of late either

Really though, he's basically played the same guy in 90% of his movies. He plays it very well, but he doesnt have nearly the range as say Nicholson

Nicholson. No doubt, overlooked him. Bump him to the front of the old timers. He's as good as any and can still make a great movie (as well as make a movie great.)

 

[SP33Demon]

ANALRA-PIST.

Seriously, you fools are forgetting about DDayLewis.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Also I'd like to point to Brad Pitt as one of the best character actors of this generation. I think his talent is extremely diverse: just compare his characters in Fight Club, Inglorious Basterds and True Romance.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Also I'd like to point to Brad Pitt as one of the best character actors of this generation. I think his talent is extremely diverse: just compare his characters in Fight Club, Inglorious Basterds and True Romance.

Benjamin Button was also pretty impressive....oh yeah...and 12 Monkeys should not be forgotten.

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: Locut0s
Philip Seymour Hoffman.

The character's he embodies are so real, so vulerable, so hurt, you just fell like he is that best fried gone stray!!!

He is one hell of an actor I agree.


I would also have to go with Daniel Day-Lewis. Not exactly popular or a very active actor in Hollywood, but he can really play some challenging roles (The Crucible, There Will be Blood).

 

[thraashman]

I can think of several whom I think are spectacular actors but wouldn't be able to choose between.

Edward Norton
Geoffrey Rush
Brad Pitt
Sean Penn
Daniel Day-Lewis

And the just a hair below that are
Kevin Spacey
Gary Oldman